Glenn Farrell Says: Completed in the spring of 2021, this new-construction home was a dream for us to work on. It sits next to a family property, allowing for a compound that will be enjoyed for generations. We created a super-insulated, cozy home using SIP panels on the roof and heaters in the ceiling. Features such as a curved bank of windows in the breakfast nook and accordion doors in the family room showcase the ocean view, while custom built-in bunk beds with nautical accents can sleep a crowd.

Tom Albertson Says: A seasonal camp sitting on the edge of Camden Harbor was transformed into an elegant year-round retreat for out-of-state owners. The original structure, which rested on concrete piers, was lifted and placed on a fully insulated foundation and capped with a standing-seam copper roof. New picture windows allow for stunning views of the harbor. Thoughtful finishes, specified by the clients, connect the interior to the outdoor surroundings, creating a serene atmosphere for gathering with family and friends.

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.

Terry Wilson Says: I am an artist who paints the Maine landscape. My husband and I went searching for property between Belfast and Bar Harbor, hoping to land in the Bar Harbor area since that is where I do most of my painting. When we found this land in Lamoine, my brain went crazy trying to design a house that would blend into the environment. Working with a local builder, I drew up plans, Hammond Lumber drafted them, and the builder made them come to life. We completed the house last year just as the snow started flying.

Christine Leary Says: We carved out this much-needed first-floor bath from a walkway connecting our 1890s house to the barn. The glass-walled walk-in shower offers ocean views and a door that leads to a deck and an outdoor shower — perfect for rinsing sandy feet and bathing under the stars. A laundry and storage area are tucked into one end of the room. Nodding to our midcoast location are photos of colorful Maine rocks from our beach, Peter Ralston’s Pentecost print, and a vintage lobster buoy.

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!

Sara Ellis Says: In the kitchen in our 1790s farmhouse, we built and stained a butcher-block island, then sealed it with beeswax. The fixture over the island was inspired by my affinity for houseplants; my husband, Kevin, built it with reclaimed rope and trim pieces removed from the old kitchen. Along the perimeter, we hand-poured concrete countertops. Around the copper sink, we built cabinetry to look like furniture that might have been found in the original home. Initially, we thought we’d have to cover up the beams to hide the plumbing and wiring, but we were able to conceal them beneath drywall installed between the beams instead.

Susan Vayda Says: Over the last 27 years, my husband, Erik Greven, and I have been planning and creating our garden landscape, originally designed by landscape architect Jerry Skinner. Much like our interior space, we have approached our landscape as individual rooms, connected with crushed-stone paths, to be discovered as one travels through. The gardens are designed to change with the seasons, beginning with many bulbs, forsythia, and magnolias in early spring. Ornamental pear trees flank the long driveway and bloom in late May. Irises, lilies, and lupines in early summer give way to bridal wreath, climbing roses, French lilacs, peonies, and potentilla. Japanese wisteria flanks the iron arbor connecting the paths. A lovely arched wooden bridge, designed and built by Erik, connects the main garden to wildflower gardens containing black-eyed Susans, daisies, and Queen Anne’s lace. Throughout the summer, many varieties of day and tiger lilies, phlox, and salvia abound. A weeping willow adorns the pond, which is surrounded by daylilies and hostas. Aside from spring cleanup and mulching, we do all the planting, weeding, and maintenance.