About Us

Michael Maines is a residential designer and building science specialist who brings a builder’s mindset and structural rigor to the design process. Clients come to him for homes and renovations that are comfortable, durable, and straightforward to build and maintain. His work focuses on right-sized performance strategies and details that hold up in real weather and real use.

Michael designs new homes, major renovations, restorations, and additions. He is especially interested in what makes buildings feel timeless, whether that is the practicality of traditional New England farmhouses, the calm simplicity of Scandinavian architecture, or the honest use of natural materials found across vernacular building traditions. That design curiosity is paired with a clear goal: reduce climate impacts through better buildings, and create homes and homesteads that support resilience, comfort, and joy in an uncertain future.

His path into design started with structural engineering and a long stretch of hands-on construction. After earning a Bachelor of Science in structural engineering from Tufts University, with a minor in art and architectural history, he spent the next decade building and renovating homes, along with detailed craft work like stone walls, furniture, cabinetry, and finish carpentry. That experience shows up in the way projects are documented and detailed, with an emphasis on buildability and clear sequencing, not theoretical perfection.

Since 2008, Michael’s work has focused primarily on residential design and building science, with additional experience in high-performance construction systems, including a period as operations manager for a panelized Passive House start-up. He founded Michael Maines Residential Design, LLC in 2014, later simplifying the name to Maines Design to reflect the same qualities he values in his work: clear, direct, and well-resolved.

Michael is a co-author of the Pretty Good House book and a recognized voice in building science education. He has been a frequent contributor and former contributing editor at Fine Homebuilding Magazine, an editorial advisor at GreenBuildingAdvisor.com, a Certified Passivhaus Consultant, and a co-founder of The BS + Beer Show. When he is not working, he enjoys building things, spending time outdoors, and continuing to learn from the way good buildings are put together.

Emily Mottram is a registered architect and building science educator who brings calm clarity to complex residential projects. Clients come to her for homes and renovations that feel comfortable, healthy, and easy to live in, with performance decisions integrated from the start. Her work pays close attention to light, flow, acoustics, and the small details that make daily life smoother.

She founded Mottram Architecture in 2009 and has spent her career helping clients and builders move from big goals to clear priorities and buildable solutions. The process is steady and relationship-led, with clear communication that keeps decisions moving and teams aligned through design and construction.

Integrated design and practical building science shape every project. Comfort, indoor air quality, durability, and budget are developed together, not treated as add-ons later. The goal is a home that feels calm and livable, with assemblies and systems that perform consistently through real seasons and real use.

Outside of project work, she shares building science in ways that are approachable and useful. She hosts E3: Energy and Efficiency with Emily, a weekly podcast focused on building science, architecture, and female entrepreneurship, and co-hosts the BS + Beer Show, a live weekly conversation for professionals and curious homeowners alike. She is also a frequent speaker and educator on residential design and performance.

She is an advocate for the Pretty Good House (PGH) approach, a practical framework for creating homes that prioritize comfort, health, durability, and sensible energy use within real-world constraints. When she is not working, she is usually outside with her shepherd rescue, Chase, hiking or kayaking, or recharging with a great book in a cozy chair on a rainy afternoon.