‘I wanted the room to be a vibe': A Maine cabin combines luxe and earthy

Boston Globe

13-02-2025

The 1,700-square-foot home feels as cozy when Fratianne's extended family and friends visit as it does when it's just his wife and young daughter. 'He didn't want people to be sequestered,' Eppinger says, 'so it has just two bedrooms, instead of four, and two pullout sofas.'
Eppinger strikes a balance with the aesthetic too, employing earthy materials and nature-inspired patterns with bold color and glam surprises. 'It needed to feel like a cabin that belonged here, but not so authentic that his family wouldn't want to stay,' she says.
Knotty-pine paneling envelopes the open living space and a high wall of windows showcases the view. Turn around and the focal point is the stairway to the loft. 'The rail has a Scandinavian sensibility reminiscent of elements you see around town,' Eppinger says.
Bookshelves are nestled under the stairway as well as under the eaves of the loft. Comfy escapes include a window seat nook with a wooded view and a curtain that transforms the space into a kid's fort. 'The family loves books and the town has multiple bookstores, so we made it a library loft,' Eppinger says. 'It's both connected to the living space below and a respite.'
The kitchen fills one end of the living space, anchored by a backsplash of quarried stone that suggests the cabin was built around an old stone wall. Cabinetry painted olive green and leathered black granite countertops echo the natural landscape. Eppinger turned the range hood into a focal point by wrapping it with a black and white wallpaper mural. 'It feels like a vintage hunting scene,' she says.
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Although Fratianne wanted an Italian range, Eppinger sold him on a French one: a sleek black La Cornue. 'The black blends in and the brass knobs sparkle,' she says. It's just the sort of luxurious touch Fratianne imagined. When it came to the fridge, Eppinger went retro, selecting a black Smeg. 'It's shiny, fun, and far enough away from the range that the look works,' she says.
Vintage wood dining chairs — a serendipitous online find — mimic the silhouette of the staircase railing. ('I wasn't even looking for chairs when Etsy suggested them as something I might like,' the designer recalls. 'Yes, I sure do like those chairs!')
In the living room, eclectic seating surrounds the woodstove and live-edge wood coffee table: A swooped sofa with a plum-colored linen slipcover, which Eppinger adores in combination with the olive cabinetry; a traditional leather wingback chair from Brimfield Antique Flea Markets; and a spindle side chair with shearling cushions that epitomize mountain vogue. 'The furniture looks like I collected it over the years,' Fratianne says.
However, the space that most speaks to the homeowner is the moody lower-level lounge, where he drinks Amaro and listens to music. Here, a copper-colored velvet sofa, shaggy rug, and dark green wallpaper with swooshing skiers play off the family's vintage audio equipment. 'I wanted the room to be a vibe,' Eppinger says.
The primary bedroom is done in similarly dusky tones with dark green and white wallpaper, a platform bed upholstered in claret-colored corduroy, and shiny black shadow-box nightstands with brass knobs, which visually echo the range in the kitchen. 'The bedroom is a bit moody and a bit earthy,' Eppinger says.
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The guest bath with its claw-foot slipper tub is the home's most unexpected delight and a prime example of rustic-meets-luxury. 'The fancy claw foot repeats the shiny black and brass of the range, while the vanity is a dresser I found for $20 on Facebook Marketplace,' Eppinger says.
Fratianne appreciates every one of Eppinger's juxtapositions. 'Kayleigh immediately understood these moments I wanted to achieve,' he says. 'The surprises don't look out of place or obnoxious, just awesome.'
Resources
Architectural Designer:
Epp Interiors,
Contractor:
Austin Home Builders,
Photographs
A cabin in Maine gets a makeover.
Erin Little
The living room leather pendant lights are by Lostine, and Eppinger's father made the coffee table.
Erin Little
Designer Kayleigh Eppinger thought the whimsical balusters would be cut to save the budget, but the contractors created them easily.
Erin Little
Mind the Gap wallpaper inspired by an Austrian ski resort wraps the lower level lounge.
Erin Little
Eppinger went high/low in the bath with a luxurious tub and an upcycled vanity.
Erin Little
In the primary bedroom, garden-themed Mind the Gap wallpaper is paired with trim painted Benjamin Moore's Night Owl.
Erin Little
Marni Elyse Katz is a contributing editor to the Globe Magazine. Follow her on Instagram