Published in Maine Home + Design!

Maine Home + Design October 2013

cover photo Trent Bell

Maine Home + Design October 2013 p. 109

photo credit Irvin Serrano

When Maine Home + Design arrived on my desk this past week, I opened it with hopeful anticipation. I knew that there would be a spread of photos from the York Show House, but had no idea if one of my baths would be featured. Then I turned to the showcase section and saw this image! My heart took a little leap! The photographer, Irvin Serrano, captured my favorite corner of this Jason Wu inspired loo and it looks amazing in print! You can see a little sneak peek of Barbara Elza Hirsch’s screened porch on the left side of my almost full page. My Trio Design partners, Katherine Hawkins and Rosanne Palazola, are featured on pages 110 and 111. Pick up the issue (on newsstands now) and get the full story or view it online here.

Thank you Farrow + Ball (+ wallpaper installer Larry Mazoway), Brizo, Turkish Towel Company, Native Trails, Electric Mirror, Glenville Surfaces, Blue Peacock Home, and Designer Bath for helping me dress this tiny space with big time elegance!

Countdown to BlogTourLA!

A Modenus curated collection I saw while visiting

the Architectural Digest Home Show in 2012

Remember when I almost won a trip to London as a guest of Modenus.com to tour the London design scene with a group of interior design bloggers? If you follow me on twitter then you already know I did not win the coveted spot. The tour is actually wrapping up now ... follow #BlogTourLDN to see the fun places they have been and fab products they have seen.

Although I was disappointed not to be heading to London, I was really happy to have been selected. It really meant a lot to me to be noticed for what I do, which lately seems to lean most towards the promotion of interior design related events, luxury brands, and the art of design. There are many people out there who still do not fully understand the reach and influence of social media marketing and what a valuable tool it is when trying to engage an audience online and in real life. Veronika Miller at Modenus gets it:

“BlogTour has grown in leaps and bounds since we first launched in London in 2011 and we are now one of the most visible blogger initiatives out there with four full days of trade shows, architecture and design and lots of local culture. It’s not just about hopping from cocktail party to cocktail party, although we never say no to a glass of bubbly, it’s about discovering trends and inspiration in far off cities and it’s about empowering you as talented bloggers and designers.”

I am happy to say that there was a silver lining to my not being on the London tour. I was asked by Veronika to attend the next event on her busy schedule as she is hosting back to back tours this year! In early October I will fly out to Los Angeles to attend the WestEdge Design Fair with the next BlogTour group, BlogTourLA! I was invited to attend as a guest of the BlogTour sponsors (yes, all expenses are paid!) and how could I say no?! A number of the sponsoring brands are sold in the Designer Bath showroom where I work. I am looking forward to meeting the people behind these products, learn about new ones, and get to know the other professional interior design bloggers who I will be spending lots of quality time with while on the West Coast. Some bloggers I have met before on other research + development trips, so it will be another fun reunion!

Modex sink by Blanco // photo courtesy Blanco

+EDITION collection by Poggenpohl // photo courtesy Poggenpohl

“The new +EDITION collection from Poggenpohl combines classic details with modern appeal. This innovative kitchen design features natural walnut wood veneer along with white lacquer cabinetry, available in flat panel or thin frame detail door styles. New black glass upper wall cabinets include the same thin frame details with finished interiors and LED lighting.”

Gocchia faucet by Gessi // photo courtesy Gessi

Sponsors of BlogTourLA include Blanco, Poggenpohl, DuVerre Hardware, Gaggenau, Gessi, Lamps Plus, Laufen, and Mr Steam.  Thank you for allowing me to be part of the BlogTour community! I know I will learn a lot on this trip (which I will share upon my return) while being inspired by great design in the company of like-minded individuals. There is something special about being with people who understand what you do, why you do it, and are willing to discuss design industry topics almost exclusively (while sipping the aforementioned bubbly, of course!) I’ll toast to that! 

Stay tuned for more #BlogTourLA updates! 

Final pics from York Show House ...

“Syrena’s Bath” // 24th Annual York Decorator Show House

Yvonne Blacker for Trio Design // photo credit: Eric Roth

It’s hard to believe that the York Show House has been over for a month already! Time to post photos from my second bath in the show (first one here) and the rooms of my Trio Design partners, Katherine Hawkins and Rosanne Palazola.

– BATH BEFORE –

While my glamorous Petite Powder Room downstairs was influenced by the runway collections of fashion designer Jason Wu, my full bath upstairs was part of a teen girl’s bedroom suite, so it was a bit more whimsical in nature. Even so, I chose to incorporate elements of maturity that would allow this bath to age gracefully. Farrow + Ball Manor House Gray on the walls was the first step in transforming this originally powder pink room to a more sophisticated space. Farrow + Ball Pitch Blue on the cabinets and shelves (chosen to coordinate with the existing tile) added a youthful exuberance while still being on trend with current color palettes.

Since Katherine’s adjoining bedroom was mermaid-inspired, I had a custom shower curtain made out of a silver dance/swim fabric (something a teen girl might wear for a recital) that resembled shimmery mermaid skin, then had it trimmed with seaweed green ruffles. The pearl shaped sink with a custom sized glass counter  (a favorite showroom display piece of Katherine’s from Designer Bath) replaced the original formica counter. The built-in cabinet below, however, just received fresh paint and new knobs. An easy switch when renovating a bath. All new fixtures from Brizo’s RSVP collection (faucet and towel bars with Swarovski finials, robe hook, mirror, toilet tissue holder) added shapely sparkle. This bath suite collection added just the bit of designer glam that I was looking for ...

Brizo RSVP towel bar with Swarovski crystal finials

“Drawing on the influences of Art Nouveau, RSVP features a sensual design that follows the curves of a woman’s silhouette.  Adding a touch of ‘bling’ with genuine crystal accents, RSVP promises to be a conversation piece in the home.”

– Judd Lord, director of industrial design at Brizo

Below are a few photos from Katherine’s bedroom. I chose the colors for my bath to coordinate with the bedding she selected from Company C. The overall feeling of Katherine’s teen bedroom/hangout was one of being “under the sea.”

“Syrena’s Room” designed by Katherine Hawkins for Trio Design

bedding from Company C

Syrena’s closet styled by Katherine Hawkins // photo credit: Eric Roth
Benjamin Moore + Ralph Lauren paints from Home Decor Group

– TEEN BEDROOM BEFORE –

While Katherine felt challenged with a rather small bedroom to work with, my good sized bath was not without its own unique design dilemmas ...

BEFORE: An awkward location for a

mirror and medicine cabinet combination.

AFTER: since the medicine cabinet had to be reinstalled after the show per the homeowner’s request, I created a temporary diorama in its place.

Step 1: medicine cabinet removed

Step 2: freshly painted walls and niche with

wallpaper covered panels being tucked in place

(wallpaper from Thibaut)

Step 3: Katherine found this vintage-style mermaid illustration on tin, which just happened to fit within the niche (hung on string). A white frame and beach stone finishes it off.

Detail shots of Syrena’s bath ...

Succulent arrangement by Laura Thomson Design

photo credit: Rosanne Palazola

shelves styled with items from Blue Peacock Home + my personal collections

black makeup towels from The Turkish Towel Company

photo credit: Eric Roth

framed canvas: “Meadow” modern art collage by artist Parvez Taj

accessories via Blue Peacock Home // tile work via Weaver Brothers of Lynnfield

sink, glass counter, faucet and mirror available via Designer Bath

window treatments and shower curtain via Acorn Interiors Design Center

I liked how this Duralee sheer so closely resembled the round sink bowl

flat fold roman shade in Molokini Natural from Thibaut

Farrow + Ball paints: Borrowed Light, Manor House Gray, Pitch Blue

ceiling painted in Farrow + Ball Borrowed Light, trim in Strong White

The Turkish Towel Company Zenith in Silver, Blue Ice, and White

my jewels and organic touches // other accessories via Blue Peacock Home

One of my favorite parts of designing a show house space is styling it. It comes very easily to me, setting up vignettes. I love taking on these types of projects for clients as well. Of course it helps when beautiful objects are donated to the cause. Thank you, Blue Peacock Home and The Turkish Towel Company!

generous sized storage basket and coral sculpture from Blue Peacock Home

Let’s take one last peek downstairs at the room Rosanne transformed for the York Show House. What used to be a dark mudroom is now a vibrant space with luxurious amenities to enjoy the salt water pool just outside the door ...

custom mesh window treatment by Rosanne Palazola

art via Tracy Finn // accessories via Blue Peacock Home

recycled coke bottle glass lighting via Lucia Lighting

console fabric: Duralee // design by Rosanne Palazola

photo credit: Eric Roth

photo credit: Rosanne Palazola

Poolside Portal shelves styled by Rosanne Palazola 

photo credit: Eric Roth

Benjamin Moore paint (shelves and walls) via Home Decor Group

art: Tracy Finn available via Lucia Lighting

Just as Rosanne helped me by fulfilling my framing requests for my two spaces and Katherine added art to my upstairs bath, I was able to leave a small mark in Rosanne’s Poolside Portal. I chose a poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson that I felt spoke to Rosanne’s design, the seaside location and the salt water pool just outside her room. I had Charles Trainer of Artistic License output my typographic treatment and then he installed it right on the glass door. He has helped me with many retail display projects at Designer Bath, and I knew this typographic treatment would easily solve the aesthetic problem of an interior window without a view.

POOLSIDE PORTAL: BEFORE

A handful of snapshots from York ...

with Rosanne at my mom’s summer cottage in York, Maine

the fourth person in our Trio team: Katherine with her husband Dave

Meredith Bohn in her living room




Barbara Elza Hirsch in her screened porch

Frank Hodge with Michael Nest in the Study // art by Frank Hodge

ombre wool carpet via Landry and Arcari // lighting via Hudson Valley

photo credit: Dave Hawkins

To see more photos from the York Show House,

visit my facebook album and Trio Design site.

– related post on the Designer Bath blog –

Summer’s End by Tracy Finn

While this may be the end of my York Decorator Show House updates, I do have another show house project waiting in the wings ... The Danvers Historical Society Designers Holiday Show House at Glen Magna Farms scheduled for December 2013. How could I possibly say no?!

Color Trends in Fashions + Furnishings

A Pantone Spring 2014 inspired Living Room:

my curated collection of What’s New, What’s Next

What’s New, What’s Next // September 19, 2013

at the New York Design Center

from Pantone’s Fashion Color Report Spring 2014

I was recently asked to curate a collection of trending products from the New York Design Center for their upcoming “What’s New, What’s Next” design forecast event being held on September 19. What a fun assignment! It’s currently fashion week in New York, so I chose to look to the color palettes being shown in the designers collections for spring 2014, since what walks down the runway usually ends up in our living room.

To begin my collection, I was inspired by a warm red cabinet from Grange that I discovered on the NYDC “What’s New, What’s Next” Pinterest board. From there I selected a roomful of furnishings from NYDC showrooms, including Dering Hall, that coordinate with my favorite four colors in this soft pastels paired with energetic brights spring 2014 palette. The four colors when used together are elegantly understated yet creatively confident. The furnishings share a classic look updated with a fresh and energetic vibe, creating a room that is both thoughtful and artistic.

The colors as described in the Pantone Fashion Report:

Violet Tulip, a romantic, vintage purple, evokes wistful nostalgia. 

Paloma serves as a quintessential neutral, interesting enough to be worn alone or combined with any color for sophisticated poise.

Sand, a lightly toasted and amiable neutral, conjures images of the beach and the carefree days of summer.

Cayenne, a high-pitched red, adds a dash of spicy heat to neutrals.

As a Blogger Ambassador for WNWN, my inspiration board will be posted in the New York Design Center during the September 19th new product event. It will also be featured on their Pinterest board starting on September 9th. Please visit it here and repin my board to share “What’s New, What’s Next!”

– all of my favorite NYDC items are pinned here –

What NYDC pieces would you choose?

JasonWu #NYFW: a Room + a Reunion

RUNWAY

Jason Wu’s Fall 2013 Ready-to-Wear Collection: modern with a traditional influence, tailored with a focus on the finest materials, glamorous but never fussy. Seen last February during New York Fashion Week courtesy of Brizo.

image via jasonwustudio.com

TO ROOM

Jason Wu for Brizo collection in my Petite Powder Room at the 24th Annual York Decorator Show House: matte black finishes contrasting with soft whites, dramatic black lace florals paired with sexy nude tones, edgy snakeskin leather and shiny metal accents. Modern design elements. Baroque inspired florals.

wallpaper: Farrow + Ball Versailles  //   Jason Wu for Brizo available via Designer Bath

“The snakeskin leather floor in this powder room is really just for show, kind of a fashion statement that is beautiful to look at, but not completely practical when it comes to everyday wear (much like a killer pair of stilettos).”

ROCKING LACE

image via jasonwustudio.com

LACE ROCKS

If you look closely, there is a small tube of Lancome lipstick on the dotted swiss ceramic tray. I believe the Jason Wu for Lancome collection is being launched this week. The egg on black stand? Symbolic of Wu’s guiding fashion mantra based on “strong femininity.” Jason Wu signed print courtesy of Brizo.

accessories via Blue Peacock Home 

JASON WU FOR LANCOME

image via fashionista.com

AN ICONIC OWL

Members of the Brizo #blogger19 were gifted with key chains bearing Jason Wu’s symbolic owl logo.

THINKING OF YOU, MR. WU

SHOWTIME

Fall 2013 runway ... black shiny large scale marble floor tiles inset with a border of equally large mirrored tile squares. In the center a huge sparkling chandelier ... bigger than the entire size of my powder room!

CLOSE UP READY

The small size of this half bath was a particular challenge. How does one make a tiny room stand out in a vast show house? I took my model thin space and dressed it dramatically from top to bottom. During the five weeks of the show, it certainly turned some heads.

mirror, sink, counter via Designer Bath

Peshtemal Towel via The Turkish Towel Company

photo credit: Eric Roth

PETITE POWDER BEFORE

PETITE POWDER AFTER

PETITE POWDER

JASON WU FOR LANCOME

image via fashionista.com

RUNWAY MEMORIES INSPIRE

THANK YOU, BRIZO

my NYFW experience courtesy of Brizo starts here

photo courtesy Brizo

Brizo understands that brands and businesses benefit from having ambassadors. This summer, they reunited almost 100 of their New York fashion week design bloggers to attend a three day reunion in Memphis, Tennessee. Why Memphis? Memphis is the home to St. Judes Children’s Research Hospital, their charity of choice. Brizo is passionate about improving lives, whether that involves designing cutting edge bath and kitchen fixtures that are as beautiful as they are efficient or giving back to the community that surrounds them. As an invited guest on this all expense paid trip, I was introduced to other design bloggers who share the #blogger19 alum status, and was taken on a guided tour of the St. Jude campus as part of our 3-day reunion experience.

TARGET HOUSE TOUR

The rotunda at Target House, a family residence on the St. Jude campus

ST. JUDE HOSPITAL TOUR

Inspirational artwork lines the walls at St. Jude

The mission of St. Jude, founded by entertainer Danny Thomas, is one of hope. That “no child should die in the dawn of their life.” St. Jude has been leading the way in pediatric cancer research since it opened its doors in the late 1960s. They provide treatment for FREE to the children who need it most. They also provide a long-term place to stay for children AND their families during their treatment. Having spent a couple nights on various occasions at Boston Children’s Hospital with one of my own boys, I was completely impressed with the attention given to establishing a healing environment that takes the entire family into consideration. I will share more about what I saw at St. Jude as well as what we saw on our Brizo factory tour in another post. For now, I am going to take the liberty of posting a veritable scrapbook of photos from my #blogger19 reunion. When you are immersed in an engaging experience that creates lasting memories, the people you share those days with become like family. So these pics are for you, my @Brizo #blogger19 family ...

BRIZO + ST. JUDE CELEBRATION DINNER 

Reunited with my peeps from February #blogger19 Fashion Week:

Cristi, Laura, Donna, and Judd from Brizo

Cristi and Laura

with Lisa, Laura, Marilyn and Donna

Todd and Adele

Boston designer Linda with her #blogger19 pal Gloria

wtih Marilyn and Cristi

with Judd and Donna

Marilyn and Erika

and we danced ...

photo booth op: team Brizo’s Seth, Jon, Sam and Judd

team Brizo incognito

yes, I am sporting a tiara (it was a long, emotional day, after all!)

iphone case design tricks – thanks, Toni!

Seth and Trevor: bright lights, big ideas

raffle winners: Marilyn and my #YorkShowHouse pal Barbara

Carrie and Michelle with their Brizo gift baskets

Cheryl also won ... just as I predicted!

St. Jude received a donation with each basket given away

getting silly: boas + tiaras with Cheryl, Sam, Brandon, Judd, Nicole

Smile! Kristen, Judd, Brandon

Tiaras for everyone! Courtney, Lisa, myself, Manvi, Paul

Dubai x2: Manvi and Laura

CLOSING EVENT: DINNER AT

ITTA BENA BLUES CLUB

(day event factory tour info to come!)

Itta Bena above BB King blues club on Beale Street = all ours!

sit down dinner after many “last night” photos are taken ...

Brizo’s Laura, Jai, and Marilyn

Adele, Barbara, Barbara, et moi

Dubai + Interior Designer Chat

Canadian contingent: Corey, Jonathan, Meredith

with Kristen and Elvis

Donna of Savvy Interiors, JB of Building Moxie, Eric of StudioM

my Chicago design sister

2cute: Cristi and Niki

happy to meet: Michelle, Eric, and Carmen

like-minded marketers: striking a pose with Whitney

the fab-four one last time (for now!) Marilyn, Donna, Barbara + me

where we stayed: The Peabody Hotel (ducks included)

how we were treated: like royalty

@Brizo #blogger19 Reunion

photo courtesy Brizo

Not time to say good bye yet ... there’s more to come including a second Brizo-inspired bath for the York Show House and more from the reunion (daylight events : )

P.S. Jason Wu is showing his Spring/Summer 2014 collection at New York Fashion Week on September 6th at 1pm. Watch the live stream here, then let me know what you think of it!