Berman Horn Studio has created this New England connected farmhouse, positioned fifteen miles from Maine’s mid-coast on the island of Vinalhaven, Maine. The founders of the New-York based Berman Horn Studio constructed this cozy cottage as a personal retreat, a serene escape to create a work/life balance.
Perched on a rocky outcrop, this cottage provides sweeping views over one of the island’s numerous coves. The project is named ‘Little Peek’, aptly titled for its unique siting, which offers glimpses of the dwelling as one ascends a meandering footpath from the water.
The inspiration for this design was the nineteenth century New England connected farmhouse, interpreted in a contemporary way. Organized as a long bar that faces the water to the west, the Camden Hills to the north and untouched ledges to the east, it encompasses a main house, a small guest cottage, and a custom designed fully screened porch that connects the two structures.
This porch, which creates a shared exterior room and frames views to the landscape, extends the profile of the roofline to tie the two houses together. Along its length the house transforms from cape to saltbox to create the traditional “Ell” found in historic buildings in the area.
What We Love: This New England connected farmhouse offers a cozy cottage for a husband and wife team of architects to connect with nature and enjoy a change of pace. Weathered cedar clad siding gives this dwelling a charming aesthetic, inviting one into this beautiful retreat. A haven of relaxation, we are loving the design of the screened-in porch, which also provides an attractive look to the exterior facade.
Tell Us: What are your thoughts on the design of this home? Would you find this to be an idyllic escape and refuge from urban living? Let us know in the Comments!
Note: Take a look at another incredible home tour that we have featured here on One Kindesign from the beautiful state of Maine: Gorgeous lakeside getaway in Maine designed to feel like a summer camp.
Above: A screened-in porch separates the main house from the guest cottage, devised as a meeting in the middle and a cozy space to enjoy summers. Glass panels were designed to support wind and snow. The architects opted for aluminum framing instead of steel, as it is more lightweight — only 400 pounds. Aerospace adhesive is a readily available epoxy and has a sleek finish.
Within the whitewashed interior, the decision was made to limit the visual presence of wood to give nature the chance to enter uncontested through the large industrial windows and bring focus onto the textures and colors of the stone, huckleberry, bay and lichen that surround the house.
Details are both modest and spare, recalling the cleanliness of the Shaker aesthetic. The interiors are inspired by a casual but edited mix of American and French antiques and textiles juxtaposed with the clean lines and playful finishes of late 20th century contemporary design. The vibrant colors and painted surfaces create a warm counterpoint to the ever-changing vista of the outdoors.
Above: The screened-in porch featured 60 slide-in-slide-out screens, which are designed to be assembled and disassembled in about an house. The homeowners take these pieces out just before winter and put them back together in the springtime. There are doors on either side of the structure, one leading to a wood deck that offers sweeping water views, also come off. Each panel costs around $20.
Above: When the weather is warm, the porch is used as a dining room, crafts area and even a yoga studio. Doors to the main house are left open so that guests can have access to the kitchen when needed. There is also a telescope in this space for stargazing!
Photos: Greta Rybus
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