Lark Hotels, the boutique hotel brand behind properties like Block Island Beach House, Summercamp and The Attwater, will debut the Kennebunkport Captains Collection this spring in Kennebunkport, ME. The Kennebunkport Captains Collection (KCC) is an updated collection of historic Maine homes formerly owned by leading sea captains. This newly-designed, luxury village resort is located around the village green and is steps away from the Kennebunk River and Dock Square. Outfitted by Massachusetts-based interior designers, Rob Blood and Megan Kennedy, principals, Elder & Ash, each house has a look and feel all its own.
Operating as a single, cohesive resort and grouped together within a two-block radius in downtown Kennebunkport, KCC brings together four celebrated houses: William Jefferds House, James Fairfield House, Nathaniel Lord Mansion and Acton Patterson House. The William Jefferds House and James Fairfield House are currently open, and both the Nathaniel Lord Mansion and Acton Patterson House to follow on May 28. All four properties underwent complete redesigns and renovations this winter prior to their debuts.
These properties represent a significant piece of history in Kennebunkport and Maine. Each property originally belonged to the daughters and son-in-laws of Captain Daniel Walker, a successful merchant and sea captain in the 1700s. After passing through generations of Kennebunkport’s seafaring families, all four properties have been preserved and united to create a singular village resort experience in downtown Kennebunkport.
“The opportunity for us to design the homes of the Walker sisters and reimagine it as a family compound was a driving force behind our design choices,” Blood said. “We imagined that each of the families had different tastes but enjoyed the wealth and opulence that came along with their merchant trade lifestyles. Because of that, each house has a distinct design that would accommodate different personal tastes but still feels cohesive as one moves through the different homes. Beyond that, we worked to respect the architecture, both inside and outside, and to update the spaces to appeal to the modern traveler.”
“We find a lot of inspiration through our own travel and experiences,” Kennedy said. “We like to try to replicate various moments or elements of particular places that we’ve enjoyed. We think about how design can create the certain types of feelings for our guests that we like to feel when we’re traveling or having a new experience, and we pay attention to that throughout the whole process. Our inspiration also comes from the story we’re trying to convey. We think carefully about how people will interact with the space and how certain elements we add—or take awa—will help the space tell the story and allow guests to feel like they’re staying at a place with soul and purpose.”
The Captains Collection includes 45 guestrooms. Guestrooms and suites range from petite single rooms to multi-room suites with local art, working fireplaces, four-poster beds, soaking tubs and private access to screened-in porches or the river green. Pets are welcome at the William Jefferds House, where private entrances allow for easy access for dog walks through the neighborhood.
The William Jefferds House’s crisp white and soft neutral color palette and original architectural details create a bright and airy backdrop for heirloom furnishings and local landscape paintings. An artful and eclectic look at the James Fairfield House is complemented by bold colors and abstract works of art from Maine artists, all while allowing the home’s early Federal period architecture to shine. The Acton Patterson House pairs cozy plaids and distressed leather furnishings with sturdy, original woodwork and working fireplaces in each of its four guestrooms. The luxe jewel of the collection is the Nathaniel Lord Mansion, where grand four-poster beds and luxurious draperies create a lavish and opulent environment.
“The commonality among all of the homes—and collection as a whole—is the multi-sensory experience of luxury that’s layered in through design,” Kennedy said. “The original art curated and commissioned uniquely for each home. The tactile richness of the fabrics, wallpapers and rugs. Just enough vivid, bold color and moments of serenity through neutrals and earth tones. Plush seating areas and reading nooks that call for you to sink in. We wanted each home to have a distinct personality, not to be lost among a group. While the style of each home is quite different, the feeling of living lavishly is alive throughout.”
While each house is unique in design, all four are tied together by their sprawling indoor and outdoor common spaces. Expansive gardens, lounges, the Butler’s Pantry bar, a grand drawing room, library, dining room, fully stocked guest pantries, breakfast service and a curated retail experience are shared amenities at this village resort. Complimentary bicycle use, electronic vehicle charging stations and a courtesy car allow for easy exploration of the area’s many scenic views and charming restaurants and shops.
“Local culture and history is always a great source of inspiration for our designs,” Blood said. “In this case, the buildings, the town and the community influenced our choices but most importantly the fact that these homes all belonged to decedents of Daniel Walker lead us to create a resort-like experience by bringing all of the homes under one umbrella for the first time since they were built in the early 1800s. In this way, people will find comfort in the community that the public spaces provide, just as the Walkers found comfort in the community of their family when their husbands were at sea.”
