Designed to evoke a ship, this stylish 2BD home overlooks the ocean and is surrounded by 50 acres of woods, wildlife, and area beaches. Complete privacy but only 17 min from town. Hike, kayak, BBQ, explore Downeast harbors, or just relax on the deck.
The Prowhouse was designed by Machiasport poet and sea captain Phil Rose to evoke the prow of a ship. The home's distinctive, angular 'prow' and its floor-to-ceiling windows overlook Howards Cove, a lovely crescent of ocean water and woodlands cupped in the north by unique Jasper Beach. The Prowhouse is perched atop a 130' cliff on the southwestern arm of the cove and is surrounded by pristine forest. In addition to the remarkable view, our guests enjoy complete solitude — there's only one other home remotely visible and it's across the cove about a mile away.
The Prowhouse fits 4 people comfortably. The master bedroom has large windows with a dizzying view over the cliff to the ocean floor below. The second bedroom is smaller but is very cozy; it's walls are covered with blue and gold-colored nautical maps of New England. The downstairs has a handsome living room, dining area, kitchen and bathroom.
The style of the home's decor is a mix of mid-century modern and nautical aesthetic, i.e. lots vintage furnishings in teak and brass. While the Prowhouse is newly renovated with all modern amenities, you'll feel as if you've stepped into the 50s or 60s when you walk through the door. For instance, you'll find furniture, art, and design by mid-century Modernists Paul McCobb, Norman Cherner, Percival Lafer, and Curtis Jere. A library corner contains a Danish desk, vintage books, an old rotary phone, an Olivetti typewriter, and a classic Thorens turntable. Most of the paintings and photographs throughout the house are unconventional takes on natural and nautical themes. (Don't expect twee paintings of sea captains and lighthouses when the real deal is just outdoors.)
When the sun is out and the weather warm, enjoy the Prowhouse's spacious deck and picnic table at the cliff's edge. The Prowhouse grounds are fun to explore with small paths threading through the trees, along the cliff's edge, up stone steps and into small gorges.
About the area:
Machiasport, according to the popular travel guide Lonely Planet, is the 'real Downeast.' So if you stay here, don't expect crowds of camera-toting tourists ( you'll find those 1.5 hours south of us in Bar Harbor.) Machiasport, instead, is for those seeking an intimate and authentic experience of Maine coast culture. The experience first unfolds from the seat of your car; Port Road, leading from the town of Machias to Machiasport, is quiet and unassuming but full of character. The road meanders past marshes, woods, and mudflats; passes stacks of lobster traps, lopsided barns and lobster boats, and resident homes of varying repair and personality. We love trips in and out of town. So will you.
Just off the end of Port Road, and down Rose Lane (a quarter mile dirt road through the trees), you'll find the Prowhouse perched atop Rose Ledge. While the home's location is wonderfully idyllic surrounded by acres of trees and wildlife — it's hardly idle; Howards Cove will serve as your own private seaside-theater, presenting you daily with a small parade of lobster boats, seabirds, kayakers, and dramatically expressive clouds. Looking out our windows or standing on Rose Ledge, you'll also see Cutler's distant radio towers that twinkle at night; you'll catch the silhouette of salmon farms against the sea, and, a little farther afield, you'll discover Libby Island Lighthouse whose intermittent flash and foghorn add ambiance to your stay. (Did I say foghorn? Yes, indeed I did. The price we Mainers pay for such traditional New England iconography is, of course, the existence of fog. However, if you're a fan of the Scottish Highlands or misty, medieval forests carpeted in thick mosses and dark tree trunks, you'll find the foggy days an authentic part of the Downeast package.
The Prowhouse is surrounded by 50 acres of woods and wildlife, including some rocky beaches complete with caves and vertiginous cliffs. As mentioned before, the Prowhouse is perched upon one such cliff called Rose Ledge (named, like Rose Lane, after the Rose family.) Perhaps 'Blueberry Ledge' would be more fitting since in August the ledge is hued in swaths of blueberries. Pick some in the morning and have blueberry pancakes for breakfast.
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