This Maine Family Home Has the Prettiest Paint Colors
“My favorite Maine activity is swimming, hands down,” says writer Zinzi Edmundson, who lives in Owls Head with her husband, Jesse, and their sons, James and Russ. “The ocean is cold, but once you get over the shock, it has a minerality that feels amazing. Luckily for us, we’re a five-minute drive from the beach.” Today, Zinzi invites us inside her home…
Rolled up seat: made by Zinzi.
On hand-me-downs: The previous homeowners left behind this fish doormat for us. For some reason, my husband thought no one really cared, so he ordered a new one. Immediately, the kids said, ‘But what about the fish?!’ Jesse asked, ‘You guys like the fish?’ I told him, ‘Everyone loves the fish.’ He’d chosen a great mat, but the fish is here to stay.
KITCHEN
Wall paint: Benjamin Moore’s Alabaster White. Cabinet paint: Farrow & Ball’s Studio Green. Candle holder: Fredericks and Mae.
On crowd-pleasing dinners: Before having children, I was ambitious in the kitchen. But daily kid-friendly cooking is my kryptonite — it’s tough! Thankfully, we can all agree on poke bowls. We have a great fish market nearby, and we’ll use marinated yellowfin, sushi rice, and slices of mango and avocado.
Pendant: Hay. Dining table: made by a friend. Chairs: Hay. Stools: Rejuvenation.
On the local attitude: There’s very much a ‘do it yourself’ mentality here because Maine have a relatively small workforce. If something breaks, there’s not always someone who can come fix it. When we first moved in, a drawer broke and I realized I was the one who had to figure it out. So, I took apart the drawer that wasn’t broken to see how the pieces fit together. Learning how to repair it was an empowering feeling.
On countertop heroes: A friend recently made me chicken thighs in her air fryer, and they blew my mind — they were crispy but juicy. Now I’m an air fryer believer and use mine all the time for tofu and frozen burritos. The frozen burritos come out *way* better than they do in the microwave.
On a wall of memories: This used to be an accent wall, but after I painted the room white, it looked stark and lifeless. So, I went into old boxes and grabbed photos and ephemera to hang up. Adding both photos and items makes it feel more balanced and visually interesting.
Stove: Jøtul. Sofa and armchair: Ikea hand-me-downs. Rug: Vermont Country Store.
On cozy corners: I like coming down here before everyone else wakes up, so I can sneak in a few moments to myself. One routine that made parenting hard for me was abruptly waking up to demands before I was even fully conscious. Nowadays, this nook is where I’ll drink my coffee and write my morning pages. In the winter, I’ll start a fire and enjoy the silence.
LIVING ROOM
Sofa: Ikea. Sofa cover: Bemz. Coffee table: Urban Outfitters, similar.
On making your own adventures: I feel like every town in Maine has six great places to either eat, shop or go to for entertainment, and that’s it. So, you have to drive around to explore other towns. Some people see that as a drawback, but I like to reframe our hour-long drives as mini adventures, and we make a day of it. The other day, we went to Belfast, so the boys could use gift certificates at their toy store. Then we hiked at a land trust and ended the day eating at a good café.
Black chair: antique. Ken Price poster: LACMA.
On recital songs: My youngest, Russ, is taking piano lessons and played a rendition of Bad Bunny’s La Mudanza at his last recital. He’s also into Peanuts, and the characters are constantly talking about Beethoven and playing Für Elise. So, he’s now been working on Für Elise, too!
On long-time loves: I met my husband Jesse during my first year of college. A bunch of our friends went to The Getty, and Jesse bought a Rice Krispies treat that was the size of his head. To this day, he has such an innate curiosity and interest in other people. He’s also very funny, which lends a helpful levity to our family life.
On that epic bookcase: My stepdad built these shelves for us. Before, I’d seen photos of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves that went over a doorway and always thought they were so cool.
On favorite teams: These figures are from the Starting Lineup toy series. Jesse’s dad has a whole collection of them, so he gave this grouping to me. I’m a big Red Sox fan and grew up watching them.
JAMES’S BEDROOM
Paint: Portola Paints’s Duet. Bunk bed: Ikea. Sofa: Nugget. Ship kite: Haptic Lab.
On parenting preteens: I sometimes miss the snuggly, visceral babyness of the early years, but when your kids hit their tween years, you have someone you can really talk and relate to. James is serious but chatty — when we go out to get dinner or ice cream, I always learn something new. He’s thinking deeply about stuff he never did before, which is sometimes hard and sometimes cool and sometimes both. Connecting with him in this new way has been one of my favorite parts of parenting.
World map: Omy. Desk: old Ikea. Chairs: Ikea.
On old-school pastimes: James loves talking on his tin-can phone. He’ll be bored and then say, ‘I’m gonna go call so-and-so.’ I think it’s so great.
RUSS’S ROOM
Paint: Benjamin Moore’s Galapagos Green. Space mobile: Djeco. Salamander poster: Maine Big Night.
On a makeshift room: When we first moved in, we tried having the boys share a room, but it was a disaster. No one ever slept. So, we moved Russ’s crib into this walk-in closet, and it fit. I recently asked Russ if he wanted to move into the guest room, but he said, ‘No, I like it here.’ He’s all about that teeny tiny room life.
Dog house: “made by my stepdad.” Dresser: vintage. Bean bag: West Elm Kids.
On comic relief: Russ loves indoor activities, like LEGO and Brain Quest workbooks, and he’s also super funny. I’ll always remember, when he was a baby, he was in his high chair acting super goofy. I started laughing and realized, ‘Wait a minute! I’m laughing at legitimate comedy. This kid’s hilarious!’
PRIMARY BEDROOM
Paint: Farrow & Ball’s Setting Plaster. Gray lamp: vintage. Bedside table: Schoolhouse.
On favorite books: My honors thesis in college was on The Odyssey, and I’ve read it more than a dozen times, in eight different translations. So, I obviously saw the movie, and now, I’m thinking: Should I read The Odyssey again?
Garland: “Russ made it for us when we were coming home from a trip.” Plaid pillow cases: Piglet in Bed, similar. Striped pillow case: Cultiver.
On remembering yourself: Our bedroom was last on the list of things I gave my attention to. For a long time, we were sleeping on an old metal frame. Then one day, my husband asked, ‘Could you ever do our room a little bit now?’ When he went on his next work trip, I decided to surprise him and paint the whole room while he was gone. That was my way of saying, ‘Look, I care about us, too.’
Rocking chair: reupholstered by Zinzi. Jute rug: Revival. Floor lamp: similar.
On a new rhythm: After Russ was born, I had postpartum depression. A friend recommended I try The Artist’s Way, and it was so helpful. One exercise asks you to rate the different areas of your life, so you get a visual sense of how balanced your life is. When I did that exercise the first time, it was super jagged — seeing the imbalance was shocking. But years later, I went through the book again, and everything looked balanced. Now that my kids are older, I feel like I’m finally in a place where I have the space and autonomy to write and create and invest in friendship, without it feeling stressful and squished into little time pockets.
On lost loves: My aunt made this pillow for us after my first dog died. I had her before I even lived with Jesse. She was my original roommate, and I miss her so much.
On dog types: After Ruby died, I tracked down Juniper at a rescue in Rhode Island. I’m crazy for hound dogs. They’re so energetic and particular and funny. When she comes in for a cuddle, she loves to circle up and get extremely close to you in a way where she’s almost body slamming you.
BATHROOM
Paint: Farrow & Ball’s Black Blue. Wallpaper: Nickey Kehoe.
On childhood inspirations: Growing up, my best friend had a tiny powder room in her home. But it felt layered and cozy with moody wallpaper. I thought about it a lot when working on this bathroom. My stepdad was a house painter, so he helped me make the paneling. I wanted the planks to be on the wider side because it felt intentional, but not too fancy. We’re not in Manhattan.
SUNROOM
Seat cushions: made by Zinzi’s mom. Table: old West Elm, painted by Zinzi. Rug: a painted floor cloth, made by Zinzi.
On sweet neighbors: We love hanging out in our sunroom when friends are visiting. It’s only eight feet from the forest’s edge, so we see wildlife up close all the time. The other day, I saw a deer eating pears off the ground.
GARDEN
On annual rituals: I love my garden. It’s the only hobby that I’ve done consistently, year over year over year. I don’t naturally have a green thumb, but I keep showing up. This year, I tried to integrate flowers like zinnias and nasturtiums into the vegetable beds. You can actually eat nasturtiums, and I’ll sometimes throw them in a salad.
On fun flower names: These are called coconut daisies; they’re extra floofy.
Thank you so much, Zinzi! You can find her on Instagram, if you’d like.
P.S. More house tours, including a Massachusetts home peppered with reading nooks and the 350-square-foot studio that’s a DIY dream.
(Photos by Greta Rybus for Cup of Jo.)
Tags: house tours
Comments
106 commentsI am 1. obsessed with everything about this house. and 2. “One routine that made parenting hard for me was abruptly waking up to demands before I was even fully conscious.” YES. this was one of the hardest things for me in the transition to parenthood.
Such a lovely space!! It’s giving OG Schoolhouse Electric in the BEST way.
Great taste in books! ;)
LOVE this home and this family. Makes me want to pack up and move to Maine.
Love this home tour. I’m not seeing that anyone else has asked this question in the comments- I’m wondering about the Tin Can phone?! Looks intriguing! How old are your kids? My boys are 12.5 and 9.5. They have ipads, but not phones and I want to hold off on getting my oldest a phone for as long as possible. I’m not sure if he would chit chat on the Tin Can phone or not, but I love the idea. Would be interested in any other info you have to share about it!
Ooh I can share – we love our Tin Can! My kids are 5 and 9 and I’ve been amazed at how well their confidence and phone manners have grown since we got it last Christmas. They call friends up for a friendly chat, they arrange play dates, they follow up with friends about plans or homework. It’s such a game changer! They are also having to practice asking for friends if a parent or sibling answers, take a message if needed. It’s wonderful for executive functioning. Can’t say enough that everyone should get a landline! A hot tip – they give a small discount if you order more than one. I used that as a springboard to get a lot of other neighbors on board. We ordered for ourselves and 5 other families and now they are spreading like wildfire. Hope you can do something similar!
My daughter has one and loves it! She’s 11 and my son is 13. Neither have phones – both have an apple watch that they can use to call us if needed [we live in NYC and they both walk to school / take the city bus / take the train on their own so this feels safe to us]. It’s a great middle ground b/c we can get in touch if needed but there are no phone distractions / no social media. My daughter definitely uses her tin can for long chit chats!
Your coffee table is the dream! Does anyone know where one could find it? Thanks in advance
What is the paint color in hall peg wall?
Smoked Trout by Farrow & Ball!
love this house tour! thanks for sharing Zinzi! May I ask what’s the paint color for the house exterior?
It’s River Rock by Sherwin Williams!
More! More!! The house! The life style! The commentary on life and parenting! So good. Thank you for sharing. I loved this line: “I don’t naturally have a green thumb, but I keep showing up.” I keep showing up.
I’ve been looking for the right color for my bedroom and as soon as I saw that Benjamin Moore Galapagos Green I knew that was the vibe. Can’t wait to incorporate those cozy, natural vibes into my space.
Cup Of Jo house tours are my absolute favorite. Real people live in these houses and they look like the type of house you cozy up in with a friend and a good glass of wine ❤️
Photography by Greta Rybus! I would freak out if Rybus took pictures of me or my house or my anything. Please check out her work; she’s amazing! And I love this house. I dream of living in Maine, long winters and all!
From the first photo I thought wow I wonder if Greta Rybus took these, they feel like her work! I’m such a fan.
Beautiful home, beautiful garden! Zinzi, could I ask where your red clogs are from in the last pic?
They look like they might be SeeVees. https://www.seavees.com/products/womens-marin-mule-crimson
Oh! They’re Seevees!
Love this! We just bought a house in Owls Head last month! It’s our dream town, and I was so excited to see a Maine profile, and one from the same place! Would be delighted to run into you in town one day!
!!! I’m sure we will! Welcome!
Dreamy!
Was the fish mat sourced?! It’s excellent!
Those bookshelves are so cool! And using a big walk-in closet as a bedroom is ingenious. The only thing I didn’t relate to about this interview was when she said they frequently drive an hour for shops, entertainment, etc. I’ve realized that a lot of times when people say they love a rural lifestyle that entails a LOT of driving and that is not for me—biking everywhere in my medium sized city is my jam. 😂 Beautiful yard and garden, though! I didn’t know you could eat nasturtiums; sounds cool to try.
What a gorgeous, comforting, aspirational home…dreamy!
Catherine Newman would approve of your kitchen couch(es).
Beautiful house in my favorite state. Thank you for sharing it. Where is the cute moon and mushroom garland from in the dining table photo?
I’m pretty sure I got it from Merci Milo!
This is my favorite house tour in ages! I live in a weird house on 5 acres outside a small town and rarely see a house tour which feels relevant for me. This one is so resonant with my own living. I love the easefulness, the bookiness, the many DIY projects, THE GARDENS. First tour I’ve ever sent my husband to say: “We should look at this together for ideas!” What a beautiful life you have, Zinzi. Thanks for letting us have a glimpse!
This home is incredible. Intentional and styled but still cozy and lived in. I’m starting the Artists Way with a group at a local yoga studio and I’m nervous about the time commitment but this was the perfect sign. Thank you.
Where are the magnetic clips on your fridge from? And how about the plug in lights behind your couch? Thank you!
The clips are from Daiso Mart! Lamps are Schoolhouse
What a beautiful space! Thank you for sharing it with us!
I love the coastal landscape painting in Russ’s room. I’m trying to find something similar to bring some of my New England roots into my Baltimore rowhome :)
Love this! And I adore the watercolor beach painting in Russ’s room. Is there a story there?
There is! Although it’s not such a happy one… My Aunt painted it and there’s one in James’ room too, both with a note of condolence to each of them after their grandpa/my stepdad passed. They were so thoughtful and beautiful I had them framed (and the note is on the reverse side)
Is the living room also alabaster and its just lighting? It’s so lovely and creamy!
Came here to ask the same question! :)
They’re all different whites 🤪 Yellow couch zone is Joa’s White and the sitting area near the woodstove is Dimity, both Farrow & Ball !
This is such a lovely home. ♥️ I love your garden, coconut daisies, dogs, and powder room, Zinzi. ♥️
Gorgeous home! I took a road trip and spent a peaceful few hours in Belfast. Curious which translation of The Odyssey is Zinzi’s favorite??
I still prefer the first translation I read in high school :) Robert Fagles
Robert Fagles translation is so readable! Loved his Illiad and Aeneid in college
What a cozy joyful home! And the photos! Beautiful! The photographer crushed it 🥹👏🏽
So many beautiful and relatable parts of this house tour! Definitely going to pin some images for inspiration. And what a dreamy living room! Fireplace, bookcases, couch color and placement, all incredible.
Zinzi – your preteen might enjoy Gareth Hinds’ graphic novel of The Odyssey. It was just re-released with gorgeous endpapers. My 12yo and 8yo both devoured it.
Oh great tip!! He’s also starting off the school year with a block on Ancient Greece, so great timing.
Love to hear about and see Ruby and Juniper, but what about this sweet floof in all the other pictures??
Ramona the Bernadoodle! The true star of this whole thing
She’s a stunning little girl!!!!
The vibrance and warmth of this home makes me want to pop on my red clogs and come sit by that wood burning stove! But the part that made me laugh was seeing your dog’s name is Juniper. My younger daughter is Juniper, and for the first 7 years of her life, her nickname was Pepper, which more than one person (WHY?!) told me “is a dog’s name.” So seeing a dog named Juniper feels like a weird, small triumph.
As a New Englander now in California, this entire home warms my heart. Maine is a very special place. Years ago, when my dad lived in Lubec, he ultimately purchased an enormous amount of sand dollar tree ornaments hand painted by a local artist bearing each of the Maine’s lighthouses. They came with a little description on an attached card to each ornament, handwritten in calligraphy, describing the location and date of operation of each depicted lighthouse. While I am from Mass. and not Maine, these sand dollar ornaments are so special to me. Over a number of years, he returned to the artist to eventually buy all of them before gifting them to me. They decorate my tree every year. I am so grateful he found that lovely artist in one of those charming Maine shops. And, Go Sox! Thank you so much for the tour of your cozy and charming home.
I love this story!!
“Walk in closet” in Maine = Paris living room. 😂😂😂😂 Loved this home tour, gorgeous taste and design.
So many warm, lived in corners of this house. And that sun room is a dream! Also need to know Zinzi’s thoughts on The Odyssey movie!!
Zinzi wrote about it in her substack, i think! the link to that is on her name at the end of the post
I grew up in Maine but now live in North Carolina, and we stayed in Owls Head on a trip back home last fall – we loved it so much! Love this cozy New England home, too – and her GARDEN!!
Hi from Greensboro!
Love this tour and love the reminder when she spoke about her garden that you don’t have to be perfect at things, showing up and continuing to show up pays dividends too!
Random question, but what color is the bunk bed painted?? Thank you!
It’s the same as the bookcases (there was extra!) Studio Drab by F&B
Favorite house tour ever!
Just wanted to point out how often she talks about her stepdad. Warmed my heart. I love seeing all the ways he’s supported your home
I love looking at all the paint, wallpaper, furniture, art! <3, and everything else in these houses that make them homes. Right now, though, I am looking for curtains. Curtains for a tallllll window that is going to be a real focal point. Any ideas? Where do people buy curtains these days?
Carmen, last time I had a tall window to dress, I used two sets of curtains (previously purchased at Ikea, Target) that I cut and sewed to be custom. It was a 12ft tall curtain, 6ft and 3ft of each to make a 1:2 ratio (so I did not use the top of one). Also, I used a rod to open and close them. If you sew, the As-is room at Ikea is a great place to get finished fabrics.
Wow. This might be the best house tour yet. We just returned from an anniversary trip to Maine, and that state stole my heart. Love the cozy vibes of this house a whole lot!
That sun room made me gasp! wowowwwww. Love the colors and warmth of this beautiful space, thanks for sharing
This house’s exterior reminded me of Orchard House, where Louisa May Alcott grew up, in the very best way. So homey and comfortable and stylish all at once.
Amazing catch!! That was my color inspiration :)
I love everything about this home! Would it be possible to find out what the exterior paint color is?
It’s a Sherwin Williams color, River Rock!
Thanks so much!
South African here! Zinzi is a South African name – I’m so curious about Zinzi’s roots now :) Did her parents spend time in South Africa?
Sadly no, just posers I’m afraid :| My parents saw Zinzi Mandela in the NYT 40 years ago, loved her story, got inspired, and I’ve been wearing the name ever since!
Oh my gosh, SO beautiful. Zinzi has created such a warm and personalized home that is also gorgeous to look at and full of fun little surprises. What a dream. I want to know more about the HOUSE. I loved the plank walls, the stone chimney (?), the sunroom… The bones of the house seem very special!
Beautiful and cozy! Especially love the paint colors and the sun porch. Are the couches on the porch built-ins and do they flip up to store things inside? Would love any info on them, as we’re looking for more comfortable and woodsy-looking seating on our porch. Thank you!
But what did you think about the movie, Zinzi??
Ha!!! OK—if you’re looking for accuracy (cough, Emily Wilson, cough), you’re not going to get it. But after a lot of schlocky attempts to capture the best story ever (imo), I’m personally pretty pleased with this one. :)
Zinzi— I couldn’t agree more!
Thought the same, we need a detailed review!
Soap on a rope in the basin – genius! I will steal that idea – less plastic!!! <3
This is a dream, A DREAM! We just bought our first house and it’s very bare for now – I’m so excited to add pieces and layers and memories over time, hopefully in 10-15 years it’ll look something like Zinzi’s house :)
Dream home, dream life!
incredible amounts of coziness and beauty. love the colors. can i come for dinner?
I have a special fondness of Maine, having spent many summer holidays there and seeing this gorgeous home really highlights the beauty of the state… both Maine and this home are a cozy but not over done place. It must be so special to live in an older home like this, looks like it has lots of character and charm. And when I saw the reference to Belfast… well, it made me think of on of the best ice cream spots nearby, John’s Ice Cream! Wish I could have pint from there right now. :D
John’s!!! The absolute best. We drove home with five (5!!) quarts after dropping James off at camp this year.
I would love to live here. I’d change nothing.
Same!
fully agree!!!
I love the Red Sox figurines – I grew up with them too – but don’t all those dudes look alike? It’s like lots of Wade Boggs-es all in a row, with a Calvin Schiraldi cameo. I still keep my favorite player’s rookie card in my wallet. I’m 47!
I don’t think I have ever commented on a house tour. But I loved reading Zinzi’s! I feel like I would love to be her neighbor.
wow, loved this house. that sunroom!
I love this house so much, one of my all-time favorites here. I want to snuggle into each of these photos. thank you for sharing it with us!
This was so timely- first, because my little family are soon headed to Northport ME for a week where I plan to soak up all the green and salt air after a very hot Colorado summer. And secondly, because this was somehow so soothing a read; I had my first meeting-of-the-moms at my kid’s preschool and I felt more than a little lost, being quite a bit older, living in an apartment rather than an enormous house with alllll the things, decked out in leggings instead of a dress or fancy jeans because my belly does not enjoy inprisonment anymore, and sporting very undone hair and face…while this house tour wasn’t any of those things, it still made me feel a bit more at home, like a hug of a home.
Been there, Jane. You sound lovely and I hope you find your preschool mom friends! I’m sure there’s a kindred spirit amongst them, and if there’s not, we’re here for you!
i like the tiny bedroom. i lived in one like that in college, so cozy.
Obsessed with that sunroom, that garden, that memory wall. I rarely feel too inspired by home tours but damn, I can’t wait to make my own memory wall!
So happy to see Setting Plaster in a home!! I used the Benjamin Moore version, Boudoir, in a previous home and I hope to use it again someday! Our landlord won’t let us paint so we’ve had stark white walls in every room for years.
What a beautiful home. Would Zinzi be willing to share where her powder room sink came from? It’s beautiful
Hi! Thank you!! I got the sink at Rejuvenation, but I’d recommend going through the actual company (Nantucket Sinks) because I had a hard time finding a faucet, drain, etc. that worked with it.
We are currently building a “tiny powder room” in our house (a welcome addition to our 1-bathroom home!) and I’m excited to make it the most well-decorate room in our house! I want to do the paneling, too, with the wallpaper on top, but we are going more for sage green vs. dark moody. Zinzi’s home in Maine is completely dreamy, but as a born-and-bred Southern Californian, I don’t know if I’d be hardy enough to make it there!
Maine sounds magnificent, Zinzi! A state populated with self-reliant people who fix their own furniture, grow luscious gardens to feed their families, and create amazing floor cloths…very impressive, indeed. Thank you for sharing your home and life, Zinzi! It was truly enjoyable.
House is lovely but I gasped at the sight of the garden. I didn’t see it coming! Bravo!
This is a great house tour. This line made me laugh, though – I feel like every town in Maine has six great places to either eat, shop or go to for entertainment, and that’s it. – since our town has mayyyybe 2 take out spots (I’m being very generous!), 1 shop which is mainly just a gas station, and entertainment is almost non-existent. You gotta love Maine!
Fair, 6 does feel like a high number!! 😅