Falls Pasture

The owners of Falls Pasture sought to combine their favorite attributes of their oceanfront residence in Southern Maine with their rural cabin in New Hampshire. 

They found their ideal site a mile inland–close enough to work and family for full-time living, and only five minutes to the beach by Vespa. The softly sloping field, nestled among quiet woodlands and bordered by a coastal tributary with a gently rolling waterfall, offered privacy and an immersive experience with nature reminiscent of their New Hampshire cabin. Blending the best features of their previous houses, the location was perfect for their forever home. 

The land was purchased as a subdivision that would eventually accommodate three lots. Collaborating closely with landscape architects at Richardson & Associates, we reconfigured the subdivision layout to maximize the home’s potential. We selected the end lot for its proximity to the tranquil brook and falls as well as its excellent solar exposure. We then adjusted the neighboring sites for privacy. This configuration allowed for the optimal building orientation, positioning the sheltered entry to the north and opening the living spaces to the south, capturing sunlight throughout the day. 

We designed a classic New England gabled home, with elegantly sloped dormer “extensions” on the second floor, and single-story side “extensions” at the ground level evoking a sense of history and knitting the form within the surrounding Southern Maine vernacular. The north-facing courtyard, framed by a low, traditional dry stone wall and entry garden, provides a formal sense of arrival and transition. A long covered porch links the main house to the barn, which includes a two-car garage and an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU). The porch also separates the entry from the more private kitchen courtyard garden to the west. The steps between the house and barn were designed for potential future ramped access, ensuring this lifetime home is adaptable for aging in place. 

Inside, the kitchen/dining room and living room open outward toward the southern exposure, overlooking the falls and drawing sunlight inward through the porches to facilitate indoor/outdoor living on the private side of the site. A handcrafted staircase winds upward from the entry to reveal a bright, vaulted “away space” with wraparound dormer windows that frame views of the brook and provide passive cooling via stack-effect–releasing hotter air that naturally floats up the stairway. Downstairs, the gable end of the living room features a wood-burning fireplace with custom storage and windows that look toward the surrounding trees. The primary bedroom suite lies at the opposite end of the house. Large windows opening west to the garden and south toward the falls highlight nature’s beauty at the start and end of every day. 

Together with Mia Carta Design, the team worked closely with local millworker Derek Preble, who crafted timeless built-in oak and walnut cabinetry and furniture designed to last generations. The breakfast nook bench overlooks the front corner post anchored to a granite boulder nestled among native ferns. The interior palette features a rich mix of neutral fabrics–brown and green upholstery paired with light neutral rugs and furnishings–plus variegated black and white stone and handcrafted tiles that further reinforce the visual connection with the surrounding woodland. 

The owners also requested a separate dwelling area, which we incorporated as an extension to the garage/barn structure, with its own dedicated entrance. Initially planned for use as an office or music room, a fortuitous change in local building codes allowed us to develop it into an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU), complete with a kitchenette, bathroom, and utility rooms. The ADU has since become a perfect starter home for the owners' expanding family, who enjoy the close, yet separate living quarters with views across the kitchen garden and orchard toward the falls. 

This Coastal Maine homestead, comprising the main house, barn, ADU, and courtyard gardens offers a classic mix of traditional, intergenerational living, with exquisite detailing and a deep connection to nature. 

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Photography:
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Trent Bell Photography

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Collaborators: 

Contractor: Bowley Builders

Structural Engineer: Albert Putnam Associates

Landscape Architect: Richardson & Associates

Interior Designer: Mia Carta Design

Casegoods: Derek Preble 

Lighting: Charron Reflex