This home is located in Northport, nestled along the beautiful Mid-Coast of Maine, just a few miles outside of Camden. “My husband and I first discovered the area during a long road trip up the coast—our very first visit to Maine, actually,” says designer Kim Duensing. “Coming from Southern California, the contrast was striking. There’s something incredibly grounding about the raw, rugged beauty of the coastline here. The landscape has this wild, unfiltered energy that’s both invigorating and deeply inspiring.”

Halfway through the trip, the couple stopped to look at a property that was on the market. “The existing structure was in rough shape—really dilapidated—but the setting was absolutely magical,” Kim recalls. “Ten acres of wide, open meadow connected to a private beach. We could immediately see the potential for a multi-generational, legacy retreat.”

They envisioned the property as a family holiday home, and the design came to life around inviting communal areas for gathering, as well as quiet nooks for moments of reflection. “We were mindful to provide each room with a direct and intimate experience with the raw nature of the outdoors,” Kim shares.

It was a full, down-to-the-studs renovation. “We drew the architectural floor plans, elevations, lighting plans, cabinetry plans, etc., and selected all of the design elements and materials,” the designer tells us. “We worked with a local builder and also brought in some of our own specialty subcontractors from California.”

The biggest challenge, Kim says, was transforming a very disjointed footprint into a cohesive, architecturally compelling home. “At some point in the 1980s, a long commercial building had been attached to the original ranch-style structure,” she recalls. “The two were awkwardly combined, with mismatched windows of various sizes and styles placed seemingly at random.” By redistributing the rooms and aligning the windows with the surrounding landscape, they gave each space a direct connection to the outdoors—both visually and experientially.

Kim also made a conscious decision to depart from the expected features of a traditional Maine ranch-style home, instead calling on clean, modern lines. “We then blended those lines with organic materials: wood, natural stone, and unlacquered brass finishes that only get better with time,” she explains.

“The goal was to create an approachable, earthy vibe perfectly balanced with a sense of refined, luxurious sophistication,” she continues. “Much of this was achieved by integrating handcrafted appointments throughout the project. Local artisans were commissioned to build the intricate woodwork and cabinetry, and a renowned shipbuilder was brought in to craft the steel hood for the range.”

The project took 18 months from the initial design sketch to completion. It stands today as a place where generations can gather, recharge, and be inspired by Maine’s wild beauty.