Our stay at this beautiful, rustic home on Orr's Island was everything we wanted it to be, a truly wonderful, memorable experience! Friends and family who came to visit had the same reaction as others have posted in previous reviews: "Wow!". I spent two months wading through hundreds of Maine seacoast rental ads, and the one thing I learned is to identify exactly what you want, in specific words. If an ad didn't say those words, it meant I wouldn't get what I wanted, no matter how upbeat the description was. In our case, our key words were "Oceanfront", "big porch overlooking the ocean", "privacy" and "quiet". This home fulfilled everything I could have asked for, and then some.
Now, if one of your required words is "ultra-modern", this isn't it. If you need everything to be perfect in a modern, sterile, state-of-the-art 2012 home, this isn't it. This is a century-old classic Maine summer home, which is its own kind of perfection. The kitchen doesn't sport granite countertops, and the house doesn't have central air conditioning. Instead there are cutting boards for the kitchen, and screened-in windows that open to allow a sea breeze off the water to cool the house naturally. The house is filled with the photos and books and memories of a family that has lived here (and continues to live here) for generations, and living here for one week was a genuine privilege for us.
A few practical notes: unlike one review here, we did not smell any "musty" smell, not even a hint. We did smell the subtle, lovely woodsmoke aroma of the massive stone fireplace in the living room. There was plenty of firewood available in the toolshed to take the chill off the early morning, or late evening. There is every imaginable dish, pot, pan, and other kitchen accessory imaginable, with the exception of a microwave...but who uses a microwave on vacation anyway? The 2nd floor bathroom has been completely re-done, and is lovely, modern, yet still in keeping with the rustic traditions of the house. There is wifi if you must use your iPhone or computer, and HD TV to watch the Red Sox. Cellphone service is spotty, but the landline phone in the living room was available at any time. Most of all, we loved that massive front porch, watching the lobstermen tend to their traps every day. We saw a wild turkey and a red fox on different days march across the front lawn. This house isn't for everyone, but it is the quintessential rustic Maine ocean experience. We loved it, and we'll be back!