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Woodhull founder Caleb Johnson challenges his millworker to build cabinetry without screws or plywood for his oceanfront cottage in mid-coast Maine.
This two-story, 850-square-foot cottage overlooking the ocean in Biddeford, Maine, was exactly what architect Caleb Johnson was looking for. It’s just three miles down the road from the home he previously built for his family, where the mother of his three children still lives, so the kids could easily travel between the two.
As the founder of Woodhull, an architecture, construction, and millwork firm in Portland, Maine, Caleb was confident he could transform this odd little building that was once part of a roadside motel into a cozy beachside haven. That its mansard roof made it look like a Pizza Hut didn’t deter him. That his son said the house looked like a blowfish made him more resolute. He put in an offer immediately and got to work.
Caleb Johnson’s home in Biddeford, Maine, has a mansard roof with shakes and real hardwood tongue-and-groove siding. "I liked the idea of making this ugly duckling into something with character versus landing a modern spaceship house in an old neighborhood dominated by vinyl homes," Caleb says.
Photo: Trent Bell
Shoring Things Up
In the beginning, I thought I’d do cosmetic upgrades. Then there was a nor’easter and water poured into the house; it was not even close to watertight. Still, I didn’t want to start from scratch. The decision wasn’t linear or logical. I liked the challenge of making this ugly duckling into a great home with character.
In the primary bedroom, built-in storage is ship-like and not particularly plentiful. "I’d rather live in 850 square feet by the ocean and see the sunrise every morning than in 3,000 square feet in the suburbs," Caleb says.
Photo: Trent Bell
Old doors and mismatched hardware from an old nunnery in Massachusetts carry stories from the past forward. "There is something nice about living with reused materials and taking advantage of the hours of labor put into the old stuff we salvaged," Caleb says.
Photo: Trent Bell
See the full story on Dwell.com: Construction Diary: This Architect’s "Fugly" Beach House Has the Most Exquisitely Crafted Kitchen
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Read More
By: Marni Elyse Katz
Title: Construction Diary: This Architect’s "Fugly" Beach House Has the Most Exquisitely Crafted Kitchen
Sourced From: www.dwell.com/article/construction-diary-hills-beach-house-renovation-caleb-johnson-woodhull-maine-0dc173b3
Published Date: Tue, 06 Jun 2023 20:35:05 GMT
