In My Mother’s Maine Home, I’ve learned that when we lose someone we love, it’s not about living without them—but learning to live with the love they left behind.
A personal journey of restoring and reimagining a coastal Maine home—filled with antiques, thrifted treasures, and family history.
Welcome to In My Mother’s Maine Home, a deeply personal series where I share the journey of inheriting, preserving, and decorating our family’s coastal cottage in southern Maine. From antique shopping adventures to room-by-room styling with heirloom treasures, these posts capture the charm of summer living, the beauty of old New England homes, and the joy of decorating with meaning.
Thank you, Mom & Dad~
—for the memories, love, the antiques, and this beautiful home we now call ours.
The Story Behind My Mother’s Maine Home
This coastal Maine antique home holds decades of love, family memories, and timeless charm. My parents built it in their seventies after leaving the busier pace of the Nubble in York, Maine—a place my grandfather had originally built for them not once, but twice. They designed this new home as a replica of an early American house in Cape Neddick, complete with cedar shake siding, open beams, wide pine floors, and old latch doors. Tucked along the river and just a short walk to the beach, it became their peaceful sanctuary for what they hoped would be ten good years. They were blessed with thirty.
My father passed away here just shy of his 100th birthday, and my mother at 93. After their passing, I inherited the home—and with it, a deep responsibility to care for it, preserve it, and make it my own.
You can read more about that personal journey in my Coastal Maine Heritage – Embracing My Roots blog post.
— A Dabbling & Decorating Reader
With time and gentle updates, we’ve begun to restore this house while honoring its past. We refinished the cedar shake siding see the update in our How to Restore 30-Year-Old Home’s Cedar Shake Siding blog post, stripped and refinished the original wide plank wood floors, and repainted the entire interior and trim. We’ve refreshed the exterior, added an outdoor fire pit, and furnished it with cozy, updated pieces that blend seamlessly with my parents’ beautiful antique collections.
Every piece of this home tells a story—and decorating it with the antiques they left behind has become one of the greatest honors of my life. My heart is full, especially with the recognition of this journey in our Country Sampler Magazine feature:
Our Home, Featured in Country Sampler Magazine
In 2024, our coastal Maine home was featured in Country Sampler Magazine—a true dream come true! It was an unforgettable experience, and I’ve shared all the behind-the-scenes moments, vintage styling, and emotional details in this special post.
Antique Home Decorating Updates and Room-by-Room Inspiration
This home didn’t need to be gutted—it just needed to be loved again. In this section, you’ll find room-by-room glimpses into the antique decorating updates we’ve made over time, using inherited pieces, new thrifted finds, and thoughtful touches that reflect both the home’s past and our present. These posts highlight cozy corners, refreshed paint, refinished floors, and the antiques that continue to anchor every space with story and soul.
Bedrooms with Vintage Decor
The bedrooms in my mother’s Maine home are layered with vintage charm, antique touches, and family memories. From hand-stitched quilts made by my mother to vintage oars, seaside lamps, and my father’s old tennis rackets, each room tells its own story. We’ve blended cottage-style beds, wrought iron frames, antique dressers, and even a framed vintage bathing suit for a one-of-a-kind wall display. The windowsills are lined with old books and a collection of hand-carved wooden seabirds—simple treasures with deep roots.
We’re currently wallpapering the two attic bedrooms with patterns that reflect the home’s history—those updates will be coming soon to the blog. If you’re looking for more inspiration, check out my full guide on 50+ Vintage Bedroom Decor Ideas for a Cozy Collected Look, featuring the prints we chose and how they’ve transformed each space.
Cozy Living Room with Antique New England Charm
This New England-style living room is layered with antiques, heirlooms, and personal touches that tell our family’s story. From my mother’s pewter collection on the fireplace mantel to slip-covered linen furniture, coastal prints, and vintage yacht curtains, the space blends cozy comfort with seaside nostalgia. On snowy winter days, it’s our favorite spot to unwind by the fire—surrounded by the warmth of generations past.
A Little Living Room Memory
One of my favorite details in this room sits quietly on the windowsill—my father’s antique binoculars. He once used them to scan the ocean for whales and the occasional kayaker who drifted too far from shore when they lived at the Nubble. Years later, in this home, he’d light a fire in the living room and use those same binoculars to watch Red Sox games playing on a TV in the other room—because my mother wouldn’t allow a television in her beloved living space. It still makes me smile every time I think of it.
Antique-Filled Country Kitchen with Vintage Charm
This country-style kitchen is a cozy blend of antique collections, family heirlooms, and thrifted treasures. A vintage red Turkish rug sets the tone with warmth and color, centered by an old wooden table I found at a local thrift shop. Surrounded by my mother’s crocks, blue and white dishware, crystal candlesticks, and handmade pottery, it’s a space where history, heart, and home-cooked meals all come together.
My Favorite Vintage-Style Rugs from Revival
Looking for a vintage-style rug with rich color, beautiful quality, and one-of-a-kind character? Revival is my go-to source for antique-inspired rugs, and you can browse my favorites—from blues and whites to bold reds and earthy tones—right in my Revival storefront, and save 15%!
Dining Room Decor with Antique Charm and Family Heirlooms
Once my parents’ living room, this long space has been thoughtfully transformed back into a dining room filled with antique charm and personal history. From a vintage pine table found on Facebook Marketplace to built-in hutches displaying my mother’s brown and white transferware and pewter collections, every piece tells a story. I’ve used her blue and white dinnerware, pewter, and collected antique pieces to create meaningful seasonal tablescapes throughout the years—explore them all in my Vintage Table Setting Guide.
Vintage-Inspired Table Settings for Every Season You’ll Love
From porch breakfasts to holiday gatherings, this vintage tablescape guide includes styling inspiration for every season—indoor and outdoor—using thrifted and antique finds.
Antique and Thrift Store Finds Along the Coast of Maine
Thrifting and antiquing along the coast of Maine has been part of my story for as long as I can remember—especially along scenic Route 1, where charming shops and hidden gems abound. My parents introduced me to many of the antique stores I still visit today, and some of their most beloved finds—like the blue hutch my father gave my mother for Christmas—still anchor this home. Explore my favorite coastal Maine thrift shops, vintage markets, and decorating ideas in the posts and shopping guides below.
Letting Go of Vintage: How to Downsize and Rehome Your Beloved Decor
Learn how to downsize and rehome vintage decor with care. This heartfelt guide shares tips for letting go of beloved pieces while honoring their stories. Whether you’re retiring, downsizing, or simply ready to declutter with intention, this guide is here to help you pass on your beloved vintage decor with purpose.
Seasonal Living in Our Coastal Maine Antique Home
While we spend most of our summers at this coastal Maine antique home, we love to sneak away for cozy winter weekends too—just a short drive from Vermont. Summer brings beach days, outdoor dinners by the stone fire pit, and simple vintage table settings on the weathered teak table stone patio, while winter invites fireside moments, snowy walks, and even surf-watching during Nor’easters. From white snowshoes on the front door to a heartfelt three-wreath tradition inspired by my mother’s first Christmas here, each season adds its own layer of charm to this New England home.
How to Start Collecting Vintage Home Decor
Are you new to vintage collecting? This beginner’s guide will walk you through what to look for, where to shop, and how to style your favorite finds with an eclectic and personal touch.
Honoring the Past, Decorating with Heart
Decorating In My Mother’s Maine Home has been a deeply personal journey—one filled with antique treasures, family stories, and meaningful updates that reflect both legacy and love. I hope this space inspires you to cherish the history in your own home, whether it’s passed down through generations or discovered in a favorite antique shop. Be sure to explore more of our decorating ideas, vintage finds, and New England lifestyle—and subscribe to the blog so you never miss a post from this coastal cottage filled with memories.
Explore the Charm of Vintage, Thrifted, and Antique Living
Looking for a welcoming place to begin? Start with my Start Here page, where I share favorite vintage decorating ideas, thrifted finds, and styling inspiration from our cozy New England homes in Vermont and Coastal Maine.
Explore Every Post in the In My Mother’s Maine Home Blog Series
Here you’ll find every blog post from the series—featuring seasonal updates, room refreshes, and reflections on decorating with inherited antiques and vintage finds
Frequently Asked Questions About In My Mother’s Maine Home
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Your Guide to Embracing Eclectic Style, Vintage Finds, and Thrifted Home Inspiration~
Love decorating with vintage finds, thrifted treasures, and eclectic charm? I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment below, share this post with a vintage-loving friend, or join our Reader’s Showcase Series — where we feature your favorite thrifted and antique finds. Email me at [email protected] to be part of it!
