Tessa Carla Blog's: Listed for $6M, ‘Faraway’ in Maine Is a Marvelous Retreat From the Madding World

Wednesday, 12 May 2021

Listed for $6M, ‘Faraway’ in Maine Is a Marvelous Retreat From the Madding World

It’s named “Faraway,” but this island retreat in Maine isn’t completely removed from civilization.

The 7,100-square-foot house on tiny Greening Island is now on the market for $5.95 million.

Despite its magnificent moniker, the home is really just a short boat ride away from Southwest, Northeast, and Seal Harbors.

“It’s on the point of Greening Island, and it captures sunrises, sunsets, and the sun of the day. It looks out at Great Harbor, where all the boat traffic is in the summertime. It’s just has a lovely presence on the point,” explains the co-listing agent, Mia Thompson, who is working with David Banks to sell the property.

Built in 1905 on a 4.4-acre parcel, the Arts and Crafts-style house is just one of seven homes on the small island in the center of Somes Sound.

The current owners of the property began a restoration project in 2003. They replaced all of the home’s infrastructure and lifted the house off of its stone foundation to pour a new concrete slab.

“This house isn’t going anywhere, and it was already doing great at 100 years old when they bought it. But it had old wiring and things like that, which have all been updated,” Thompson says.

The house also now runs on solar power, but comes with two backup generators just in case.

Aerial view of Greening Island, ME
Marc Bartholomew (Zebulon Films)

Exterior
Marc Bartholomew (Zebulon Films)

Interior
Marc Bartholomew (Zebulon Films)

Fireplace
Marc Bartholomew (Zebulon Films)

Butler’s pantry
Marc Bartholomew (Zebulon Films)

Bedroom
Marc Bartholomew (Zebulon Films)

Bathroom
Marc Bartholomew (Zebulon Films)

Inside, you’ll find an abundance of natural material, with plenty of wood and stone. The natural feel is in keeping with the character of the house, as well as its surroundings.

The agent told us the renovation of the seven-bedroom was exceptional in its attention to detail.

“They took the fireplace apart stone by stone, marked it all, redid the entire interior of the fireplace, and put all the stonework back in its original order,” says Thompson.

Kitchen
Marc Bartholomew (Zebulon Films)

Dining room
Marc Bartholomew (Zebulon Films)

The kitchen is the hub of the home and features a high-end gas stove, two Sub-Zero refrigerators, granite countertops, and a huge sink that looks out to the water.

“It’s got a little sitting area for a work desk and whatnot, and then there’s a hangout area for people to be near the kitchen and communicate. People are always hanging in the kitchen,” Thompson says.

Guesthouse
Marc Bartholomew (Zebulon Films)

In addition to the main house, a small, 300-square foot guesthouse is also on the property. It’s ideal for overnight guests—or a remarkable work-from-home opportunity.

“It has two small bedrooms or two offices. A lot of people that have looked at it have considered it’s a great place to work from,” Thompson says.

A deepwater dock provides access to the nearby town, via water taxi or private boat. Car parking is available on the mainland.

Back on the island, this property has an amazing 1,500 feet of private shorefront, plus paths for walking.

“It’s a magical spot. My favorite place is just as you come out of the front door, or as you walk up from the dock to the house, there’s this beautiful red copper beech tree, and off one of the limbs is a swing,” Thompson says. “It’s just a rope swing with a wooden seat, and I just wanted to sit in it and swing. You can just imagine kids and family enjoying the spot.”

Outdoor space
Marc Bartholomew (Zebulon Films)

Porches are accessible from almost any spot in the house and offer spots to survey the landscape, even if inclement weather blows in.

“It’s got a covered open porch with sliding glass windows. Then there’s an enclosed glass section that faces east. When the cold weather comes, the fog and the rain come from the east, so you can sit in there and you can see and feel the weather, but you don’t have to freeze,” Thompson explains. “Then there’s a large open and uncovered porch on the north side, which lets in lots of lovely light into the house.”

Even with the numerous fireplaces and a covered porch, the house is only available for seasonal use. It’s a summer retreat that’s really not out of reach for a buyer with means.

Thompson tells us that the type of buyer she imagines living in the house could be “someone that either has a large family, or loves to entertain, or wants a lot of privacy. Anybody who has a sense of adventure and loves architectural beauty.”