meet EARLE MORSE
OWNER & principal
Birchwood Interiors is a 43-year-old company born and raised at Sugarloaf. Peter and Martha Webber, early developers at the resort were building condominiums in 1980 and started Birchwood Interiors to provide furniture packages for their new projects. Quickly, Martha’s design acumen became known and the business flourished as a designer and provider of furnishings for home and condo projects all over the mountain.
In 1995 Earle Morse bought the business from the Webbers as Martha had become ill. A person of many interests and talents (physicist, minister, entrepreneur, project manager, and lover of design, construction, and people) Earle quickly expanded the business to include renovation work and supplying building projects with cabinets, granite counters, flooring of all types, tile work, hardware as well as their regular furniture and window treatment offerings.
Now in its fifth decade, Birchwood Interiors has completed thousands of projects and currently serves over 250 clients annually. It is the region’s largest supplier of furniture, window treatments, cabinets, flooring, granite and tile work. Birchwood can install everything it sells and provides complete project management services. Birchwood’s in-house staff includes 12 full-time, long-tenure experienced employees, and it has more than 30 local sub-contractors working in the field regularly. Focusing on Maine, and specifically the Sugarloaf and Rangeley regions has enabled Birchwood to be efficient, and able to quickly service its clients which include: homeowners, condo owners, developers, general contractors, and commercial business owners. The company has 11,500 sq feet of state-of-the-art warehouse and storage space in Carrabassett Valley which makes them able to supply timely service to their clients as well as able to purchase in volume. They specialize in working in the mountain environment year-round. Birchwood Interiors is known for providing quality interior design, products, and installations while delivering exceptional customer service, all for a very competitive price point. They seek to treat each client as if they were a good friend. The Birchwood Interiors name brings value to developers’ projects and the resale of residential homes and condos.
Jessie & Julie
Designers
Jessie Greenlaw Hicks and Julie Coleman are two of our seven designers.. Both live in Carrabassett Valley and are long-time Sugarloafers who break out of the office on powder days for a few quick laps. Julie specializes in new home finishes and furnishings. She brings a contemporary eye to her projects and provides exceptional service to her clients, helping them to balance budget considerations, design choices and timing. Jessie specializes in renovation work, having transformed tired and outdated condos and homes into stunning mountain retreats of today. Her ability to handle multiple projects and installations all at once makes her a go-to designer for a busy and challenging renovation. A born problem solver, she finds a way to clear the way for her client’s projects.
Josh Fancy
As Birchwood Interiors General Manager, Josh uses his construction background, organizational and team leadership skills, and his unflappability on behalf of Birchwood’s clients and staff. Josh oversees our design and installation teams as well as does direct client work. Josh is no stranger in these parts as he grew up just down the road and attended CVA before heading off to Bates College for an environmental science degree. An avid ski racer, fisherman and all things Western Maine, Josh and his wife Siobhan call Kingfield home.
Nichole Brochu weaver
Life-time local Nichole Brochu Weaver returned to Birchwood Interiors in 2024, saying she wanted to go back to “the best job she ever had” – she was our Rangeley Store General Manager back in the 2000’s. As a designer with extraordinary organizational skills, a great sense of Western Maine Mountain Chic style, and a smile that warms our entire team we were thrilled to have her return as a designer. With a degree in Community Health Education, Nichole is a caring people person who enjoys baking, playing with her dogs, being outside in the Mtns and spending time with her family.
Tracy Butler
One of Birchwood Interiors longest tenured employees, Tracy brings nearly 20 years of experience to her clients. Whether it’s a furnishings package, window treatments, renovations, new home finishes or just some help with paint colors, Tracy has done it all. She brings a meticulous organizational structure to her jobs and infuses her work with her natural creativity. An avid skier, Tracy has been a part of the Sugarloaf family for years and most recently enjoys watching her two sons compete on the mountain as CVA athletes. She and her husband Tom live in Carrabassett Valley.
Bella Robinson
Birchwood and its clients have benefited greatly by Bella’s energy, organization quick mind and hearty laugh. A wiz on our cabinet program, Bella assists many of the designers with kitchen design, and carries a large load of renovation and new construction projects. A can-do gal, Bella can often be found after work running up the area’s mountains or hitting the gym hard. She and her husband Westin live in Coplin.
Michelle Defroscia
Our Business Manager, Michelle, has been working at Birchwood Interiors for over 20 years. She oversees all of the behind the scenes finances, human resources and so much more. Having previously worked at Dellies and before that Sugarloaf Childcare, Michelle and her husband Ben (ski patrol director) are fixtures here at Sugarloaf. Her business acumen is only surpassed by her kindness. She, Ben and their dogs live in Coplin.
Lori Schipper
Our Administrative Assistant, Lori, brings 20 plus years of management experience to her “retirement job”. Her attention to detail, and quick laugh have made her a Birchwood favorite. She and her husband Jeff live at the base of Sugarloaf.
Dan Ambroscio
One of our general installers as well as one of our wood flooring installers, Dan brings the experience of 1000’s of jobs completed. A problem solver, Dan finds a way to get the work successfully done and always has a witty word to accompany the work. Experienced in metal working Dan is handy in so many areas. An avid frisbee golf player, Dan lives in Phillips.
Steve Thurston
Steve has fixed and repaired everything from boat motors to log cabins. Steve brings Maine ingenuity to his work as an installer. As a Maine Guide Steve loves the outdoors and the Western Maine Mountain region. He and his wife Nicole live in Phillips.
The beauty of our area that inspires us
The natural beauty of the Western Maine Mountains provides a backdrop for all of our projects. Be it the soaring peaks and winter snow, the lazy summer days on the lake, or these flowers from a local church garden, the way in which Western Maine home owners interact with their environment is different than in some more urban areas. We repeat colors and textures from our environment in our interiors, respect the history of our region with our accessories and accent pieces, and while taming the wilds, we don’t overly manicure our designs. Many of our clients live in the outside, so our designs incorporate their sports gear, celebrate their passions and provide a cozy “home” at the end of a day of adventures. The gathering of family is important to our clients, so our designs incorporate elements for all members of the family, which often involves the outdoors in some manner.
