RACHEL CONLY SAYS: This project began with a request for a humble bunkhouse. Its breathtaking site — a bluff of spruces and pines overlooking the sea — inspired what evolved into a dramatic studio. It is divided into two distinct halves, then woven together by 1,000 square feet of cedar decking, creating complete immersion in the stunning surroundings. Designed and built to minimize its carbon footprint, the building uses siding, decking, and pergola framing of locally sawn white cedar, with seams painstakingly aligned across the walls, doors, and even the floors. Cabinetry, flooring, and trim are made of rift-sawn white oak. The result is an unforgettable, environmentally responsible building, easily up to the challenge of enduring in its seaside location.

RACHEL AMBROSE SAYS: The proportions of this gem are perfection. I love the way the posts and beams line up with the windows and all the seams and finishes match. It nestles in so beautifully with the surroundings, truly feeling as if it sprang from the ground like some kind of shoebox-shaped mushroom.

JON DREZNER SAYS: I can see spending 99 percent of my awake time on this deck, which has an awesome shower to boot! I’ll also take the super-simple, minimalist, conscientiously thought-through, detailed design, cleverly locked into the Maine bedrock and providing nothing more than one really needs.

COREY PAPADOPOLI SAYS: This Henry Austin–designed 1849 home underwent a series of makeshift renovations in the 20th century. Most notably, the livestock barn was closed off and remained unfinished. New owners sought to relocate the kitchen there, and they desired other livability improvements. The house is in a historic district, so any portion visible from the road had to retain its original character. The solution captures the essence of the house while distinguishing the new work from the 19th-century architecture. A low-profile skylight in the barn’s roof draws daylight down through a new second-floor gallery and into the kitchen. Streetside openings in the barn are filled with glass panels that are revealed when sliding wooden doors open. A stair inserted behind these openings provides access between the three floors, and the nighttime glow from these apertures animates the otherwise stoic façade. The result is a 21st-century renovation that quietly integrates with the old without sacrificing its integrity.

JON DREZNER SAYS: This is an excellent example of taking a classic Maine house and repurposing it for 2022 and beyond. It’s like restoring the shell of a classic car perfectly to last another 200-plus years, replacing the old frozen engine, and gutting and modernizing the interior for today’s and tomorrow’s enjoyment. The house is now full of light and large, open, fresh, and friendly contemporary spaces.

BILL AUSTIN SAYS: A landscape architect and an architect, my wife, Joan, and I began collaborating on our family home in 2013. The compound is sited on land that has been in Joan’s family for more than 120 years. We wanted to build a small, efficient, sustainable house that would blend into the black-spruce forest and rocky coast. We sited the house on a gentle slope, where filtered views of the St. George River, wild blueberries, bay laurel, and granite outcroppings provide a link between the built and natural environments. Since we were building the house mostly by ourselves, we kept the forms simple. The 850-square-foot structure features an all-wood interior, one bedroom, one bath, a galley kitchen, and an open living area. The simple shed roof allows for a 13-foot-high living space with full-height windows opening onto beautiful views of the water and evening sky.

TARA KELLY SAYS: It might be surprising that a preservationist appreciates contemporary design, but I’m always keeping an eye out for landmarks of the future! This house harkens back to both mid-century and vernacular architecture, using clean lines and natural materials and integrating snugly into its site.

LOI THAI SAYS: This contemporary cottage celebrates Maine living so wonderfully! There is a sense of warmth and comfort thanks to the honey-toned wood ceilings and walls — classic elements of many Maine cabins. However, the wood here feels fresh and does not overwhelm, as it is balanced by the abundance of light from walls of windows that also allow for unobstructed views.

PAUL HENDERSON SAYS: We thought we could significantly renovate an early-1900s structure, but it became clear the house was a tear-down due to flood damage. We embarked on a new build that would maximize the home’s unique features, while adhering to stringent town building codes for waterfront properties. The original home was a two-family, and the new house can function as one large home or two distinct spaces. Despite its proximity to the in-town action, when you walk in the door, you have a beautiful, open, quiet environment looking out on Mast Cove.

RACHEL AMBROSE SAYS: The designers managed to make an in-town location feel downright rural by orienting much of the home to the water side. The exterior references to the classic New England ‘big house, little house, back house, barn’ are also really well done.

LOI THAI SAYS: Rather than being one imposing structure, this large home was built to look like a series of charming cottages that have been connected and extended over the years. The various gables, dormers, and textures add distinct, but harmonious, interest.

JANICE SMITH SAYS: I’ve been drawing cabin designs on graph paper since I was in elementary school. When I finally found the right piece of land for my dream cabin, I scoured Instagram for inspiration. After I found a design that was almost perfect, Pete Long, a designer in Canada, helped me alter the plans to include a bedroom and bath. My cousin, who had recently started his own building company, brought the plans to life. My goal was to create a small escape that encourages people to disconnect and relax. The pine trim, wide-plank floors, ceilings, and beams keep it feeling like a cabin, but there are also luxury touches, like a heated bath floor and high-end furniture. My fiancé, Sean Kehoe, and I love spending at least one weekend each month at the cabin and hosting guests’ celebrations. This year, we’ll host the cabin’s first wedding — ours!

RACHEL AMBROSE SAYS: This wonderful small space has just the right amount of style and panache to be comfortable and homey for both the owners and short-term renters. It’s clear that every detail was carefully considered, yet the end result is not overwrought with design ideas. It’s beautiful and functional, just like all the best things in Maine.

MOLLY AHRENS SAYS: Growing up in New York City, I did not have a garden, but I had a windowsill full of houseplants. My favorite story was The Secret Garden, and I had been searching for one for decades when I found my house. The garden in front was a meadow of wildflowers and weeds with no definition or shape. There was also an unexpected, neglected garden in the back. It’s completely private, even though I live in the middle of a coastal Maine town. Reimagining the gardens to create a timeless, fairy-tale feeling has been an evolving process, and they have become a source of joy and a refuge. In the back garden, I incorporated an existing shed and added wrought-iron arches for climbing roses. Many plants, including English roses and a large collection of dahlias, were carefully selected for their old-fashioned beauty, forms, and colors. I have chosen plants that peak at varying times so the gardens bloom from early spring through fall.

SUSAN CRATER AND ELIZA CRATER HARRIS SAY: A garden should be a place of beauty, relaxation, and refuge, and this garden clearly is all of those for its caretaker. A gorgeous English-inspired garden with a clear direction but organic nature, it truly does give The Secret Garden impression, making the name extremely well suited.

LOI THAI SAYS: This lovely garden beckons to be explored and enjoyed. The arbors and arches invite entry. Inside, the meandering paths are bordered with a mix of flowering bulbs, perennials, shrubs, and containers that provide seasonal interest year-round.