American Cottage Design

Hello there! I’m Linda DuChene. I’m so glad you stopped by!

I’ve been designing since the 1980s’ when I jumped in with both feet to turn a barn into our home. Yep. Dirt floor, no water, no electricity, no plumbing. But it had stone walls and sat on an acre of land with mature trees. I could see the potential. Some would suggest that I jumped in over my head, but I loved every minute of it and learned a lot in the process. Eventually it became a 3600 square foot home— with a rope swing on the maple tree in the front. Since then my husband Scott and I have renovated all kinds of properties, from barns to condos to cottages and want to share our American Cottage Design tips and home renovation experiences with you.

I was lucky enough to grow up surrounded by a family with generations of talented fine artists, potters, illustrators, photographers, woodworkers and folk artists. The common denominator among them all, no matter what the medium, was a good eye and a passion for creative expression.

My father, for instance, was a fine artist — my brother an artist, designer and potter. As a little girl, I loved to sit on the floor of my father’s studio, watch him paint. That’s where my education in design began. From him I developed a good eye for art and learned the fundamentals of color, composition, proportion, lighting and the like.

I knew from a young age that I had the bug. If something didn’t include an aspect of creativity, I was less than enthusiastic. (My math teacher would probably agree.) But I worked hard as a student, went to collage and graduated with an honors degree in English Education. I taught high school for 7 years with creativity somehow creeping into most of my lesson plans.

Always eager for change and something new, I tried a variety of different careers, teaching being the first. All of my jobs, however, have involved some aspect of creativity; whether as an advertising writer, creative director, innovation consultant or designer.

During my15 years as an advertising creative, I honed my creative thinking skills and understanding of the creative process, eventually applying those principles to interior design thinking, like trying various possibilities until both technical requirements and design aesthetics were met. I learned to quickly adapt to changes on the run when vendors or orders went askew. And I learned that good and timely communication between team players was the key to a successful project.

My aim is always to create a design plan that meets my client’s needs, tells their unique story and helps them live in a way that supports their well being.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE design. It’s always on my mind — always looking for new inspiration, new ways to reinterpret old ideas for today’s living and creating beautiful rooms that draw you in and wrap you up in a big hug.

If you’re contemplating an interior design project and don’t know where to start, give me a shout out. I’d love to chat and help you figure it out.