Formerly a 1980s cottage with a compartmentalized layout, this Biddeford Pool home has been thoughtfully redesigned to open up toward the surrounding ocean landscape. The transformation balances family history with modern coastal living—warm, open, and ready for what’s next.
Project Details
DESIGN TEAM
Chris Garland, Studio Project Manager
David Duncan Morris, Principal Architect
BUILD TEAM
Danny Veerkamp, Project Manager
Maslen Flett, Superintendent
MILLWORK TEAM
Woodhull
LOCATION
Biddeford, Maine
PHOTOGRAPHY
Trent Bell Photography
SERVICES
A new chapter.
There was deep sentiment behind the handoff of this cottage. Built by our client’s uncle, the home had served as a gathering place for the family for decades. But after years of environmental shifts and rising tides, it was clear that meaningful renovations were needed to ensure its longevity. The building’s idiosyncratic form, paired with strict coastal regulations, called for thoughtful and budget-conscious decisions. Rather than start from scratch, the approach was to embrace the quirks that give the house its character, refining what made it distinctive while preparing it for the future.
Let the view lead.
Major interventions were required to secure the cottage for the long term. With rising waters and a sensitive coastal environment, the house needed to be elevated by at least three feet. The structure was lifted, temporarily relocated, and set back down on new pilings, an undertaking that raised a few eyebrows at first but quickly proved its value when two Nor’easters flooded neighboring homes while the in-progress project remained untouched. Work resumed just a day after the storms passed.
Inside, the renovation reoriented the plan to take full advantage of the setting. The kitchen was relocated to buffer the road, while the main living spaces now open onto the deck and waterviews beyond. A modest addition created room for a pantry and office, and the second floor was reconfigured to include three bedrooms, a bunkroom, and two bathrooms. Throughout, materials were kept simple and durable. Maple floors, white walls, and cedar shingles allow the coastal landscape to remain the focus.
Room to grow.
Subtle nods to the home’s history remain throughout. The original loft ladder was repurposed into bunk beds, and a hand-drawn septic sketch was preserved inside the new mechanical closet, a quiet reminder of the home’s origins. A rebuilt deck, refreshed shed, and outdoor shower support everyday coastal living, while honoring the memories already rooted here. Thoughtfully updated and built to endure, the cottage is ready for its next chapter of family summer.
