Whitten Architects
Knickerbocker Group
Rob Karosis
As the builder on Grandview, a project in collaboration with the client’s architect, Whitten Architects, we worked closely to bring the vision to life. At this Maine cottage, open stud walls with cracks between ceiling boards were features the clients loved and wanted to retain for their grandchildren’s own childhood memories. They wished to make necessary repairs to modernize some elements of the cottage and allow for three-season use while keeping the original charm.
“My first move was to reorganize the site plan and the floor plan so the outside living spaces became the focus of the interior spaces. We brought back the best parts and added new features.”– Rob Whitten, Founder + Principal at Whitten Architects
To add ease when hosting summer visitors, a new laundry room with built-in cabinetry was created, carrying over the rich wood tones and pale summer greens used throughout the cottage. An all-season primary suite was strategically connected to the original cottage by an enclosed glass porch, blending in as if it had always been there. This added an extra bonus of water views from the front through the back and a tranquil place to relax and enjoy the day.
The primary bath with raised panel and pocket doors makes good use of the space. A separate clawfoot tub and subway tile shower enclosure completes the luxuriousness of the marble-accented bath.
Additional renovations to improve the longevity of the cottage included a new foundation, windows, wiring, plumbing, structural steel to strengthen its old bones, and insulation. New wood shingle siding and roofing completed the work. Finally, a garage was built to buffer the property, complete with a workshop and a guest suite upstairs.
We listen, collaborate, and care. Simply put, we do what’s right—for our clients, community, and this unique place we all call home.
