Journal
Coastal Cottage Offers Modern Retreat
Owners: Chantal and Michael Jennings Size: 1200 square feet Architect: Elizabeth Jennings Location: Schoodic Peninsula, Maine Interior Design: Chantal and Michael Jennings Furniture: Thos. Moser The moment you turn down the nearly half-mile private driveway to the Jennings cottage, you know you are about to experience something magical. Cut through old–growth forests, the driveway winds through coastal pines draped in usnea. The harsh coastal weather has stunted and twisted the jack pines into looking like meticulously pruned and trained bonsai. The forest floor is covered in lush green mosses, and massive granite boulders left behind from receding glaciers dot the landscape. The drive ends on a ledge of pink granite with sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean and the protected entrance to the harbor. The Jennings have left this unique property as intact as the day they purchased it, over 40 years ago. Finding an Artist Colony in Down East Maine The property was once owned by California watercolor artist Barse Miller. Drawn by the rugged shores that occupy this area, Mr. Miller established his small summer artist colony, Rangemark. Here, he hosted numerous watercolor workshops until he died in 1973. This place offered solace, beauty, fair winds for sailing, and an opportunity to paint en plein air. When the Jennings purchased the property in 1983, the land and views were breathtaking, but the buildings were nothing more than a dilapidated main house, a tiny bunkhouse, and a horse shed. Years later, they found themselves with the arduous task of demolition and hauling away the all–but–abandoned property before they could begin breaking ground on the new site for the cottage. A Daughter’s Designs Elizabeth Jennings’s goal was to create the small escape her parents envisioned. Her initial design had clean, modern lines. She wanted to create a minimalist home that retained much of the “New England” charm without competing with the land. Her design included cedar shakes, copper flashing, and a standing seam copper roof. Elizabeth added weather-related adaptations: overhangs, a covered entryway, and a slate-floored entrance that would accommodate muddy boots and wet paws. The open layout of the interior invites intimate dinner parties. The large southern-facing windows provide plenty of ambient light. When it came time to set Elizabeth’s design into motion, her parents turned to Bensonwood in New Hampshire. From day one, Chantal and Michael were involved in every aspect of the cottage's construction and finish details. They chose the house site, guided construction trucks up and down the driveway, hauled rocks for the foundation and landscaping, chose fixtures, assisted the finish carpenter, and designed custom cabinets. An Interior Inspired by Thos. Moser Furniture To the far left of the cottage are the master bedroom and bath. Here, the early morning light greets each day with a view of the entrance to the harbor and the ocean. The furniture in the bedroom includes one of the first Pencil Post Bed designs from Moser. Chantal wanted an uncluttered and calming bedroom. On either side of the bed, the nightstands are simple Minimus Tables built by Chantal at a Customer-In-Residence program. In the corner of the room sits an Aria Chair Michael completed during his Thos. Moser Customer-In-Residence program. The Jennings chose the light salmon upholstery to reflect the color of the granite boulders and shoreline. The primary bath, set behind the bedroom, features custom cabinetry, a compact washer and dryer, and a beautiful river stone shower. The main living space is unobstructed by walls and creates a welcoming space for guests. There is even a secret loft for their grandchildren, complete with a porthole. A Harvest Table accompanied by six early Fanback Chairs, a predecessor to our Catena chairs, were Chantal and Michael’s first Moser purchases in 1981. Chantal points out, “I wouldn’t trade the table or chairs for anything. I raised my children at that table, and we’ve shared many meals and conversations here. That table is a part of our family’s history.” The beautiful antique Marblehead pond yacht was a housewarming gift from Mary and Tom Moser. The vintage yacht, hanging on the wall over the fireplace, links land and sea. The floors and ceilings, inspired by Moser, are crafted of ash. Michael recalls, “When the Mosers had their first showroom in Portland, Maine, the floors were ash.” He remembers how he loved the way the cherry furniture stood out on the light ash floors. Chantal and Michael wanted to incorporate this warmth into the interior of the new cottage. The Jennings find the cottage liberating. Its small size and beautiful furnishings free up time to enjoy the surrounding area. Elizabeth is delighted that her parents are so happy with their little coastal retreat. “The furniture is a testament to good design; it looks as stylish and modern today as the day we bought it.” Chantal says, “It showcases the versatility of Moser’s designs. An upholstered sofa pairs beautifully with the Vita Chairs, Harvest Table, and Auburn Stools in the same room. The designs go with anything, and each piece has a timeless quality.“
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Living With Intention
For Anne and George, home has always been more than a place to live—it’s a reflection of their values: a space shaped by experience, intentional design, and appreciation for craftsmanship. Their journey with Thomas Moser began in 2005, almost accidentally, when Anne stepped into the Georgetown showroom, drawn to a Vita Chair she saw in the window. Until that day, she had associated the brand with traditional Windsor styles—“Beautiful, but not quite my style,” she admits. But this chair was different: sculptural, graceful, quietly strong. “I was smitten,” Anne recalls, “This was not just a piece of furniture, but a work of art.” She wasn’t expecting to find the centerpiece of their future home that day—but sometimes, the most meaningful connections are the ones we don’t plan. "The interior finish is a vessel to showcse the owner's carefully curated art and furniture." -Charlie Moore, Moore Architects, PC. As with the Vita Chair, their home began with a chance encounter. One day, while out for a drive at the height of the pandemic, the couple spotted a modest property for sale near the Potomac River. The location was prime, and the original house was charming, but it was cramped, dark, and outdated. Enter Charlie Moore of Moore Architects PC. Together with the owners, the team of architects, designers, and builders assembled by Moore Architects set out to create a new home that would do justice to the lot and the owners’ intentions. The goals were to design a dwelling that was big enough, without intruding on the neighborhood; to combine modern forms with traditional local styling, and to provide interior spaces for the owners’ sizable art and furniture collections. The resulting collaboration gave birth to an award-winning 4800 square-foot house that serves as the perfect stage for those collections—and for their Thos. Moser furniture, in particular. Above: The open dining area and kitchen feature the Aria Chairs, Oval Ring Dining Table, and Coal Shovel Stools. Below: A custom Crescent Side Hutch in figured maple, Coal Shovel Stools, and an Edo Studio Chair in cherry. “Their favorite Moser piece? “That’s tough,” says Anne. “We really love them all, but for sheer elegance, I’d say the Aria chairs. They’re exquisite.” Primary Bedroom: Vita Bed and Vita Side Cube in cherry. Working with the Georgetown showroom, the couple gradually filled the new house with a remarkable collection of Thos. Moser furniture. Here, old and new Moser pieces blend seamlessly with family heirlooms and with what Anne refers to as “souvenirs” from their years abroad. “I wanted furniture that would stand up to our art and the Moore-designed interiors, without overwhelming or feeling trendy,” says Anne. “What I love about Thos. Moser: I love the beautiful materials, the craftsmanship—the joinery! It’s all about making good things that last.” The living room, grounded by rich walnut tones, is warm and invites conversation. In the dining room, a pair of antique French candlesticks feels right at home on the walnut Oval Ring table. A custom-figured maple case sits casually below an early twentieth-century Hawaiian aquatint and across the room from an old family cedar chest. The loft, once just extra space, is now a sanctuary, filled with a Vita Three Place Sofa, Element Credenza, and Cumberland Chair, NYPL Branch Chair, and the iconic Chaise. In the small spare bedroom, Anne’s mother’s portrait gazes down on the Studio Bed in cherry. The overall effect is interiors that are meaningful, harmonious, and quietly elegant. When asked what guided their furniture selections, Anne explained that her initial criterion was mainly cosmetic: Does it look good? Does it fit the space? “It’s a curse,” she confesses, referring to her connoisseur’s eye. She spent her formative years in Europe, where, as a child, she accompanied her parents to countless galleries, palaces, cathedrals, and gardens. “Too many,” she says. “My mother was a great enthusiast of art and architecture!” “Once you buy your first Thomas Moser piece, it becomes nearly impossible to turn back. The quality, the design, the philosophy behind each creation—it all becomes an essential part of how you experience your home,” says Anne. The furniture also had to meet the couple’s high standards of quality and comfort–plus pass the “legacy” test: Would their daughter want the furniture someday? This past fall, they had the chance to answer that question, when they offered their original dining table and chairs to their daughter and son-in-law. “What a pleasure it was to sit with them this past Thanksgiving at the very same Moser table and chairs that our daughter grew up with,” says Anne. What’s next for the couple? Nothing too ambitious, they say. They hope to travel and see more of their family and friends, who are scattered here and abroad. “But it’s so nice to have a place to come home to, filled with the things you love.” Including, of course, that first Vita Chair.
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A Designer's Touch: Where Craftsmanship Meets Personality
Charlie and Maureen chose Thos. Moser furniture to celebrate the craftsmanship of Maine’s artists, blending beauty with meaningful heritage.
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