White Barn Inn, Auberge Resorts Collection, the renowned inn located in the charming coastal town of Kennebunk, Maine, has just unveiled a comprehensive redesign. The 27-room inn, repeatedly honored as one of one of New England’s most stylish escapes, has undergone a property-wide reimagination under the guidance of New York-based Jenny Wolf Interiors. In addition to unveiling a new look, White Barn Inn debuts Little Barn, a lively and casually elegant new restaurant that brings local Maine farmstead and fisheries right to the table.
Modern Country on the Maine Coast
Acclaimed for her diverse portfolio of interior design work, from prominent residences to her interior furnishings shop, The Huntress, in Pound Ridge, N.Y., designer Jenny Wolf has mastered the art of balancing the rustic with the modern. At White Barn Inn, Jenny embraced the property’s farmhouse history and introduced playful contemporary touches, utilizing both new and vintage, high and low, rough and polished to create inviting and cozy interiors with a unique Maine sensibility. Refreshed guest rooms feature spindle beds, Chelsea Textiles furniture, Sister Parish wallpaper, Fermoie lampshades, antiques and traditional English and Gustavian-style pieces mixed with modern touches. Rooms also feature elements from local Maine purveyors, such as cozy throw blankets from Evangeline in Portland and Adirondack chairs from Chairman of the Board.
Casual Dining at Little Barn
Since it launched as a pioneering fine-dining establishment in 1973, White Barn Inn has been one of the most sought-after culinary destinations in New England with its AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five Star White Barn Inn Restaurant. With the launch of Little Barn, Executive Chef Matthew Padilla introduces a forward-thinking menu of approachable, Maine-inspired bistro classics, served in the small 1860s-era barn next door to the eponymous restaurant. Simply executed, yet expertly prepared, dishes at Little Barn are both flavorful and approachable. Signature dishes such as the Maine Lobster Roll with Shoestring Fries and Little Barn Herb Roasted Half Chicken with mustard greens and toasted sourdough croutons are complimented by a robust menu of local, seasonal specials that change daily. Little Barn also boasts seasonal hand-crafted cocktails, an extensive selection of beer sourced from local microbreweries and wines from New England and all over the country.
The new restaurant, also designed by Jenny Wolf, echoes the Inn’s modern farmhouse feel with hand-built Windsor chairs from O&G Studio in Rhode Island, Urban Electric sconces and comfortable plaids that add warmth and texture. An interior focal point is the 60-foot mural painted by acclaimed Maine artist Dean Barger whose works appear in many top New York City hot spots. Inspired by his deep admiration of Maine’s misty and mysterious coastal landscapes, his signature dreamscape style of painting is inspired by 19th century Barbizon painters from France and the Hudson Valley. Guests are able to dine in at the Little Barn dining room or al fresco on the deck.
Reimagined Guest Experiences
This summer, guests can soak up the sun poolside at White Barn Inn’s revitalized outdoor social spaces. Nestled into the landscape of birch and pine, the shimmering negative-edge swimming pool features new furniture and cabanas, creating a more accessible and family-friendly outdoor lounge experience. Poolside, guests can enjoy hourly treats, such as iced coffee shots, mint popsicles, ice cream sandwiches and frozen Muscat grapes. Beachgoers will delight in the White Barn tricycle cart, offering beach amenities and pre-ordered artisanal picnic baskets. On balmy summer evenings, guests can savor s’mores by the new firepit as the sun sets over another special day spent on the scenic Maine coast.
Arriving guests are welcomed at check-in with a refreshing Blueberry Mead Thyme Lemonade featuring local tastes from Maine Meadworks. The heart of the Inn, The Living Room, serves as an all-day “Barn Pantry,” offering homemade spiced nuts and granola by day before transforming into a tea salon each afternoon.
This summer also marks the introduction of White Barn Inn’s new immersive guest programming featuring chocolate making and ice cream churning classes, excursions to a local apple orchard, morning artisanal coffee deliveries and more. Chef Padilla and his culinary team will also host bi-weekly poolside lobster bakes, family-style feasts of local seafood, fresh vegetables and Maine blueberry crumble.
