Local Business | Maker and Moss | Modern Organic Warmth

There's good style, and there's good people. Combining them is an irresistible combination. I met with owner Matt Bissinger on a sunny February afternoon, at his beautiful store, Maker and Moss in Hayes Valley. You can't help but notice Matt's big smile and warm demeanor. It's the kind of thing that you have or you don't, and the warmth that he brings asks you to come in and wander. It's the kind of place you can visit time and again, and continue to be surprised by what new treasures you'll find. Many of my clients embrace a modern, clean sensibility, but still want a space that feels warm and inviting, Maker and Moss is a design resource to turn to again and again.

Photo credit: Jenna Gundelach

When clients are putting homes together, the search for the big pieces can eclipse what feels like small stuff. You can find the perfect couch here (indeed, their stylish collection of couches are available in an array of custom fabrics), but what strikes me most each time I'm here are the details. One can't help but notice that these details tend to center around some of the really good things in life: gathering with friends, stylish comfort, eating and drinking. You know, the things that make a house a home. The style at Maker and Moss tends to soften sharp edges and breathe life to a space. This is the place where you'll find the items that your friends will continuously ask you about. "I like to find things that have a story. The objects that make you smile. It's not about materialism, it's not about the having. It's about the experience of special and beautiful details that you like having around you, and that make you feel good in your home."

I asked Matt what he thinks matters in people's spaces and he said: "Stuff you're really going to live with. I'd rather put more time and money into the areas of you're home where you'll really make a nest. The areas that will feed your soul, and where you'll spend time with friends and loved one."

Matt embraces a modern, organic style that translates well into urban spaces. Nature is a source of inspiration and natural forms are can be found throughout his offerings, from the delicate ceramic bottles to the wood tables made by Katie Gong of R Designs. While you find organic forms in much of the merchandise, no one would ever call this well curated collection crunchy. Instead his style feels more rustic urban and better suited to a sophisticated home or loft than to a cabin in the woods.

While Matt and his team can certainly help give you the "Maker and Moss" look, they are also there to help you design your own style. "People usually have some sense of what they want, but it can be overwhelming." Matt and team can talk you through making your home feel special and like your own. Says Matt: "Ultimately, you want to come home to a room that feels good to you, not something that was decorated or curated by someone else. You want to feel like you had a role and a part in creating it. It has your stamp on it."

Photography by Jenna Gundelach.