Camden Harbour Inn

A 19th-century mansion with a view of Camden, Maine’s picturesque harbor might sound like a recipe for a trip back in time. But the Camden Harbour Inn is owned not by the descendants of its original owners, but a pair of Dutchmen who’ve adopted Camden as their second home — and adapted this beautiful old house to its new use as a very modern boutique-style bed and breakfast.

Needless to say, there’s more than a bit of European influence in the interiors, and the modernist furniture and hyper-saturated colors are a distinct departure from the classic New England style. The rooms and suites are all named after former Dutch colonial territories, and incorporate subtle design gestures towards their eponyms’ local styles; more immediately important, they range from the comfortable to the truly expansive, and include luxuries like feather beds and Molton Brown bath products.

The restaurant, the unassumingly named Natalie’s, is highly regarded, combining a pronounced French accent with local produce and seafood. And a small spa arguably elevates the Camden Harbour Inn into small-luxury-hotel territory — or even beyond, when you take the spa’s Lifestyle Coach into consideration. Safe to say it’s a unique take on the classic seaside inn.