Newburyport DREAM

In their quest to move to Newburyport, Meredith and Joel Luebcke toured scores of homes over the last few years. Their search ended when they walked into a property on Merrimac Street and finally found what they had been looking for: a place they could turn into their dream home.
The couple completed an extensive renovation and addition to the 2,000-square foot property, tearing down walls and moving staircases. The result is a bright, comfortable, welcoming house that’s perfect for entertaining. It boasts an open floor plan, large windows that allow for natural light to pour in, and a master bedroom suite that serves as a retreat and a place to re-energize.
“We feel like we’ve really developed every inch of it,” Joel Luebcke says. “There’s zero wasted space.”
While the couple admits they made a few concessions and altered their plans as the project went along, they cannot be more pleased with the results.
“It came out just how we wanted it,” Meredith Luebcke said.
The location of their house is another dream come true.
“We absolutely adore this town,” Meredith said, adding she often made trips to the seaside city as a child and has fond memories of those times. “There’s no better place for us to live.”

“You’re not detached from the conversation,” Joel Luebcke says. Larger windows also brighten up their living space. The only rooms with bold colors are small, such as her home office and the guest bathroom, Meredith Luebcke says. “We wanted it to feel comfortable and relaxed,” she says. “It’s open and airy.” Photography by Kevin Harkins.
Left: Small hemp stool ottomans, $350 each – Red Bird Trading Co.; Custom pillows, $52 to $65 – Acorn Home Design; Zinc urns with birch branches, $450 each – MAK & CO.; Design books, $29.95 to $45; Robyn Pot, $14 – Les Fleurs. Right: Large clock, $350 – Rose & Dove Specialty Gift Shop; Pillows, $52 to $74 – Acorn Home Design; Waterfowl print series, $47 to $62 – Red Bird Trading Co.; The Lifestyle Planter, $85; scented Geranium, $25 – Sage Market + Design.


Rustic Hurricane candle holders with glass, $165 each; Small and large ceramic pears, $26 to $40 – Acorn Design Center; Seedlip distilled nonalcoholic spirits, $49 each – Wish Basket Trading Co.; Simon Pearce glass bowl, $295 – Rose & Dove Specialty Gift Shop.

Small and large ceramic pears, $26 to $40 – Acorn Design Center; Cloth Tom pot with potted Fiddle tree, $85 – Les Fleurs.


Robyn Pot, $14; Round bottom vase, $15 – Les Fleurs.
style editor and set design
Lysa Pelletier – Anchor Artis
photography
Kevin Harkins – Lowell, Mass.
text
Katie Lovett
floral, accessories and furnishings
Acorn Design Center
Andover, Mass.
(978) 273-9717
AcornDesignCenter.com
Les Fleurs
Andover, Mass.
(978) 475-9669
LesFleurs.com
Mak & Co.
Andover, Mass.
(978) 475-5511
MakAndCoAndover.com
Red Bird Trading Co.
Newburyport, Mass.
(978) 462-5566
RedBirdTrading.com
Rose & Dove Specialty Gift Shop
North Andover, Mass.
(978) 689-4141
RoseAndDove.com
Sage Market + Design
Newburyport, Mass.
(978) 255-4113
SageMarketDesign.com