Rheanna Sinnett, of Just Add Water Floating Camps, says: Floating camp Roam is a simple, but well-equipped, custom-built, scow-hull houseboat that lives happily on Rangeley Lake. She offers all aboard the simple feel of a tiny house, the aquatic intimacy of a houseboat, and the natural connection of camping in one perfectly appointed floating space. Featuring reclaimed and upcycled materials, along with custom woodwork and artistic details, Roam is flawlessly designed to integrate naturally into her pristine surroundings on this western Maine lake.

Laurel LaBauve says: This 1920s farmhouse was a maze of small rooms, which didn’t work well for an energetic young family. By opening up the walls and adding a gas fireplace, millwork, and antique beams, we created a perfect spot for the owners to spend time with their baby. 

Augusto and Kay Rosa say: We designed this summerhouse for a Washington, D.C.–area family with three young children. They wanted a modern, low-maintenance house with an open plan. The kitchen is part of a great room and presents modern lines contrasted with warm, natural finishes. Ample base cabinets allow for an uncluttered visual above the countertops, as well as the use of the southern walls to maximize light and views of Seal Cove Pond. Polished concrete floors run through the whole living area and complement the light maple cabinetry and Fantasy Brown granite countertops and backsplash. The kitchen is practical and mingles well with the rest of the great room. 

Matt Elliott says: We combined a simple palette of materials — limestone, maple, and frosted glass — to create this serene bath. Natural light comes in above the shower and is diffused through frosted glass, lending an ethereal quality to the space. The materials are rich but do not compete; rather, they play off one another in subtle ways.

Don Hawkes, of Wright-Ryan Homes, says: A client with a passion for gardening weighed in heavily on the materials and plantings that surround her shingled island home. Terraced landscaping helps feather the building into its sloped site. Tucked among the fieldstone retaining walls and weathered granite paths, garden beds brim with plants that attract pollinators, such as lavender, Nepeta, phlox, and Verbena bonariensis.

Rheanna Sinnett says: Floating camp Nomad is a simple, but comfortably equipped, meticulously renovated 1968 Thunderbird Drift-R-Cruz Houseboat that calls Rangeley Lake his home. This happy houseboat offers all aboard the simple feel of a tiny house, the aquatic intimacy of a houseboat, and the natural connection of camping in one perfectly appointed floating space. Reimagined with upcycled and reclaimed materials, along with custom woodwork and artistic details, Nomad is flawlessly designed to integrate naturally into his pristine surroundings on this western Maine lake.

Kathryn Knight-Wise says: I moved back to Maine from New York City a year ago. It took me a year to find this cottage on a cove in Yarmouth. I wanted it to be cozy but also take advantage of the water view. To bring the outside in, I used a palette of navy and soft blue, silver, and gray. The mirrored coffee table and a large mirror over the sofa add shine. I have a small collection of blue porcelain, which I use to change up the look. And in the fall, I bring in tartan pillows and a Burberry plaid throw.

Mary Davis says: Our kitchen overlooking the Passagassawakeag River was conceived according to the principles of universal design. The prep area is efficiently placed in a corner between the sink and stove. From this spot, spices, utensils, pots and pans (arranged on open shelving at the end of the island), trash and compost bins, and recycling bins (tucked into a lazy Susan) are within easy reach. The countertops and custom Belfast sink, which has a drainage hole at one end, are hard-to-find Scottish Meadow granite with garnet highlights that pick up the cherry floors. I hand-colored a nautical map of the midcoast with a gray that matches the granite and had it printed on Travertine tile to create an aged look and a focal point over the stove. 

Susan Greven Vayda says: When my husband, Erik Greven, and I purchased our home on 1.7 acres 24 years ago, there was no landscaping. Now, the floor-to-ceiling windows in our breakfast room overlook this scene. Our landscape designer, Jerri Stone, drew up the plans and supervised the construction process. Erik designed and built the four pentagon-shaped planters that surround the Horta (Etruscan goddess of gardens) water fountain. Flowers vary depending on the season. This photo was taken in June, when the lovely Zesting Lemons bearded iris is blooming. Erik installed a stone path that leads from the planters to a wrought-iron, triple-arched pergola where magnolia, wisteria, and climbing roses bloom. From here, the path leads to a small pond with a willow tree and Adirondack chairs at right, and an arched bridge similar to the one in Monet’s Giverny paintings at left. Because our property includes a swale to help navigate water during heavy rains, Erik designed the bridge for both practical and aesthetic purposes. Beds of bulbs, perennials, and flowering shrubs flank the paths. In the distance, one can see the large wildflower garden that blooms throughout the summer.