Celebrating Great Gatsby Style

Oh dear, I think I may have a touch of Gatsby fever ... have you seen the movie yet? It has been on my list of girls-nights-out but I have yet to make it to the theatre. I did, however, make it to the Wenham Musuem 90th Birthday Gala held at Misselwood Estate in Beverly in early May. For the past four years, I have been one of the participating designers for their annual North Shore Design Show. This year, however, they chose to have a birthday celebration off-site instead of hosting the show at the museum. And what a party they had!

The museum first opened in 1922, so the theme was very Great Gatsby. The ocean side estate charmed us with its architectural details and scenic location. Mint juleps were served. A pre-party viewing of the Kentucky Derby was the only sign of the present day. If it were not for the big screen and surround sound, I could have sworn we were in another era. An era that I could certainly feel right at home in, and so could my design friends ...

With designer Linda Hentschel of I-Design Interiors

Designers Stacy Clarimundo and Kristina Crestin

Kristina Crestin Design

Designers Jill Janasiewicz and Eric M. Haydel

ASID NE board members 

Un chapeaux switcheroo!

Two designers living in the same town meet for the first time!

Fascinators sparkle while a swing band plays dance tunes 

(love the iPhone in the foreground!) 

Engraved silver julep cups with rich red roses

Chocolate fountains were in vogue in the 20s right?

Delicious menu provided by Creative Catering

A wealth of fabulous items were auctioned off to benefit the mission of

the Wenham Museum: to protect, preserve and interpret the artifacts of childhood,

domestic life and the history and culture of Boston’s North Shore.

Cidalia Schwartz of Lyon-Waugh Auto Group

with Rick Sedler of Northshore Magazine

Linda imagining a Mini test drive

Marlene Pippins and Honorary Chair

Rita Cary from The River 92.5 

Great Gatsby fashion ... cream lace with pearls

 

Pam and Rick Sedler with Kristin Noon,

Executive Director of the Wenham Museum

Lots of dancing on the floor ... lessons were provided.

 

This sweet couple danced all night!

Wenham Museum’s Mary Barthelmes and her husband Bob with Eric Haydel

A gathering of Wenham Museum supporters and fans!

(Sally Wilson with the tiara : )

photo credit kikilarouge

If being a guest wasn’t good fortune enough, I also won the Kentucky Derby horse race raffle (thank you, Golden Soul!) and took home a gift certificate to Viola Lovely in Wenham. 

I have to say, the entire evening was so much fun! Just to be able to step outside the hectic pace of our everyday lives and go back in time to the simple glamour and elegance of another era. A special thank you goes to the board members of the Wenham Museum for hosting, and additional gratitude goes to my friend Laura Thomson for whipping up a fresh floral fascinator for me at a moment’s notice (see a great shot of the peony up close on her design blog).

I know for sure that I will be back to this gorgeous seaside estate (our nephew is getting married at Misselwood in August) and I know for sure that it will be equally fabulous!!

For a glimpse of the sights and sounds of the Wenham Museum 90th Birthday Gala, click here.

Designers at Work + Play

Now that I have your attention, I am ready to share some behind the scenes of the #YorkShowHouse! Trio Design (myself, Rosanne Palazola and Katherine Hawkins) have been traveling to Kittery at least once a week to prep, prime, paint, and determine our design installation plans for our spaces (bedroom, bath, mudroom and powder room).

Lately, our early morning commute from Massachusetts has set itself on auto pilot, navigating us to Beach Pea Baking Company in Kittery to grab coffee, delicious sandwiches for lunch, and sometimes a sweet or two (the ginger snaps with lemon creme filling are heaven!) When we are completely done setting up our rooms, one of their decadent cakes is on my reward list.

Katherine, myself, Rosanne, Barbara Elza Hirsch

In mid-April, before the house was made available for its transformation, the show house committee hosted all of the designers at a meet and greet at the Remick Barn in Old York. It was a great chance to catch up with some old friends and get to know the other artists we will be working alongside of this spring and summer. The media sponsor for the show, Maine Home + Design Magazine, was there, as was Jay Goldsmith, our official portrait photographer. He took a group photo while we were all gathered, and later in the evening a bunch of us went out for more Maine goodness (When Pigs Fly Wood-Fired Pizzeria) and took some candids of our own. 

We shared small plates and design discussions with Meredith Bohn

(I highly recommend the roasted brussel sprouts!)

And shared lots of laughs with Frank Hodge and Valerie Jorgenson (on right)

and their significant others who have witnessed many a show house together.

Each day when we show up for work, I like to go by the salt water pool first. The grounds are starting to fill in with lush perennials, but I have heard the landscape will look completely different by the time the show opens.

The view outside the screened porch is another favorite of mine.

Bathroom Number One, Day One

I brought a postcard from work to mark my territory

Bathroom Number Two, Day One

Bye Bye Birdie ... wallpaper removal time

At our front door (after a long day of prep work)

On a return visit, Katherine has recruited help (with her husband, Dave)

After three days on-site, I have managed to make some progress (hello two coats of fabulous Farrow + Ball paint on one ceiling!) For now, however, all I can show you is a sneak peek of the guest soaps I have chosen for each space ...

Hand-cut soap from Saipua // Hand towels from Frette

For show house updates, follow the #YorkShowHouse tag on twitter and instagram, and be sure to visit our Trio Design blog posts where each of us will be sharing our behind-the-scenes adventures. While it certainly takes a lot of work and resources to pull off a design show, I know it’s well worth the effort. Spending quality time with the other designers and watching how they go about accomplishing their visions is a bonus.

Stay tuned for more fun from York ...

Be a gem ...

Northshore Magazine, Hidden Gems issue // May/June 2013

Cover illustrated by Christian Lindemann

Northshore Magazine is hosting a silent auction on Thursday night, May 9th, at the Northshore Mall from 5 to 7:30pm to benefit One Fund, Boston.

Over 150 items valued at over $30,000 have been donated from dozens of area businesses – a trip to Italy, spa packages, sports memorabilia, health and wellness gift certificates, jewelry, theatre tickets, art, and so much more (look for a Designer Bath gift certificate in the mix).

The auction will take place on the upper level of the Nordstrom wing during the already planned Mom’s Night Out shopping event. Stop by and place your bid knowing that all the proceeds will help those injured during the Marathon bombing. 

Click here for a complete list of auction items. To donate directly to the One Fund, click here. 

To protect and to serve ...

It has been almost three weeks since the finish line at the Boston Marathon was bombed. Since that time, I feel as if I have been on an emotional roller coaster, which has finally slowed down enough for me to step out and regain my balance on solid ground.

In my head, I have composed a dozen different posts about how I felt that Monday and the days, and weeks, afterwards. I have tossed and turned in my sleep, I have had nightmares, I am pretty sure I have been grinding my teeth. I wasn’t even in Boston when it happened. I was at work. All of my kids were home, less than a half hour away from the city. It was the start of school vacation week, which I typically dread since it means I am working and they are home with unplanned schedules.

Fortunately, my husband was at home with them all day. When I heard from someone in my office that some kind of explosion happened at the Marathon, my first reaction was that it was probably something minor. I had two more hours till my day was over. I knew this was not a place of worry that I wanted to go to in my mind when I was far from home. But part of my job is to monitor social media, like Twitter, so as more information came in, I became painfully aware that something was very wrong. I checked in with everyone at home. I texted my oldest son who was skateboarding at a town park. The same park I was in when I first heard that we were attacked on 9/11.

I remember that day so clearly. My oldest son had just started pre-school that week. On the first day, I dropped him off with a very long note to his nursery school teachers warning them that he liked to climb things. And that he liked to be outside. And that he may try to go outside without asking. I had special Safety First plastic door knob protectors on every door in our home for that very reason.

When I first saw the Little Tikes log cabin in the nursery school playground I was more than nervous. My daring first-born would no doubt try to climb to the roof, and maybe even try to jump off, and would these teachers be watching his every move like I did at home? I prepared instructions for them to keep an eye on him during recess, especially if he approached the log cabin. And please watch the doors while inside. He might slip out without anyone noticing.

I was a wreck. I had a 1 1/2 year old toddler at home and a baby on the way. I needed my 3 year old to have some time away from home, I could barely keep up with him, but I honestly couldn’t imagine someone else watching him with the same kind of attention that I did. At home I had safety gates everywhere, which served to protect my son from perceived harm and to minimize the square footage of areas that I had to keep under surveillance.

After dropping my son off at school, I took my second born to the park. By the time I got there it was shortly after 9am. It was like a ghost town. I saw someone walking his dog. He said something about a plane crash in New York. At the time I don’t think I even carried a cell phone. I wasn’t really sure what this stranger was talking about. My son played in the sandbox for awhile. I was kind of relieved that the park wasn’t crowded. I didn’t have to worry about other toddlers grabbing a toy that he was playing with or throwing sand in his eyes. After our time was up, we headed back to pick up his brother.

As the news spread of what actually happened, the world became a very scary place. Even opening the mail became an act not to be done without extreme caution. My third son was born three weeks early. I am not surprised that he wanted out, what with the amount of stress I had internalized. At the time, no one really had any idea of what could happen next. Who could have predicted what happened in New York and in the sky in September of 2001? 

On Marathon Monday, these are some of memories that resurfaced. Memories of feeling helpless. Uncertain. Feelings of disbelief. Why? How? Who? What turns a person into an uncaring soul, capable of mass destruction, who no longer sees or values the spirit in another? 

My brothers are both police officers. Every day they have to deal with the consequences of people who have stepped outside the bounds of acceptable behavior. Minor incidents and major ones. Accidents and acts of intention. Every day they risk their lives to keep others safe. One brother used to be on the SWAT team. He has four kids like I do.

We all know how the week of the marathon ended. My brother and I spent some time that following Sunday at the elementary school park with our kids.

While our little ones played, I asked my brother how he deals with everything he sees. How he can flip the switch from being a crime-fighting cop on the streets to a dad who will sit patiently as his girls perform hour long “shows” with their dozens of dolls. He shared that he has developed strategies to deal with his job verses his family life. He tries not to take work home with him. He tries to be present for his kids. He worries about the same things that other parents and spouses worry about. He knows that not everyone acts on their best behavior and that there also are some people who can be turned around, with the right guidance, before something really bad happens. 

I am very proud of both of my brothers for all that they do day after day to ensure that the rest of us don’t have to worry full-time about “bad guys.” Over the past 14 plus years that I have been a mom, I have acquired a long enough list of worries on my watch-out-for list ...

• choking hazards like marbles, ice cubes, hard candy
• coconut, peanuts, walnuts + other anaphalactic health hazards 
• ticks, mosquitos, kids who bite, unfamiliar dogs, animal fur
• strangers, grouchy people, bullies
• anything on wheels, drivers on cell phones
• swimming pools, undertows at the beach, slippery rocks
• tornadoes, falling trees, climate changes
• access to inappropriate content 
• drugs, peer pressure, impending driver’s licences

To be completely honest, I am tired of all this endless worrying. I think I really lost it the most emotionally when I read that two brothers, standing side by side laughing on a sunny day waiting to watch a friend cross the finish line at the Boston Marathon, both lost a leg in the bombing. How many times have I said to my boys, “Stay with your brother! Keep an eye on each other!” I woke up to this news and I sobbed. One of my boys heard me and came running. I couldn’t really explain to a 9 year old how I was feeling. How years of worry sometimes pours out at moments of emotional vulnerability. 

I had to cover my eyes. I had to stop watching the news. I had to stop reading the eye-witness accounts. I had to spend some time outdoors away from screen media. I attacked the weeds in my garden. I pruned the wild rose bushes. I felt the sun on my face. I listened to the birds sing. I started to feel better.

I am thankful that people came together to help one another get through this tragic series of events. I am grateful that as a community we have not let what happened defeat us. We look for the good. We help where we can. We raise funds for the victims and their families. We are Boston Strong. And when we are still not feeling that way, we fake it until we do. 

Choosing paint colors: girls rooms

“The space upstairs is amazing – better than I could ever imagine. Besides the space we gained –  the colors in the rooms are the first thing people react to. It is perfect. My girls are so happy.” – my client of 6 years

I promised to start sharing more of my design work so I am starting with some recent consultation projects. First up is a pair of girls rooms. My client decided to raise the roof on her Cape style home, and in the process she was able to add a full size bath where there was none, and the two existing bedrooms were expanded to include lots more wall space (bye bye slanted ceilings and window dormers!) plus two generous sized walk in closets (one in each room).

Well you can imagine that any girl of any age would love this new arrangement, and these pre-teen girls were no exception. While mom had plenty of design ideas of her own, I was called in to help finalize the color choices based on bedding that each of the girls had chosen. I also offered some space planning tips and ideas for accessorizing. I’m not going to show the entire rooms just yet, as they are still a work in progress (our last meeting involved window treatment ideas), but I really liked how the color combinations came out so here they are ...

{ Younger daughter’s room }

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Bright White on a vintage vanity set

Clients daughter chose the bedding

Wall: Benjamin Moore Luscious 1369

Inside closet: Benjamin Moore Surf n Turf 598

{ Oldest daughter’s room }

Annie Sloan chalk paint in Paris Gray mixed with Pure White

on both the standing floor mirror and vintage cabinet

Bedding is currently in a classic blue toile print

(not this exact pattern, but very close)

Top portion of wall plus ceiling: Benjamin Moore Dalila 319

Inside closet: Benjamin Moore Sheer Romance 837

{ Before }

Benjamin Moore Pale Sea Mist 2147-50

The girls shared a room back in 2007 when I first started consulting with this adorable young family. The chosen look was more shabby chic at the time, with matching white iron twin beds covered in charming floral fabric quilts for these little ones who were barely in elementary school. I recommended a soft spring green for the walls and suggested that the original slanted ceiling be painted in the same color. This makes such a big difference in a dormered room in creating a space that looks and feels more expansive. At the time, this one little painting tip was something my client had never thought of, and she was very nervous about doing it, but then very happy to have taken my advice. We’ve been working together ever since  : )

I still get asked to schedule color consultations on a regular basis from both new and previous clients. These are some of my favorite projects, because the results are so immediate. If you need help selecting a color, give me a call. I’d be more than happy to help you decide!

When designers work together ...

Lauren Carelli of Northshore Magazine checking in guests at Thursday’s

“Love Your Home” Design Event at Landry and Arcari in Salem, MA

Thursday evening was the Northshore Magazine “Love Your Home” Design Event at Landry and Arcari. For the past few months the event sponsors worked as a team to plan a social evening that included the reveal of several homeowner submitted design challenges that were solved by the participating home design experts (Designer Bath, Howell Custom Building Group, Sue Adams Interiors, Lucia Lighting and Design, Landry and Arcari). I will be posting the floor plans and design selections that were featured that evening on the Designer Bath blog later this week. For event photos, visit the Designer Bath facebook page.

This event was a great example of how as a group, design/build experts collaborate to create a finished space that is driven by a shared vision. Behind each “after” photo, there are usually many hands and minds that come together to bring to life an inspired home that suits the needs of the people who live there. From new floor plans designed by Howell Custom Building Group to designer Sue Adams selecting new fixtures, lighting and carpeting from each showroom, the team effort resulted in three homeowners receiving individual plans to improve the way they live in and enjoy their homes.  

with Rosanne Palazola and Katherine Hawkins at Landry and Arcari

I am excited to announce that I, too, will be part of a special design team with a couple of my friends this spring and summer. As a group – Trio Design to be exact – Rosanne Palazola, Katherine Hawkins and I submitted a couple of design proposals for the Museums of Old York 24th Annual Decorator Show House and we were selected to participate! I have always enjoyed attending the York Show House and this will be the first time I will be part of the transformation. Rosanne, Katherine and I have been attending and participating in other shows together for years. We are already having a great time pooling our creative thoughts and resources together to solve the design problems that we saw on our initial walk-through of the seaside property located in Kittery, Maine that will be home to the month long show (mid July through mid August).

24th Annual York Decorator Show House // 2 Lawrence Rd, Kittery, ME

photo courtesy Museums of Old York

Starting in late April, Rosanne, Katherine and I will begin physical work on our four spaces: a teen bedroom with full bath, plus a mudroom and adjoining powder room. We each will get a chance to showcase our individual design aesthetics (I will be focusing on the bath spaces with the help of Designer Bath) but we are all working together to finalize our selections and execute our plans. Last night we got together with our husbands to make pizzas and then have a quick business meeting. I am hoping that the constructing of the rooms will be easier than the pizza making (who knew pizza dough was so finicky??) At least we had some skilled pie builders in the group, so none of us went hungry. Team effort + wine = happy designers : )

Below are the before pictures of our four spaces ...

York Show House 2013 // teen bath “before” photo

York Show House 2013 // teen bedroom “before” photo

York Show House 2013 // mudroom “before” photo

York Show House 2013 // powder room “before” photo

Be sure to mark your calendar for a road trip this summer to see the transformed home in its entirety, including an adorable guest cottage, some great porches, and lots of more. 

York Show House 2013 // guest cottage “before” photo

space will be designed by Ann Cowenhoven

York Show House 2013 // cove view porch “before” photo

space will be designed by my friend, Barbara Elza Hirsch

A couple of years ago, I featured the York Show House in New England Finery. It is one of my favorite issues! Frank Hodge’s Gentleman’s Library is on the cover. He will be doing a Study in this year’s show, which I am sure will be equally fabulous! I am really looking forward to spending time preparing for this show with the cast of talented designers that are participating this year. I will keep you posted on our progress! 

New England Finery Magazine, Autumn 2011

cover photo Michael J. Lee

New England Finery Update ...

Having the York Show House on my plate along with my full-time job, spending time with my family, plus handling weekend decorating clients, I am putting the publishing of New England Finery on hold for now. While I have loved working as editor and creative director of an online magazine, I realize that to keep publishing them I really would need to commit to a full time schedule with a dedicated team to achieve this goal. I had hoped to put forth a spring Celebrations issue this year, but my time is not as free as it used to be.

I realize I have been very fortunate to be able to work with many talented photographers, writers and contributors to put together six issues of New England Finery over the past couple of years – half of which were done while working full-time – and I couldn’t have done it without them, but to coordinate all of those creative contributions requires lots of time and attention.

While I don’t have the time to focus on a 75+ page full length issue with supporting advertising, I will, however, be happy to create mini-magazines (4 to 12 pages or so each) for individual New England based businesses who would like to increase their online presence via the New England Finery resource library. I don’t want to shelve New England Finery completely, and this is one way I can continue to promote local design businesses in a manageable way.

I often run into people who ask me when the next issue of New England Finery will come out, so it was not an easy decision to stop publishing them. Luckily, I do get plenty of opportunities to work with local design magazines as Marketing Director at Designer Bath, as I did with the Northshore Magazine “Love Your Home” Event, the recent Passport to Design program via Boston Home Magazine plus numerous monthly ad insertions, so I do not feel like I am missing out at all. And who knows, maybe this year my design work will be featured in one of my favorite glossies instead of just being shared on this blog. Which reminds me, I really should share more of my client decorating projects on my blog ...

Next post, I promise!