Michael Maines
Michael Maines is a residential designer and founding partner of Mottram & Maines. His work focuses on designing homes and renovations that combine thoughtful design with strong building science fundamentals.
He approaches residential design as a whole system. Design quality, durability, indoor air quality and climate performance are considered together from the beginning. The goal is a home that feels natural to live in, supports the way clients actually use their space, and performs reliably behind the scenes.
The ideas that shape Michael’s work are reflected in the Pretty Good House approach, practical strategies that focus on the decisions that matter most: durable assemblies, excellent indoor air quality, right-sized systems, thoughtful use of materials and homes that just feel good to live in.
More About Michael
Residential design grounded in building science
Michael specializes in residential design for new homes, additions and major renovations that prioritize comfort, durability and long term performance.
His work focuses on homes that:
• Use scale, proportion, light and material to create spaces that feel balanced, intentional and timeless
• Manage moisture through durable assemblies
• Provide clean indoor air through ventilation and filtration
• Reduce energy use and environmental impact without unnecessary cost or complexity
• Maintain comfort without drafts or cold spots
This approach results in a balance of aesthetics and performance, and happy clients.
A background in building and engineering
Before focusing on residential design, Michael worked in construction as a carpenter, woodworker and builder. He later spent more than a decade at a residential design/build firm focused on highly detailed homes, where he worked in design and management roles. He studied structural engineering, with a minor in architectural history, giving him a strong understanding of how buildings work structurally and architecturally. He also worked as operations manager at a panelized Passive House start-up where he learned new ways of ensuring performance through clear details and processes.
Together, those experiences, along with over twenty years in design roles, inform a design approach that prioritizes constructable details, durable assemblies and clear documentation that builders can confidently execute.
Co-Author of Pretty Good House, Michael Maines
Michael is a co-author of the book Pretty Good House, written with Emily Mottram, Dan Kolbert and Christopher Briley. The book brings together perspectives from designers, builders and building science practitioners to explain a practical strategy for building better homes.
Pretty Good House focuses on clear priorities: energy efficiency, durability, indoor air quality and responsible material choices without unnecessary complexity or rigid performance targets.
It also acknowledges that for a building to last, it needs to be loved, and to be loved, it needs to look good and feel good to live in.
The approach has resonated widely across the building industry because it reflects how good homes are actually designed and built.
Building Science Education and Industry Conversations
Michael is active in building science education and industry discussions. He coined the name BS*+Beer (building science) and is co-host of The BS*+Beer Show. The long-running live show and recordings bring together experts in building, design and science to discuss how buildings actually work. Topics often include moisture management, ventilation, enclosure design, durability and climate-responsive construction. He has also written extensively about building science and residential design, including a stint as contributing editor at Fine Homebuilding magazine.
Through these conversations, Michael helps translate building science and design concepts into practical insights that designers, builders and homeowners can apply to real projects. It also acknowledges that for a building to last, it needs to be loved, and to be loved, it needs to look good and feel good to live in.
The approach has resonated widely across the building industry because it reflects how good homes are actually designed and built.
Design philosophy
Michael’s design philosophy centers on clarity, function and resiliency.
He believes homes should feel comfortable, function well and continue performing over time.
That requires careful decisions about form, enclosure and systems, along with a clear understanding of how buildings interact with climate, moisture and occupants.
Michael’s goal is for his clients to have homes that work well, look right and hold up over time.
FAQs
What does Michael Maines specialize in?
1
Michael specializes in residential design for new homes, additions and renovations that prioritize comfort, durability, indoor air quality and energy performance.
What is Michael Maines known for in the building industry?
2
Michael is known as a building science educator and co-author of Pretty Good House. He also co-hosts The BS*+Beer Show, a long-running program where building pros discuss how homes actually work.
What is the Pretty Good House approach?
3
Pretty Good House is a practical strategy for designing and building homes that are energy efficient, durable, comfortable and environmentally responsible without unnecessary complexity.
How does Michael approach design aesthetics and livability?
4
Michael places a strong emphasis on how a home feels to live in. Proportion, light, material and spatial relationships are considered alongside performance so the house is not only durable and efficient, but also calm, comfortable and visually coherent.
Does Michael Maines work with builders during construction?
5
Yes. His work emphasizes clear documentation and collaboration with builders so energy-related details, mechanical and electrical systems, framing and overall constructability are executed as intended.