Cedar Shake Residence
Year
2023
Client
S&M
PROJECT STAGE
Site Plan Examples
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. While not Passive House certified, it integrates key sustainable features. Built by neighbor and local green builder Kenny Cole, the house reflects thoughtful craftsmanship and a commitment to ecological living.
Floorplan
The home is divided into two sections. The entrance leads to the communal area - the living, dining, and kitchen. The open-concept public area lets the owners and guests move through the spaces conveniently while encouraging interaction between the spaces. While each function has their own space, they are visually connected and can host larger groups of people and social events. From the living zone, a hallway leads to the private section. The master bedroom sits on the left flank with a spacious en-suite bathroom and walk-in closet. The master bedroom is closer to the living area for easy access. Further down the hallway, at the end are the two guest bedrooms with a shared bath.
Living
The living area features a classic cathedral ceiling, crowned by a striking modern chandelier at its center. The living room faces the south with windows on both south and west sides, bringing in abundant sunshine and warmth. The covered deck is an extension of the living room into the outdoors, and blurring the boundaries between the inside and outside. It also protects the living room from the summer sun. While the overhead protection ends outside the living room, the uncovered deck wraps around the side of the house, offering more seating for warmer weather. During winter, the three insulation layers are essential to keep the family warm indoors. They will also indulge in added coziness after the wood stove is added to the living room.
Kitchen
The kitchen features a galley-style layout with a 16-foot counter that anchors the space, complete with a built-in coffee nook. A generous central island offers a clean, monolithic surface for both cooking and gathering. Custom cabinetry along the main wall conceals a panel-ready refrigerator, integrated dishwasher, and built-in microwave, creating a visually streamlined composition. Supplemental pantry storage is discreetly located in the adjoining hallway, preserving the kitchen’s minimalist aesthetic.
Dining
The dining room sits just in front of the kitchen in its own defined space, centered on a large window 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.
Baths
The bathrooms carry 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, while black accents in the window frame, mirror, and fixtures add a modern edge. The main bath features white shiplap walls, black herringbone tile in the shower, and a separate tub and shower layout. Gold accents—seen in the hardware and fixtures—bring a chic, jewelry-like touch, while warm wood cabinetry softens the look with natural warmth.
Mudroom
The stone walkway leading to the gabled porch entry of the house exudes countryside cottage charm. The entryway welcomes guests with an eclectic collection of decorative pieces over a black table. Two brass light fixtures above accentuate the white shiplap walls. The shiplap walls continue in the mudroom on the right. The mudroom houses the washer, dryer, and a bench with a window above. The bench invites and offers a cozy spot to put on warm layers and shoes for the outside or rest. The back features a black-and-white tree landscape wallpaper. The design mirrors the tree-lined scenery outside and brings nature inside..
Interior Palette
The interior palette is rooted in a restrained black-and-white composition, balancing minimalism with a quiet dialogue between classic and modern elements. White appears in a range of finishes—from handmade kitchen tiles and lacquered cabinetry to soft white walls and classic subway tile in the bathrooms. Black provides contrast in the form of grout lines, hardware, fixtures, and threshold transitions from polished concrete to white surfaces. Accents of brass are layered in like jewelry, subtly elevating the space and nodding to classical elegance through thoughtfully chosen fixtures.
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.
.jpg)
Testimonials
