As the winner of the inaugural women’s Olympic marathon, Joan Benoit Samuelson has long been a favorite Maine daughter. We were proud to feature Samuelson in our August 2008 profile, "Joan Benoit Samuelson's Gold Mettle."

Having just hosted the 11th annual TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10K in Cape Elizabeth, we cornered the ever-moving Samuelson to answer our MH+D Questionnaire:

In our July profile of Damariscotta-based artist John Whalley (“The Humanity of Detritus”) we talk at length about his ability to imbue inanimate objects with a human quality: “Whalley can infuse an object as mundane as a hammer with such emotion that it becomes a portrait not of a tool, but of the man who once used it.” While the artist’s work proves this statement time and again, Whalley is also extremely gifted and adept with portraiture.

The perfect home accessory this summer may well be a pool with a pool house. Maine families who are lucky enough to have a pool house can find endless enjoyment there throughout the dog days of the season. Whether used for a quiet retreat, a family gathering place, or party central, pool houses create a vacation destination just steps away from home. In the July issue of Maine HOME + DESIGN, we featured four fabulous pool houses; here's one more of our favorites.

In the July issue we featured seven metal sculptors ("Testing Their Metal") whose work reflects their unique Maine influences. Pittsburgh native and Maine transplant Sandy Macleod uses found industrial and architectural objects to create his sculptures at his studio in Limerick. Macleod's work conceptualizes an undetermined future using the detritus of our industrial past. Following is Macleod's take on the MH+D Questionnaire.

Our July Feast feature “A Family’s Fare” tells the story of Blue Hill’s Arborvine restaurant and chef John Hikade, his wife Beth, and their two sons, Andrew and Timothy.

Chef Hikade is known for his creative dishes. The idea of preparing certain dishes sometimes overwhelms the home-chef. But something like risotto is a perfect example of a meal that no one should be intimidated by, yet many people are. Hikade’s Trio of Duck with Mango/Pineapple Salsa and Honey/Thyme Glaze may be a time-consuming dish to prepare, but for anyone who loves food and isn’t afraid to spend a little time in the kitchen, it is not overly complicated. Happy cooking and enjoy!

Whether they’re used for staging or storage, serving or display, a pantry offers practical and often beautiful solutions for gracious living. The June issue of Maine HOME + DESIGN featured a plethora of pantries in our feature, "The Butler Did It." Here is one more of our favorites.

Our June Craft of Maine feature, “Noble Metals,” simply could not contain all of the talented jewelers in the state. But we did want to make room for just one more. Inspired by her time at the ocean’s edge, Jennifer Nielsen has been creating stunning, sea-inspired jewelry under the moniker Solstice Designs since 1997. Here are just a few of Nielsen’s pieces…