top of page

Morgan Bean stateroom renovation

Holly M. Bean, a prominent East Coast shipbuilder at the time, built the Bean House in 1856. The home sits on the corner of Mountain and High Streets on the north end of downtown Camden, Maine.  In the 1980s the property was sold and turned into a bed and breakfast and later into apartments, each transition requiring the addition, first of bathrooms, then kitchens to each unit. In the mid 2000s the tenants bought the property and the historic Victorian structure became condominiums. The stateroom renovation began as a conversation at a trade show about comfortable arm chairs and living efficiently in small spaces. Three years later an order for a sving armchair and ottoman and a better bed/seating solution evolved into a complete renovation, down to the studs in places. It is an intimate experience to learn and design for the way someone will live in their space. It is not enough to create a space that looks fabulous in photographs, there has to be room for coats, cleaning supplies, and pots and pans.  From the beginning, with only 264 square feet to work with, a murphy bed seemed the most logical solution but there was no wall space wide enough to install one. After a conversation about removing the large radiator and consolidating the elegant Victorian trim around the passage door, the project took off in a new direction. If we were going to redesign that corner of the studio, the kitchen should also be completely reinvented and the bathroom desperately needed a makeover. Necessary clutter could be hidden out of sight! Where once there were no closets, there are now three, plus a pantry and blanket chest. Every inch of space is accounted for with secret storage in often overlooked nooks and crannies.  The kitchen has a multitude of drawers making everything accessible and includes a farm sink, undercounter refrigerator/freezer, induction stovetop and vent, as well as a pullout countertop and rubbish bin. The bathroom has vanity and sink with a smaller footprint and rounded corners to make moving around in a small space more comfortable. A medicine cabinet, addition upper cabinets and drawers below the sink make the most of the limited space.

LibbySchrumDesign_Bean_01_Couch_web.jpg
living_before.jpg

more images

LibbySchrumDesign_Bean_05_Kitchen_Table_web.jpg
kitchen_before2.jpg

more images

LibbySchrumDesign_Bean_10_Closet_1_web.jpg
LibbySchrumDesign_Bean_11_Closet_2_web.jpg
LibbySchrumDesign_Bean_09_Piano_Detail_web.jpg
doorframe__after_edited.jpg
LibbySchrumDesign_Bean_12_Bath_web.jpg
bathroom_before.jpg

more images

​

LibbySchrumDesign_Bean_07_Fridge_Spice_Rack_2_web.jpg
kitchen_before1.jpg

more images

LibbySchrumDesign_Bean_03_Chair_Ottoman__web.jpg
LibbySchrumDesign_Bean_02_Bed_web.jpg

© 2025  libby schrum design 

bottom of page