Nestled in the small fishing village of Cape Porpoise, Maine and built by a lobsterman in the 1850’s, this home was a true pleasure to renovate. From the “captain’s room” poplar cladding, to the original tin ceilings, to the glut of reclaimed lumber, the clawfoot tub, soapstone sink and original built-ins, we had a great time working with the homeowners to select finishes that complimented the age of the home and brought with them a modern functionality. We also added insulation, replaced windows and upgraded the HVAC system to increase the overall efficiency of the home.
Original tin ceilings in the kitchen and living room were preserved as was much of the original plaster. We opted to renovate this home from the outside in to minimize disturbances to features of the home that were intrinsic, while still upgrading plumbing, electrical and insulation systems. Drawers from the previous kitchen, which had been constructed out of a printing press from a local newspaper, were re-used in a custom sideboard with soapstone top, the kitchen island was clad in flooring from the same room, the soapstone kitchen sink was salvaged from the home and restored and American marble was utilized for the countertop. Whitewashed pine floors complete the look, using materials that could have been used by the lobsterman himself in the 1800’s.
In the 1800’s it was traditional for a sea captain to build a room that looked like the interior of a ship when they retired, we were able to restore the poplar bead board and create a master bedroom that transports you to another time and place.
Preserving the character while upgrading the function of this home were of supreme importance, we were able to reclaim flooring and sheathing from the home to build the kitchen island, powder room vanity, mudroom bench and various shelving throughout the home to house artifacts discovered during demolition. Many of the original doors were restored and the built-ins were made useful again. A room that had once been an almost windowless space was transformed into a 3 season sunroom, where you are able to take in the beauty of the harbor nearby. Bathroom finishes were carefully selected to fit with the era of the house, along with smaller details such as hooks and hardware.
