When the Kennebunkport Resort Collection renovated an old motor inn located on Chick’s Cove in Kennebunkport, Maine, the goal was to give it a fresh look that riffed on its retro history. “As soon as you drive onto the property there is a certain sense of nostalgia,” says designer Krista Stokes. “We really wanted to keep it in that vein—really simple, really open, and really airy.” The inn’s 30 guestrooms conjure an unfussy New England vibe, featuring handmade accents, original artwork, and playful pops of color. General Manager Christy Reid explains that the design comes to life with pieces crafted by local artists, friends, and family members. “It was such a labor of love,” she says. “It was hard not to incorporate the people around us.”
Zigzaggery
Stokes chose a colorful wallpaper treatment to offset the white walls. But practicality was top of mind when making the final design decision. “It was important for us for the rooms to have both continuity and individuality. But from a business perspective, if we need to change the wallpaper in five years, we only have to change one wall.”
Liberal Arts
More than 100 paintings were commissioned from local artist David Edward Allen for the property’s guestrooms. “Art was a chance to express ourselves,” says Stokes. “It is meant to be playful and evoke this feeling of being perfectly imperfect.”
Eco-Friendly Furniture
“The chairs and a lot of the furniture pieces were here,” says Stokes. “ We have a strong belief in using what you can. We went ahead and painted all of the case goods and had our seamstress recover the chairs.”
Fresh and Clean
The bleached-white laminate floors finish off the beach-y look, but are meant for durability. “We are open to families,” says Reid. “We wanted parents to feel like they could go somewhere with a fresh style without worrying about their children spilling something on the floors.”
