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Our client's oak table and crank phone fit right in with the new period kitchen

The Cottage (part 2)

August 1, 2019

When the Red Beach cottage was built and by whom is still an open question. It has been added to and altered a number of times during its long life. Census records suggest occupation on that site as early as 1910. Structural tells found during the demo phase; square nails, hand planed beaded moldings, lath and plaster marks and extra wide old growth pine sheathing suggest an earlier date - 1860 to 1880.

Samuel de Champlain's 1613 map, Isle de sainte Croix. Red beach Cove upper left

The Cottage (part 1)

July 31, 2019

We celebrated the start of summer with the completion of our latest project; a kitchen/pantry renovation in a 100+ year old cottage, in the sleepy Calais suburb of Red Beach. Situated on the St. Croix River around a sheltered cove and first-rate mill stream, one would never suspect driving through this quiet residential district today, that it was once a vibrant, prosperous, self-sufficient community.

Our first kitchen featured a large custom pine pantry.

In Like a Lion

April 5, 2018

We just returned back from a ‘spring’ trip to the Hamptons; staying in a circa, 1810 Federal in our old hometown of Sag Harbor. This home was the site of our very first kitchen and baths renovations, some 20 years ago. Our former clients have become longtime friends.

Summer Newsletter

August 19, 2017

Our latest kitchen and pantry project in the historic, circa 1850, Benjamin R. Jones home in Dennysville and detailed in the blog, 'Square Nails and Tells', now has its finishing touches. Our clients took a trip down to historic Little Compton, RI and the Antique Stove Hospital to pick up their freshly rehabilitated kitchen stove.

Our recreated 1930s kitchen photographed by Michael D. Wilson for Down East magazine.

From our kitchen to yours

June 1, 2017

We are pleased to announce that our restored 1890s farmhouse is featured in the June issue of the Maine based publication, Down East magazine. Just after the holidays we were contacted by the magazine's senior editor, Virginia Wright who pitched us her idea.

Straightening antique square nails to use for pantry shelves.

Square Nails and Tells (part 2)

May 29, 2017

Early in the home's history, probably as an afterthought, a door was cut between the pantry and the summer kitchen likely to provide a more direct route between the two. In the 1950s renovation, when the pantry was turned into a dining room, part of the wall was cut out to enlarge that doorway.

Looking into the kitchen from the restored pantry.

Square Nails and Tells (part 1)

May 28, 2017

It's good that our current kitchen restoration is almost finished, as we have nearly depleted our stash of assorted antique square nails. For the sake of authenticity, they've been 'driven' into a new home; the historic c.1850, Benjamin R. Jones house, in Dennysville, on the town road leading to the Narrows.

Seides won Best Restoration by a homeowner - his restored 1881 kitchen featured in the Old House Journal December issue says it all. Photo by Gross & Daley

Preservation Tales

November 21, 2015

Since our spring newsletter we've finished projects in an 1899 Queen Anne cottage and two 19th century Cape Cods. In May we were surprised to be contacted by a TV production company based in Knoxville Tennessee that works with HGTV and the Food Network. They were interested in developing a reality show following our various restoration and renovation projects.

Old House Journal on newsstands this week.

Unmuddling A Kitchen

February 22, 2014

One of our Eastport projects will be featured in the April issue of Old House Journal magazine.The "Special Kitchens Issue" will be on newsstands February 25.