‘Energy-efficient.’ ‘A monstrosity.’ What do you think of the HGTV house in Maine?
Some Mainers reject the overhaul of this 1900 Victorian. The architect touts its energy-efficiency. Take a look. Continue reading on realestate.boston.com.
Mainers were excited when the HGTV Urban Oasis Giveaway, one of the network’s annual home giveaways, made its way to New England last year. The network took over a Victorian-style cottage in Portland, giving the property, which dates to 1900, an overhaul that included an architectural redesign and interior transformation. Just last month, the fully-furnished residence was given to a lucky winner: Elise Kaiser, a healthcare worker from Seattle. But it wasn’t who won the 2,000-square-foot cottage that got Mainers riled up. It was the renovation itself.
So what had Mainers in a tizzy over the property’s overhaul? The once-quaint, cream-colored house was given a deep pewter board-and-batten exterior with a bright coral front door. The interior highlights a diverse color palette of greens and corals, while the bright foyer features orange and white horizontal stripes. The owner suite is painted a rich royal blue.
“HGTV should fire the asshat that designed the monstrosity,” one comment read. “No self respecting Maine resident would ever live in this house as it is.”
“The Urban Oasis Home is nothing in keeping with the state,” another read.
“Missed the mark 100%.”
“Hideous.”
But despite the outcry, the project is viewed as a success by others. Harry W. Hepburn, who redesigned the home with Portland-based architecture firm Briburn, was tremendously pleased with the outcome.
“It was uninsulated and extremely inefficient,” Hepburn said of the existing home, explaining that it was built on a concrete masonry block. “We wanted to clean it up, simplify it, and also make the house much more comfortable, energy-efficient, and healthy.”
The team at Briburn didn’t feel there was a “strong architectural story” behind the home or any significance in keeping the shape and the siding. It also had structural issues, didn’t embrace natural light, and wasn’t energy-efficient.
“It was a substantial, night-and-day savings in how much energy they’re using now versus what they would be using then,” said Hepburn, “so that was a big driving force for redoing the design on the exterior.” The resident can now sit by the triple-glazed windows and not feel cold, he added.
So what do the architects have to say to those who aren’t pleased with the home’s new aesthetic?
“I think they have to remember that this is designed for a TV show — to generate some knee-jerk reactions, to hit a point,” said Hepburn, who was not involved in selecting the colors, finishes, or fixtures. “That designer used it as an opportunity to be bold. Would I have the [orange] stripes in my house? No. Do I think it’s bold? Yes. It catches your attention.”
The home’s unique decor is also partly due to the need for HGTV to feature the project sponsors.
“If it was all white and you didn’t have the bold colors, the reactions would be much less,” said Hepburn. “Some people love it, some people hate it. That’s design in a nutshell.”
HGTV supplied photos to Boston.com, but has not responded to questions on the project.
Like all the other HGTV Dream Homes before it, the three-bed, 2½-bath Portland house was put up for sale quickly by the new owner, who chose a cash payout instead. It was listed at $575,200 but is no longer on the market.
See more photos of the property below:
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