Where does molly in maine live?

Says Molly, “When I retired from my career with the federal government  in 2017 we sold that home and moved to Maine. I have always loved interior design and this home has been my crowning achievement! The colors and many of the accessories in the home were chosen to reflect the natural views out the many large windows. This house is all about the water view!”

A complete gut renovation of the 450 square foot guest cottage was the starting point and when that was finished, Molly made it her temporary living quarters, with her two dogs and cats, for six months until they could move into the new house.

“It’s no secret that I love a good collection. Or that one of my favorite pastimes is perusing antique stores or spending the morning at an auction, hoping to score a new “treasure” to add another layer to my home. But all this is really not about things, but about feelings. I want to create a home with warmth and depth — one that welcomes and embraces. A haven during these difficult times. A place that reminds me of family and friends”, says Molly.

Molly says some of her favorite things in the foyer include “A mirror gifted to me by my children which brings back memories of happy family vacations on Nantucket. Beach stones I collected topping the posts on the stairs. Spring branches atop a blue painted chest. The treasured collection of antique blue and white transferware I inherited from my mom.”

One of Molly’s favorite things about the house is being able to see straight to the water when you walk through the front door.

An antique map dating to 1910 fits perfectly in this Maine home.

Molly says, “I was really fortunate to acquire some antique furniture and accessories from my parents’ home when they downsized. I love to go to antique stores and shows and local estate auctions and have found some unique pieces for the home. I love coastal style, casual living, and the color blue.”

This light filled family room is awash in natural light.

Molly says, “I have a thing for whimsically painted antique cottage furniture. So it was obviously love at first sight for me when I saw this piece, with its faux wood grain paint and sweet pastoral scenes, at a local auction. I didn’t care that it is missing a knob on one drawer. Well, I guess not everyone shares my love for this kind of furniture — or more accurately no one does. I was the only bidder and walked out of there with this special piece for only $30!”

“The see-through stone gas fireplace that anchors the downstairs living and dining areas was made from locally quarried stone that was used for fill and unearthed when the basement was dug.  It is a work of art and the old stone has such character,” says Molly.

Pine beams, bead board ceiling in the kitchen, and tongue and groove paneling in several areas of the house give this new house an old home feel.

The pot rack hanging over the stove was made from plumbing fittings.

“I have no background in interior design”, says Molly, “but it is something that I have always loved. Color and pattern make me happy and I am always game to look for antique and vintage treasures!”

The blue pantry cabinet was painted the same color as the sapphire blue range (which Molly named BlueBelle)!

A unique collection of vintage fish moulds is displayed on a kitchen wall.

The reclaimed pine table in the dining area was made by a local craftsman and pairs nicely with blue and white French bistro chairs.

A collection of fish plates creates a whimsical plate wall that wraps around the corner of the dining room.

Another stunning collection of fish plates is tucked into an antique pine hutch.

It’s all about the view!

Blue penny tile and bold Serena and Lily wallpaper add a modern touch to this blue and white bathroom complete with antique pew and mirror.

One of Molly’s favorite areas of the house is the dog washing station. She says, “this dog shower allows Maddie and Cisco to live their best Maine lives — romping through the field and down by the water — while I am able to maintain a clean house and my sanity!”

Upstairs, a bold patterned floral wallpaper adds a graphic punch against darker blue walls.

The master bedroom is filled with some of Molly’s favorite things including a painting of one of her dogs.

“The antique painted cottage headboard is part of a set I found at a local antiques store. I had it made into a queen-size bed by adding the posts,” says Molly.

Molly says, “My collection of Sailor’s Valentines was the very first thing I hung on the walls of our home here in Maine. These are all made by contemporary artists and were purchased for the most part on Nantucket. This art form dates to the late 18th century, though, when sailors would buy them primarily in Barbados as souvenirs after being away at sea to bring home to their loved ones. The intricate designs are made out of tiny shells! They are one of my most treasured collections.”

The mirror was one of the first purchases made for the house, long before the house was complete, and Molly loves using antique mirrors in bathrooms.

A gallery wall of vintage ship paintings continue the coastal theme into one of the bedrooms.

Wood floors were painted blue in this classic coastal bathroom.

The original run down house was knocked down to make room for the new house while the little guest house on the right got an interior makeover.

Says Molly, “Our guest cottage is just 450 square feet of one room living. I used furniture groupings grounded by area rugs to delineate the different functional spaces. That is the small dining area in the left corner with a table that also doubles as a desk. The sleeping nook is in the opposite corner, and the kitchenette behind the sofa.”

Sunsets on the water create breathtaking colors.

Molly is an amateur gardener and has been learning as she goes. She planted 20 Limelight hydrangeas surrounding the back deck as well as a wildflower meadow  and a lower lawn area with a stone fire pit bordered with marsh grass next to the water and says, “Each year I tackle a different area of the property — there are years of work ahead of me!”

“This outdoor area is all about keeping things natural — cedar furniture , an old lobster trap table, and a table made from a piece of driftwood. The oar above the window washed up on our shoreline, and I found the shutters at a local antiques mall”, says Molly.

Molly says, “The list of accomplishments is long. But so is the list of things yet to be done. So I will keep laboring, in love, to achieve the dream I had in my minds eye when I first saw this place I now oh-so-gratefully call home.”

Today’s home tour is chock-a-block full of collectible eye candy and is a coastal home in Maine. The minute that you see the location you’ll know why Molly chose to leave her home state and start a new adventure here!

Meet homeowner Molly, who has a great eye for collecting and for interior design! I’ve known her for sometime now on Instagram as Molly In Maine and always enjoy when she comes up in my feed. Let’s get to know her a bit better and this post is full of photos that I hope you love as much as I do!

“I’m Molly, and am married with three grown children (two girls and a boy).  My husband, John, works in California, so most of the time it is just me here with our two dogs Maddie and Cisco and two cats Izzie and Tuck.  Maddie loves to pose for the camera, so you can see her in many photos!  We lived in Maryland for 28 years.  When I retired from my career with the federal government  in 2017 we sold that home and I moved to Maine.”

“Two of our children went to Colby College here in Maine and that is when I fell in love with this beautiful state, its people and way of life.  We bought this property in 2016.  I like to say I bought a view with two tiny rundown seasonal cottages attached to it! Our house is located in the MidCoast area of Maine — about halfway between Portland and Bar Harbor.”

“During the winter of 2017 we did a complete renovation of the guest cottage by the road.”

“Starting at the end of 2017 we began construction on the main house.  The original cottage by the water was demolished and the location of the house was moved back just outside the required 75-ft coastal set-back line.  The house was custom designed by a local architect and I chose all the interior finishes — flooring, ceiling trim, tile, lighting, kitchen cabinetry and counters, hardware, etc.”

“We sold our home in Maryland in the spring of 2018 and I moved into the 450 sq ft guest cottage with our two dogs and cats.  We lived there for 6 months (agh!) until we were able to move into the mostly completed main house in October 2018. I have also done all the interior design work in the house myself.  I have always loved interior design and this home has been my crowning achievement!”

“The furniture and accessories come from various sources.  I moved some items from our home in Maryland.  I was really fortunate to acquire some antique furniture and accessories from my parents’ home when they downsized.“

“I love to go to antique stores and shows and local estate auctions and have found some unique pieces for the home.  The upholstered pieces are from a local store.  I love coastal style, casual living, and the color blue!  The colors and many of the accessories in the home were chosen to reflect the natural views out the many large windows.  This house is all about the water view!”

“Exterior landscaping was started last year.  There are three different areas — the lawn area with plantings surrounding the house (this year I added 20 limelight hydrangeas along the back deck!), a wildflower meadow running from the house up to the road, and a lower lawn area with a stone fire pit and bordered with marsh grass next to the water.  Each year I tackle a different area of the property — there are years of work ahead of me!”

Some of my favorite things about the house:

I  love how when you walk in the front door you can see straight out to the water.

All the natural light from the windows

The see-through stone gas fireplace that anchors the downstairs living and dining areas.  It was made from locally quarried stone that was used for fill and unearthed when the basement was dug.  It is a work of art and the old stone has such character.

The blue pantry cabinet was colored matched to my sapphire blue BlueStar range.

The big reclaimed pine table in the dining area that was made by a local craftsman.

The pieces of antique blue and white transferware that were part of my mom’s huge collection.

I had the four poster bed in the master bedroom made from a beautifully painted antique cottage style headboard.

I had so much fun designing each of the three bathrooms!

Most of the upholstered furniture is slip-covered so it can be easily washed.  It also makes it easy to switch things up seasonally with different slipcovers, throw pillows, and rugs!

The large wrap around deck with amazing views of the water in Molly’s coastal home in Maine!

The long pot rack made from plumbing fittings hanging over the stove.

The giant seagull print, antique water bird engravings, and carved seagull decoys.

The dog shower in the mud room! Dogs get dirty daily in this coastal home in Maine!

The pine beams, bead board ceiling in the kitchen, and tongue and groove paneling in several areas of the house.

My recently acquired collection of Cornishware displayed in the pine hutch in the dining room.

My display of fish moulds in the kitchen.

And of course — the water view!

Thank you to Molly for providing us with so many photos to inspire! Be sure to head on over and visit her at Molly In Maine on Instagram for more of her coastal home in Maine!

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