Pinewold Cottage

Project Location: Boothbay Harbor, Maine

Built in 1915, Pinewold is a classic cedar-shingled Foursquare cottage that sits above Boothbay Harbor. Over the decades, previous owners had subdivided the property and made poorly considered additions and low-value modifications, resulting in problematic site conditions, and a house a long way from its original beauty.

Our goal was to revive the timeless character and quality of the original cottage for four-season use with an emphasis on summer living for an active family of four and their guests. Our first order of business was removing and correcting the previous alterations to the house. A lean-to garage had been added to the guest cottage, blocking water views on approach, while paved yard space had created drainage problems. We removed the garage and designed a new one suggestive of a carriage house, and relocated the guest cottage, revealing a previously obscured covered porch and orienting it to take advantage of water views.

The outside living spaces became the focus of the interior spaces. An open floor plan is designed for family living and includes guest quarters for young adult sons, a study/TV room, mudroom, second-floor guest suites, and a new upper-level balcony. The modern, open-plan kitchen features an island, contemporary appliances, high-quality lighting, a pantry, and a water view. In addition, we rebuilt the in-filled porches and added an upper-level balcony.

Preserved period details sit comfortably alongside modern elements. In the original plan, the porch railing beautifully punctuated the outdoor living area, but it was far too low for current building codes. Our solution was to add a more modern cable railing with a red-cedar cap, lending a subtly contemporary element to the exterior and enhancing the structure’s original lines.

The energy performance of the house was improved dramatically as well with an all new mechanical system, radiant first-floor heating, spray-foam insulation, and new efficient lighting and electrical systems.

Project Completion Date: 2007

Photography:

Rob Karosis

Collaborators:

• Interior Designer: Betsy McCue Train
• General Contractor: Knickerbocker Group

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