Our office, located in the heart of the seaside village of Stonington, Connecticut, specializes in residential design that is sensitive to the coastline and the history of New England villages. The design of our new studio was inspired by the rich historic context of the village with its gracefully detailed homes dating from the Federal, Greek Revival and Georgian Periods.

Michael McKinley and Associates, LLC is a full service design firm providing permitting, architecture, interior design including lighting, color and furniture selection. Our small is office dedicated to providing very individualized service. Michael McKinley personally completes the design work and meets with the client during all phases of the project. He established the firm in 1988 and is licensed in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Florida. Michael McKinley is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design with degrees in Fine Arts and Architecture. Before establishing this office he was lead designer for several internationally known firms in Boston and New York.

We approach all our projects in a similar way by beginning with the site and surroundings. It’s critical that a house be well sited and that it’s respectful of the landscape and its neighbors. A residence located in the right place on the site, especially in coastal locations, maximizes views from all rooms and is shaped by sun and wind. It also gracefully transitions from indoor to outdoor spaces. We refer to this approach as “working from the outside…in.” Our challenge is to be true to what the client envisions and then convey this message to the team of craftspeople who will build the house.

Increasingly, residences are subject to a complexity of regulations. Our extensive experience in resolving zoning and flood hazard issues enables us to advise our clients early in the design process as to what size, height and shape house will be allowed. Surprisingly, we can often use the regulations to work in favor of the client’s design interests. And, being on the coast ourselves, we design buildings that withstand the elements.