Cottages get touch of Miami nice

A cottage in Maine may be many things, but chic usually isn't one of them. Which is why developers Tim Harrington and Juan Urtubey saw an opportunity when they dreamed up their luxe new resort in Kennebunkport.

Called Hidden Pond, it features a lodge and 14 cottages, each decorated by a different Maine designer. And by decorated, we mean laid out as though a photographer from Elle Decor were scheduled to drop by any minute.

"We just wanted something a little cooler, a little Miami influence," said Harrington, who splits his time between Maine and Florida.

The interior of the so-called Lucky cottage, designed by Nicki Bongiorno, starts with a crisp white palette and then layers on funky fixtures and interesting wood furnishings as accents. (Be sure to check out the screened porch, which is carpeted with grass.) The Daydream cottage by Mark Spiker features corrugated steel room dividers, cowhide rugs, and more than a little lime green. Pam Burgess's design, in the First Light cottage, incorporates sleek contemporary furnishings and a punch of zebra stripe.

Roughing it is, clearly, not an option.

Several designers have created more pastoral - and less aggressively modern - interiors for those who crave wicker and window swags. And all of the cottages include enclosed outdoor showers and quaint clapboard exteriors. Because, while a bit of Miami is nice, nothing beats a New England retreat. - HAYLEY KAUFMAN

The Cottages at Hidden Pond are open to the public through Wednesday. Tickets to the decorator showcase are $20 at the door, and proceeds benefit a number of local nonprofits. For more information, visit hiddenpondmaine.com.