--- title: "By Design — Architects & Building Designers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/by-design-pfvwus-pf~1166031793 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~1166031793.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "By Design" category: ["Architects"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/b7a31d740f60ad3d_5869-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "29 Baker Street, Yarmouth, Maine 04096, United States" latitude: 43.8009 longitude: -70.175 phone: "(207) 749-4321" website: http://www.mainebydesign.com rating: 5 review_count: 9 best_of_houzz_awards: 10 followers: 177 last_updated: 2026-09-24 --- # By Design Original Houzz profile: [By Design](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/by-design-pfvwus-pf~1166031793) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Architects - **Location:** Yarmouth, ME - **Serves:** Portland, Brunswick, Westbrook, Falmouth, Topsham, Yarmouth, Freeport, Gray, Harpswell Center, Harpswell, North Yarmouth, Falmouth Foreside, Pownal, Chebeague Island, Cousins Island, Long Island, Littlejohn Island, Bailey Island, Cliff Island, Cumberland Center, Cumberland Foreside, Peaks Island, South Freeport - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (9 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 10 awards (2013–2023), for Design, Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Star Houzzer - Houzz Influencer - Recommended on Houzz - 25,000 Ideabook Saves - Best of Houzz winner - Locally owned - 25 years in business By Design is an architectural firm specializing in energy efficient new homes, house renovations, and additions. This includes kitchens, screened porches, garages, and family rooms. Bruce specializes in site-specific design that closely relates a new house or house addition to its surroundings. A successful design is a house or house addition that fits into its environment and looks as though it has "always been there". ### Services Provided - Architectural Design - Building Design - Home Remodeling - Architectural Drawings - Custom Homes - House Plans - New Home Construction - Home Additions - Home Extensions - Kitchen Design - Sustainable Design - Kitchen Remodeling - Energy-Efficient Homes - Floor Plans - Green Building - Bathroom Design - Universal Design - Historic Building Conservation - Basement Remodeling - Construction Drawings ### Areas Served - Portland - Brunswick - Westbrook - Falmouth - Topsham - Yarmouth - Freeport - Gray - Harpswell Center - Harpswell - North Yarmouth - Falmouth Foreside - Pownal - Chebeague Island - Cousins Island - Long Island - Littlejohn Island - Bailey Island - Cliff Island - Cumberland Center - Cumberland Foreside - Peaks Island - South Freeport ### Typical Job Cost $50,000.00 - 2,000,000.00 ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | By Design | | Address | 29 Baker Street, Yarmouth, Maine 04096, United States | | Phone | (207) 749-4321 | | Website | http://www.mainebydesign.com | | License Number | ARC1949 | | Followers on Houzz | 177 | ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [By Design](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/by-design-pfvwus-pf~1166031793) - **Website:** http://www.mainebydesign.com - **Phone:** (207) 749-4321 ## Credentials **Certifications & Awards** - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional - U.S. Green Building Council - National Council of Architectural Registration Boards - **Best of Houzz:** 10 awards (2013–2023), for Design, Service. **Affiliations** - [The American Institute of Architects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/schools-and-organizations/the-american-institute-of-architects-pfvwus-pf~1350720471) ## Reviews **Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 9 reviews** ### All 9 reviews **★★★★★ — Dick Woodbury, Dec. 2017** > Bruce Butler designed a new home for us. It is beautiful, inside and out, and fits perfectly with the landscape and orientation. Bruce's sense of style is superb, incorporating many tasteful features that fit together gracefully. Bruce is a joy to work with, and brings a depth of knowledge, not just in architectural design, but in all aspects of the building process, from raw materials to heating to environmental footprint to lighting and fixtures. Bruce was also accessible and helpful in fine-tuning details as his plans took shape through the building process. We recommend him enthusiastically. **★★★★★ — Joanne Petty, Jan. 2017** > We could not recommend Bruce and his team more. They built us a solid, gorgeous, impeccably detailed, energy efficient house to withstand rough Maine winters and maximize incredible views of the water. All this while never meeting in person and conducting all communications over email and the phone. We built this house from afar and trusted Bruce and his team completely. They exercised practical and professional judgment, anticipated our needs and concerns, and facilitated our decision making with reasonable timelines, and a keen eye on the budget. They even helped unpack and set up furniture to ease our first night in the house! Bruce's attention to detail and his team's careful work and professionalism combined with a pleasant working relationship made the process seamless and successful - on time, on budget and we made a new friend in Maine! **★★★★★ — caer27, Feb. 2016** > We wanted the design for our new house to be modern and light, yet an evolution of the shingle cottage. Bruce worked patiently with us and created such a design, well integrating all our requested features and adding his own good ideas. Later during the time the house was being built, we were not living nearby; Bruce regularly sent us photos showing the progress, keeping us well informed, carefully working out details with us and with the builder. Recently we moved into the completed house. We are appreciating the style, character and enjoyable, practical spaces; better than we had imagined. **★★★★★ — Chip emery, Sept. 2015** > Bruce is the ultimate professional. Fast and knowledgeable. Has the rare ability to offer professional opinions/suggestions but still consider contrary viewpoints. Your ideas are listened to and discussed and you feel very much a part of the process. > > He really listens. He really works through ideas. He really knows his stuff. > > Bruce helped us renovate/expand/winterize a seasonal cottage and develop a unique home, blending classic design with contemporary materials. Knows all the codes and design parameters. Totally current on energy requirements and methods. > > He responds quickly and will continue to provide multiple solutions and drawings, until you are satisfied. We were quite familiar with general building parameters and he did a perfect job of dovetailing with our ideas and needs. **★★★★★ — jgallag, March 2015** > When we renovated our living room, we hired Bruce to create the design, lighting and furniture plan. We had a complicated set of requests: a workstation for 2, built-in shelving with room for the TV, drawers for files, cubbies for photos and smaller items, a gas fireplace, and french doors for both entries. Bruce met with us to hear our ideas, we looked at a few photos on Houzz.com together to give Bruce a sense of our style, and Bruce crafted a perfect plan. Bruce is calm, friendly, talented and almost studious in attending to detail. Bruce finished our project early and on budget and responded within a few minutes every time I had questions. The gas fireplace was new to our home, and Bruce met several times at our house with the fireplace vendor and installer to make sure everyone was on the same page and he had the details for the installation and location and venting of the fireplace. On those occasions, Bruce was able to help the others visualize how the venting could work. On another occasion, when the electricians were here and had a question, I called Bruce and he immediately created a blow up of the lighting plan to make it easier for the electricians to follow. It was a pleasure to work with Bruce. He truly took our ideas to a more integrated, seamless, professional, exactly-what-we-wanted level! **★★★★★ — Greg Fitzpatrick, Feb. 2015** > We have worked with Bruce on several new home construction projects. In addition to designing well thought out beautiful homes, his thoughtful and detail oriented approach to the entire process was invaluable as we executed his vision. He is an always available knowledgeable resource and collaborator and I look forward to building additional "By Design" homes whenever the opportunity arises. > Greg Fitzpatrick, Custom Home Builder **★★★★★ — mb123456, March 2014** > By Design is the architectural firm of Bruce Butler, located in Maine. Before engaging Bruce, I'd interviewed 6 other firms, after screening various websites. From the outset my experience with Bruce was very positive. He came well-prepared to the on-site interview & followed up promptly on some of the issues we’d discussed. > The project was new construction for a waterfront home. A major challenge came when the surveyor showed that the buildable space was quite limited. Bruce explored all the options & we decided on a plan that maximizes the views & provided a logical layout. He very patiently listened and answered my myriads of questions & adapted his drawings innumerable times. Never did I feel that his design could not be challenged or modified, but I did learn to think carefully about his ideas, having occasionally pushed ahead with mine only to come full circle back to his drawing. > During the construction phase, Bruce occasionally came on-site to review work already done & discuss next steps with the contractor & crew. As during the first interview, he was always well-prepared & he had a great relationship with them. I enjoyed watching him very carefully & methodically look over the completed work & assess what he saw versus the building plans. If modifications were needed, he handled the discussions very respectfully & made sure everyone understood what would be required. > Bruce was also an enormous help selecting just about everything, including the kitchen sink. I am design-challenged & so relied heavily on his expertise. Countertops, light fixtures, flooring, wall colors, kitchen & bath fixtures were among the choices that had to be made. Each area took some time to explore & decide, but the home, now completed, is a wonderful, incredible place to live & the selections we’d made throughout the house fit perfectly. **★★★★★ — Peter B. Rice & Co, Aug. 2013** > When people ask me to recommend an architect my response is to tell them to get in touch with Bruce. I know they won't be disappointed. As a builder I have worked with Bruce on a number of projects both large and small over the last couple of years. In every project that we have collaborated on the final product always feels like it belongs in its environment. If it was a renovation/addition it feels like it has always been in the home. If it was a new home it never feels out of place in the location that it was built. > > The designs are thorough and well thought out thus reducing the uncertainties (both in price and scope of work) for all parties involved. When questions or dilemmas arise I know the solution that is developed by Bruce will be both feasible (from a building standpoint) and keeping with the clients overall goals. > > If you are looking for an architect that can help you bring your vision to life then Bruce is definitely someone you need to get in touch with. **★★★★★ — lizrr, Aug. 2013** > We highly recommend architect Bruce Butler of By Design. He has been wonderful to work with, and we are delighted with our new home. We had never built a house before--nor did we think it was in the cards for us to do so--so we were complete novices when we began. Bruce was very patient with our lack of knowledge and did an excellent job of educating us on the process. Based on information he gathered from us, he presented us with an initial plan that matched our vision! After that, our discussions with him were primarily regarding materials and finishes. > > Our dealings with Bruce were done from a distance as we lived a half-dozen states away from our building site. Regardless of this, the process was seamless. Bruce also effectively acted on our behalf with the town Planning Board and Code Enforcement Officer. Without making a single change, they signed off on our plans the very night he presented them. He also participated in our meetings with prospective builders and made field trips to see their work. Additionally, he was very proactive on pursuing cost- and energy-saving options. > > We interviewed other architects before selecting Bruce. After the fact, one of the other firms asked us whom we selected. We told them and they said, "Bruce does great work, I think you'll be in good hands." There’s no question that we were! ## Selected projects - [Shore Road](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/shore-road-pj-vj~2873412) - Location: Harpswell, ME - Photos: 14 - [Canton Lake House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/canton-lake-house-pj-vj~652587) - Location: Canton, ME - Photos: 3 - Description: The new house is located where the mobile home stood, so very few trees had to be taken down. Due to the mature tree canopy, access to the sun for solar-generated electricity or solar-heated hot water was not possible. This meant that, while solar energy could not play a big role, other strategies had to be employed to minimize the carbon footprint of the house and make it economical to heat and air condition. The strategy was to build a very tight, well insulated building shell that reduces the… - [Cape Renovation: Trundy Point Renovation & Addition](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/cape-renovation-trundy-point-renovation-and-addition-pj-vj~652628) - Location: Cape Elizabeth, ME - Photos: 4 - Description: I’m often asked to do master plans for homes that will be modified over a span of years instead of all at once. I was asked to design a master plan that included: A new kitchen layout A new master suite A new kid’s bedroom and bathroom Car storage in the basement for an antique car New project room and recreation room in the basement New 3-car barn/garage New windows throughout The 3-car barn was the first phase, built in 2008. The kitchen was remodeled in 2012, and the master bedroom and baseme… - [Bayside Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/bayside-residence-pj-vj~293479) - Location: Yarmouth, ME - Photos: 5 - Description: Imagine a beautiful, wooded site looking out over Casco Bay and the islands. Imagine also that there are very restrictive setback requirements on a narrow lot, an existing cottage beyond repair, a failed septic system, and no well. This new home occupies such a site. Lot coverage was limited to 20% for “non-vegetated” site improvements, including the building, walkways, and parking. The new cottage could be no wider than the cottage being torn down. The solution was to build up instead of out. T… - [Great Chebeague Island cottage](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/great-chebeague-island-cottage-pj-vj~38965) - Location: Chebeague Island, ME - Photos: 3 - Description: The Owners are a retired couple and were interested in having a separate cottage for extended family visits during the summer months. Sited in the woods a comfortable distance from the main house, the cottage incorporates living spaces, utility room, master bedroom/bathroom and screened and open porches on the main level. The upper level has two bedrooms and a half bath. The layout is a simple, open plan with natural finish Douglas fir cathedral ceilings and floors and painted bead board wall pa… - [Oceanside Residence in Maine](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/oceanside-residence-in-maine-pj-vj~38961) - Location: Cape Elizabeth, ME - Photos: 8 - Description: This three-bedroom house was designed for a very small, narrow lot that was previously occupied by a split-level ranch house. The design solution incorporated the footprint of the original house as a two-car garage. The new home was located behind the garage and tucked into the hillside. The waterside elevation has three levels of expansive views of the ocean. The roadside appearance is of a modest one and a half story house in scale with its neighbors. Restrictions for the new construction incl… - [Screened Porch](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/screened-porch-pj-vj~38967) - Location: Freeport, ME - Photos: 4 - [Great Chebeague Island residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/great-chebeague-island-residence-pj-vj~40088) - Location: Chebeague Island, ME - Photos: 1 - Description: The Owners wanted to expand their cape-style home in three critical areas in order to accommodate an ever-increasing extended family. The kitchen was bumped out four feet and the layout was modified to include an island and more pantry-type storage. To increase seating capacity for guests, the living room was also bumped out with the addition of a large bay window, almost the full depth of the room. One facet of the bay window was designed as a French door for access to a new screened, freestand… - [Medomak River House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/medomak-river-house-pj-vj~292723) - Location: Waldoboro, ME - Photos: 3 - Description: Though traditional in appearance on the exterior, this new three-bedroom home incorporates building techniques for the 21st century. It is sited so that the south elevation is facing “solar south”. The goal for this house is a net zero design that provides enough on-site energy to satisfy demand. On an annual basis, photovoltaic panels on the roof will provide the energy necessary to heat and power the home. The building walls provide a 12” deep cavity that is filled with dense pack cellulose (R… - [Casco Bay Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/casco-bay-residence-pj-vj~72687) - Location: Yarmouth, ME - Photos: 3 - [Norway Lakehouse](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/norway-lakehouse-pj-vj~494224) - Location: Norway, ME - Photos: 5 - Description: A two-bedroom lakeside home designed for a narrow site surrounded by woods on a peninsula jutting into the lake. The house is one room wide at its narrowest with views in three directions from the family room. - [Bear Trap Mountain House in Maine](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/bear-trap-mountain-house-in-maine-pj-vj~72700) - Location: Bridgton, ME - Photos: 11 - Description: This retreat was designed for an extended family that summers in Maine as a respite from the hot summers in Pennsylvania. The site demanded a house plan that gave panoramic views from every room and a screened porch that allowed for late afternoon and evening enjoyment of their natural surroundings. The long narrow building arranges the rooms in a line with hallways, bathrooms, and closets to the rear. A cupola was designed as a “place away” for special private views. All of the interior finishe… - [Maine House Addition](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/maine-house-addition-pj-vj~40092) - Location: North Yarmouth, ME - Photos: 1 - [Heavy Timber Frame Home](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/heavy-timber-frame-home-pj-vj~40090) - Location: North Yarmouth, ME - Photos: 2 - [Foreside Cottage](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/foreside-cottage-pj-vj~652639) - Location: Falmouth, ME - Photos: 3 - Description: Falmouth Foreside is a seaside community characterized by small cottages nestled close together on narrow streets. It’s a rare occurrence when one of these properties is up for sale and rarer still to find a vacant lot. Most of the lots are “nonconforming”. This means that they are smaller than the minimum allowable lot size. The Ramsdell Road lot measures 50 feet by 75 feet. The challenge was to design a year-round small, sustainable home that fits in with the size and style of its neighbors. D… - [Boothbay Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/boothbay-residence-pj-vj~6061399) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 6 - [Lakeside Contemporary](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/lakeside-contemporary-pj-vj~2310925) - Location: Norway, ME - Photos: 4 - [Modern Farmhouse](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/modern-farmhouse-pj-vj~2310023) - Location: Freeport, ME - Photos: 6 [See all 18 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/by-design-pfvwus-pf~1166031793) ## Ideabooks - [Mudrooms](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/24244268/list/mudrooms) — 15 ideas - [Exteriors](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/3999552/list/exteriors) — 1 idea [See all 2 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/mainebydesign) ## Community Q&A **Q: Screen Porch Base** *(in Photo Questions)* Can you tell me what type of base was used with the screened porch? A: Concrete frost wall. **Q: what color is house painted?** *(in Photo Questions)* The skirting and windows are Essex Green. What is the house color and trim? Thanks:) A: I don't know the trim color. The siding is Maibec shingles with a Cabot bleaching oil. **Q: Where can you buy the wiring used on this banister?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: Try feeneywire.com **Q: Is the white window trim Hardi also?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: No, it's primed pine. **Q: counter top** *(in Photo Questions)* love the counter and color combinations, what kind of material is it and what is the pattern name, thanks A: The stone is called "Golden Typhoon" **Q: Type of flooring and color stain used?** *(in Photo Questions)* Hi there, I am in love with these floors. Can you please tell me specifically what brand, size, and color they are? A: Caste Combe West End, Fitzrovia is the finish, 7-1/2" wide plank wood flooring. It's an engineered Oak floor. --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-24.*