5 Surprising Truths About Building a Home on a Slope

There is something undeniably exhilarating about the idea of a home built into a hillside. Perched above the land, it feels like living on the edge of possibility—with sweeping views and a sense of privacy that few flat sites can offer. Yet the romance of hillside living is grounded in a complex reality.

5 Surprising Truths About the “Perfect Proportions” in Design

What makes a space feel effortless—so balanced and right that it almost seems inevitable? For centuries, designers and thinkers have searched for a secret formula for beauty. Many believed they found it in a single, mysterious number: the Golden Ratio.

From Vision to Reality: An Expert’s Guide to Building Your Custom Home in Maine and New Hampshire

The journey of building a custom home is one of the most significant endeavors you can undertake. Unlike the simplified narratives often portrayed on television, the real process is a meticulous collaboration of vision, planning, and craftsmanship. While complex, it is also an unparalleled opportunity to create a home that is a true expression of who you are.

This guide serves as a professional roadmap—demystifying the essential steps and empowering you to steward the creation of a home that is a lasting reflection of your vision.

Building Your Legacy: Crafting a Dream Home in Historic Kittery Point, Maine

1. Introduction: Kittery Point: More Than a Location, A Legacy

Kittery Point, Maine, is not merely a picturesque spot on the coast. First settled in 1623, it is a living chronicle of American history. To build a home here is to do more than acquire land: it is to become a steward of a story that began with seafarers, merchants, and visionaries. This is a place where the deep roots of the past are inseparable from the enduring splendor of the Atlantic coast, offering a unique opportunity to write your own chapter in a centuries-old narrative.

From Vision to Reality: An Expert’s Guide to Building Your Custom Home in Maine and New Hampshire

The journey of building a custom home is one of the most significant endeavors you can undertake. Unlike the simplified narratives often portrayed on television, the real process is a meticulous collaboration of vision, planning, and craftsmanship. While complex, it is also an unparalleled opportunity to create a home that is a true expression of who you are.

This guide serves as a professional roadmap—demystifying the essential steps and empowering you to steward the creation of a home that is a lasting reflection of your vision.

Architect or Contractor First? Charting the Course for Your Custom Home in Maine & New Hampshire

Embarking on a custom home build or a major renovation is one of life’s most exciting ventures. It is a rare opportunity to create a home perfectly suited to your lifestyle and your environment. Yet this journey is also complex, filled with decisions that will shape the outcome for years to come.

One of the very first—and most pivotal—decisions is this: Should you hire an architect or a contractor first? The sequence sets the tone for your entire project. This guide outlines the differences between the two approaches, the risks and benefits of each, and why starting with an architect offers the strongest foundation for success.

6 Secrets to Modernizing Your Old Home Without Erasing Its Soul

The Renovation Dilemma

Owning a home with history is a dream for many. The intricate molding, original hardwood floors, and quirky architectural details all tell a story that gives a property its soul. But with that dream comes a challenge: how do you adapt the space for modern life without losing the very character you fell in love with?

An open-concept kitchen, spa-like bathrooms, and energy-efficient systems often feel at odds with the patina of time. The truth is, the best renovations don’t force a choice between past and present—they find balance.

This guide reveals six expert-backed strategies that allow you to modernize while honoring your home’s unique story.

Beyond the Showroom: 5 Modern Kitchen Design Truths That Reflect Real Life

The image of the “perfect kitchen” is everywhere—an all-white, magazine-ready expanse gleaming under studio lights. But that ideal rarely matches reality. In many homes today, the dining room table is just as likely to be covered in LEGOs, laptops, or school projects as it is to host a formal meal. This gap between image and reality reveals something deeper: the way we live has changed, and kitchens are changing with us.

The kitchen is no longer a cloistered room meant only for cooking. It has evolved into the undeniable heart of the home—a multi-functional command center that must support our daily lives. This evolution isn’t just about layout; it represents a cultural shift toward authenticity and connection.

At Lindsey Architects, we believe the best kitchens are designed for how you truly live, not just how a showroom looks. Here are five truths driving the transformation of the modern kitchen.

5 Surprising Truths About Building a Beach House That Actually Lasts

The dream of owning a home by the sea—with its sweeping views and ocean breezes—has timeless appeal. But the same environment that inspires us also works relentlessly against the structures we build. Salt, humidity, wind, and sun wage a daily battle that can be even more destructive than a single hurricane.

If you want a coastal home that not only survives but thrives, here are five truths you must know before building.

Dreaming of a Maine Coast Home? 5 Surprising Truths You Need to Know

The Maine coast holds a powerful allure. Bold granite ledges, wind-swept spruces, and endless ocean horizons create a landscape that inspires dreams of quiet beauty and timeless living. Many buyers fall in love at first sight — sometimes with nothing more than a rocky view and two weathered cottages — because they can picture what could be.

But turning that dream into a lasting home requires more than vision. Life by the sea brings unique challenges, hidden costs, and strict regulations that can reshape your plans. Before committing to a coastal property, it is essential to understand the counterintuitive truths that define Maine’s waterfront.

Here are five realities every prospective coastal homeowner should consider.

5 Surprising Truths About Coastal Design (It’s Not What You Think)

When you picture coastal living, a certain image likely comes to mind: panoramic ocean views, breezy white curtains, and a relaxed lifestyle where the home feels like an extension of the shoreline. This perception, fueled by glossy magazines and social media, often reduces coastal design to a formula of white walls, nautical stripes, and seashell décor.

But authentic coastal architecture is far more complex. It is not a decorative style one can apply anywhere, but a philosophy born from a challenging environment — one that prioritizes resilience, functionality, and a profound connection to nature.

At Lindsey Architects, our work along the shores of Maine and New Hampshire has shown us that true coastal design is defined not by trends, but by its ability to endure, adapt, and harmonize with its surroundings.

Here are five surprising truths that reveal what coastal design really means.

Considering online home plans for your new build? Before you commit, learn why architect-designed homes offer lasting value, perfect fit, and personal expression—crafted for your life, property, and legacy.