Inside Our Coastal Signature Raeside Dame Home (Before)

After spending three decades lovingly collecting antiques and creating a warm, Early American feel, my parents’ coastal Maine home, built in 1992, an original Raeside-Dame home, has now been passed down to me. This classic coastal signature home is filled with character: cedar shingles, wide pine floors, exposed beams, and vintage charm at every turn.

It holds not just heirloom pieces, but generations of memories. In this post, I’m sharing a heartfelt “before” look at the house as we inherited it, a glimpse into the foundation of what will become a new chapter for our family. Join me as we begin transforming this treasured Raeside-Dame Home into a space that honors the past while embracing the future.

Before the Renovation: Inside Our Raeside-Dame Coastal Signature Home

When we inherited this Raeside-Dame home from my parents, we knew we wanted to honor its original New England charm while also refreshing the space for a new chapter. The interior hadn’t been painted in 30 years, and while the walls were in surprisingly good condition, they had grown dim with time. We chose Simply White by Benjamin Moore to brighten every room and give it a clean, cohesive look that felt both classic and coastal.

My parents had also stained the pine floors dark, and after years of daily life, walkers, pets, and well-loved gatherings, they showed their age. Rather than replace them, we had them sanded and refinished with a clear polyurethane, preserving their story while adding a lighter, fresher tone. We kept the Nantucket Gray trim that my parents originally chose, a small but meaningful detail that keeps the memory of their style alive.

The renovation also included transforming an unfinished attic into two upstairs bedrooms, painted in the same Simply White to maintain harmony with the main living areas below. While we parted with the original furniture, we lovingly kept and restored many of the antiques that defined the home’s character. This post shares the “before”, a visual tribute to a beloved family home before it began its next chapter.

Thank you for joining me on this first step inside our family’s Coastal Signature Home in Maine. This Raeside-Dame home holds decades of cherished memories, and sharing these “before” photos allows me to honor its past while inviting you along for the journey ahead. Although the walls were well-loved and the pine floors worn with time, the bones of this classic New England reproduction home were strong and full of potential. I hope you’ll continue with me as we breathe new life into this beloved space, keeping its early American charm while adding our own coastal touches.

Want to follow the journey?

If you’re enjoying this peek into our inherited Raeside-Dame home, I’d love for you to follow along as we continue restoring and personalizing this beloved space in Coastal Maine. From the freshly painted interiors and refinished pine floors to restoring the original cedar shake siding and classic Essex Green trim, there’s so much more to share.

Explore the full transformation in these next posts:

Walk Through Our Family Home (Warning: Slightly Dizzying, Totally Sentimental)

This quick video walkthrough was taken just before we began renovations on our inherited Raeside-Dame home. The camera work may be a bit wobbly (hello, 2019 skills!), but I’m so grateful I captured it. Every frame holds a memory, from familiar antique pieces to cozy corners now transformed. Don’t blink, or you might miss that chair I almost didn’t let go of!

Pin forLater!