Barber Residence
Western Maine

This waterfront residence responds to the daily rhythms of the site and the life rhythms of a couple approaching retirement. Porches, decks, bay windows and alcoves offer a variety of vantage points for enjoying lake, woodland and field, as well as local flora and fauna from trillium to bald eagles. A week-end and vacation home for now, Internet access and other amenities facilitate telecommuting and ultimately transition to a primary home.

The owners’ active engagement in the design process included sourcing materials. The reclaimed barn timbers in the exposed framing, the locally milled fir floor and trim, the fireplace keystone from the lake, the kitchen tiles hand-painted with loons and blue heron—enhance the sense of place and personal connection to the home.