Erin Gates Brings Warm Modern Style to a Maine Coastal Retreat

A painting by Allen Bunker hangs above the fireplace in the den; the chairs and side table are vintage.

In the foyer, a pair of ottomans from Made Goods mingle with a mirror from Arteriors and a vintage chair. “I enjoy antiquing and the hunt for the perfect accessory, so many of the items are ones I’ve gathered over the years,” says the wife.

A painting by the late Ann Sklar, who lived in Maine, hangs in the great room. The room’s sitting area contains a pair of chairs from Lawson-Fenning, custom ottomans, and a cocktail table from Noir.

A Tracy Glover light fixture hangs above a dining table from Petersen Antiques & Design paired with vintage chairs; the kitchen barstools are from Palecek.

A Verellen sectional, a rug from Patterson Flynn, and a black side table from Noir round out the den and don’t compete with the panoramic views.

Interior designers Erin Gates and Eliza Colpak painted the existing paneling in the children’s room a deep green and installed bunk beds from Room & Board to create what Gates calls “a summer camp vibe.”

A hallway nook features a built-in bench covered in fabric from Leah O’Connell Design Textiles and Wallcoverings. FACING PAGE: The new mudroom showcases cubbies and cabinetry that play off the existing wood paneling.

The new mudroom showcases cubbies and cabinetry that play off the existing wood paneling.

A Lawson-Fenning bed upholstered in a Schumacher fabric anchors the primary bedroom. The settee is from Cisco Home, and the lighting was installed by the previous homeowner.

A view from the primary bedroom into the en suite bath; the chest of drawers and mirror are vintage.

A Kelly Wearstler for Kravet wallpaper lends interest to a guest room, where a Williams Sonoma Home bed is paired with a side table from Soho Home.

On the deck, a sofa from Shoppe Amber Interiors and a cocktail table from Williams Sonoma Home provide a perfect oceanside perch for hosting friends.

Finding the Perfect Maine Coastal Retreat

After fifteen years of weekend getaways, camping trips, and summer rentals, this Massachusetts couple decided it was about time to make their relationship with Maine official. “This property hit a lot of things on our wish list that we didn’t think we’d find in one place,” says the husband of this midcoast retreat, which the previous owner recently built on the foundation of an older structure. “There’s a sandy beach, it feels private and remote, yet it’s close enough to town, and the view of both the ocean and the mountains is tough to beat.”

The couple immediately sent the property listing to Erin Gates Design, the firm that decorated their century-old primary residence. “We have two young children, and we like that their aesthetic balances traditional design with modern elements and function for family living,” says the wife. “The Maine house is much more contemporary than our primary home, so we were excited to see what Erin and her team could do with a different style.”

A Contemporary Take on Maine Beach House Style

And with the existing bones and finishes already in line with the couple’s taste, all that needed to be done was adding more storage, including the built-ins in the pantry, laundry room, den, and hallway, as well as a new mudroom where a breakfast nook once stood.

“The fact that the clients wanted this house to be vastly different from their primary is what made this project so exciting,” says Gates. “A vacation home is such a great opportunity to have fun, escape your daily aesthetic, and tap into another version of yourself. This home has more of a California surfer vibe than a typical Maine beach house, so we leaned into the modern, streamlined architecture and paired the existing wood paneling with warm colors such as caramel, coral, and plum.”

The palette, according to the wife, is heavily influenced by the surroundings. “There’s a vast meadow of grasses in varying shades of tan and ochre, and the rocks on the beach are veined with a muted red from iron deposits,” she notes.

Family-Friendly Interiors Made for Coastal Living

New lighting and furnishings mingle with custom pieces upholstered in indoor-outdoor fabrics along with artwork by Maine-based artists and vintage finds. And while the residence may not look like the typical Maine beach house, it certainly functions as one, prioritizing comfort and durable materials.

“The decor needs to withstand kids who spend their days running through the woods and playing on the beach,” says the wife. “We also love hosting family and friends, so having multiple living areas has worked well. Sipping morning coffee in the den while watching the seals in the cove or deer in the meadow is magical, and the sitting area off the guest rooms is filled with books for company to enjoy.”

Meanwhile the long table in the great room is perfect for hosting lobster bakes or tackling giant puzzles. It serves as the backdrop for the kind of unfussy, family-centered summers the owners envisioned. “I grew up near the ocean, searching in tide pools and climbing on rocks,” the wife says. “I wanted my children to have that experience as well—to feel independent and a little wild during the summer.”

Project Team
Interior design: Erin Gates Design
Builder: Limoges Builders