Home is like a Hug
When I return to the Seacoast after being away, a sense of calm washes over me. For me, home is like a hug. At my home, I’m greeted by my two dogs, Beatrix and Finnegan, who welcome me with jumps of joy and wagging tails. Beatrix even wraps her paws around me and literally gives me a hug.
As we reflect on the meaning of home this month, we wanted to highlight what makes it special to you. That includes the local businesses providing incredible services, the aesthetic and design of our community, and most importantly—the people.
We are incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to share the stories of the businesses and individuals that make this place so special. As you read through these pages, we hope you feel a sense of connection, of community, and of home.
In this issue, we explore what makes a home a true sanctuary—a place where family, craftsmanship, and connection come together. We begin by meeting a local family whose business goes beyond just the design and building of houses. They create spaces that foster relationships and memories, places where families can grow together. We also visit a second-generation stonemason, whose skillful work transforms stone into timeless art. Next, We travel to a family farm where the land is tended, nurtured, and celebrated. The farm is a living testament to the connection between family, land, and community. Finally, we explore the value of searching for the right home that truly fits your lifestyle.
As you read through this issue, we hope you’ll feel inspired to connect with the people around you, whether they’re part of your city, your neighborhood, or your home. We’re honored to be a small part of your journey, and we’re grateful to bring you stories that make our community even more special.
ANNE MOODEY, PUBLISHER @PORTSMOUTHCITYLIFESTYLE
March 2025
PUBLISHER
Anne Moodey | Anne.Moodey@CityLifestyle.com
MANAGING EDITOR
Tara Phillips | Tara.Phillips@CityLifestyle.com
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
Chelsea Lyn Agro | Chelsea.Agro@CityLifestyle.com
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Kevin Edge | Kevin@KePhoto.com
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
Hannah Morgan
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Ann Kathryn Kelly, Susan Gallagher, Rebecca Ingalls
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Visionfinity Media, Freebird Photography, Courtney Mulvey, Ned Savoie, Jennifer Bakos Photography, Ryan Murphy Photography
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
COO Matthew Perry
CRO Jamie Pentz
CTO Ajay Krishnan
VP OF OPERATIONS Janeane Thompson
VP OF FRANCHISE DEVELOPMENT Erika Smiley
AD DESIGNER Jenna Crawford
LAYOUT DESIGNER Amanda Schilling
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Hannah Leimkuhler
Proverbs 3:5-6
inside the issue
Featured 12 18 24 30 18
A Shared Vision
Expertise in design and construction is a family affair for Sage and Cashman Development.
Set In Stone
Edziu Sentkowski has the eye and skill to make a modern stonemason. The Heart of Home
For realtor Brett Mulvey, finding home is all about lifestyle.
Vernon
Jordan and Chris Cashman transformed their Hampton, NH home to fit their growing family. For the Cashman and Fowler crew, the kitchen is more than just a gathering spot—it's the heart of their home and family design business.
city scene
WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN
1: Plates for Change board members Scott & Karen Logan and Liz Levey-Pruyn, present grant award to Meghan Shapiro, Footprints Director. 2: Chamber Party at Puddle Dock with Elaine Apatang of One Revolution Realty and Trex AKA Cody Vaillant of The Vibe Collective. 3: Joann Burchuk, Sheri Rein Gibson, Amy Woychowski, and Stephanie Loignon, from WBL Dover, enjoying holiday cheer. 4: Sarah Davis, from Hudson, NH and Haydn Kilty from Stoneham, MA enjoying a second date at Labrie Family Skate at Puddle Dock Pond. 5: Jenn and Art Meconi enjoying a visit to EAD Woodworking during January's Art Around Town. 6: Friends gather for afternoon tea at the Lady Mary Inn in North Berwick. 7: PHS clippers varsity basketball teammates Zavier Lampert, Derek Swartz, Ryan Swartz and Anthony Ferola all smiles on the bench.
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JENNIFER STEVENS | CHAMBER COLLABORATIVE
A SHARED vision
EXPERTISE IN DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION IS A FAMILY AFFAIR FOR SAGE AND CASHMAN DEVELOPMENT
ARTICLE BY REBECCA INGALLS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEVIN EDGE PHOTOGRAPHY & FREEBIRD PHOTOGRAPHY
When Bev Fowler and Jordan Cashman, owners of Sage—a full-service interior design studio in downtown Portsmouth—tell their origin story, they weave their words together like two people who’ve known each other all of their lives. It’s no surprise, then, to learn that they are not only business partners, but also mother and daughter, whose expertise has brought them together in art, design, and construction.
Step into the studio on Deer Street, and you are surrounded by nature’s warmth. It is an ethos that Jordan and Bev call “Endless Summer,” with a palette, materials, and scents that bring to mind the serenity of sandy beaches, the calm of the West Coast, and the pristine Mediterranean. “It started out as a nautical-coastal vision that has moved more toward modern coastal and indoor-outdoor living,” explains Jordan. Together, Jordan, Bev, and designer Emily Chreiman, whom they consider to be one of the family, work to source unique elements that bring that vision to life, reaching as far as Amsterdam and Australia for their design materials.
The retail endeavor began in 2012 in Newburyport as the brainchild of Bev, Jordan’s mother, who is also a trained florist with an eye for design. Jordan meant simply to lend her expertise in public relations and advertising to support Bev’s plans, but eventually found herself sharing her mother’s dream. Amidst the charming downtown crowds of Newburyport, they specialized in custom-made furniture and home décor, as well as container gardening consultation and wedding flowers. “I couldn’t have done it without her,” says Bev, of her daughter. She adds with pride, “Sage is actually Jordan’s middle name.”
As their vision unfolded, their business flourished, and they outgrew shop after shop. The pandemic was a turbulent time, as it was for many retailers, but it also offered Sage an opportunity to fulfill a dream. “We had been searching for a retail space in Portsmouth for years,” explains Jordan. When a space on Deer Street opened up, the timing was perfect. It was smaller than their Newburyport space, but just right for their evolving inspiration toward “design and build.”
That “build” component belongs to Cashman Development, started by Jordan’s husband Chris Cashman
Kevin Edge Photography
in 2018. With the birth of their first child that year, Jordan’s attention was drawn toward her new role as a parent. In 2020, however, she and Chris felt a renewed energy to expand their contractor business, and as they received more referrals, their clientele grew significantly. Jordan sings the praises of Chris’s work: “He knows construction in and out. Every code. And his brain capacity blows my mind.” Rob Fowler, father to Jordan and husband to Bev, serves as Site Superintendent for Cashman Development and can be found on-site daily, lending his own contracting expertise to every job.
The showroom on Deer Street offers an opportunity to stimulate customers’ senses with textiles, furniture, housewares and art, but it is merely a portal into what is possible. While customers might have a mental sketch of what they are looking for, the collective imaginations of Jordan, Bev, and Emily can lift that sketch right off of the page and turn it into an enchanting design concept that the customer never imagined. “We get the most excited when we get a job that is right up our alley,” Jordan explains brightly. “Tilt-and-turn windows, thinking outside the box, using materials no one else is using. We love to have clients who are open to a wide range of aesthetics.”
If a customer wants to remodel a room, that’s well within the wheelhouse of Sage, but they also delight in larger projects, both residential and commercial, that call on them to collaborate with Cashman Development, which specializes in renovations and additions. “I think our clients feel comfortable knowing that every important person on the project is connected by family,” Jordan muses. She and Bev explain that their family connection helps them to streamline their work and challenge one another as they bring their individual skills together in unique ways.
That connection also fuels their shared passion for the unique work they offer. “We want to open up the world for our clients,” Jordan says. “You see so much of the same thing, and we’re trying to put out something you’re not used to seeing.” As they set their sights on growth toward ground-up builds and commercial spaces, they find themselves well-anchored here on the Seacoast. Says Jordan, “We don’t see ourselves leaving Portsmouth any time soon.”
Visit Sage’s showroom in downtown Portsmouth at 33 Deer Street, Suite 3A, Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sundays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can also find them online at SummerAtSage.com
Freebird Photography
Freebird Photography
Freebird Photography
Kevin Edge Photography
SET IN STONE
Edziu Sentkowski has the eye and skill to make a modern stonemason
ARTICLE BY SUSAN GALLAGHER PHOTOGRAPHY BY VISIONFINITY MEDIA
Here in historic New England, where echoes of stonemasons from centuries past reverberate in the countless fieldstone walls garnishing the countryside, Edziu Sentkowski fits in like a finely set stone.
A proud second-generation stonemason himself, he has spent more than two decades absorbing the age-old skills of his father and other gifted stonemasons, perpetuating this intricate and physically demanding craft that dates back to ancient times.
Sentkowski’s journey in stonemasonry began at the tender age of 15, when he embarked on a 20-year stint at his father’s business, Rock Design Custom Stonework in Derry, New Hampshire. Here, the young man accumulated a treasure trove of knowledge in masonry and stonework. His insatiable need to perfect his craft led him on forays up and down the East Coast to glean varying techniques from other stonemasons as well. “I wanted to round out my skills,” he says.
Other mentors aside, it was his father, Edmund, who was Sentkowski’s greatest influence. When the time came in 2021 for the younger Sentkowski to venture out on his own, he chose an image of his father’s rugged mason’s hands wielding the classic sledgehammer
and chisel as the logo for his new business, Northeast Walls and Patios. “I wanted to honor him with this logo,” he says. “He didn’t just pass along his skills and knowledge to me, he instilled a work ethic in me that is second to none. I highly respect him for that.”
The logo’s meaning is more than sentimental. It also represents what Sentkowski proclaims as the stonemason’s most valuable tool: his hands. “You need big, strong hands to do this work,” he insists. While modern times brought power tools and machinery to the mason’s arsenal, old-school craftsmen like the senior Sentkowski prefer to do everything by hand. His son admits they still “butt heads” over the issue, although in an ironic role reversal, father now works for son as his head mason.
Despite the occasional family friction, Sentkowski loves his work. “There’s nothing more satisfying than transforming someone’s outdoor living space and seeing their reaction.” He revels in the longevity and durability of his creations. “It’s gratifying to build a stone wall that will last 100 years or more,” he says. “It’s like putting your stamp on something.”
Sentkowski has a particular affinity for fieldstone—ubiquitous in New England. Washing the years of dirt off these stones reveals the beauty beneath. “In a perfect world,” he says wistfully, “I would use nothing but natural stone.” While he often uses pavers—manufactured pieces of concrete—for walkways and patios, he utilizes natural materials whenever possible. This creative
stonemason celebrates rustic beauty as a crucial element of his craft. “The bottom line is that it’s an art,” he says. “You must balance colors, shapes, and sizes. You really need an eye for it.”
Working with pieces of the earth, Sentkowski’s connection to nature runs deep, flowing in him as if through his very veins. “I was always spiritual about Mother Nature,” he says. But this spirituality would unexpectedly metamorphose into something more.
In 2020, Sentkowski found transformation when he married his wife, Stormy, six months to the day after they met. His new bride became his guiding star, leading the lifelong atheist to Christianity, giving his life new meaning. The spirituality he had always found in nature evolved into a deep devotion to his new religion.
His marriage incentivized the already hard-working Sentkowski to push himself even harder to succeed as an entrepreneur. “Getting married was a game changer for me,” he says. “I took being a husband very seriously.” He gives credit to his wife for her stalwart support during the birth pangs of his new enterprise. “We started out with nothing,” he says. The new husband asked Stormy for time to build the business, promising her that the effort he put in would come back tenfold. “She backed me up 100 percent,” he says, gratitude shining in his eyes. “She believed in me.”
Stormy’s belief in her husband paid off; his herculean efforts did indeed come back tenfold. Today, Northeast Walls and Patios, based in South Berwick, Maine and serving York and Rockingham Counties and the New Hampshire Seacoast, is thriving. Edziu Sentkowski is making his father proud, and faithfully carrying on the legacy of one of civilization’s oldest and most venerated crafts.
Managing Urgent Objectives & Important Dreams
THE HEART of home
FOR REALTOR BRETT MULVEY, FINDING HOME IS ALL ABOUT LIFESTYLE
ARTICLE BY SUSAN GALLAGHER
PHOTOGRAPHY BY COURTNEY MULVEY AND NED SAVOIE
Photo: Courtney Mulvey
Brett Mulvey’s quest for quality of life has brought him full circle. This realtor’s idyllic childhood in Rye, New Hampshire instilled in him a profound sense of how life should be. Like many grown children, he answered the call of faraway places in 2003 to pursue higher education. But the lure of home proved too powerful to resist, and in 2007 he returned to the Seacoast to rediscover the lifestyle he so cherished.
Mulvey started a family in Portsmouth, but ultimately settled in his hometown of Rye, where in 2022, the Mulveys’ second home-buying experience proved to be the charm. They found a quaint home in the location of their dreams, nestled in a cozy cul-de-sac in the heart of town. The small, intimate neighborhood provides the feel of a close-knit micro-community, but its central location allows for easy access to schools, police and fire stations, and the town library. Even Mulvey’s office is within walking distance.
The neighborhood’s special touches of camaraderie resonate with the Mulvey family. The shared bus stop atop the hill offers parents time to bond while seeing their children off to school. These morning meetings often lead to a neighbor’s home for coffee and conversation. Every December, Rye’s annual Christmas parade runs directly by the same hilltop, bringing communal holiday joy. “We knew living in this house would be transformative,” Mulvey says, “but the transformation has exceeded our expectations. We have found a powerful sense of belonging here.”
Photo: Courtney Mulvey
Photo: Ned Savoie
As a realtor, Mulvey’s own experience has sharpened his focus on lifestyle when finding his clients a home. He brings this insight to Tate and Foss Sotheby’s International Realty, where he specializes in Seacoast New Hampshire and southern Maine luxury properties. His quest for quality of life has expanded to helping home buyers attain the same satisfaction he and his family have found.
Clients can search the Sotheby’s International website not just by location, but by lifestyle. Some home buyers seek proximity to family activities or community involvement. Others desire communion with nature and yearn for a secluded countryside setting, or a place near the shoreline, with its briny ocean air and enchanting vistas of sea and sky.
For Nate and Sharon Stevens, the need for more space compelled them to move from their Kittery Foreside property. They sought to stay close to the Foreside that was such an important part of their lives, while leaving behind its populous bustle. With Mulvey’s expert guidance, they found a home situated between charming Pepperell Cove and their beloved Foreside. The couple delight in the home’s waterfront location that affords them a spectacular view looking out through the mouth of Portsmouth Harbor. They savor the glorious sunsets and the eclectic parade of boat traffic.
Whitney and John Ross always planned to retire to the Seacoast. They dreamed of finding a home that would serve as a family compound for their visiting adult children yet also provide a quiet sanctuary for themselves. Mulvey found the Rosses their perfect haven just an eighth of a mile from lovely Wallace Sands Beach, where mornings bring panoramic sunrises and inspirational walks on the beach. The setting is also ideal for their annual family reunion.
“We knew living in this house would be transformative, but we have found a powerful sense of belonging here.”
Mulvey himself places immense value on hosting family, particularly during the holidays. “My wife, Courtney, and I both grew up in holiday-hosting households,” he says, smiling at the memories. “We wanted to give our daughters the same experience.” They now host Thanksgiving and Christmas annually. “Our home has a classic New England feel that is a perfect backdrop for traditional holidays,” he says. Even the home’s exterior, with its golden-yellow facade, adorned with red doors and green trim, evokes in him a palette of Christmas colors.
According to Mulvey, while lifestyle priorities differ from person to person, there is one common denominator: “People want to live somewhere they feel at home.” This dedicated realtor and devoted family man has discovered that home is truly where the heart is.
Ferguson Home has the bath, kitchen and lighting products you need to bring your vision to life. Whether you’re refreshing the look of a single room or building a new home, our experts are here to help every step of the way, from product selection through delivery.
Start your project or find your local showroom at fergusonhome.com PORTSMOUTH
realty report
FOOD, FELLOWSHIP, & FUN
at the farm
Vernon Family Farm champions fresh food, local partners, sustainability and family-friendly events
ARTICLE BY ANN KATHRYN KELLY
Zeus, Jennifer Bakos Photography
Ryan Murphy Photography
Food you can trust. An opportunity to see sustainable farming in action. Learning which New England farms and small businesses you’re supporting when you buy local. Oh, and the chance to pet a baby pig or lamb. Who wouldn’t want to check this out?
It’s closer than you think. A 15-minute ride from the Seacoast, Vernon Family Farm in Newfields awaits. Owners Jeremiah and Nicole Vernon bought their 33-acre farm in 2014. As a first-generation, owner-operated livestock farm, the couple pasture-raises their own chickens—10,000 each year! All meat is processed and packaged offsite at USDA facilities before landing back on their family-run store’s shelves, located on the grounds in a charming and historic blacksmith shop.
Vernon Family Farm partners with more than 50 farmers and small businesses from around New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont to keep the farm store supplied with in-season, non-GMO, locally-grown products. While they carry a variety of partner products, from meat and produce to dairy, seafood, sauces and spices, the highlight of their store—and their entire farming operation—is their poultry enterprise.
“From chick to chicken to plate, we manage it all right here,” says Jeremiah. “While we work with our partners for other cuts of meat at times, or to purchase cows, sheep, and pigs that we then pasture, our poultry operation is my responsibility, 100%.”
Jeremiah, born and raised in New Hampshire with farms all around him and family roots that go back 10 generations, is the engine driving field operations. He oversees all livestock, from feed and vaccinations to occasional births. In addition to their thriving poultry operation, he manages care for roughly 50 each of pigs and sheep that are pasture-raised, supplemented by non-GMO grain.
The farm store is open year-round and packed with locally-sourced goodies. Nicole manages store operations, partner ordering, marketing and website presence, and social media. If Jeremiah is the engine, Nicole is the face of Vernon Family Farm. Her husband praises her ability to connect with customers. “Nicole knows everyone by name. Truly, she remembers each person, along with their shopping preferences.”
This personalized attention and investment in relationship-building is what makes shopping at the farm store a win-win. “The food we sell is what our own family eats,” Nicole says, referring not only to her and Jeremiah but their young daughters Magnolia, Indigo, and Pingree. “I can speak honestly about our offerings and give relevant recommendations that our customers can trust.”
Jennifer Bakos Photography
Jennifer Bakos Photography
“From chick to chicken to plate, we manage it all right here.”
The store has become a one-stop shop for food with an intentional focus that champions local agriculture. Pair that with their popular agritourism events, and the farm has become what the Vernons call “an inclusive third space.” A home away from home that offers great food, fellowship, and fun.
The farm’s agritourism events run May through October, typically Friday or Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m. More information, along with an easy way to buy tickets, is available on the website. And while fresh local food and live music may be the initial draw, once there, attendees discover a delightful sensory experience. Children and adults alike can wander and smell wildflowers in a meadow. Pet sheep, lambs, and pigs. Hear the sounds of nature and a working farm, blending with local musicians on-stage. And you may just see your neighbor or family doctor in the crowd. Grab a seat at a picnic table, dig into delicious farm-to-table fare, tap your feet to music wafting on a breeze, and enjoy the warm sense of community on an equally warm evening. For this is what the Vernons mean by third space.
Learn more about the farm’s mission, store, events, and how to purchase meat boxes at their website. The farm also offers a debit-style CSA (community sponsored agriculture) membership, where members buy with pre-purchased points. A new feature to the program? Customers can choose to donate unused cash on their cards to community members in need. Vernon Family Farm also donates unused produce to local food pantries weekly. Be sure to add the farm to one of your upcoming weekend—or weekday!—travel plans. The “Face” and the “Engine” look forward to showing you around.
Jennifer Bakos Photography
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