Patty and Tom Minerich have been buying some properties in need of upgrades and renovation and transforming them into attractive homes and rentals in Boothbay Harbor with their business, Linekin Home.

Patty, originally from Wiscasset, moved to Wisconsin to go to work for GE Corp. in 2008. While with the company, she traveled to 54 countries in two years. She came back to the area in 2014 after marrying Tom, from Massachusetts. Her mother, Dolores Carver, lives in East Boothbay with Harold Warren, and her father and his wife, David and Sharon Nichols, live in Wiscasset, and she wanted to be closer to them.

Patty said that after looking at several coastal Maine towns, they chose to settle in Boothbay Harbor, not just to be near her parents, but also due to some of the recent changes and improvements. “I had read about Paul Coulombe buying the golf course, and I had done some research and knew he was serious, and that the long-term benefits to the area would be widespread and would drive growth.

“I looked at Boothbay Harbor and was surprised at how run-down the place was looking, so I knew there was an upside.”

Patty said she has always dealt with rental property and loves interior design. “And I'm a hands-on home improvement junkie, and Tom can fix anything.”  

The first property the couple bought, in 2015, was on Summit Street. “It’s now Tom’s little man cave and an apartment,” Patty said. Next they purchased a small house at 51 Union St. with a front (or back) lawn that extends out to a stone sea wall in the inner harbor. They have made several upgrades to the property surrounding the house, and will continue with renovations to the house.

Then 60 Union St. caught their eye. “Our strategy was to flatten it, as the structure was not salvageable,” Patty said. “I worked with an architect on the design, and was the overall general contractor.”

The property has now been transformed into a modern, upscale, elegant duplex that can be rented as a whole house, with six bedrooms and baths, or as two separate units with three bedrooms and baths in each unit.

The building, with a large, full-length front patio, looks out over the head of the harbor, to the footbridge and beyond. It makes for a nice view year-round and provides natural air conditioning on hot summer days, with an ocean breeze wafting up from the harbor.

The porch is furnished with comfortable cushioned chairs and ottomans, and if it gets a little too cool for comfort, there are radiant heaters overhead that are aimed down toward them.“It’s that little added comfort that will allow you to enjoy yourself when you sit out there with a glass of wine on a cool evening,” Tom said.

A wheelchair-accessible ramp leads to a side door to the light, airy open concept living, kitchen and dining area, with a large fireplace at one end, with stylish, comfy couches and chairs facing it.

Patty said she wanted everything to be maintenance-free, and used as many local resources as possible. She did most of the interior design and painted some of the furniture she found at flea markets. There are Maine red birch floors throughout.

The kitchen is a cook’s dream, with smooth stain-resistant quartz counter tops, and an island, complete with a large sink with a garbage disposal. The open dining area features a pedestal dining table.

Tiled floors in the master bedrooms and bathrooms feature radiant heat. Each floor has its own laundry facilities, with a large communal laundry room, complete with a washer, dryer, drying racks, a steamer and iron and ironing board, in the basement. And it’s not the kind of basement anyone would be afraid to descend to. It’s open, light and modern.

The Minerichs started renting the property out last summer, and are already getting bookings for next summer, but it will be open for rental during the winter, too.

Intent on managing their properties themselves to ensure optimal guest experience, the couple formed Linekin Home. 

Among other properties the Minerichs have purchased is the former Jon Marsh Signs building on Route 27 in Boothbay. They designed, and Tom built, the big colorful, recreation of the Festival of Lights logo that sits in front of the building. It provides a colorful light display after dark.

The Minerichs’ most recent acquisition is another house on Union Street. The house and garage at 35 Union had collected a lot of stuff over the years. It has been cleaned out and gutted. They’ll salvage the original structure – the bones – of the house, and start rebuilding the interior and renovating the entire house, next summer.

All three properties along Union Street have two things in common – great views of the harbor, and that cooling summer breeze. The view from the top floor of the newest acquisition was a major factor in their decision to buy the house. “We went up to the third floor and the view was fabulous,” Tom said.

That house, which will be available for rent when completed, will no doubt be very nice, but “not as tricked out as this one,” Patty said, indicating the very upscale, well-appointed new bed & breakfast.

A stay at Harbor’s End requires a three-day commitment.

If you choose to stay there while you’re in Boothbay Harbor, it’s a good bet you’ll be living in luxury and comfort. “We both travel a lot, and we knew what we look for when we stay somewhere, so we tried to incorporate all of that here,” Tom said.

For more information, call 207-607-1701 or visit linekinhome.com.