Part of the charm of the Maine lifestyle is that everything’s not perfect. (Well, it actually is perfect, but the rest of the world might not see it that way.)

The climate’s part of it, and the other part is the simple ingenuity and practicality of the creative people who live here. Especially in the farming communities where farmers ‘make do’ in very innovative ways.

And Maine is the lucky recipient of the many wonderful aesthetic gifts that the 16th, 17th, 18th and parts of the 19th centuries have given to the local vernacular.

Brian Haddock (don’t you love the name?) started a carpentry company in 1973, in Bridgton, in Western Maine to restore old houses. The kind that normal people would tear down. But the kind where the Maine magic is found.

Soon the company was just making furniture and eventually moved to Portland where they started working with the now famous Maine Cottage Furniture.

And now they have their own take on how cottage furniture really should be.

Their line has a charming sense of Maine wry humor, precision craftsmanship, great color sense, and a quirky mid-century modern style. It’s less Maine cutesy, more contemporary, and very tongue in cheek.

Perfect for the modern cottage, or to add a smile to whatever decor you choose.

It’s unclear why this company hasn’t received more buzz!

These photos don’t give you the full picture, you should definitely stop into their light-filled showroom in downtown Portland to see what happens when rural meets urban in Maine.

Furniturea, Rural Modern, 75 Market Street, Portland, ME 04101, 800-860-8955 (Across from Starbucks at the top of the Old Port.)

Visit Furniturea’s website.