Houzz Tour: Beloved Family Camp Spirit Lives On in New Cabins
A design-build firm helps make room for the next generation while keeping rustic Maine camp nostalgia alive
This woodsy lakeside camp in Maine had always been about gathering with family, encouraging time spent outdoors and providing a retreat from the daily demands of life. When Carden Welsh’s parents, who bought the property in the 1960s, decided to pass the torch to him and his wife, Anne, he became the steward of a place that was meaningful to his parents, his three siblings and the 14 members of the youngest generation. All told there were 22 family members who would be staying here at the same time. Unfortunately, the family had outgrown the original cabin, and mold issues made saving it unfeasible.
Having spent every summer of his life here, Carden knew the feeling he and the rest of his family wanted for the spot. “Capturing the essence of the original camp drove the design,” says Amanda Cleary of Caleb Johnson Studio, the firm that designed and built the new cabins. Because moisture and mold issues had brought the original cabin to the end of its useful life, the siting and design of two new cabins prioritized function, comfort and nostalgia. Just not too much comfort — more on that later.
Having spent every summer of his life here, Carden knew the feeling he and the rest of his family wanted for the spot. “Capturing the essence of the original camp drove the design,” says Amanda Cleary of Caleb Johnson Studio, the firm that designed and built the new cabins. Because moisture and mold issues had brought the original cabin to the end of its useful life, the siting and design of two new cabins prioritized function, comfort and nostalgia. Just not too much comfort — more on that later.
The architects kept the buildings lower, with story-and-a-half designs. Gabled roofs with dormers allowed for the second stories while keeping things cozy. The exterior mixes cedar and hemlock siding and trim, with a standing-seam metal roof.
“We wanted to make it functional but also allow moments for expression,” Cleary says. One example of the expression is in these posts. Turned on a lathe, they contain the birthdays of Carden and his parents, carved in Morse code.
A hunk of Maine granite forms the lower step up to the door.
A hunk of Maine granite forms the lower step up to the door.
A communal-style living environment with small bedrooms encourages everyone to be out in the main living areas: the kitchen, the living room and, most important, the outdoors. They designed one cabin to serve as the main gathering spot for the whole group. The second cabin is geared more toward sleeping.
Expansive windows make the views of the lake and woods the star. Exposed beams on the ceiling, pine floors and lightly pickled pine walls complement the outdoor views.
Expansive windows make the views of the lake and woods the star. Exposed beams on the ceiling, pine floors and lightly pickled pine walls complement the outdoor views.
The homeowners completed most of the interior design, maintaining the feel from the previous camp. The black river stone fireplace and sectional sofa encourage gathering for conversation and games. So does the lack of a TV. The team crafted the mantel from a leftover hemlock beam.
As part of the communal feel, the family and dining areas are open to the kitchen.
“The ceilings reveal all the structural wood. We had to find ways to tuck in the mechanicals in between the joists,” Cleary says. “A finished-looking cabin was not the goal here.”
“The ceilings reveal all the structural wood. We had to find ways to tuck in the mechanicals in between the joists,” Cleary says. “A finished-looking cabin was not the goal here.”
Caleb Johnson Studio completed all the cabinetry in its shop. Slab cabinet fronts suit the simplicity of the cabin. They are white oak veneer, finished with a green that complements the evergreen views out the windows. The orange pendant lights are a nod to the orange shed.
Cabinet paint: Steamed Spinach, Benjamin Moore
Cabinet paint: Steamed Spinach, Benjamin Moore
While the cabins are meant to be functional and comfortable, the family didn’t want to stray too far from the comfort level of camping. “They wanted limited luxuries and wanted to rough it a bit. They were really specific about keeping the upgrades minimal,” Cleary says. For example, they decided to put dishwasher versus washing machine to a family vote. Dishwasher won out, with the family agreeing that it was there to spend time together, not to do laundry (and apparently not to hand-wash dishes either).
In addition to family heirlooms, family photos are an important part of the decor. Over the dining table are photos of the generations gathered at the camp. To the right, a bar alcove provides a spot to grab a drink outside the work area of the kitchen.
The first floor of the main cabin also includes this primary bedroom and a bunk room. There are three bedrooms upstairs.
The team designed the bedrooms to be as efficient as possible. For example, this bed has drawers for clothing storage in its base, and the walls have hooks that accommodate fishing gear.
The team designed the bedrooms to be as efficient as possible. For example, this bed has drawers for clothing storage in its base, and the walls have hooks that accommodate fishing gear.
In this bedroom, the headboard doubles as a bookshelf and nightstand surface.
The dormers and gabled roof create cozy angles in many of the bedrooms.
Green cabinetry continues in the bathrooms. The slate floor and granite countertops add to the natural look. And a trough sink with two faucets helps with the number of people staying at the camp.
One detail to note in this photo of the second-story hallway is that the bedroom doors have transom windows over them. This strategy shares natural light between the hallway and the bedrooms. The whitewashed pine walls also add a lightness. “The whitewashing made things light and bright but still kept it rustic,” Cleary says.
The second cabin has more of a communal playroom area than a family room. It includes a bedroom, a bunk room, a bathroom, a sleeping loft and a sleeping porch.
A kitchenette with a mini fridge, microwave, coffeemaker and sink makes it easy to make coffee and heat up a pastry in the morning. But its relative lack of amenities is meant to draw everyone over to the main living space for meals together.
Perhaps the most coveted sleeping spot in camp is the sleeping porch off the back of the second house. It’s perfect for breezy overnights or afternoon naps. Note the slatted rails around the bottom of the porch, which keep pets and people from damaging or falling through the screens.
Here, two of the original owners’ 14 grandchildren can be seen enjoying the outdoors, just as the designers and new stewards intended.
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Cabins at a Glance
Who lives here: This is an extended family’s vacation property
Location: Limington, Maine
Size: 2,700 square feet (251 square meters); seven sleeping bedrooms, three bathrooms
Architect: David Duncan Morris, Teresa Telander and Leah Schaffer of Caleb Johnson Studio
Contractor and carpenter: Woodhull of Maine
The site and the context influenced the size and placement of the new structures. Amid the other properties in the area, one house that could sleep 20 people would have looked obnoxious in scale. Instead, the architects broke it down into two structures.
The orange shed seen behind the two houses is part of the original camp. The color was chosen by Carden’s Norwegian-Danish mother, who took her inspiration from brightly colored summer cottages in Norway. The architects carried the orange to the new cabins on elements like the exterior trim, some of the light fixtures and accents such as throw pillows.
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