Ice Point

With its quaint village, quiet beaches, and a mountain that was once used for colonial maritime navigation, the town of York is a charming destination located at the southern tip of Maine. On a coastal site surrounded by beautiful oaks and white pines just at the ocean’s edge, we designed a contemporary home for our clients that would serve as a tranquil retreat while meeting the year-round day-to-day needs of a young, active family.

Our site-specific design began by taking advantage of natural light from the south while capturing views of the harbor to the northeast. The family needed independent living spaces for their teenage children, a minimalist but functional kitchen for the owners (including a former chef) who love to cook and entertain, and overall a contemporary space that requires little maintenance or fuss and offers a simple, refined home.

As you enter the house, you walk towards the view of the ocean, which opens up and becomes more dramatic as you progress. The main living wing is flanked by two glassy connectors that separate the public and private spaces. The two-story volume, which includes an office, two bedrooms, and a bathroom, is located to the west, where sunsets can be viewed from both a screened porch and a rooftop deck. Large sliding doors open the living space to the outdoors on two sides, strengthening the home’s direct connection to its natural surroundings. The primary bedroom and bathroom are located to the east and enjoy views of the pine trees, ledge outcrops, and stone walls that populate the site. On the exterior, painted vertical poly-ash siding and a metal roof provide durability, with a red cedar pergola to the north. 

The kitchen, featuring custom cabinetry by Plain English, is an exercise in simplicity: a cook top, small oven, and small refrigerator for fresh, daily ingredients offer all the necessities without the fuss and maintenance of larger appliances. A large island, dining room table, and fireplace are all anchored by limestone flooring. 

Our clients, having spent time vacationing in France, wanted a curated feel for their home that featured a mix of old and new, modern and traditional. The interior design by Heidi Lachappelle Interiors hones in on neutral textures, heavyweight linens, browns, greens, and a touch of aubergine. Materials are textured, organic, and tactile which softens and balances the crisp lines of the architecture. Ultimately, the warm and inviting spaces reflect our clients’ passion for travel, high-quality materials, and attention to detail that brought their “spa-like” vision to life. Bowley Builders’ careful attention to detail and upfront planning of every minimalist reveal made the end result appear effortless. 

This project is a perfect example of not only our site-specific design but our mutual trust and partnership with our clients, who were open-minded, focused, and collaborative. They came to us with a lifetime of inspiration from their world travels and time in Europe and had clear ideas about colors, materials, and texture, while also trusting our input. The result  is a home that serves as a functional and relaxing space with a connection to the beautiful outdoors. 

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Photography: Trent Bell Photography

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Collaborators:

-Builder: Bowley Builders
-Structural Engineer: Albert Putnam Associates
-Interior Designer: Heidi Lachapelle Interiors
-Kitchen Millwork: Plain English
-Landscape Installation: Terrapin Landscapes
-Millwork: Tise Woodwork & Design
-Architectural Lighting & Lighting Plan: Reflex Lighting Group