Harraseeket Inn offers Thomas Moser guest room

When renowned furniture maker Thomas Moser approached Chip Gray, innkeeper at Freeport’s Harraseeket Inn about having his designers decorate a room using his sleek, contemporary-yet-traditional furnishings, Gray figured it was a win-win situation. He took the team through the inn and let them choose the room. “They chose one we’d just finished redecorating; it looked great, and they ripped everything out.”

While the rest of the inn is decorated in an updated and bright New England country style, the Thomas Moser room is sleek, modern, and earthy. Truth is—and Gray agrees—not everyone loves it, but for those who are in the market for Moser pieces or who prefer a contemporary vibe, this room is ideal.

Every aspect of this suite-sized, corner room has been specially designed, from the entry, to the bathroom (with soaking tub and heated towel rack), to the over-sized room itself, with a fireplace and seating area on one end, bed and desk on the other.

Every piece of furniture—the queen-sized pencil-post bed and nightstands, Aria writing desk and chair, adult and child-sized Windsor-style chairs, dresser, armoire, Vita love seat and lounge chair, coffee table—and every accent piece is for sale. Guests can inquire at the Moser gallery across the street about the furniture

In the room, a leather-bound book details all the non-Moser pieces, which are equally intriguing:

• figurative oils by Tanya Fletcher

• custom wall painting of the entry, by Field, a Portland-based company founded by Friederike Hamann and Colin Sullivan-Stevens

• fine art photography by Gifford Ewing, of Denver and Sorrento, Maine

• pottery by Tim Cichocki, who fires his work in central Maine

• lamps crafted by Hubbardton Forge and by Visual Comfort & Co.

• pillows, mattress pad, down comforter and cover, and mohair throw from Cuddledown

• a rare wool throw and a rare wool blanket, both hand made by Swans Island Blankets

• rugs by Safavieh

Now add a sandstone fireplace with floating live-edge walnut mantel that fills one end of the room, barnlike sliding doors to the bathroom and closet, shades that filter sun, and drapes that insure privacy.

The whole blends textures and earthen shades, it’s calming yet edgy, sleek yet artsy, contemporary yet traditional. It may be in  New England, but there’s definitely a New York accent. Put me in the like it camp.

Traveling solo?

I do so quite often. While I love dining out, dining solo is so lonely. Usually, I snag a seat in the lounge, where the barkeep takes good care of me and will deflect unwanted companions, and dine there. Comfy, but not the true experience of a restaurant. That’s why I love Freeport’s Harraseeket Inn’s Dine with the Innkeeper program.

Innkeeper Chip Gray instituted the program after realizing that one regular guest, whose husband had died, no longer came down to dinner, but chose room service, instead. She just didn’t want to dine solo. His solution: Sign up at the front desk, and join the innkeeper’s nightly table. Since the inn has two restaurants, the tavern and the Maine Dining Room, guests decide as a group where to dine.

The program isn’t limited to singles, couples have enjoyed it, too, Chip says. Doesn’t matter how many or how few request it, the program is offered. If it’s a large group, and the conversation strays into uncomfortable areas, the innkeeper reels in it. That said, Chip reports discussions have been fascinating and range widely, often covering even taboo topics–think politics–in a controlled setting. Nice.

And, if you travel solo anytime, check out my friend Ellen Perlman’s site, Boldly Go Solo. Lots of good info, there.

Roger Dodger invites you

to bring your furry buddy and join him at the pet-friendly Harraseeket Inn. Now plenty of inns are pet friendly these days, but what sets the Harraseeket Inn apart is its use of RD as its spokesdog. Roger is a shelter dog seeking a new home.

Roger Dodger  is quite loquacious in detailing his Freeport adventures and the inn’s pet perks. He sounds like the perfect pooch, and he even shares his bio at the end in case you might want to adopt him or one of his buds at the shelter.

Sleeping and dining at the Harraseeket Inn

I spent a night at Freeport’s Harraseeket Inn earlier this week, dining in the Broad Arrow Tavern for lunch and the Maine Dining Room for dinner.

This is a classic country inn owned and operated by the Gray family, and they understand the biz. It’s got all the whistles and bells, but it neither shouts nor screams. Common areas include a living room, where afternoon tea is served—tea sandiwches, cookies, tea breads, cheese, and fresh fruit along with a selection of teas, and there’s no charge for guests. Nice.There also are a good-sized indoor lap pool and a tiny fitness room. And it’s only two blocks from Bean’s.

Guest rooms are furnished with comfortable Colonial repro pieces, and baths range from basic to fancy, with huge whirlpool tub and separate showers. Bath amenities are green—right down to the hollowed out soap (actually, I really liked that touch, the hole in the center acted as a handle).

There is one exception, and that’s a decorator-designed room with Thomas Moser furnishings. Way cool. It’s a large, corner room with a cork floor and a sandstone fireplace dominating one wall. A sofa and lounge chairs are grouped by the fireplace; quite inviting. The bathroom is combines a retro look with modern sizzle, and it works. Yeah, I could be quite comfy in this room.

Although listed room rates begin at $185, there are specials that can bring the rate down. If you’re inquiring within days, ask about the dinner package, which provides a room for $125 if you dine in the Maine Dining Room for dinner. Usually offered only in winter, it is being offered on a limited basis this summer, but you have to ask. And breakfast and afternoon tea are included, too.

I had the luncheon buffet ($16.95) at the Broad Arrow Tavern. Yes, it’s a bit pricey, but it’s quite a spread: fresh fruit, breads, soup, pizza, dips, an array of hot dishes including fish, mussels, chicken, beef, mussels, and lots more. And dessert.

The Maine Dining Room is no longer the formal fine dining place it was. The white tableclothes have been replaced by a rainbow of colors in muted shades. There’s even a small TV in the bar area. The prices are quite reasonable, with entrees beginning at $18 and topping out at $29 for whole poached lobster, and small plates ranging $7-$10. Service is spot on.

I began with a salad comprising fresh greens, roasted asparagus, prosciutto, and ash goat cheese, with a sage dressing. Off to a good start. Next we shared a few small plates: honey-glazed scallop with potato puree, frisee, pancetta, and rhubarb sauce; lobster spring roll, with micro greens, pickled onion, and herbed creme fraiche; and pea ravoioli with ricotta silata and rosemary cream. Frankly, I could have stopped right there. All that paired with the bread and flatbread that accompanied the meal, was plenty.

But if I had stopped, I wouldn’t have had the herb crusted halibut with spinach and pine nut dumplings and local onion cream sauce ($26). The fish was tender and moist, the dumplings were addictive.

What really stole the show was the lavender rubbed chicken ($23). Oh my. I took just a few tastes, but that was enough to know I’ll order this the next time I visit. I’m a huge fan of roasted chicken and I’m a sucker for the subtle flavors of lavender. The waitress had described the overall taste as soft, and I have to agree. It was gentle, and delicious.