Best New Home/Modern: Near Maine’s Acadia National Park, a glorious payoff--unforgettable views of the ocean’s dynamic edge.
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Photograph by Brian Vanden Brink; styling by Janice Dunwoody
Rose and Ron Dennis had specific goals for their Trenton, Maine, home when they approached William M. Hanley at A4 Architects in Bar Harbor: uninterrupted ocean views, low maintenance, privacy, and energy efficiency.
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Photograph by Brian Vanden Brink; styling by Janice Dunwoody
“Ron and Rose had a mature understanding of Modernism, and that drove a lot of the initial design,” says Hanley, the project architect. “We could have created a blob that was sinuous and undefined and flowing, but that wasn’t what they communicated. They like corners instead of curves.”
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Photograph by Brian Vanden Brink; styling by Janice Dunwoody
They had a clear aesthetic in mind — a sleek and modern look with an open floor plan.
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Photograph by Brian Vanden Brink; styling by Janice Dunwoody
The resulting home is extraordinary in its openness to the sea, with floor-to-ceiling windows — essentially glazed walls — along the water-facing side.
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Photograph by Brian Vanden Brink; styling by Janice Dunwoody
Plenty of outdoor space and windows with uninterrupted views were paramount.
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Photograph by Brian Vanden Brink; styling by Janice Dunwoody
On a high-canopied deck, Rose Dennis relaxes by the wood-burning fireplace.
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Photograph by Brian Vanden Brink; styling by Janice Dunwoody
The dining room’s glass walls look out to the sea.
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Photograph by Brian Vanden Brink; styling by Janice Dunwoody
The couple wanted to retain the sense of the family camp. To that end, the kitchen, dining area, and living space are contiguous and open.
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Photograph by Brian Vanden Brink; styling by Janice Dunwoody
The master bedroom opens to an ocean-side deck.
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Photograph by Brian Vanden Brink; styling by Janice Dunwoody
The rectangular motif continues inside, but with a softer feel, owing to the warm, natural materials in flooring, cabinetry, and case goods made from clear, select ash, furthering the connection to the site, says Hanley. (Ash trees grow on the property.)
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Photograph by Brian Vanden Brink; styling by Janice Dunwoody
The windows are low-lead, which means tint-free, with exceptional clarity.
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Photograph by Brian Vanden Brink; styling by Janice Dunwoody
Chic furnishings and high-end amenities are a reminder that although close to nature, you are not roughing it.
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Photograph by Brian Vanden Brink; styling by Janice Dunwoody
One fortunate and initially unforeseen feature is how surrounding trees’ shadows play on the house. “We started noticing that during construction. The sun is so low in winter, and there are a lot of mature trees on the property. Elongated shadows began raking across the elevations,” says Hanley.
