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Cedar Shake Residence
Year
2023
Client
S&M
PROJECT STAGE
Project Completed
square feet
1758 SQFT
PROJECT SCOPE
Full-service Residential Design
builder and others
Kenny Cole Carpentry
Project Overview
Located in the peaceful town of Monroe, Maine, the Cedar Shake Residence is a forever home for a retired couple. Surrounded by serene landscapes and abundant wildlife, Monroe offers year-round outdoor activities from hiking to kayaking. Designed with cozy spaces for visiting grandchildren, the home combines modern farmhouse style with passive house principles for energy efficiency. Built by neighbor and local green builder Kenny Cole, the house reflects thoughtful craftsmanship and a commitment to ecological living.
Cedar Costal Heritage
Cedar Residence draws inspiration from the region’s coastal farmhouses, reinterpreted through a modern lens. Two gabled forms define the silhouette, clad in traditional cedar shingles. A bold black-and-white palette adds a contemporary contrast to the timeless materials.
Plan & Site
The home is nestled between a forest to its south and a pond with a beaver dam to the east. Large south-facing sliders open to a patio, while the living room’s east window frames the pond. The layout separates public and private spaces: a social wing for hosting, and a private wing with two bedrooms and a study. South-facing bedroom windows offer sunlight and wooded privacy. Though near a main road, the well-designed, tightly built wall assembly ensures a quiet and comfortable interior.
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Kitchen
The galley-style kitchen designed with a 16' long cabinetry on the wall side with a built-in coffee nook. A large, monolithic kitchen island offers additional workspace and seating, with ample storage beneath. Custom cabinetry along the main wall conceals a panel-ready fridge, integrated dishwasher, and built-in microwave for a seamless look. A spacious pantry and adjacent hallway add even more hidden storage throughout the space.
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Dining
The dining room sits just in front of the kitchen in its own defined space, centered on the windows overlooking the front yard. Positioned between the kitchen and living area, it acts as a connective hub—perfect for hosting and allowing conversation to flow easily across the gathering spaces. A sculptural light fixture above the table echoes the wall sconces in the kitchen, creating visual continuity throughout the open plan.
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Living Room
The living room features two large glazed openings. One faces east to frame the pond, and another opens to the south with a covered patio. Natural light fills the space throughout the day. A cathedral ceiling enhances the sense of height and openness, while black-and-white furnishings complement the dark polished concrete floor, grounding the space with visual weight.
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Bed & Bath
The bathrooms extend the home’s black-and-white palette with a mix of classic and modern details. In the guest bath, white subway tile wraps the shower and lower walls. Black accents in the window frame, mirror, and fixtures introduce a modern edge. The main bath features white shiplap walls, black herringbone shower tile, and a layout with a separate tub and shower. Gold hardware and fixtures add a jewelry-like touch, while warm wood cabinetry brings natural warmth.
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Green Building Principles
This home is engineered for Maine’s extreme winters with a highly insulated, airtight envelope and robust weatherproofing. It features a Swedish frost-protected slab foundation with an R-value of 55 and integrated radiant floor heating for efficient, consistent warmth. The walls achieve an R-value of 33 with continuous insulation to eliminate thermal bridging, while the roof reaches an impressive R-60 with dense pack cellulose. Together, these elements nearly meet Passive House standards. A snow guard system, oversized gutters, and ice-and-water shielding ensure roof durability through snow and ice. An ERV/HRV system provides fresh, filtered air year-round, making the home both energy-efficient and future-ready.
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Testimonials
