More Weathered Than Perfect | My Porch on the Maine Coast

Come on a tour of my oceanfront porch, where weathered woods reflect the rugged Maine coast, and spaces designed for living beckon you to come, sit, and exhale.

Hello on a Thursday!

I am excited to be joining you today with some of my blogging friends to share our outdoor spaces.

Let me tell you, though, this post wasn’t without its stresses.

The other ladies are all powerhouses, so I knew I would be meeting some of you readers for the first time. If so, welcome! I am Molly, and I live in a small fishing village on the coast of Maine.

Winter is long and spring comes late here. In fact, the trees only recently leafed out, and I didn’t finish getting the oceanfront porch ready for summer until Saturday.

And since I was heading out of town early Tuesday, the schedule for this post was tight.

Then Memorial Weekend turned out to be a washout — chilly and gray, with pouring rain from Sunday into Monday. Not exactly ideal weather for photographing outdoor spaces.

I had no choice, though, but to grab my phone and start snapping.

As I looked through the images, I realized that they were telling a different story than the one I had planned — but one that is perhaps even more authentic to this rugged and bold spot I call home.

A place at the mercy of the elements — rain, snow, wind, and fog.

Where the passage of time is marked by the tide.

A landscape that swings from deep winter slumber to exuberant summer growth.

And things lean more wild than manicured. More weathered than perfect.

It is a beauty all its own.

So that is the outdoor space I am sharing with you today.

Of course, wouldn’t you know, the sun came out just as I sat down to write this dispatch.

Such is life by the sea.

A Porch Designed for Living

The architect did a brilliant job designing this home for relaxed indoor-outdoor living that puts the ocean view front and center.

The long wraparound porch, accessed by French doors in both the dining room and fireplace sitting area, runs the length of the harbor side of the house, with portions that are covered and others that are open to the sky. I divided it into four distinct areas which allow people to engage in different activities, no matter the weather, while still enjoying the outdoors.

Join me for a little porch tour.

The Covered Lounge Area

When you exit the door by the fireplace there is a covered area with reclining Adirondack-style lounge chairs. This is the quiet section of the porch.

Good for morning coffee, curling up with a book, or taking a snooze. It is also Maddie’s favorite spot on the porch.

There is sun in the morning when the day is still cool, and shade on the rare hot afternoon — the best of both worlds.

The Gathering Spot

Next over is the main seating area. With two Adirondack chairs and a wicker settee (and room to squeeze in a couple other chairs when needed) it is where people gather.

Coffee with family and friends before before heading out on an adventure. Then, of course, happy hour in the evening, as the sky turns to pink over the harbor.

It is also where I like to sit at night before bed to take in the stars or the moon reflecting a bright path across the water.

The Sunny Chairs

Two bright blue Adirondack chairs with attached footrests are the perfect spot to enjoy the view, while soaking up the sun.

This is where I like to have lunch, savoring the warmth, on those first outdoor days of spring.

The Dining area

The largest area of the deck, closest to the kitchen, is home to a weathered teak dining table and benches.

When the kids are here in the summer, they like to have every meal out here. It has views of the ocean in one direction and the meadow and guest cottage in the other.

The Details That Make It Feel Like Maine

The layout of the porch certainly functions well, but it is the details of the space — pieces full of character and rooted deeply in the landscape — that beckon you to come, sit, and exhale.

The coffee table, an authentic old wooden lobster trap, its surface rough and faded to a warm gray, tells a distinctly Maine story, without feeling overly themed.

A simple side table fashioned from an antique blue-painted folding stand topped with a driftwood board I found washed up on the shoreline.

The wicker settee was an LL Bean purchase almost 25 years ago for our front porch in Maryland.

Now it has returned home to Maine.

Colorful painted buoys march down the middle of the dining table, and spill from planters hanging on the cedar shakes.

Rocks and sculptural driftwood pieces, tumbled smooth by the waves, serve as mementos of time at the beach.

While the Polywood loungers and Adirondack chairs are new, I purposely chose a finish that blends with the natural weathered woods found elsewhere on the porch.

Similarly, the new teak dining table and benches turned quickly to a soft silver in the salty ocean air.

Cushions and throw pillows in shades of blue add a bright accent and echo the sky and ocean on a perfect summer day.

Before You Head Off to Visit My Friends

Thank you for joining me on the porch today.

I hope it felt like an early summer visit to the Maine coast — gray skies, brisk air, sea birds calling overhead, and the constant murmur of the ocean in the background. Grab a soft blanket and settle in for a bit.

And when you are ready, head over to visit my friends in their outdoor spaces. (I suspect it may be warmer in many of them…)

Mary Ann: Classic Casual Home

Cindy: Cindy Hattersley Design

Annie: Most Lovely Things

Kim: Northern California Style

To my regular readers, I’m in Maryland this week spending time with family. I’ll miss this Saturday’s post, but will return the following one.

Until then, be well!