Meet Pam Lamaster-Millett

Today we’d like to introduce you to Pam Lamaster-Millett. She and her team share their story with us below:

Pam Lamaster-Millett along with her partner, Greg Howe, have been practicing together since 2000, becoming partners at Searl Lamaster Howe Architects in 2007. Over the past two decades, Pam has worked to foster a studio culture of creatives, designing toward craft, and beyond trend. Their firm is committed to providing design services tailored to the specific needs and goals of each client and context, and the diversity of work is a clear reflection of this mission. Constants include a collaborative spirit, a methodical design process, and a desire to create spaces that are of their age, inspirational, innovative, responsible, and functional. 

Like a good design, the practice has been a journey. The mix of project types has been both residential and commercial, leaning one way or the other, and informing each other in terms of materials and details, and challenging us to study the way clients live or work, or since Covid both at once. Recently the office has been designing several vacation homes, which offer more opportunities to interact with the landscape. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The 2008 recession was really challenging because there was little to no investment in the residential market. Fortunately, our strengths in detailing and materials allowed the office to partner with other firms on larger projects in multi-family and education among some institutional work. The staff was down to the principals, and coming out of it was very much like starting over. But it made us much more resilient, both financially and as designers. When Covid came along, it was a difficult time, but far less scary than it could have been, and we were able to retain our staff. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I love listening to our client’s story. We really believe in designing a space around them, and really, the differences from project to project and place to place is what keeps it interesting for us, and also so special for them. It is always fun to hear clients retell what their friends/families/peers’ impressions are of the spaces we design. One of my favorite stories is from a client whose neighbor stopped her out front one day to tell her that they “don’t like modern buildings, but I do like your house.” I think it’s a good representation of how, while the projects we design are custom and very personal, they still speak to multiple people because the forms, the materials, the space design is so intentional. Because we design for how a body moves through and experiences a space, as opposed to just creating an image, it has a lasting presence. It creates a memory. That is what is unique about what we do. 

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out.
Endeavor to keeping learning and trying new things but know that it is impossible to know everything, so don’t try to give the impression that you do. There is so much I did not know when I started, particularly about managing hours and fee structures, and that’s something we are constantly improving on. You want to give your clients a good value, but custom design takes time. Time management is a skill. When I was in school, we worked so much. All night, most nights. It made us tough, but looking back I don’t know if it was best the preparation for running an office, and certainly not for balancing career and homelife. It’s not profitable to keep throwing hours at a design if it isn’t progressing, and that’s not in the best interest of our clients either. Learn to trust your judgment – when a sketch “clicks” you just have to run with it. And if it isn’t coming together, you have to set it aside. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.searlarch.com
• Instagram: @searllamasterhowe
• Twitter: @pklamaster

Image Credits
Tony Soluri
Frank Frances
Bruce Van Inwegen
Matt Wargo
Mark Schepker