Whitten Architects has designed this beautiful camp-inspired house as an oasis for a busy family from Boston, nestled in the woods on Pleasant Lake in Otisfield, Maine. The Lakes and Mountains region in Western Maine is made up of majestic mountain ranges, hundreds of pristine glacial lakes, and historic towns. An hour north of Portland, and home to Maine’s ski resorts, the region is a year-round destination.
On the property of a former girls’ summer camp, a professional couple with young children sought to create a lakefront four-season retreat on their family property. The parents’ existing cottage and their adult children’s home share a common driveway and waterfront. They visually relate to one another while maintaining their own identity and privacy.
DESIGN DETAILS: ARCHITECT Whitten Architects CONTRACTOR R.P. Morrison Builders LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Emma Kelly Landscape STRUCTURAL ENGINEER Albert Putnam Associates INTERIOR CONSULTANT Krista Stokes
Upon entering the property between stone piers, an alley of 70-year-old white pines leads to the waterfront site. Due to the dense tree cover and the owners’ 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. Their site-specific design planned for an open space between the camps on the inland side for family games and interaction.
The homeowners were actively involved in the design process, drawing inspiration from turn-of-the-century waterfront camps and their Maine roots. They sought a house with a traditional appearance compatible with the parents’ camp and a modern, open floor plan featuring ample light, wood finishes, and exposed post-and-beam structure.
The home features an exposed timber frame, wood floors, ceiling, 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.
Above: The first floor features an open-plan living and dining space designed to invite spaciousness and light. Its walls and ceiling are made of horizontal nickel-gap white pine boards, and knotty white oak flooring. The ceiling beams are oiled Douglas fir.
Creating a direct connection between indoor and outdoor spaces was a key part of the design. The wrapped and screened porches provide plenty of play space on rainy days. 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.
Above: The dining area features a salvaged wood farmhouse extension dining table sourced from Restoration Hardware. The Colt low back side chairs are from O&G Studio, while the hand-forged iron Hadley Pendant is from Ballard Designs.
Above: This generous kitchen features perimeter cabinets painted in Farrow & Ball – Green Smoke No.43. The countertops are White Macaubas Quartzite, a Brazilian granite of whites with deep random charcoal veins. The butcher block island is topped with solid white oak planks. Bi-parting 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: Whitten Architects perfectly captured the spectacular views with walls of glass and corner windows in this camp-inspired lake house. The custom millwork creates a charming symbiosis throughout, featuring a beautiful blend of natural and painted elements. For the owners, this home provides a wonderful family gathering space where generations can come together to enjoy the natural beauty of Pleasant Lake throughout the seasons.
Tell Us: Would this modern camp-inspired lake house be your idea of the ultimate family getaway? Let us know in the Comments below; we love reading your feedback!
Note: Check out a couple of other sensational home tours that we have highlighted here on One Kindesign in the state of Maine: This Maine summer camp offers a fabulous getaway on Long Lake and This rustic mountain home provides a peaceful escape in the woods of Maine.
Above: In the living room, a reading nook provides the best seat in the house for enjoying seasonal changes, such as summer rainstorms and winter snowfalls. The paint color is Farrow & Ball -Black Blue No.95.
Above: A worn Moroccan print rug grounds the seating area of this cozy living room. A traditional fireplace is made from fieldstones and hand-split granite slabs mined from the site.
Above: A hand-split granite ledge provides additional seating to this cozy screened porch. The exposed Douglas fir rafters connect this interior space to the outdoors. This space allows for adult entertaining and a play area for the kids, no matter the weather outdoors.
Above: An open staircase to the second level features a generous landing as a play space before leading to the owner’s bedroom suite, two guest bedrooms, a bunk bedroom that sleeps five, and a spacious Jack-and-Jill bath. Wool blankets from Hudson Bay hang over the railing. Nickel-gap pine boards run up the stairs, creating an accent wall against the budget-friendly sheetrock.
Above: The kid’s bunk room provides a cozy alcove for reading and sleeping.
The house 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.
PHOTOGRAPHER Jeff Roberts Imaging
2 comments