About Me
Details are the essence of my designs.
Hi, I’m Irene Facciolo, licensed Architect and owner of Thunder Mill Design. For almost 30 years, I’ve designed and built many custom residences, created custom kitchens and baths, and renovated homes to fit my clients’ needs and lifestyles.
When you work with me, I seek to understand who you are and what you honor in your life before a single line of your new house plan is conceived.
I love to discover what’s on your shelves, the pictures that hang in your hallways, and how the light comes through your windows: all of this tells me who you are. It tells me what you might need in your new home or renovation. It tells me how to fit your home to your life. And, if there’s a particular view or quirky aspect of your home that owns a little piece of your heart, I consider that really important information to know when creating a design, just for you.
Let’s talk and see how I can help you have the home that fits your life.
My studio
We can meet here or meet in your home so I can discover what’s on your shelves, what you cherish, and where the heart of your home is.
“Irene has a brilliant design sense for both full-house and renovation design. Her work reflects an aesthetic of fine craftsmanship and comfortable coziness, with lots of light and rich detail. As her happy clients can attest, they are homes to be lived in!”
“Often, we have presented Irene with a challenging idea or need within the design of the project and Irene has consistently met these challenges with beautiful and creative solutions. ”
Story of Thunder Mill Design
In 1993, my husband and I planned to start our own design/build business: all we needed was a name to match our passion and commitment to our work. Soren was my partner in Thunder Mill Design for over 20 years, as well as my life partner. At the time we lived in a beautiful old Victorian home in Morrisville, Vermont. One day, my husband was in the basement checking out the floor joists with an old carpenter friend, who had worked in the area for many years. The surfaces of the 4x8 floor supports told a fascinating story. The old carpenter explained that the saw marks on the boards were made by a large circular saw blade, probably sawn at a local mill in the mid-1800’s. Back then, saw mills were scattered all across the valley we lived in. Nestled along various brooks and rivers, these saw mills were dubbed Thunder Mills because they only could cut lumber after a big rain, when the streams and rivers swelled and there was enough water to run the water powered saws.
We fell in love with the name instantly. “Thunder Mill” not only painted a visceral image, but also perfectly represented the ebb and flow of the design/build process and reflected the area where our business started; you work like crazy during the warm months, then hibernate in mid-winter or early spring, waiting for the snow and ice to melt while you design and prepare for the next project. We were excited to incorporate this bit of local history into our business name as we ventured into our design profession.