custom furniture, kitchens, and baths by fineartistmade

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Samuel de Champlain's 1613 map, Isle de sainte Croix. Red beach Cove upper left

The Cottage (part 1)

July 31, 2019

We celebrated the start of summer with the completion of our latest project; a kitchen/pantry renovation in a 100+ year old cottage, in the sleepy Calais suburb of Red Beach. Situated on the St. Croix River around a sheltered cove and first-rate mill stream, one would never suspect driving through this quiet residential district today, that it was once a vibrant, prosperous, self-sufficient community.

 
Our Perry house was built by Nathaniel & Mary Golding c.1893. Their youngest son, Jim is pictured in the foreground c.1898.

Restoration Tales

September 7, 2018

This year our 1890's restored farmhouse was really starting to show her age. After all, it's been nearly 15 years since her last paint job. So, following a relaxing spring sojourn in our old stomping ground, Sag Harbor, we decided it was time to 'pencil her in.' And what better time to 'pretty her up' than to coincide with the celebration of our adopted hometown's 200th birthday.

 
The historic Holmestead circa 1856.

Summer Newsletter

August 19, 2017

Our latest kitchen and pantry project in the historic, circa 1850, Benjamin R. Jones home in Dennysville and detailed in the blog, 'Square Nails and Tells', now has its finishing touches. Our clients took a trip down to historic Little Compton, RI and the Antique Stove Hospital to pick up their freshly rehabilitated kitchen stove.

 

Leaving Well Enough Alone

August 15, 2017

With the kitchen restoration in our project home, a circa 1850, Dennysville cape, nearing completion, our focus turned to a bathroom on the first floor of the main house. The room, that likely once served as a small bedroom (sometimes called the "birthing room") was turned into a bathroom, in the late 1920s by members of the Leighton family.

 
Our recreated 1930s kitchen photographed by Michael D. Wilson for Down East magazine.

From our kitchen to yours

June 1, 2017

We are pleased to announce that our restored 1890s farmhouse is featured in the June issue of the Maine based publication, Down East magazine. Just after the holidays we were contacted by the magazine's senior editor, Virginia Wright who pitched us her idea.

 
Straightening antique square nails to use for pantry shelves.

Square Nails and Tells (part 2)

May 29, 2017

Early in the home's history, probably as an afterthought, a door was cut between the pantry and the summer kitchen likely to provide a more direct route between the two. In the 1950s renovation, when the pantry was turned into a dining room, part of the wall was cut out to enlarge that doorway.

 
Looking into the kitchen from the restored pantry.

Square Nails and Tells (part 1)

May 28, 2017

It's good that our current kitchen restoration is almost finished, as we have nearly depleted our stash of assorted antique square nails. For the sake of authenticity, they've been 'driven' into a new home; the historic c.1850, Benjamin R. Jones house, in Dennysville, on the town road leading to the Narrows.

 
Eastport and the Passamaquoddy c.1839

Season's Greetings

December 21, 2016

Looking over the last year we realized that we'd spent most of 2016 working largely on various versions of Maine's ubiquitous Cape. With construction dates ranging from 1835 to 1850 all were planted near water, the preferred avenue of transportation until the early 20th century.

 
Our farmhouse on Boyden Lake this June with lupines in full bloom.

Hello Out There

August 6, 2016

Several projects in our home-workshop gave us the chance to enjoy our lakeside farm here in coastal Maine - and what a lovely summer it has been. We also got a nice complement when a Toronto based production company casting for a new design and renovation show in development for HGTV expressed an interest. We of course already have quite a full plate between time in our studios and business activities.

 
View of Boston Common c.1750, sampler by Hannah Otis with the beacon on Beacon Hill and the stone mansion, built in 1737 by merchant Thomas Hancock - it is thought his nephew, John Hancock, is depicted on horseback.

The Old Hancock House

July 23, 2016

For the past year we've been on the hunt for an antique door for a restoration project. Our search through architectural salvage yards and antique shops down the coast of Maine came up empty, so we placed a want ad in a local newspaper.

 
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