Our family enjoys unusual houses, so overall we were really pleased with the artist's retreat. It has two family living areas, which suited our family of four, since sometimes the kids wanted to do one thing while the adults did something else. The large bathroom on the second floor is also quite a treat, with a large Jacuzzi bathtub and a giant window that lets in abundant light. There is a great stash of games in the second-floor family room. Our girls enjoyed hours of fun playing a couple of them.

We appreciated how well-equipped the place is, with hair dryers in both bathrooms and a washer and dryer. There is a lovely fire pit for relaxing and enjoying s'mores, as well as a hot tub, which is great under the stars.

I will echo what other reviewers have said, which is that the cleaners are not always doing the best job on this house. Mainly, it's the abundant knick-knacks that are not getting dusted and thus make the house look dusty. My recommendation would be to lose the fake-flower arrangements and other unnecessary items from the decor. They don't enhance the house, take up needed space, and don't get cleaned enough. My other recommendation would be to get all of the windows working so they can be opened, especially in the bedrooms, and provide a fan for each bedroom rather than unit air conditioners. The AC units are loud, prohibiting sleep, and one of Maine's big attractions for us is the fresh air.

We didn't find the ladder to the 3rd-floor bedroom much of an impediment. The ladder has pretty wide steps, so for people who are reasonably fit and at least 4' or taller, it's not a deal breaker. I can see where it would be an issue for young children or individuals who struggle with stairs. The 3rd-floor bedroom is the most picturesque bedroom: light, airy and really beautiful. All in all, this is a very interesting home that makes you feel like you're nestled in nature, and just five minutes away from a state park beach on Sebago Lake.