Mottram & Maines

Mottram & Maines Design that holds the whole picture together. Mottram Architecture specializes in energy efficient and zero energy home design.

Mottram & Maines creates new homes, additions, and renovations with right-sized performance: comfort, indoor air quality, durable details, and clear documentation that protects intent through construction. We believe that everyone should have access to good design, and in Maine that also means staying warm and comfortable in your home. Our intentions are to bring super insulated and zero energy re

ady homes to the market in a soulful and creative way. We believe that our homes affect our lives in social, economical, and environmental ways. If you are looking for an Energy Star Certification, HERS Rating, or just "Pretty good home", we would love to help you out. We are based in Maine, but Mottram Architecture is currently licensed to practice architecture in Maine, Pennsylvania, New York and New Hampshire. So if you live in New England and you're interested in how your home can be comfortable, durable, efficient and beautiful, then we would love to talk to you. We firmly believe in integrated design and look at everything from water consumption, energy consumption, building envelop, orientation, and function. Many homes are beautiful, but all homes should be comfortable and require less effort to maintain.

06/04/2026

Reach out earlier than you think.

The biggest decisions in a home project happen before the drawings are final and before pricing is locked.

That is when there is still room to shape the scope, protect the budget, think through comfort and durability, and avoid late compromises that are harder to fix.

Early planning gives the whole team a better path forward.

06/02/2026

Pretty Good House is a strategy, not a compromise.
Today’s lever: Moisture management.
Water control protects more than the finish materials.
Trade-off: Spend on hidden details now or pay for repairs later.
Decision rule: Every assembly needs a path to shed water and dry out.
If you want to feel confident in your priorities before decisions get locked in, reach out.

A kitchen has to do a lot quietly.It has to make daily routines easier. Give the cook enough room to work. Keep storage ...
06/01/2026

A kitchen has to do a lot quietly.

It has to make daily routines easier. Give the cook enough room to work. Keep storage close at hand. Hold the practical pieces without losing warmth or character.

Here, the open shelves let the objects of daily life become part of the room. The island gives the space weight. The wood, tile, and darker cabinetry keep it grounded.

Good kitchen design is not just about finishes.

It is about making a hard-working room feel calm, useful, and personal.

The best fit projects are the ones where the whole picture matters.New homes.Additions.Major renovations.Especially when...
05/28/2026

The best fit projects are the ones where the whole picture matters.

New homes.
Additions.
Major renovations.

Especially when comfort, durability, ventilation, and long-term performance are part of the goal from the beginning.

We’re likely a good fit if you want fewer surprises, clearer decisions, and a home that feels coherent when it’s done.

05/26/2026

Pretty Good House is a strategy, not a compromise.
Today’s lever: Ventilation + filtration.
Fresh air works better when it is intentional.
Trade-off: A real system asks for maintenance, but it gives you control.
Decision rule: Tighten the house and plan for fresh air at the same time.
If you want to feel confident in your priorities before decisions get locked in, reach out.

A secondary structure still has to carry the full weight of design.The roofline, the vertical siding, the open car bay, ...
05/25/2026

A secondary structure still has to carry the full weight of design.

The roofline, the vertical siding, the open car bay, the window placement, the way the building sits under the trees. None of it needs to shout. It just needs to feel resolved.

That is often where good residential design shows up most clearly.

In the useful places.

The practical places.

The buildings that could have been treated as an afterthought, but weren’t.

Are we builders?No. But we design with the build in mind.That means the details matter early: the enclosure, moisture co...
05/21/2026

Are we builders?

No. But we design with the build in mind.

That means the details matter early: the enclosure, moisture control, ventilation, materials, systems, budget, and the way the home will actually come together on site.

Great homes happen when the design team, builder, and client are aligned from the start.

That’s how performance and design intent stay connected.

05/19/2026

Pretty Good House is a strategy, not a compromise.
Today’s lever: Enclosure first.
Comfort starts with the shell, not the thermostat.
Trade-off: Put money into the parts you cannot easily fix later.
Decision rule: Build the shell first, then size the systems to match.
If you want to feel confident in your priorities before decisions get locked in, reach out.

“Pretty Good” can sound like a compromise.It isn’t.Pretty Good House is a practical way to set priorities so a home work...
05/15/2026

“Pretty Good” can sound like a compromise.

It isn’t.

Pretty Good House is a practical way to set priorities so a home works better in real life. It means comfort, durability, moisture control, healthy air, and right-sized systems are part of the plan from the beginning.

Not as extras. Not as upgrades. Not as things to figure out after the design is already done.

A Pretty Good House is built around decisions that hold up over time: a strong enclosure, smart ventilation and filtration, details that manage water well, and a budget that stays connected to the goals of the project.

The result should feel simple to live in, even when the work behind it is carefully considered.

Canada, we’re headed your way.Emily will be speaking at the Dartmouth BS* Symposium, happening May 7–8, 2026 in Dartmout...
04/29/2026

Canada, we’re headed your way.

Emily will be speaking at the Dartmouth BS* Symposium, happening May 7–8, 2026 in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

This two-day BS* and Beer Canada Symposium is for people who care about better buildings, smarter details, and more useful conversations about how homes actually get built.

Tickets are $225 CAD, and all proceeds support Honour The Work, Canada.

Come learn, connect, and support work that helps move the building industry forward.

Buy tickets here:
https://bs-and-beer-canada-symposium.tickit.ca/events/33151?goto=t-1df551b38

Address

PO Box 212
Thomaston, ME
04861

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+12077069291

Website

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