Far out! Sometimes, you don?t know what you?re are looking for until you see it. That was the case with Brian and Krista Haapala. The Portland, Maine, couple went looking for office space and ended up with that and an urban family retreat.
Brian is an investment banker, Krista is an author, poet, and relationship counselor. When they set out to find a place to work and meet with and entertain clients, they envisioned more traditional office space. Then, a friend suggested they take a look at the two-story penthouse unit that was recently constructed over an historic building. Their initial hesitation was erased when they got a look at the water views and the layout of the home.

Clockwise from top: The Haapala family gathers on the built-in sofa in the living room. The feature reminded Krista (far left) of a conversation pit and sparked the design of the home; a pair of Wassily chairs are by the window; the view from the windows takes in downtown Portland and Casco Bay.
They quickly decided that the unit could serve multiple functions: office, entertaining space, and a downtown residence. Their other home is more traditional and, though in Portland, removed from city living. ?We had planned on moving downtown anyway once our older son heads for college,? says Krista. ?But we had anticipated buying something in two years, so you could say this purchase was a bit unexpected.?
Once the deal was signed, the Haapalas turned to their fr...