First Report From Maine
Hi, Blog Cabin fans!
As part of our coverage of Blog Cabin 2012, we will feature regular updates from an on-site expert, Kim Tuttle. She serves as an architectural designer for Knickerbocker Group, the architecture, design and construction firm responsible for the home’s renovation.
Photo, from left: Damariscotta, Portland (courtesy Greater Portland Convention and Visitors Bureau), Pumpkinfest
Today I’d like to share her first photos from the neighborhood. She reports that fall is an absolutely gorgeous time in Midcoast Maine, with festivals filling the activity calendar. Her favorites include the Camden International Film Festival, which draws filmmakers from around the world, the Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta, which features a pumpkin decorating contest and parade, and Portland’s Harvest on the Harbor, Maine’s premier food and wine experience. “Here you will find the Lobster Chef of the Year competition, the Ultimate Seafood Splash and other savory samplings from local vendors,” says Kim. “It’s the place to be for foodies!”
Kim is also excited to share pics of the existing home. We will release floor plans and formal “first look” slideshows of exterior and interior spaces in the days and weeks to come. Keep checking the blog for details.
Photo, from left: Double staircase, kitchen and bedroom
I'm very excited about Maine and the location seems amazuhzing! Buuuut, I'm more excited to find out who won this year's cabin. It's like starting book two in a series when you haven't finished the last chapter of the firstst book! I have to know how it ends! Is it me??? Is it DBcoop? Cami? Lucyyourdog? When oh when will they announce the winner?
Finally! Mary, it's so good to know you're still alive and kicking, but you'd better be prepared to face the wrath of the weary bloggers!! lol On realizing that none of us was the winner of the wonderful Va BC, we'd all hoped for floorplans to the new one to sooth our savage breasts. ^_^
The pics are very nice though. Maine is especially beautiful and offers what sounds like fun times to be had by some lucky someone next year. However, I'm a bit disappointed that we still don't know who the winner of the Va. BC was…
Floorplans would have been reaaalllll nice too! lol
No one would ever know that you've got a fractous and ungrateful bunch of bloggers this time around, huh?
My "breasts" aren't savage, but I'm feeling like a savage beast 'cause I really really want to know who won the Blog Cabin!!
Susan I'm surprised they let that "B" word go through….:p
Hey guys, 'savage breasts' wasn't a misprint on my part; I know the classic rendering of what I was referring to is 'savage beast'–I'm an English/Lit major. lol I was trying to inject a bit of humor on the subject by saying savage breasts collectively because as a group we all have breasts.
The upper diaphragm is often referred to as the breast in both sexes. I didn't mean to offend anyone.
And, Maria, I believe DIY allowed my post because they understood that i was not trying to be crude. My sense of humor may be a bit warped, but I don't consider the word breast to be an off-color word.
No offense taken Carafey'ky. If I have to start shoveling this early, I probably will have savage breasts by tomorrow night!!!
no harm, no foul…breast ( I wanted to say it too) :p
I love it when I learn something new, it did seem that I had heard that term before, absolutely no offense taken, and I do appreciate your sense of humor. Now who won that beautiful home?!
I love the style and color of the kitchen cabinets – they really fit an old farmhouse! I hope they can be reused or duplicated in the remodel.
The bedroom has the look of a parlor converted to a bedroom for an elderly person who can no longer handle the stairs. Those of us who aren't as agile as we used to be would enjoy a first floor master suite.
Greetings fellow bloggers!
Interesting color – Is it blue, green, gray or all of the above???
UGH! Just like I said earlier – Cantankerous thing!
MJS I also think the cabinets are pretty neat..
That free standing wood stove brings chills down my spine as I recall memories of having to get the fire going in what I fondly called our Pot Bellied Pig.. Cantankerous thing! Not enough wood – or too much wood! Not enough air – or too much air! Don't even get me started with the flue! Nothing like having it shut down on you and not realizing it until the whole place was full of smoke!
Have to agree with you on the bed in the "parlor" too. Our family FINALLY convinced my Grandmother over ten years ago that it was high time for her to have a bedroom downstairs as opposed to climbing up the rickety old stairs. Now at the wonderful age of 96 years young we are glad she agreed! Yep, Grandma is still "puttering around" as she puts it and claims that, "Growing old isn't for woosies!" God love her! – - AND her homemade chicken and noodles! : P Yummy! Truly, Lilly
Too funny Lilly. Enjoyed reading your comment.
I'm thinking the make-shift bedroom downstairs was formally the dining room by the looks of the chandelier…
JMHO but the wood burning stove has got to gooooo……
B) Right. It needs to go from present kitchen. Perhaps, however, if I had my choice, I would move the potbellied pig-stove to the barn's future Studio/workshop, hobby area. Could come in handy from time to time. Also, this comes from a strong believer in the old adage, "waste not…want not…!" And waste is definitely NOT a true Mainer characteristic. Still think the present kitchen cabinets should be moved and re-installed in the barn too–for a studio/ workshop storage area. Also, I think you're correct on that downstairs bedroom–Please, DIY, make the bedroom spaces as large as you can, OK?! Thanks! ^_^
Lilly–I love your Grandmother's spunk!!! She'd fit well in Maine too!
oh, I disagree, I love the stove, but a more modern version to be sure
Nothing like keeping a pot of stew warm on the stove… 
Venison stew!:)
My cabin's only heat source is a modern wood burner and we often heat up our meal and the dish water on it's top. Besides, nothing beats the smell of burning Birch, Maple or Cherry when you step out the door.
DGustaf, in our cabin our only heat is 2 old wood burning stoves, a little pot belly and a old ben franklin, we got them both at a slavage store, they work great, I painted them with BBQ paint, We burn Pine, we have lots of dead pine trees on our land. But it smells so good too.
I am with you DwnSoDwnEaster, anything they take out of the house, should go to the barn so the winner can decided what they want to re use, there is some good stuff in there, that would be great reused in the barn, I like your idea about workshop/craft etc.
Hi vicki,
I have a lot of dead pine on my acreage as well, but the volumn of creosote that pine produces would cause me to have to clean my chimney far more often than I'd prefer. Pine generally goes in our fire pit though, because it does smell good when burned.
If we are replacing the old stove in the kitchen, then, by all means, move it to the barn; all of the scrape from my wood shop would keep it fired for a while and the kettle will be on.
we only have pine and cedar a little quaky, so we burn the cedar in the fire pit, it gets too hot for the stoves, once a year we rattle a chain down the stove pipes. I wish we had some of the other hard woods you are lucky DGustaf
Oh, Cheryl! I don't DISLIKE that wood stove–on the contrary! My comment was referring to a good re-purpose of materials. I just think it would be an awesome addition to the workshop/studio in the barn. I used to have an old Franklin stove in my Virginia barn and it was very handy, if I needed to get stuff done in the workshop area without freezing my toes off…. Think of a big kettle of hot water sitting on it and some handy packs of tea, cider or hot chocolate, along with mugs in the barn, while one works–in the cool of Fall and Winter! The simmering water also adds a bit of moisture to the air, while one works. Earlier, somewhere, i agreed with Adriana about something really special in the kitchen: a big, Russian fireplace with bread/pizza oven would be so quaint, energy-efficient and cozy–and more oriented to family living, and without jutting out onto floor space. It's hard to keep a small child away from a free-standing wood stove, but a fireplace allows space for a safety surround. The winner of this Maine property may have a side business to help support the expense of holding the place. Without ANY heat source in the barn, this would impede even the most hardy individuals from doing some work there during cold weather–moving that stove to the barn studio/workshop area would be a relief–even to any animals one might house there!A pot of stew on the stove is also an outstanding option–particularly if you cook it!;)
awww! you're so persuasive! and I hadn't seen the Russion firplace idea, which I love. Want cookies?
Chocolate chip and coconut macaroons, please!?
Thanks for the new post! This is indeed a "treat", since we've all be "reflecting" on who will win BC 2011. The Portland area is beautiful, big enough to offer lots of entertainment, but small enough to navigate easily.
Can't wait to see more of Maine, but would really like to see the inside of the Virginia home, with deed and keys in hand!
I know, I know, get in the line with the other millions of hopefuls winners.
Thank you ,Grazie, Mahalo, Danke, Efcharisto, Toda, Arigato, Merci, Spasibo, Gracias, Kuunda, Cám ?n, from the bottom of my heart…
Muito obrigada tambem!
B)
Maria, did you get much snow? In Maryland, we're under a freeze warning until 9 a.m. Sunday.
Hi Lessis, no we didn't get any here at the shore…but I saw something at work that I hadn't seen in 33 years of working in the ca sin o's, the lights went out!!! I mean only for a couple of seconds, but it happened twice, man it was weird… I talked to my sister up North and she said they got hit bad, a lot of downed trees and power outages…I think she said they had like 5 inches of snow…It's 4 am here now and I'm getting ready to go to work, its cold though…
How exciting it is to have new details about the Blog Cabin in Maine. I love this home and its' location.
I can't wait to see the floorplans. Yay!!!!!!!!
Mary, Thanks for the new post, the pictures are beautiful. Hope you totally redo the kitchen, I may be the sole dissenter here, but I really do not like those kitchen cabinets – please oh please take them away, far away. If I were looking to buy a house and knew I would not be able to renovate for a long time, those cabinets would be a deal breaker. As would the free standing wood stove there. I know you guys will make this place amazing, can hardly wait to see the final product. The journey getting there will be fun.
windsmurf, you and I are on the same page..the little that I have seen so far is all outdated and needs to go bye-bye….don't like that stove at all…
Thanks, M_in_NJ. I agree with you and I'm sure DIY will steer it right.
here we go again, get a lovely Maine homestead, and what happens? the clamors start to rip it's heart out and put in brand new Las Vegas chrome and plastic…
Cherly do you think the VA BC's kitchen is chrome and plastic?? I get more, new and updated…I trust the DIY and Knickerbocker design professionals that they will have US decide on some really nice new cabinets and fixtures that will go perfectly with the charm of this wonderful old homestead…A lot of these old home have to be ripped down to the studs because of structural and possible hazardous conditions, so I say start the ripping and built her up some new and lasting bones….:)
I don't want to rip the heart out, just those worn cabinets. I'm from Maine originally and I know that stove would not make a major dent in keeping that kitchen warm and would present a danger to small children and rambunctious teenagers, not to mention the elderly. Someone earlier had mentioned a Russian fireplace with kitchen functionality built in, such as a pizza oven. Now if we could bake bread in an oven/fireplace like that, wow, can you imagine the warmth and aroma? No, I don't want the heart ripped out, but renewed and replenished with a more modern, efficient, functional and beautiful kitchen. I am not a fan of chrome or plastic, but a beautiful stone firelace and lovely country style wood cabinets would be an improvement not a sacriledge.
Hi, Windsmurf! I'm right there with you! The Russian fireplace can be built with a bread/pizza oven, and I posted the link earlier that Adriana had given us about 3 weeks ago. If anyone would like the link again, let me know. It is also extremely energy efficient, from emanating warmth to preventing heat-loss updrafts, common in ordinary fireplaces–perfect for Maine weather! I have not seen one personally, but Adriana said she has a friend in Maine who has one. Absolutely must be stone! perhaps some wonderful owl andirons?
If there is a cabinet company sponsoring this project, you can be sure their cabinets will be in the newly redone kitchen. I am guessing that Victoria will make sure the kitchen will have design that honors the home's age.
Hi, Mary! Thank you for the new thread. As you have probably noticed we have been at loose ends (don't groan to loud) around here. Also, thank you for introducing us to Kim Tuttle and sharing her first pictures. I have had several friends from Maine, and they have all been very warm and gracious. I can't wait to see and learn more about the area and its people.
Hey Mary, It's nice to have an update on the Maine Blog Cabin, but what happened to the VA Blog Cabin? Is the winner on vacation or something? Deployed?
We're all collectively confused. I'm ready to wish the winner well and move on. 
Cami I believe Matty Blah Blah created an unknown amount of aliases and entered the BC VA home and won it. WHO had a better motive? OK yes ALL of us bloggers. Scratch that crazy assumption, next please…
Good theory Mel. Matty Blah Blah does like the cabin. Gotta watch him.
LOL ! Maybe there is a hairbrush holder in the master bath…
It won't be to much longer,Cami.
Nov. is almost here!
What I would like to see for cabinets in the kitchen would be something white with partial glass fronts in a very country look or a light colored wood like birch. And replace that wood stove with a small fireplace in the kitchen and incorporate some functionality with the fireplace such as a bricklined pizza oven or a grill capability for when it is too cold and snowy to use the outdoor grill/kitchen. Give it a warm and welcoming look.
again, I am thinking the same thing…I always said my next kitchen is going to have white cabinets…
I can't believe you mentioned that !! I was thinking of a kitchen fireplace or pizza oven myself !! That would be a luxury–and I have a lot of other wish items before that, though…universal access and off the grid capacity.
Hi again, Windsmurf–I actually posted what I thought would register as a response to this, your post. It posted alright, but it appears to be free-range, mixed up among all posts this evening!
There's a link which you may or may not have seen, from a 3-week old post by Adriana regarding a Russian fireplace, which would be very appropriate for this Maine kitchen. Do look for it, please. I like your kitchen ideas! They're wicked good! It was intended for you, primarily. 
DSDE, I did check out that Russian fireplace, that would be perfect, especially if we could bake bread in it too. I can feel the warmth and smell the yeasty aroma now!
xD Glad you found it…the style our BC needs is the one with the oven in it! Very energy efficient too! I presently have white kitchen cabinets and they're beautiful–but hard to keep clean. I like your birch suggestion!