23 Bowen Road, Kittery, ME 03904 (MLS# 1532539)

Saltwater breezes blow across a lupine-painted meadow and out to sea. An artist pauses his brush to let the clouds pass over Whaleback Light, as a tiny white boat sails across the river. The Isles of Shoals hovers on the horizon in the summer sun while fox kits play in the grass. These are stolen moments in time, captured, at the historic Maine home and studio of the late painter Russell Cheney and his partner, F.O. Mathiessen. For the first time in over 100 years, this quintessential 1790 Maine Coast Cottage is available to the public, having been lovingly cared for by family and friends since the turn of the Century. This truly special home retains almost all of it's original charm in cozy rooms, with original mantles, doors, wide plank floors, a perfect screen porch, and views of the water from every room. The first floor includes 2 bedrooms with a joined full bath and laundry, and sitting room with a woodstove and unobstructed views out to sea. The cottage kitchen has plenty of storage, and the dining room provides an intimate gathering space for a candlelight dinner. The library offers a quiet office nook. Tucked into the second floor are 2 more bedrooms with waterviews, a full bath with clawfoot tub and a den. The detached artist studio is flooded with light, and retains a stunning hearth with a woodstove and plenty of space to create, host guests, have game night and more. The landscape has been kept as a natural meadow, with mature fruit trees & mowed paths down to the waters edge. There is a small beach at lower tides, perfect for launching a kayak or your dingy to your boat mooring. A dock may be possible with town approval. While this 18th Century home would likely benefit from 21st Century updates, its past deserves a future steward with a preservationist heart that appreciates the simple pleasures to be found here, just as artists and writers have delighted in her spirit for Centuries with pure inspiration that can only be felt in such a magical place.

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