As an early pioneer in Portland’s Pearl District, what was your journey like to build a thriving business?
My business—and the abandoned urban rail yards that have become the Pearl District—have grown together. From our early days in a converted warehouse, to 21st Avenue, and to Slabtown. Today, Maison, Inc. fills a 7500 sq. ft. studio in the Industrial NW just behind Montgomery Park. Here you’ll find our Design Studio, Retail Shopping, Trade Showroom. It’s a special place…almost a mirage.
Are there common themes that distinguish your work?
I’d say our strongest theme is integrity. We shine best when we can really execute a vision. That takes trust. Not all the spaces are huge, or architectural trend-setters, but with a suitable budget and a client’s dreams, we can make it not just beautiful, but enjoyable, from start to finish. Of course, the bigger the better; turnkey is a specialty for us.
You work with a team of talent; how does this influence your general approach to design?
We work in teams--generally me, with a Senior Designer, and a Junior Designer. All the designers really support each other, and having such talented trade partners to lean on makes us even stronger. We have a carefully developed process, and we stick to that process, which produces a better outcome and experience for all.
Clients appreciate your ability to tap into your extensive network of Northwest artisans who are skilled in everything from fabric and metal, to paint and stone. What are the benefits of creating custom pieces?
We love partnering with the incredible pool of skilled craftspeople in our region. The advantages are collaboration, bespoke design, the ability to touch and feel right in our own neighborhood. Precise measurements mean the chair fits you, not the other way around. We are meticulous about things like custom-crafted drapery; the panels are made to fit exactly. That is not something that you can get off the shelf.
In your opinion, what is the most fundamental element of interior design?
Trust. Nothing works without that. If you don’t trust me, you shouldn’t hire me.
You have a 25-year history of loyal clients, what keeps them coming back?
I hope it’s a combination of producing great design, having fun while doing it, and holding ourselves to a high standard. We are a big and fancy firm in some ways—we are very serious about quality and detail—but we don’t take ourselves too seriously. We are doing what we love, and I think clients can sense the regard we have for them, and for each other.
What is next on your boards? How many projects do you typically manage?
We are working on an 8000 sq. ft. home in Sun Valley, ID, a new-build beach house in Bodega Bay, CA, a kick-ass modern house in Scottsdale, AZ, getting ready for a big installation this fall in Chesapeake Bay, MD, among others. We have about eight to ten whole-home, ground-up, or full renovations every year, with about 25+ smaller or midsize projects mixed in.
What is your favorite space in your own home and why?
It’s my bedroom. It’s wrapped in black grass cloth, has a little dash of leopard, and because it has a beautiful view out to part of my boxwood addiction.
