In the fall of 2021, after 15 years of renting, we decided to take the plunge and become property owners. We closed on a 200-year-old, 6,000-square-foot building in Bangor, Maine. The property was listed as having nine bedrooms, and seven bathrooms, and came with an adjacent 14-car parking lot.
We gave our landlord 90-day notice and started the clock on what would be an aggressive race to move in. We were in the middle of a global pandemic with chronic labor shortages and supply chain issues, what could possibly go wrong?
Well thanks to the hustle, skill, and attitude of Chris Shawley and his crew at 15 North Carpenters & Associates, we were able to have a holiday party and move in by the end of December.
And a mansion wouldn’t be complete without a ghost or two. While we haven’t seen one yet, we’re quite convinced that we have a resident ‘creative spirit’ we’ve named Birdie, who loves by the widow watch in the attic, overlooking the shores of the Penobscot River.
The widow watch seat belonging to our resident creative spirit “Birdie”The painting called “Creepy Lady” found at an antique store that has become the face of BirdieOutside looking at attic position of Birdie’s widow watch seat
Visits With Birdie
When we have guests tour the mansion, we invite them to sit and ponder in Birdie’s seat 😉
Where We Started
Kitchen on the 2nd floor, which would become our idea studioAn exam room on the first floor which would become our Office Manager’s officeThe first floor space that would become the office for our audio/visual teamA first floor exam room that would become our podcast and recording studioThe former reception area that will become the filming studioThe downstairs room that would lose a wall and become our kitchen
Under Construction
The audio/visual office area under constructionRemoving tiles and strapping to reveal hidden tin ceilingsA look at the removed wall and found doorway in what would become the kitcenA look into the filming studio in the worksThe 2nd floor kitchen being transferred into our idea studio
A Few Finished Rooms
Office Manager’s office Former reception area converted to filming studioFirst floor exam room which is our podcast studioFirst floor conversion to the Audio/ Visual production roomWall removal around first floor kitchenInstallation of downstairs kitchenThe living room which serves as the Account Management officeFront stairwell with curved bannisterSecond floor kitchen converted to our Idea Studio
