Sarah’s Blog

harbor with small islands

How I Live Here

Thoughts on Home

In a collection of essays titled How We Do It in the March issue of Down East, writers answer the eternal question about life in Maine that I had long ago — what on earth do these people do here? — with wit and bracing clarity. Here’s my How We Do It story.

Read More
Snow Angel

A Fresh Start

Living on an Island

Laura Serino explains how her family overcame its clutter problem in five simple steps.

Read More
white kitchen

My Kitchen’s Five Minutes

Kitchen Reno

Experts like Tyler Karu and Erin Little have ways of making just about any room look fabulous. Here’s a closer look at how they pulled off some truly lovely shots of my own kitchen.

Read More
In Defense of January

In Defense of January

Sarah's Blog

It’s only January — the road ahead is long (and probably treacherously icy), but for now, I’m trying to look at the bright side of these darkest days of the year.

Read More

Ask An Islander

Living on an Island

As a young(ish) person living year-round on remote North Haven island, I field a lot of how/why do you do it-type questions from mainlanders. I get it — I’ve spent most of my life dwelling in cities and suburbs and once had these same questions myself. Here’s how I respond to the FAQs. Have a […]

Read More
Cushing Glass House

You Could Stay Here

Maine Places

When I was a kid, my happiest summer week was the one when we packed up our minivan and headed for a rental on Long or Sebago Lake. Rather than invest in a camp, my parents liked to try out different spots — and leave at the end of our stay without worrying about paying […]

Read More
Holiday decorating

Simplifying the Season

Home Design

Seven years ago, I hit a holiday low. Our first son was six months old and I was dragging him around the house in a bouncy seat while I draped garlands, set up small, lighted trees, and arranged holly branches on the sideboard and china cabinet. Not content to simply gaze adoringly at me while […]

Read More

Miracle on Grant Farm Road

Living on an Island

Note to anyone who is currently building a house or in the process of renovating: if you’d like to set a hard deadline for wrapping things up, invite five people to stay in your home for the holidays. We’re hosting our first Christmas this year. My sister and her boyfriend are flying in from California, […]

Read More

You Could Live Here

Maine Places

“Maine camp” has many different meanings. To some, it’s simply a retreat in a beautiful setting. Others reference a rudimentary structure with minimal modern conveniences. For the purposes of this roundup of camps currently on the market here, I have stuck to smallish, rustic buildings with electricity, running water, ocean or lake access, and plenty […]

Read More

On Toddy Pond

Maine Places

Living in a city, I have grown accustomed to a certain amount of noise. When I’m outside, the sounds of birdcalls, barking dogs, leaf blowers, and car engines tend to meld into a kind of background music I barely even notice. By contrast, when we visit my in-laws’ place in Surry (population 1,466), I am […]

Read More