Located along the Ogunquit River, this picturesque property has been a beloved family retreat for four generations. The timeworn summer cottage, that held over seventy-years of loving memories, had lots of character, but the condition of the house could not sustain future generations, nor could it accommodate the growing family tree. The house would need to be razed, but not before carefully cataloging the most cherished features. The homeowner wanted to maintain the ocean views from the wide porch that wrapped the back of the house, as well as the connected four-season porch. They wanted to keep the big lawn in the backyard untouched for kids to play.

The homeowner prioritized that each of their children and grandchildren would have a bed to sleep in; in total they would need beds for over 25 guests. The home’s footprint was stretched to include an accessible first floor primary bedroom four family suites upstairs, a girls’ bunkroom and a boys’ bunkroom, each with four double bunkbeds and a bathroom for their grandchildren.

Open-concept living areas were necessary to keep the high density of guests comfortable when the house is at full capacity, but also create some sense of privacy. Cozy nooks and intimate family rooms create private spaces for family to relax on their own, or for smaller groups of guests to congregate. Providing a second floor strictly for guests, while keeping the primary bedroom on the first floor, kept the less frequently used rooms out-of-sight when not in use.

This carefully designed home with its family-oriented features will provide continued enjoyment for generations to come.