There's Still Enough Time to Stay at This Charming Maine Motel This Summer

Alice Amory didn't set out to own a motel on the coast of Maine when she returned there after 16 years as a chef in New York City. She had originally planned to open a pop-up restaurant in the area, but that was before she learned that a classic seaside getaway had been for sale for quite some time. "It was really dated, [with] wood paneling and a lot of turquoise or mustard carpet," Amory said. She envisioned the place as "an unplugged summer experience" similar to her childhood in nearby Camden, which would come to life with a colorfully minimalist Scandinavian design pulled from her travels. With a limited budget, she went about removing carpeting and doors that otherwise "chopped up" the '50s motor inn, and then painted everything "white, white, white" for a minimalistic feel. The six cabins — all with doors of brilliant blue — now make up the Lincolnville Motel, a haven that feels like a timeless escape to summer's simple pleasures. And even though she never anticipated this locale in her future, Amory is already thinking ahead: a spa and consignment shop are on the way. Who knows? A restaurant could be next.