Budget Breakdown: Their Maine Property Only Had One Bathroom, So They Built a Guesthouse for $208K

Diana Arcadipone’s works, whether paintings or mixed media, are layered and magical—much like the idyllic acreage where she lives with her partner, Scott Berk, in Otisfield, Maine. Peppered with saplings and home to a revolving cast of native critters, including fox, deer, and coyotes, the enchanting property accommodates the couple’s home, a barn, a woodshop, an art studio, and, most recently, a tiny guesthouse.

With four buildings on the premises, why break ground on another structure? "We needed a second bathroom," explains Diana.

But it was more than that, of course. "This is a couple that loves to entertain," says architect Leslie Benson, who runs her firm by the same name. "None of their family or friends are near Otisfield, so any guests they have tend to stay overnight."

While this may not pose a problem in larger homes, Diana and Scott’s 1,000-square-foot residence is of the cozier variety. "There was no privacy," Diana says. "We were putting people up in my studio, which doesn’t have plumbing. The need for a second wash space quickly grew into a desire for a separate, comfortable accommodation."