The Making of MAK
You Gotta Start Somewhere
Ken and Ellen's adventure into the world of design and construction kicked off in a way that could only be described as serendipitous. Picture this: it's the 1980s, Ken has hair and is at a yoga retreat in Santa Cruz. Instead of perfecting his downward dog, he ends up discovering a love for carpentry! Fast forward a few years, and he's in San Francisco, juggling construction gigs by day and painting in his art studio by night. Construction was just a paycheck until he stumbled upon the design-build model while working for a remodeling company in Silicon Valley. Cue the lightbulb moment—turns out, he could combine his love for art and his knack for building things in a way that was both professional and creative.
Around the same time, Ellen was busy making the world a more beautiful place, one bouquet at a time, as a florist in San Francisco. When these two met, it was like the stars aligned—they realized they had a shared passion for creating spaces that were not just functional but downright fabulous.
So, what did they do? They packed up their lives, moved to Davis, and decided to start a business together. In 2003, they set up shop in the most stylish office you can imagine—an Airstream trailer parked right in their driveway. With a team of three, a lot of coffee, and big dreams, they got to work.
Calling Davis “Home”
Getting Better All The Time
Fast forward 20+ years, and what started in that tiny trailer has blossomed into something pretty amazing. They’ve built a team of over 20 talented designers, craftspeople, and trade partners, and they've even upgraded to a proper office building in downtown Davis (though the Airstream still holds a special place in their hearts and their driveway).
Along the way, they’ve been pioneers in green building practices, working with the City of Davis to create a local green building program long before it was cool (or required by law). Their mission has always been to deliver thoughtful, creative designs and to build spaces that are not just built to last but are also kind to the planet.
