Maria Alexandra Vettese hopes we’ll feature a picture of the More and Co. menu. “It’s handwritten, and it changes every day—it’s so fun,” she says. “Everyone has a different style of writing. Some have all these flourishes, some are like works of art, schematic, gorgeous things.” Her own handwriting, she admits, is plain, and it can be a bit messy, too. “Customers sometimes ask, ‘What’s that word?’” she laughs. She likes this kind of interaction: simple, friendly, warm.

Menus are just the tip of the design iceberg at More and Co., but these photocopied pieces of paper reveal something essential about Vettese’s nature. Vettese is a designer who finds joy in simple things, like a good cup of coffee served in a cobalt blue mug or a scribbled pen drawing or a very good piece of thick-cut toast. She showcases her style (both aesthetic and culinary) at More and Co., a boutique-cum-lunch spot that she co-owns with her husband, artist Christopher David Ryan. “I drive the look and feel almost entirely,” she says. “But everyone on our team is excited about the same things.”

Originally the store was located in Portland, but in 2018, the couple decided to move to the banks of the Royal River in Yarmouth and expand their business to include edible items, like rich, dark coffee and crusty baguettes served with pickles and butter. For Vettese, these things—arty ceramics, artisanal coffee, prints of fine art—naturally fit together, linked by the idea of slowness. “This space is about wanting people to slow down and connect with something,” she says. “Maybe you’ll connect with the staff. Or something you’re eating or drinking. Or a piece of art. Or maybe the space itself. And that feels really good.”

The space itself is gorgeous, with white-painted floors, quartz countertops, rustic wooden beams, schoolhouse pendant lamps, and midcentury modern furniture. On the shelves sit pieces by potters Michelle Blade, Dina No, and Chloe May Brown, and Ryan sells his bright, punchy, Matisseesque pieces right off the walls. One corner of the store holds a collection of records, which baristas and servers can pull from to add a dreamy soundtrack to the space. “Music is a huge part of what we do,” says Vettese. “We want people to listen and enjoy.”

Although Vettesse has sold some of the same items since the early days of More and Co., she likes to bring in new pieces periodically. Each season, she creates a design brief for her staff. “It’s constantly evolving,” she says. This winter, she’s excited to showcase vessels, bowls, and cups—ceramics for holding hot teas or soups. “We want these pieces to get into your hand and get into your body,” she says. “It’s all about the details.” From the coasters to the napkins to the pink glasses and the blue-painted plates, “Everything has been thought about. It’s here to showcase our creative side, the side that wants us to slow down and have an appreciation for the little things in life.”

A Little More at Home

• Vettese likes to play with prints and patterns on her tabletop. “We sell many one-of-a-kind ceramics,” she says. “We love to mix them up.” She suggests pairing dots and stripes with solids of a similar color. “It looks so sharp!”
• Don’t neglect the table linens. Vettese has sold products from Fog Linen in Tokyo since she opened More and Co. in 2013. The soft, neutral textiles pair well with handmade plates and bowls.
• Instead of serving wine in long-stemmed glasses, give Ripple glasses a go. These short, lightweight yet sturdy glasses feel great in the hand, thanks to their ridges. Vettese says they’re “sophisticated but not snobby.”
• If you want to give a little More, keep things feeling cohesive with a simple color palette, like navy blue paper paired with blue cotton ribbon, or natural brown kraft paper with undyed cotton ribbon. “Our favorite ribbon comes from Studio Carta,” Vettese reveals.