This warm and welcoming lakefront retreat was designed as a four-season family getaway by Whitten Architect, nestled along Pleasant Lake, an hour north of Portland, Maine. The owners are a Boston-based professional couple with young children who wished to build a home next to their parents’ existing cottage. They would share a common driveway and waterfront and visually relate to each other, but maintain their own identity and privacy.

Upon entering the property between stone piers, an alley of 70-year-old white pines leads the way to the waterfront site. Because of the dense tree cover and the owner’s desire for natural light and lake views, the architects worked with a local arborist to site the camp around healthy trees, while removing diseased evergreens. The site-specific design planned for an open space between the camps on the inland side for family games and interaction.

DESIGN DETAILS: ARCHITECT Whitten Architects CONTRACTOR R.P. Morrison Builders LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Emma Kelly Landscape STRUCTURAL ENGINEER Albert Putnam Associates INTERIOR CONSULTANT Krista Stokes

The homeowners were actively involved in the design process, drawing inspiration from turn-of-the-century waterfront camps and their own Maine roots. They sought a house with a traditional appearance compatible with the parents’ camp, along with a modern, open floor plan featuring ample light, wood finishes, and an exposed post-and-beam structure.

The home features an exposed timber frame; wood floors, walls, and ceiling; and fieldstone chimney and terrace walls. Hand-split granite was salvaged from the site and repurposed as part of an entry bench, a fireplace hearth, and a screened porch bench.

Creating a direct connection from indoor living spaces to outdoor living spaces was an integral part of the design. The wrapped and screened porches provide plenty of play space on rainy days and otherwise. Long afternoons are spent on the sunny lakeside terrace with a fire pit for after-supper marshmallows, while a dock provides swim access to the lake.

This lakefront retreat features high-performance systems with a modern floor plan, radiant first-floor heating, and a multi-zone heat pump for heating and cooling in all seasons. Exterior finishes include stained white cedar shingles, stained red cedar novelty siding, a metal roof, and screened and wrapped porches with exposed Douglas Fir rafters.

The first floor features an open-plan living and dining space designed to invite spaciousness and light. A generous kitchen has a butcher block island and biparting sliders that open to the front porch toward the lake.

Other living spaces on the first floor include a full pantry, mudroom, half bath, full laundry, and a getaway space with an office and TV. A long window bench in the living room is a welcome place to read books, draw pictures, and stage summer plays. The porches and back hall lead to the shower and a lake wash-off; next door is the laundry for towels and wet bathing suits.

What We Love: This lakefront retreat is a beautifully designed gathering place where generations can come together and enjoy the natural beauty of the lake throughout the seasons. Surrounded by woods, this home offers this family the ultimate privacy and seclusion. The architects did a wonderful job of capturing the magnificent views with walls of glazing and corner windows. The custom millwork throughout adds to the overall charm and character of the home.

Tell Us: Would this home in Western Maine be your idea of the perfect family getaway home? Let us know why or why not in the Comments below!

Note: Be sure to check out a couple of other fabulous home tours that we have highlighted here on One Kindesign in the state of Maine: This rustic mountain home provides a peaceful escape in the woods of Maine and Cozy cabin with summer camp vibes on the tranquil coastline of Maine.

An open staircase to the second floor features a generous landing as a play space before leading up to the owners’ suite, two guest bedrooms, a bunk room for five, and a large Jack-and-Jill bath.

PHOTOGRAPHER Jeff Roberts Imaging