This Coastal Maine Cottage Perfectly Captures Classic New England Style

We’re on Deer Isle, Maine, visiting interior designer Grace Becton at her charming cottage perched on a hill overlooking the ocean.

After a decade spent working around the world with humanitarian and development organizations, Grace returned home to Maine to pursue her passion for interior design. Just minutes from her parents’ home, she found this 1980s Cape-style home and began renovating it—often while on assignment in Uganda.

Grace has transformed the house into a serene retreat, layering it with meaningful details that honor both family and place. Artwork by her parents, nautical accents, and locally crafted furniture bring depth and character, while maintaining a calm, balanced atmosphere in harmony with the surrounding nature.

Large windows in the living room and bedroom frame sweeping views of the ocean, and a small deck provides the perfect spot to watch the sun set over the water. With its classic shingled siding, pitched roof, and timeless interiors, Grace’s home captures the quintessential New England spirit—serene, soulful, and deeply connected to its coastal landscape.