This Restored 18th-Century Maine Farmhouse Is an Artist's Treasure Trove

An Adapted Vision

When it came to design challenges, Karu says that dealing with layout issues was the biggest hurdle from the start. "The kitchen is overly large, and some of the other spaces that we would have liked a bit more square footage in were lacking," she notes. "We either moved walls, or, when that was not doable, cleverly furnished the spaces to function on a smaller scale." The entryway, seen here, complete with a skinny bench for sitting, illustrates this.

• 13 Ideas for Creating a More Organized Entryway

A Touch of Maine

Dining rooms are among Karu's favorite spaces to design, and that sense of enthusiasm was certainly reflected in her mother's own. "We designed the dining table with our friends from Huston & Co., a custom furniture company in Kennebunkport, Maine. We love working with them, and this table is a collaboration we're really excited about," she shares. "The Lindsey Adelman lights are also a highlight and conversation starter. Everyone loves them. They're basically iconic at this point, but I always think they're most appropriate installed in projects by the ocean."

• Feast Your Eyes: Gorgeous Dining Room Decorating Ideas

A Gallery Wall

The dining room also became an outlet for personalization. "We wanted to be sure the house felt unique to my mother and showcased the pieces she's collected over the years. The dining room is filled with art created by artists she admires, her friends, and her mother (my grandmother, who is a world-renowned portrait artist)," Karu says.

• How to Build the Best Gallery Wall

The Gallery Continues

"The black-and-white gallery running up the stairwell is a collection of work by my great-uncle on my father's side, Leon Levinstein," Karu says of the home's second gallery wall. "I'm fortunate to come from long lines of creative people."

A Natural Color Palette

Selecting the home's color palette—a curation of neutrals, pictured here in the hallway—came easily when Karu considered the setting of the property, which is less than a mile from Maine's beautiful coastline. "We wanted the colors to be neutral or rooted in nature. The majority of the color palette is soft, allowing the furnishings and materials to speak for themselves."

• Paint Palettes We Love

Old and New

Karu's mother is, in the designer's own words, "a skilled and prolific cook"—she is a cooking columnist for magazines and websites, which is why the kitchen needed to function as a true workspace, without sacrificing the farmhouse aesthetic. To achieve this, they merged found treasures with modern-day technology. "The beams were salvaged from a barn in Warren, Maine, and look like they're original to the house," Karu says. "It's not always easy to create an Old World aesthetic in a room full of large stainless appliances, but I think we succeeded in making the appliances recede into the background."

• 20 Beautiful, Functional Kitchens to Inspire Your Own

Form and Function

While it was important that the island have plenty of prep space for cooking, Karu was concerned that the mass of stone on the oversized island would feel overwhelming. To create balance, she added a brass transition strip and wood countertop to designate a counter-stool seating area.

• Choosing a Kitchen Island: 13 Things You Need to Know

Strategic Antiques

Of her and her mother's intentional antique search, Karu says, "We hunted for specific items, like a pantry door that looked like it might have been there for a while. We found the etched glass door with the ship from Portland Architectural Salvage and knew we had the right piece."

Somewhere Cozy to Gather

The sunken living room has a built-in cozy vibe, which Karu took full advantage of by adding a statement stone fireplace surround. "We worked with a local stone mason and locally sourced stone to be sure it had an authentic quality and didn't look like a stone supplier façade," Karu explains. Another item of note: her mother's framed insect collection. "It's a mix of decoupage plates and a bust, large framed insects, botanical prints, and an antique European school chart."

• How to Arrange a Living Room

Bright Nooks

In the living room, a wall-suspended half table shows off a sea-foam pottery collection; above, another of Karu's mother's collected paintings hangs on full display.

Lots of Contrast

While the compact bathroom's bold wallpaper certainly introduces a moody tone to the space, the metallic accents offered balance and contrast with a hint of shine. "We loved the wallpaper with the sink and faucet combo. They have a bit of a steampunk vibe," Karu says.

A Touch of Femininity

The master bedroom showcases blush tones, a curved headboard, and shapely prints to create an inherently feminine space that Karu notes is very true to her mother. "My aesthetic leans more masculine, and I love that this space shows the difference in our personal styles and feels so much like her," she says. Matching nightstands, lighting, and accent mirrors add symmetry and balance.

• Home Tours of Amazing Bedrooms