Lynne’s Bio

I was fortunate to grow up in areas of the country where I was encouraged to play outside… whether that was in the woods, or in the ocean, I was taught the value of each being and it’s role in the ecosystem in which it lived. My family sailed boats in remote parts of the world… where we didn’t have access to large amounts of fresh water, electricity or fuel so we learned to conserve and use what we had wisely…with little waste. We learned how to observe nature and  leave little to no trace of our presence after we were privileged to have been there. When I was young, I saw Giant Sea Turtles lay their eggs, flying fish, and even a Manta Ray fly…. I’ve enjoyed the ocean, lakes and mountains from horseback and on foot.

There’s nothing more beautiful to me than the natural world, and I carry that beauty and my commitment to it into all that I do.

I began my training in the field of building and Interior Design first at Auburn University, and I completed my education at the Rhode Island School of Design. With a BFA and BIA from RISD, I worked for a few large firms, and opened my own practice after my first daughter was born. I have always focused my practice on the way people use space, and, built on my early experiences, Sustainable Design. Since 1987, I bring a holistic perspective to my clients, having developed an integrated approach which includes environmental sustainability and reuse; “Green Design” incorporated with the focus on the way people use and interact in spaces.

In my early years, when I was practicing and raising my oldest, I lost a baby. This sent me on a quest which included time at divinity school. While in seminary, I spent time focusing on sacred space in many forms…I completed my Masters, I was ordained for ministry by the United Church of Christ in 1997, and I have served as a pastor to Episcopal and UCC congregations. As the first Interfaith Chaplain at a small Boston College where I also served as Associate Professor of Design, I integrated meditation and other educational opportunities to help build a bridge of first hand knowledge and experiences between students from all religious and socio economic backgrounds. I was invited to participate in an Oxford Round Table in 2010. I spoke about how the entrance of women into the field of design has shaped the practice of design in the late 20^th Century. My published work in the fields of Interior Design and Education include such books as Great Designers of the World, 397 Chairs, and distinguished periodicals such as Parents Magazine, Cutwater, Classic Boating, ID Magazine, Natural Health and New England Home. I am featured in Ivanhoe Broadcasting Network’s piece on sustainable design that first aired in February of 2008, and I wrote a series of Green Notes and Podcasts on sustainable design for ITunes, sponsored by TACO inc.

All this doesn’t amount to a hill of beans, except to say that I do what I do because it matters to me, and in a way that is meaningful.

Whether it is designing a home or a work environment, leading worship, or counseling and performing a marriage or a memorial service, I am all about supporting, encouraging, and uplifting the human experience… Mind, Body and Spirit.