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.
“One day, it just clicked,” says Jeff Binette, owner of SmartHome Solutions. “I realized that there was a growing need for technology in the home.” Binette’s childhood captivation with construction combined with his background in computer science influenced his decision … Continue reading
As a child, Joe Capozza III used to clean his father’s warehouse in exchange for movie rentals. Now, he’s vice president. He joined the family business, Capozza Tile & Floor Covering Center, in 2009 and earned his way to a … Continue reading
An outdoorsman and an environmentalist, Josh Howell spent years hiking and writing around South America, including a stint as a river guide and guidebook author in Chile. Now the owner of JD Howell and Company, a residential building company that … Continue reading
“I’m just passionately in love with fabric,” says Teri Cardinelli in this installment of MH+D Inside Out. “I have been my whole life.” After starting out as a fashion designer, Cardinelli moved into quilting and then decorating before she noticed … Continue reading
As a child in Uzbekistan, Eugene Sherstyukov used to help his father with various maintenance projects at the hospital where he worked. After pursuing a career in information technology, he took a short-term job working for his father-in-law, a cabinetmaker, … Continue reading
“As you can tell, I’m passionate about building homes,” says Mike Manning, owner of MGM Builders. This fall Manning and his wife, Anne, celebrate 30 years of business. In the past 30 years, MGM Builders has built more than 200 … Continue reading
Although Joseph Waltman designs more than he builds, he maintains a deep interest in the process of building and its history. “The origin of the word ‘architect’ is ‘master builder,’” he says. “Drawings were tools for building. That’s still what … Continue reading
After managing consumer electronic stores for several years, Stephen Tucker, owner of Tucker and Tucker, Audio Video by Design, struck out with two partners to craft a business that would deliver custom entertainment equipment. “We created the company on a … Continue reading
A passion for philosophical thought deepens Asa Gorman’s relationship with the structures he builds. “I like that sense of permanence that comes with well-done construction,” says Gorman, owner of Asa Gorman Builders. After studying philosophy in college, Gorman transferred his … Continue reading
“We live more casually now than we used to,” says interior designer Joanne M. Larman. “People seem to have become more family focused than in the past, and we want our houses to be family friendly as well.” The name … Continue reading
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