Three Magical Tiny Cabins Take Root in a Maine Forest

Bouffard & Bowick draw inspiration from traditional boatbuilders to create a set of rentable retreats in the coastal town of Sedgwick.

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Elizabeth Sweet

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Architects Bill Bowick and David Bouffard took to Maine like a boat to water. Despite a drastic change in winds and weather (their previous home base was Charleston, South Carolina), they fell hard for a sloping, 27-acre waterfront property in picturesque Sedgwick.

The plot offers summertime views of bobbing lobster boats at anchor in Benjamin Harbor, and the gentle whir of churning engines in the distance. It’s no wonder the duo’s approach to rustic modernism mirrors the area’s tradition of boat construction and woodworking. How could it not?

"It’s very quiet and still with the exception of the birds, but when the lobstermen get going, at four or five in the morning, you hear them starting up the motors on their boats," they say. "It’s a nice sound to wake up to—it’s the beginning of the day."

Towering trees and greenery surround the cabins. Despite their proximity, each structure feels secluded and private due to full-height deck fencing and artfully placed windows.

Despite the land’s obvious warm-weather beauty, the site first caught their attention on a chilly, off-season day. "We saw it in the winter and still loved it," they say, remembering their initial visit. "We wanted to put in an offer even without touring the property’s farmhouse."

Luckily, the Blue Hill Peninsula property still felt special on their second visit, even in the bitter cold. "It used to be a saltwater farm, which means they farmed the land and the sea," Bill explains. "We thought it was a really interesting property that checked all the boxes."

Soon after, the duo, founders of the design studio Bouffard & Bowick, relocated (and bundled up) to construct a cozy, multiunit retreat for seasonal visitors that would be known as The Cabins at Currier Landing.

"We wanted to give guests the experience of entering the cabin while walking down the slope of the hill," Bill says. The decks and cabins are elevated above the terrain, facilitating harbor views.

Bill and David worked closely with area timber framer Jon Ellsworth, of Carding Brook Farm in nearby Brooklin, to construct the cabins’ heavy post-and-beam frames. Ellsworth fashioned handmade scale models before finalizing plans, and then, like the pine tree state’s historic boatbuilders, milled logs for the project from his own woodlot.

Working in tandem with the land’s sloping topography, David and Bill designed the approach to each structure to inspire the feeling of boarding a docked sea vessel. "Ramps lead up, like gangplanks going into a boat, and the decks are like bridges made of western red cedar," says Bill. Full-height walls and curved viewports provide moments of privacy and openness for the decks outside each cabin’s entrance.

After months of construction, Bill and David now offer short-term renters the choice of three contemporary micro-buildings to rest their heads. "The Pine cabin is a stick-built structure, made from two-by-fours with insulation for year-round use," Bill says of the 420-square-foot building. Fern and Meadow, both seasonal timber-framed structures, offer a few additional beds and a bit more space.

Bill says the shingles were honey colored at the start. "As they patinated, they became this beautiful silver-gray," he says "It’s similar to the decks and railings, which are Hemlock."

Despite subtle differences in design and sleeping capacity, all three cabins are sheathed in eastern white cedar shingles in tribute to nearby agricultural buildings and fishing shanties. "The shingles are durable, natural, and when one wears out, you don’t have to replace everything—you can patch it; repair it," Bill says. "It’s made for human hands."

Black-framed windows by Loewen contrast with the rough cedar exteriors and lush natural surroundings. "The windows are Canadian—a good indicator that they’ll perform well in a cold-weather climate," David says.

Outside, the sights and sounds of nature are impossible to ignore. "We’re on the harbor, so there is salty, misty, foggy air. You get the balsam smell from the trees," they muse. "The stars are amazing up here. That’s why the skylights are over the beds, so you can stare up at the sky while you’re falling asleep."

"We did have to clear the land a bit to get the roadway in," Bill says. This offered a chance to open up the meadow and views of the water.

As guests approach the cabins, tranquil design elements set the tone for a relaxing stay. To keep the focus on the night stars, low-voltage downlights illuminate the walkways. "We were mindful of wanting to keep the sky as dark as possible," David says. "It’s really something to see."

Dark—and silent, too. "The paths that lead to the cabins are not concrete or gravel or stone. We thought it was important to choose something quiet underfoot," David explains. "As you get close to the cabins, we have chips and pine needles spread on the ground."

To encourage pollinators and wildlife, the pair dispersed seeds from Vermont Wildflower Farm over the meadow acreage, creating another sensory experience for visitors. Swaying in the breeze, Black-Eyed Susan and Coreopsis flourish here. "We always pick some to welcome guests in the summertime," David says.

The Meadow cabin measures a compact 640 square feet, however it lives large. "There are various little areas and alcoves for naps, or a few extra guests," Bill and David say.

Inside, Ellsworth’s handiwork draws the eye up and out. "The cabins are modern, but they use a centuries-old construction method of a heavy timber frame joined with mortise and tenon joints," David says. Wrapped in floor-to-ceiling pine, each space feels contemporary, fresh, and at home in the woods. Hand-hewn beams add old-world comfort to the contemporary aesthetic. "When guests are inside, they can't help but touch all the joints and pegs and notches—it’s tactile," says David.

Each cabin is unique, offering creative niches, sleeping nooks, and little surprises. "We look for things that are delightful and unexpected," they say, while talking about Meadow’s concealed bunkbeds. "Guests don't realize they’re there, and then they round the corner and smile."

In the Fern cabin, gas stoves by Jøtul, which are Scandinavian and manufactured in Maine, add year-round warmth. The decor is a mix of Ikea pieces, locally purchased furnishings, and items from Bill and Dave’s collection.

The tucked-away sleeping areas remind the two of European train travel. "It’s also an efficient way to utilize the space, and get more sleeping quarters," David says. "We wanted families to come with kids and have a space for everybody."

When it comes time to make breakfast, the cabin kitchens have everything that’s needed, and nothing more. "Utility was the key," they say in tandem. The pair installed double-burner induction cooktops and convection ovens with air fryers.

A Breville mini smart oven and a 20.5" Empava induction cooktop are all the cooking appliances guests need. An exposed Glacier Bay sink adds an industrial air.

No detail has been overlooked in the cooking spaces—if it’s within reach, it surely has a place and a purpose. "We spent a lot of time making sure the utensils were pretty, well-designed, and utilitarian," they say. "There is not a single excessive piece of cookware."

Like the utensils, the kitchen counters, overhead shelving, and plumbing fixtures are spare, functional, and straightforward. "Boatbuilding is huge around here," they say. "So we’re harking back to the efficiency of a boat and its kitchen—how usable and functional it is, but also small and compact."

The Meadow cabin kitchen features an under-counter refrigerator and freezer. Frosted flush-mount globe lights illuminate the worktop.

The flooring is plywood painted in Benjamin Moore’s Navajo White, accented with large mats of dark gray Marmoleum (made with linseed oil) to protect the kitchen and entryway floors. "It’s durable, and it smells great," they say of the hearty material.

David and Bill installed dimmable globe lamps to fill the structures with cozy light. "We wanted the cabins to glow when you drive up at night—because the interiors are honey-colored, you see this warm glow inside each cabin," David says. "We think they have a midcentury vibe."

Bill and David installed simple, bare bulbs in glazed porcelain sockets throughout the cabins. "Everything is on dimmers, so guests can create their own level of ambiance," they say.

In the Fern cabin, a showstopping staircase leads guests to a cozy upstairs level. Ellsworth built the stairs and proposed a rustic live-edge detail for the steps. "For the stairs, we wanted something that would be dramatic, and when you sleep up in the loft area, it’s like an aviary," they say. "The skylight isn’t very far above your head!"

Vertical wood strips lend visual interest to Fern cabin’s staircase. "They are square wood pieces that create a screen and a closet area behind," David and Bill say.

Originally, the lofted sleeping area had a solid wall behind the headboard, which the pair took down. "We weren’t getting enough light from the windows in the space, so we replaced it with the ‘fins,’" they explain.

David and Bill sought to emphasize the sweeping views of the forest and nearby harbor from the sleeping area. "The most spectacular thing about the Fern cabin is the view of the water from the loft," they say. "It feels like you’re up in the air—in a tree house—looking out."

The loft had a wall behind the headboard originally, which the owners removed.  "We replaced it with fins," they say, to bring more light into the space. — The loft had a wall behind the headboard originally, which the owners removed. "We replaced it with fins," they say, to bring more light into the space.

In the sleeping loft, floor-to-ceiling windows offer an immersive nature view. An above-bed skylight encourages stargazing in the evenings.

"You get glimpses through the trees of the blue Maine water, which changes color with the sky. It can be blue-blue, or blue-green, and low tide is different than high tide," David says. "It’s just beautiful."

The Cabins at Currier Landing (Fern, Meadow, and Pine) are available for rent on Airbnb.