Design shapes our homes and the way we live. The layout of a living room transforms the way a family interacts; quality materials help us breathe better, and an artful detail anchors us in the present moment and reminds us to appreciate beauty, wherever we can find it. Our homes represent our lives in the private sphere, what is purely ours, and who we think we are. We want them designed well, the way we have designed our lives. And we want the same for our communities, for our schools, offices, stores, and restaurants. But what drives good design? In MH+D Inside Out, Maine Home+Design interviews builders, architects, interior designers, and makers from our community and gets inside some of the top minds in design. Read on for their stories, tips, and sources of inspiration.
A freelance designer and a ninth-generation Mainer, Barrett Stowell frequently creates innovative, modern designs for Chilton Furniture. He also owns his own design studio called Bearbird. As his advice to designers, Stowell says, “First, reach for the clouds and disregard … Continue reading
Kristi Kenney of KW Architects designed the Kennebunk home that was featured on the cover of Maine Home+Design in June of 2017. Located on a strip of land between a marsh and the ocean, the property illustrates Kenney’s specialty perfectly; … Continue reading
At the helm of a three-person team, Daniel Wells of Breakwater Builders believes that safe practices are at the core of construction work. He sits down with MH+D Inside Out to explain how to prevent faulty practices from developing.
Former Bates College professor Thomas Moser founded his famed, high-end furniture company, Thos. Moser, in 1972. This past year, leadership transitioned from one generation to the next, leaving Aaron Moser, Thomas’s son, in charge of the family business. Aaron Moser … Continue reading
For several years, Heidi Lachapelle worked as visual manager at Anthropologie, crafting the way store displays told the brand’s story. Katie Judkins worked in corporate at L.L.Bean. After renovating their own houses, and becoming mothers who craved more flexible schedules, … Continue reading
In college, Dan Kolbert, owner of Kolbert Building in Portland, majored in history. Although Kolbert became a builder, not a historian—“I totally stumbled upon this,” he says—he came to realize that an understanding of history still factors into his career … Continue reading
Like many in the design community, Scott Martin began building in high school. He worked odd jobs through college, and eventually started his own business, D. Scott Martin Builders, a full-service, residential construction company. Martin sits down with MH+D Inside … Continue reading
Last year, Blue Rock Industries opened a new showroom at 92 York Street in Kennebunk. In his interview with MH+D Inside Out, Rob Leskowsky, who works at the Kennebunk Tile and Design center, shares how he got involved with Blue … Continue reading
Following the death of his father 32 years ago, Peter Brown set aside a dream career in furniture design to take over his father’s automobile dealership. Now retired from the family business, he has returned to his original passion—designing and … Continue reading
Forced to drive to Boston for high-quality fabrics, Rachel Ambrose decided to open Home Remedies, a home decor shop in Portland, in 2010. “We created a one-stop shop for home furnishings,” says Ambrose. “It’s still based in the dream I … Continue reading
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