A Charming “Year-Round” Summer Home in Maine
Published: May 19, 2026 (www.theglampad.com)
When Laura Keeler Pierce‘s clients visited Rusticator, her home furnishings shop in Seal Harbor, Maine, they felt an immediate alignment with the designer’s aesthetic. They were completing the design of their summer residence in the neighboring town, a project that ultimately lead to a second collaboration: their adjacent guest house. Yet what began as a guest home gradually evolved into their primary summer residence, a place where they now spend time throughout the year, having grown increasingly attached to it through the design process.
Located on Mount Desert Island, the vision was rooted in honoring traditional design while embracing the richness of its natural surroundings. The goal was to take a classic approach to color and pattern, then introduce a contemporary layer through thoughtful lighting and furnishings, creating a home that feels collected, timeless, and fresh. Working with the architect, Keeler & Co. designed a home that balances entertaining and retreat: an open plan for hosting, paired with quieter moments for reflection and a chance to peer out onto the expansive field of lupine and the harbor beyond.
“It was equally important to the client to accommodate extended family, pets, and an active lifestyle,” said Laura. “This led us to incorporate livable, considered details. Examples include a tucked-away nook in the mudroom for their Jack Russell Terriers and classic elements such as cabinetry built into the eaves of the primary bedroom. This latter design choice nods to traditional Maine cottages, where every inch is charmingly put to use.”
The 3,000 square foot, newly constructed Maine cottage draws from the Shingle Style tradition, thoughtfully reinterpreted by architects SaltsmanBrenzel with a fresh, contemporary sensibility, while remaining true to the summer cottage roots of the town. The intention was for the home to feel deeply rooted in Maine, as though it had always belonged to the landscape. In collaboration with the architect, Keeler & Co. incorporated interior details and nuances that lend the home its character and the authenticity of an original Maine cottage.
“We appreciated the client’s desire to remain true to the traditional roots of Northeast Harbor while bringing a more contemporary, collected sensibility to the home,” said Laura. “The couple’s family has a long and meaningful history with the island, having historically spent summers there. Since completing the home, however, they’ve found equal joy in it through the winter months as well, becoming, in their own words, ‘year-round summer people,’ a sentiment that speaks to how seamlessly the home supports life across all seasons.”
In the kitchen, designed as the heart of the home for entertaining, classic cabinetry pairs with updated hurricane-style sconces by The Urban Electric Co., striking a balance between old and new. As part of an open-concept layout, the kitchen flows seamlessly into the living room, where a striking artwork, Pearlescent Waves by Gracie, serves as both a focal point and a discreet cover for the television.
This project is layered with custom touches that reflect the family’s lifestyle in a personal and thoughtful way. The tucked-away dog “condos” are outfitted with custom beds in a Lisa Fine textile.
On the first floor, the powder room offers a more playful moment, featuring a green, patterned wallpaper by Galbraith & Paul, complemented by crisp white sconces with charming, quilted glass and a marble vanity…a space that feels both fresh and timeless.
Upstairs, the second-floor bathroom plays with juxtaposition, pairing nostalgic café curtains with a richly glazed green tile, creating a space that feels both familiar and fresh. In the bedroom hallway, the laundry is discreetly integrated into the eaves and concealed behind a striped green curtain, blending function seamlessly into the design. The client also brought an exceptional eye to the project, curating the shelving throughout the home herself, which added a final, personal layer that makes the space feel truly complete.
“The client had been especially excited about a specific tile for the second-floor bathroom, but ongoing supply chain challenges made it difficult to source in time for installation,” Laura shared. “Through a combination of persistence and good fortune, the couple ultimately discovered the perfect green tile themselves, turning what could have been a setback into a meaningful, collaborative moment between the client and the design team.”
“Working with this family is a true pleasure,” said Laura. “They bring a strong sense of place, shaped by their long history on the island, along with a willingness to thoughtfully push the design. The result is a home that feels like an authentic and personal reflection of who they are.”