A Cozy New England Cabin
Kevin Browne, founder and CEO of Kevin Browne Architecture in Falmouth, Maine, details how he created a cozy wooden getaway for a family in a rural section of the state.
Have you always been interested in architecture?
I became interested in it in high school through drafting classes. I later earned my bachelor’s degree in architecture and joined a Pennsylvania firm where I had been a summer intern. Eventually, I moved to Maine to work where my college roommate was employed.
The state became my home. It felt like a great fit for the way I wanted to live: more snow, more access to the outdoors, and a more peaceful rhythm of life.
When did you open Kevin Browne Architecture? How big is it?
We’ve been in business since 2008 and now have a team of twelve. While I steer the ship, everyone’s voice matters concerning where the firm is headed.
In fact, we transitioned to an employee-owned cooperative in 2024: I literally sold the company to my employees. I decided that I didn’t want to sell the firm to an outside buyer or adopt a traditional hierarchical buy-in structure. Instead, I wanted my team, the people who are invested in the work and in each other, to shape its future. When I eventually retire, the firm will continue with people who care about it.
Your website says that your work draws from the past while looking forward. What does that mean in practice?
Much of my early work experience was rooted in Maine shingle-style architecture, and a lot of it looked similar. I’ve come to value projects that blend traditional forms with contemporary detailing, such as gable forms and proportions that feel rooted in history but are reinterpreted through modern windows, siding, trim, and detailing. As a result, they feel recognizable yet fresh, grounded without being nostalgic, and current without being trendy.
Would you describe your process?
We work in three phases. Phase one is collaborative and client driven. We begin with sketches and inspiration, then develop floor plans and elevations in 3D to clarify the concept. Builders are often brought in early to provide pricing feedback.
Phase two is when we detail everything. We have a good idea of what the budget’s going to be, so we develop how the house will be built, how materials meet, and how systems perform. Thorough documentation at this time minimizes surprises during construction. We get pretty extensive with every little detail because it’s always cheaper than making changes later.
The final phase is construction administration. We coordinate with the builder, answer questions, review the drawings, and meet regularly on site—usually every other week if it’s a local project.
Who are the clients for the Rangeley Retreat project? What were their goals, and how did you achieve them?
They’re a very active, outdoors-oriented couple. Both are avid fly-fishers and skiers. They have grown children and wanted a house that would serve them long-term.
From the beginning, they were clear that they didn’t want something ostentatious. The overall goal was to build a mostly one-level home designed for aging in place that felt like a camp. We approached that by breaking down the massing into a series of connected gable forms rather than creating one long ranch home.
Inside, though, it flows seamlessly. The materials are consistent, and the experience is unified. We also angled portions of the house to capture specific views of the nearby pond. It’s a play on the idea of separate campsites but functioning as one cohesive home.
Overall, the footprint is intentionally restrained, echoing older Maine camps, but the materials are contemporary. We used a dark-stained, thermally modified poplar that will weather over time, turning silver naturally, and help the home settle into the landscape.
What makes the location unique?
Rangeley is a rural area in western Maine that’s surrounded by lakes and mountains. It’s known for fly-fishing, snowmobiling, and skiing. Saddleback Mountain is nearby, and Sugarloaf is about an hour away. It’s very much a four-season place with long winters and deep snow, making the environment beautiful yet demanding.
The home itself is secluded—a true oasis in the woods—but still only about ten minutes from the town center. It sits within several hundred acres that the clients purchased and has a pond nearby. Part of the land is protected under Maine law, and the rest had once been subdivided into multiple lots, which they dissolved to create a private retreat.
Were your choices equally about aesthetics and practicality, especially given Maine winters?
Absolutely. In Maine, resilience is essential. Good design here means the house performs as well as it looks. Air leakage and moisture are big issues, so we pay close attention to the building envelope, especially insulation levels above code, tight air sealing, and high-performance windows.
In addition, the cladding of this house includes a drainage plane behind it, allowing water to escape and extending the life of the materials. The clients also heat with wood, so we incorporated ample storage for drying and accessing firewood efficiently. The goal was durability and low maintenance, which is especially important for a second home in a climate where winter temperatures can drop well below zero.
Tell us about the striking angular ceiling over the primary living area:
That was one of the more complex elements of this project. Two cathedral gables intersect there, one from the screened porch side and one facing the view. Structurally and visually, that intersection required careful coordination.
The clients wanted a ceiling treatment inspired by board-and-batten textures with layered wood detailing and exposed beams. The structural work itself is concealed within it. Achieving that openness while managing the engineering was challenging, but it gives the space its character.
What other challenges did the project present?
Site work was difficult. We first walked the property in winter, on snowshoes, before any tree clearing had happened. Understanding the views and orientation required some imagination.
Designing the driveway was another challenge. The site had significant grade changes, so we worked with a civil engineer to ensure safe access. The finished driveway is about a quarter mile long, plus another stretch through the subdivision. It’s a journey to get there—but that’s part of the experience.
How did window design factor in?
With any project, we’re always balancing the windows’ solar orientation, energy performance, and view. Windows were especially critical with this project, though. Initially, we explored larger expanses of glass, but that didn’t align with the clients’ vision of a traditional camp feel.
Instead, we studied historic precedents: breaking up window groupings, incorporating grilles, and exaggerating proportions slightly to maintain scale without creating a modern glass wall. As a result, the long elevation faces the view, articulated through those gable forms. Meanwhile, the garage door faces south to help with snow melt. Every orientation decision was intentional.
How satisfied were the clients?
They were thrilled, particularly with how comfortable the home feels. It holds heat well, requires minimal upkeep, and functions exactly as they hoped. For us, that feedback is as meaningful as the visual result.
What’s next for your firm?
Since completing the Rangeley Retreat project, we’ve brought interior design in-house. We still collaborate with outside designers, but having an integrated team allows for a more cohesive process. Clients can work with the same group from concept through completion. At the end of the day, architecture is about relationships between clients, builders, and designers. When those align, the work speaks for itself.
For more info, visit kevinbrownearchitecture.com