Connecting Creatives

2 photographers + a group of interior designers

{read the event recap here}

Yin and Yang post of the week

The Guest Bath designed by Janet Marena of JTM Interiors

for the Junior League of Boston Show House in Newton, MA

Raise your hand if you would like to end this week with a long soak in the tub? Being surrounded by water can soothe nerves and bring comfort unless of course the water isn’t where it is supposed to be. Living on the East Coast I have been following the updates from those affected by Hurricane Sandy. We were lucky this time. We did not lose power (been there before). A tree did not fall on our roof (been there, too). We never ran out of food (and to be honest I didn’t even stock up partly out of denial and partly due to being tired of being in a state of emergency). My entire family was home on Monday – school was closed and work was put off until another day. We tried to ignore the wind outside our window (not easy) that was causing the tall pine trees surrounding our house to sway back and forth. On Tuesday the sun was out and life was back to normal for us.

I am thankful.

At times like these we are reminded that home equals shelter first and foremost. Clean fresh water, a well-lit path to light our way, a place to store the food that nourishes us, and heat to keep our families warm – these are necessities, not luxuries. Being able to stay connected via email, phone, texting, etc. is also becoming something we rely on day in and day out. We feel less alone when we know others understand what we are going through. Knowing that we can quickly reach out to someone – friend or stranger – when we need help is invaluable.

While celebrating luxury, attention to detail, craftsmanship and creative vision is part of a design bloggers daily musings, I am sure we all respect the fact that we are drawn to interior design magazines and home decor eye candy out of sincere appreciation for the human effort that it takes to make our surroundings be not just comfortable and safe, but beyond our expectations. The art of imagination in the form of decoration is entertaining. When it is applied with layers of meaning based on the stories of those who live there, we are inspired by it. 

I invite you to be inspired by the following:

The Junior League of Boston Show House now through November 18th: a three-story estate filled with the imaginative designs of over 35 interior professionals with rooms dedicated to music, gardening, reading, conversation, game playing, and personal sanctuary. All proceeds will support the mission of the Junior League of Boston. Check out my related post on the Designer Bath blog for more about the historically comforting spa-like bath above.

“About Hunger and Resilience” photography exhibit by Michael Nye
 presented through November 4th at Endicott College, Beverly, MA

On the other end of the inspiration spectrum, I encourage you to attend the Michael Nye photography exhibit, “About Hunger and Resilience” on display now at Endicott College. Sponsored in part by Gathering Change, Inc. the charity that my friend Dorothy Goodwin started around the time of the last Presidential election, it presents the audio stories and arresting photos of thirty individuals who have all experienced hunger, homelessness, or lack of resources. Listening to someone share their personal story of hardship in their own voice is a very intimate and moving experience. Many of these storytellers were affected by events outside of their control. States of emergency so to speak. If you are unable to attend this event, learn more about the inspiration behind the exhibit here and see more photos from opening night of the Endicott exhibit here.

And because it is my bread and butter, I invite you to attend a seminar/panel discussion that I have helped to put together for Designer Bath. Called “From Studs to Stunning: Remodeling Tips from the Pros” it is scheduled for Wednesday, November 7th from 6 to 8pm at the Designer Bath showroom in Beverly. Local design and renovation experts will share their tips on how to plan a bath remodel with confidence.

Did I ever tell you about the day I went to help out on the Habitat for Humanity Builders Blitz and just as I was preparing to leave I noticed that my ancient second floor bath was leaking buckets full of water into our first floor powder room? Fortunately the first floor bath was gutted at the time, but it was very unsettling and slightly ironic. Seriously, I had to laugh. What else could I do? I will be taking notes while sitting in the audience on the 7th. I wish I could enter to win the $20,000 Passport to Design Home Makeover Sweepstakes, but I promise I will be sincerely happy for the lucky winner.

Visit bostonmagazine.com/passport for more details. 

Working with professional photographers

Photographers Michael J. Lee and Eric Roth

working side by side at the North Shore Design Show
held May 14th – 22nd at the Wenham Museum.

Well the North Shore Design Show at the Wenham Museum has come and gone. *SIGH.* I went in on Monday to pack up my space, and say my thank-yous and goodbyes. A lot of the designers were there, and we were all feeling a bit sad to dismantle our very personal works of art.

On the upside, last Friday I was fortunate enough to have my space shot by professional photographer, Michael J. Lee. So even though many of the pieces have been returned, put away or put back in use (my foyer was looking decidedly barren without its skirted round table and one set of drapes) at least the design moment that was created for the show has been captured with some really great photos. I was actually quite spoiled this year because at the gala preview party, Eric Roth also took photos of my vignette (along with some great people shots) which he shared with me on Friday.

I am saving the professional images for the next issue of New England Finery Magazine, but I have plenty of snapshots of my own to share with you here on the blog.

I require all of my photographer friends to put down
their cameras and have their own picture taken : )

Michael shot a few spaces that day, and it was really fun to watch him rearrange the vignettes to get their best angle. Eric was doing the same, and there was a lot of back and forth between the designers and the photographers in order to represent the spaces in a way that would use color, light and scale to visually engage a viewer. When we design our vignettes for the show, it is for a slightly different interaction with an audience who is able to walk around the spaces and then look at the pieces up close. On “film,” depth and contrast is trickier to achieve, but these guys really know how to make the rooms come alive.

Michael has recently had his work featured in New England Home Magazine (May/June 2011 p. 58-60), Boston Common Magazine (May/June 2011 p. 80-83) and Boston Globe Magazine (5/22/11) and has shot most of the covers of Surroundings Magazine for South Shore designer, Linda Merrill. Check out Michael’s blog to see what else he has been up to (he is very busy!)

I actually heard a lot about Michael’s design process by listening to him on one of the Skirted Roundtable podcasts which feature fabulous interviews with members of the design field (Linda Merrill is one of the three moderators). During his interview, Michael offered a lot of great tips for those of us who are trying to take better photos of our own, along with sharing a bit about how he went from working in the interior design field to photographing it for others. Click here to learn more about Michael J. Lee and photographing architectural spaces.





I was happy to lend some of our more colorful props to Eric who was shooting for Marshall Whitman Design. I came with all kinds of additional items for my space (per Michael’s professional recommendation) including oranges, strawberries, cherries, croissants, more plates and serving pieces. I figured whatever we didn’t use we would at least have it to eat after the shoot, but Eric sent his lovely assistant/daughter Maddie out to get us some lunch in the middle of the day, so we were well taken care of. I had the best carrot ginger soup from Grassy Roots Gourmet which is right around the corner from the Wenham Museum. I highly recommend it! Yum!!




John Kelsey of Wilson Kelsey Design also brought a “prop” for his scheduled photo shoot with Eric. This cute little guy was one of the guests at the table that John and wife Sally set for the show.

His very elegant home away from home.

Packed up and ready to head home!

Our day of taking pictures was one of the highlights of my week at the show. While the process of figuring out and executing a design is satisfying in itself, being able to collaborate with other design professionals to record our combined visual thoughts requires action and engagement in order to produce the very best still life. Thank you, Michael and Eric, for sharing your creative talents with me! Be sure to subscribe to New England Finery Magazine (it’s free) and you will know right away when the professional images from the show are online.

Art in Bloom 2011: part 2

Last week I gave you a peek into the Art in Bloom exhibit being displayed at the Lynnfield Library. Here are all of the submissions from the Lynnfield Art Guild paired with floral arrangements courtesy of The Village Garden Club of Lynnfield. The show was hosted by the Library for an entire week, and visitors enjoyed a burst of spring along with some beautiful works of art.

“Covered Bridge” by Carol MacKendrick
Arrangement by Laura Thomson

“Autumn Reflections” by Dr. Frank Columbo
Arrangement by Tracy Drislane

“Leaf in the Dew” by Sarah Inglese
Arrangement by Maura Quinn

“Just Peachy” by Catherine Green
Arrangement by Mary Schwartz & Micki Trigilio

“Yellow House & Barn” by Marilyn Dresch
Arrangement by Wendy Keefe & Katerina Georges

“Surf’s Up” by Pauline Bacon
Arrangement by Ann Encarnacao & Yvonne Blacker

“Into the Wave” by Andrea Dalton
Arrangement by Jean Dalton

“Pillings Pond” by Kendall Inglese
Arrangement by Bootie Stevens

“Autumn Sunset” by Dotty Whittier
Arrangement by Karen Hathaway & Jan Lisacki

“Gloucester Coast” by Lorraine O’Brien
Arrangement by Greg O’Brien of Gregory’s

“Peaceful Glade” by Rita Carrabba
Arrangement by Northeast Nursery

Thank you to our artists and floral arrangers for sharing their talents! If you would like to be on the list to submit artwork for next year’s show, contact the Lynnfield Art Guild.

Lynnfield Art in Bloom 2011

Arrangement donated by
Gregory’s of Wakefield

It is that time of year again! The annual Art in Bloom collaboration between the Village Garden Club of Lynnfield and the Lynnfield Art Guild is now on display at the Lynnfield Library.

Stop by and check out almost a dozen creative floral interpretations of fine art pieces (watercolors, oils, photography, etc.) now through Friday, April 15th during regular library hours.

“Surf’s Up” by Pauline Bacon
arrangements by Ann Encarnacao
and Yvonne Blacker

This year, my mom (who is also in the garden club) and I thought it would be fun to work together as a team. I may have mentioned to the group that she was a little bossy ; ) but truthfully, we both think a bit outside the box – which is why I admire her – so it was just a matter of combining our separate creative impulses to come up with an end result that looked like both of our styles. We had a fun day shopping the flower markets together and we are both pretty happy with how everything turned out.




What our individual design styles have in common is resourcefulness. Sand and shells from visits to the beach, inventory from design shows, twigs from past arrangements, and even fabric from an evening gown were all woven into our display.




We chose the painting of one of our favorite artists, Pauline Bacon, who we both have interpreted solo in previous shows. My mom and I both responded to the colors and movement in the painting above, plus my mother really loves the ocean so it was a perfect match. The artist, Pauline, spoke about her work at opening night. We were surprised to discover that she is not a big fan of the water. In fact, it scares her. Looking at her painting, one feels the strong surge of the surf and can easily imagine being engulfed in the foamy waves.

There were other mothers & daughters at our event ...

This time, the artist (Andrea Dalton) is the daughter, and the mom (Jean Dalton) is the flower arranger! Jean actually had these flowers dyed blue to match the vivid color in her daughters paintings (stop in to the library to view the other two paintings that are included in this series titled “Into the Wave”).


Photographers were also well represented in this years show ...



Above we see an image captured by Sarah Inglese titled “Leaf in the Dew.” Maura Quinn of the Village Garden Club chose a large scaled “Swiss cheese plant” adorned with droplets of yellow freesia (which were inserted into the holes of the leaf) to represent the dew on the fallen leaf. Palm fronds in the water represent the blades of grass in the photo.

Click here to learn more about Sarah Inglese

This final sneak peek shows the work of Village Garden Club President Bootie Stevens with another photograph, this time by Kendall Inglese (mom of photographer Sarah above!) This beautiful photo was taken sometime during the not-too-long-ago snow-filled winter, which looks picturesque now that the warm air of spring has returned.

I will show more pictures from this event after the week is over. If you live close by, pop in and enjoy a tour of our local version of “Art in Bloom!”

Boston and brides ...

Take note of the woman in red confidently
leading this Boston bridal procession ...


Last weekend, my husband and I took the boys to Boston for the day. We started with a ride on Codzilla (so much fun!), we visited the big hammock on the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway (so much to enjoy), we saw some artwork by Sidewalk Sam
(I actually went to college with “Sam’s” son, Rob), we saw a guy in a kilt (and not much else!) ride a unicycle and juggle three baby dolls in the center of Faneuil Hall Marketplace (I doubted him but am now a complete believer) and we watched a random bridal procession head down the city street. Of course I had my camera with me (I never leave home without it)
so I quickly snapped the photo above.

About a half an hour later, as we were returning from our walk on the greenway, we saw the same bridal party posing for pictures in a dark brick alley, up against a chain link fence. What a cool contrast of a private and formal event with the public grit of the city. I thought to myself, “That is totally something my photographer friend, Liz, would do!” As I moved in closer to get a better look I realized it WAS Liz! How often do you run into a neighbor photographing a wedding when you randomly head to Boston with all of your children for the first time??? I knew she and I were meant to be friends (and, yes, my husband and I should get out more often with the kiddos!)

When Liz posts pictures from what looked like a very energetic group of wedding attendants, I will get you the link. Do stop by her blog if you are looking for a wedding photographer for your special event ...
along with getting some really cool shots, Liz has a unique ability to capture an emotional moment
in a way that is profoundly beautiful.



A save-the-date postcard announcing the 2nd annual
Fenway Park Bridal Festival


Next weekend in Boston on Sunday, September 12th from 10am to 4pm there will be a blow-out bridal event held at Fenway Park. What a great way to get a guy (or any Red Sox fan) excited about making those final big-day decisions! There will be all kinds of wedding vendors participating along with a bridal fashion show from a new friend of mine, Harper Della-Piana of Seams Couture in Wenham (I met her and her talented mother at the North Shore Design Show last May). Four lucky couples will even win a Fenway Park wedding ceremony (click here for details!) Tickets are only $15 per person. Save $5
per ticket if you buy them in advance online.




My nephew Roger as ring bearer.
Photograph by Loren Sklar

Our niece and flower girl, Taryn.
Photograph by Loren Sklar

My nephew (who was the ring bearer at our wedding) just had his senior prom at Fenway Park last spring. And now my niece (who was one of our two adorable flower girls) will be walking the runway at the Fenway event for Seams Couture. Did I mention this bridal extravaganza is being run by Rafanelli Events
who you may recall just threw a little party for
Chelsea Clinton?? And who would have guessed that the tiniest members of my bridal entourage would,
ten years later, both be invited to Fenway
Park for black-tie events!

{Photo borrowed from Rain’s blog}

Here is Taryn last spring modeling a classical-music-inspired gown designed by Rain Delisle, the winner of Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Project Tchaikovsky. The winning pair are shown here with Jared Bowen, the arts reporter for WGBH who emceed the event.
I love watching shows like Project Runway,
but I love it even more when I know the life story
of the model wearing the works of art!
Now that is cool : )

If you make it to the bridal event at Fenway, be sure to tell Harper I sent you! I will be posting more photos from her new Wrapture Collection after the show.
For now, enjoy these random snapshots from
our “family fun day” in Boston ...

Eric Roth ... behind the lens

As the writer/art director of a design blog, I am often looking for photo opportunities to illustrate the stories behind the design process. Yesterday, I had the good fortune of capturing this photo of high-end interior photographer Eric Roth as he shot the space of Marshall Whitman Design (one of my neighbors at the North Shore Design Show). Eric is somewhat of a celebrity to those of us in the design industry. If you live near Boston, you may have read this article about him in Boston Globe Magazine. His distinct point of view behind the lens has captured amazing images of equally amazing homes. So while I am busy working today (squeezing in a few consultations and writing about the events from this week at the museum) do stop by to check out Eric’s portfolio. Enjoy!

Photographic Art in Bloom

Photograph courtesy of Micki Trigilio

Phillip Hermann poses with his photograph,
“Faith, Hope and Charity for Haiti”
Arrangement by Gould’s Florist of Lynnfield

This was the first year that I have seen a photograph exhibited in the Art in Bloom collaboration between the Village Garden Club of Lynnfield and the Lynnfield Art Guild. It was a challenging addition to our line up, and we were fortunate to have a guest professional interpret it. Gould’s Florist designed this exuberant display that included white florals, vibrant greenery and a touch of gray. This arrangement certainly captures the formal spirit of the sculpted trio.



Bells of Ireland
(one of my favorites)
add dramatic scale

More from “Art in Bloom” tomorrow ...