Friday, August 22, 2014

Harbor Lights Illuminated... The Second Floor

Welcome back… I hope that you enjoyed our tour of the First Floor of Harbor Lights, the 25th Anniversary show house of the Museums Of Old York.  As you were perusing the fabulous interiors done by the featured designers, I suspect that one of the major elements that you noticed was how much more updated the floors look.  That is thanks to the designers, who utilized some lovely artistic techniques or added beautiful area rugs, as well as the family that owns the home who contributed to the process by removing the old carpeting and either refinishing the existing wood floors where possible or added new wood where necessary.  You’ll notice this on the Second Floor as well.

So, now, let’s get going upstairs!

The first room that you arrive at once you reach the top landing is the “Guest Bedroom.”  It originally looked like a typical New England second floor bedroom, with Colonial style furnishings, and a bit feminine in pale pink with floral curtains.  Nicole Yee of NY Interiors wanted to give a nod to “the tradition of the house’s time period without feeling antiquated,” and to create a design that feels both collected and fresh.”  She achieved these goals by brightening up the entire space with creamy white walls and linens, but accentuating them with bold black furnishings and rich jewel red with pumpkin colored exotic print window treatments.  I especially loved the fact that Nicole repeated the use of black on the window frames and mullions… a very sharp ingredient in the design that I think made a big difference in the impact of the space.  The delicate and curvy black desk with curvy cabriole legs looks stunning in front of the window and contrasts nicely with all of the hard lines of the room. 

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Right around the corner is the “Master Bedroom with En Suite Bath.”  The room was previously painted in a light sea green with all of the trim and fireplace done in the same green as used in the Dining Room downstairs, and had floral chintz tie-back curtains at the windows.  The sea green complemented the trees outside but did not lend much of a coastal feel, nor did it create the serene feeling that designer Renee Rucci, of Renee Rucci Interior Design, achieved with her palette of seashell rosy-taupe, gray and white.  The several steps that it takes to arrive in the space adds to the change of your mood to that of tranquility when you settle into this retreat.  The inspiration for the color scheme that Renee used throughout the space comes from her focal fabric, an Italian linen featuring a tree of life design with cranes and birds reminiscent of the seacoast.”  One of the challenges of this room was working around the dormer windows and knee walls, which every designer in New England has been challenged by!  Renee designed a custom linen-covered headboard and angled the bed under the dormered ceiling facing the fireplace for a lovely view.

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Considering that the En Suite Bathroom is a bit small by today’s standards, and the original peachy/blush fixtures were kept, the end result is quite elegant thanks to the hues and finishes that Renee enlisted.

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Leaving the Master Bedroom, one re-enters the real world of the Second Floor.  Right around the corner, and perfectly positioned centrally in the landing, is a “Hall Bath.”  Formerly a simple space, it was full of all things white, from the walls, to the fixtures, to the counters.  It even featured flouncy white ruffled curtains that covered up a great deal of a fabulous sea view.  Although white remains a perfect crisp accent in this updated room, it is now juxtaposed against very soft aqua blue walls, driftwood style tile surrounding the tub, an espresso vanity and display/storage wall unit, and lovely coastal accents such as a genuine sea glass art window, and wispy shell-trimmed valances which allow the beautiful sea view to become a feature in the room.

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Next to the Hall Bath is the “Kid’s Bedroom,” a tiny room, but with one of the best views in the house!  Initially painted in lavenders and lilacs, with floral curtains at the windows, Michael Englehardt, of Ethan Allen, created nautical haven for a lucky little boy.  Bright white walls replaced the lavender, and the ceiling was painted blue to give the feeling of sky above.  A range of blues, from sky to cobalt to navy, compliment the seaworthy theme, as do the sailboats, fish, and rope-patterned pillow.  A student desk under the windows allows a spot for not only home work, but for dreaming of days at the beach or on a boat.

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A right hand, 180 degree turn, takes you down the “Servant’s Hallway,” which is also reachable from downstairs via the back stairs that we saw on our tour of the First Floor.  Sorry to say that I don’t have a ‘before’ photo of this space… after all it was just a hall!  But not any more… Cheryl O’Donnell, of C.O’D. Decorative Painting, turned it into a work of art that makes getting from one end to the other a joy.  There are no windows and very little natural light in the space, so Cheryl kept it light with warm gray walls accented with sparkly platinum gingko leaves.  She draws you down the long, narrow hall by painting the floor in a trompe l’oeil pattern “reminiscent of an M.C. Escher drawing to create a gentle optical illusion.”


Not being able to resist traveling down the hallway, you are rewarded with more fabulous and creative artistry in the “Upstairs Powder Room.”  This bathroom is in the corner of the Second Floor that can be reached from the Hallway or the Kid’s Room, in which it originally shared a paint scheme.  It appears to not have been used for a while, and was being utilized for out-of-the-way storage.

The plumbing fixtures are an unusual and pretty lilac color, although they have a slightly different undertone than the walls did.  Because the designers, Sarah Duquette, of Duquette & Company, Inc., and Colleen Hanlon, of Colleen Hanlon Fine Decorative Painting, were enamored and inspired by the existing fixtures, they worked to highlight rather than remove them.  To complement the lilac fixtures, Sarah and Colleen “chose a combination of reddish-lavender, khaki gold, and light chestnut brown.”  They created an aquatic dream world by applying “a sheer linen finish on the walls (which) overlays a large and graphic custom painted motif of overlapping seaweed” which undulates around the room.  The floor, trim and built-in cabinets were brightened and lightened up with crisp white paint, and white towels and a chair add to the feel of a soothing spa that you never want to leave!

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But leave we must… so back downstairs we go… and out into the final space, the “Open Porch.”  Georgie McGowan, of Georgie’s Home and Garden, who also did the Patio, didn't have the same amazing, sweeping harbor views to play up as she did on the Patio.  The Open Porch is located instead on the shady side of the home, and Georgie wanted to “create a quiet, open-yet-private feel for the space, where one could sit and enjoy the peaceful seclusion.”  To keep the space from feeling dark, Georgie painted the ceiling blue to bring in the sky even though the porch is enclosed, and added furnishings in lots of bright colors to keep it upbeat, as well as included fun nautical and coastal accessories.

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Upon stepping out from the Open Porch, it’s hard for me to believe that the first time I visited this home there was snow all around!  Now, it is a lush Maine paradise!  Although the grounds were already landscaped with trees and plants on both the harbor side and wooded approach side of the home, Linda Zukas, of Churchill’s Gardens, enhanced the exterior “Landscaping” of the home with container plants and flowers to add the finishing touches to the property.

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So, here we are at the end of the road, so to speak, of our tour of the 25th Anniversary of the Museums Of Old York show house… I hope that you enjoyed coming along! Please let me know your thoughts!

Please note: all original photography by David and Katherine Hawkins - not to be used without permission


Accompanying music “Harbor Lights” (Silk Degrees, 1976) courtesy of Boz Scaggs

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Harbor Lights Illuminated... The First Floor


Each year, The Museums Of OldYork in York, Maine has successfully managed to secure a residence suitable to be transformed by interior designers into a Decorator Show House.  I look forward to visiting the Old York show house each year as they are always wonderful properties and the designers consistently produce fabulous spaces, not to mention that a field trip to coastal Maine is a wonderful way to spend a lovely day in July or August!  I was very pleased to throw my hat into the ring last year and participate in “Secret Cove,” the 24th annual show house which was located in Kittery Point.  Creating "Syrena's Room," a lavender, aquamarine, and silver bedroom with the feel of an underwater paradise for a mermaid- and surf-loving teenage girl was one of the high points of my professional design career, and brought me much personal satisfaction and joy.

This past March, I attended the informational tour of this year’s home, but other commitments prevented me from contributing my design skills to the project.  

Before... snow covered grounds on a cold day in March
But, like every year, I couldn't miss visiting the completed show house once it opened. This year’s show house, called “Harbor Lights,” is extra special for the Museums Of Old York as it is the 25th anniversary of their major fundraising effort.  The house that they were able to secure has a rather grand provenance.  The Dutch Gambrel shingle cottage was designed by a prominent Boston architectural firm and built in 1906 for New Hampshire Governor Frank Rollins as a summer home on a bluff overlooking the York River.  Since then it has only changed hands twice, first in 1920, and then in 1955 to the family that has lived in it year-round and still currently owns it today.

The show house actually closed for tours after Saturday, August 16th, but I am sharing my visits with you so you won’t have to miss out on seeing it.  I am including a ‘before’ photo or two of each of the spaces so that you can fully appreciate the conceptual and physical work that the designers had to face and execute when they approached this project.  It’s one thing to visit a show house and say that you do or don’t like a room... that's fair enough, and I do it myself.  But to have a glimpse into what it actually started out as, and then see how far the designer has taken it gives you a whole new perspective.  In this post we will make our way around most of the First Floor…

The home is on Harbor Lights Way, a long road that winds its way through a wooded setting until arriving at the cottage, where sweeping river and harbor vistas finally come into view behind the home.



























The first interior space that you arrive at is the “Enclosed Porch.”  When I first saw the space, it was filled with a lot of wicker furniture and seasonal accessories jumbled together in storage, and had a decidedly casual seaside feel with lots of white and turquoise paint.  It looked pretty typical for a coastal space, but offered such opportunity with its many windows and French doors, making it a light-filled, welcoming space with both garden and water views.  Designers Michaele Boehm and Kacey Graham of Boehm Graham Interiors chose a soothing palette of cool grays and crisp white, inspired by sand and skies, white caps and clouds.  The space is at one relaxing and elegant. The stripes of a painted floor and drapery trim are designed to be reminiscent of the sea foam left behind the incoming tide.  Over-sized bright white ginger jars make a statement and draw you into the space, making sure that you don’t miss the view to the harbor.

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From the Enclosed Porch you make your way into the largest room in the house, the “Living Room.”  Initially, it was riot of color with the window and door trim, as well as the fireplace, painted a glossy bright watermelon hue.  Imagining that this home and space would be the base for “large, relaxed gatherings of extended families and lazy, hazy summers spent playing, swimming and boating,” designer Meredith Bohn of Meredith Bohn Interior Design chose to move away from the busyness of the bright colors, and focus more on a palette that is more simple yet elegant.  Crisp white on the ceiling and trim makes all the difference in the world, and the aubergine, lime green , and taupey-gray tones featured on the furnishings, walls, and floor coverings, complement the historic features of the space while also feeling modern.

Before... looking toward the water

Before... looking toward the woods

























A large opening that was originally flanked by French doors draws you from the Living Room to the “Dining Room.”  When I initially saw this space in March, it was a sea of green… similar to that of a Chinoiserie bedroom in the Governor’s Palace at Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, and was being used as a temporary main floor sleeping space by a family member.  All of the trim was painted green, and the walls were wallpapered in a Chinoiserie-like green pattern; the backs of the built-in china cabinets were contrasted in the watermelon hue borrowed from the Living Room.  Frank Hodge, of F.D. Hodge Interior Design, completely changed the complexion of the space when he transitioned it to a palette of French blue, cream, chocolate brown, and pale coral.  This scheme was inspired by a collection of French pottery that Frank had acquired many years ago, and was brought to life by a Quadrille fabric that coordinated beautifully.

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The Dining Room was initially accessed by the house staff through a swinging door from the Butler’s Pantry, which adjoined the original kitchen on the wooded side of the house.  Next to the Dining Room was a covered porch with a wonderful harbor view.  At some point, the utilitarian kitchen was delegated to other uses, and the covered porch became the family’s “Kitchen.”   Designer Lisa Teague of Lisa Teague Design Studios liked the Kitchen’s summer-porch feel, so she decided to keep the update simple with a goal of not competing with the view, and opened it up by removing the island.  As small as it is, the Kitchen is very inviting and would indeed be a lovely spot to enjoy a cup of coffee and take in the panorama outside.  The quiet, coastal tones of the space are from her collection, “Quiet Home Paints,” a non-toxic, VOC free line.

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Speaking of the emphasis on the view… let’s head out on the back “Patio” for just a bit before continuing on.  It spans the width of the rear of the home, with access from the Living Room and Kitchen, as well as views through large windows in the Dining Room.  The vistas to the York River and Harbor, as well as the Atlantic Ocean are, of course, the star of the show.  Georgie McGowan, of Georgie’s Home and Garden, made sure to include many comfortable spots for relaxing or enjoying a meal, all while taking in the magnificent expanse.

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Back inside, and around the corner from the Kitchen, is a diminutive “Butler’s Pantry” where the servants from the Governor’s day undoubtedly made a stop before serving in the Dining Doom.  Lisa Teague has interpreted this space more as a potting space, perfect for fresh herbs and veggies to be used in recipes in the Kitchen. 

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Down the hall to what was once the kitchen, one now finds the “Study,” a quiet, out of the way retreat.  In between being a kitchen and now, the family seemed to use the space as a den or family room of sorts, and it had an eclectic, folk art feeling.  Cynthia Clark, of Cynthia Clark Interiors, kept the color scheme simple to offset the many door and window openings, built-ins, and trim traversing the space.  The many doorways and windows also made the furniture layout in this room challenging as it is a walk-though space.  Cynthia floated a desk and comfortable chair and ottoman in the center of the room allowing it to be functional while keeping it nice and open.

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After passing through the Study, you reach the “Back Staircase Gallery”… the back staircase would have originally been used by house staff heading up from the kitchen or in from the back door.  Now, painter Elizabeth Whelton of Elizabeth Whelton Fine Art & Design, imagines it to be a space where “children pass though when they are heading to the beach,” and “then returning home and running up the back stairs in sweet exhaustion (and maybe a few friends) at the end of the day.”  The space was inspired by Elizabeth’s summer sketchbook, and the surface designs replicate painting supplies.  A reclaimed sail is used as a drape in the landing, perfect for a private changing spot from a wet swimsuit.

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So, except for a porch on the front of the home, which I will share with you next time as we leave the home, this has been a tour of the first floor of “Harbor Lights.”  What were your favorite spaces?  What ideas might you incorporate in your next design project?  Are you inspired?

Please note: all original photography by David and Katherine Hawkins - not to be used without permission

Accompanying music “Harbor Lights” (Silk Degrees, 1976) courtesy of Boz Scaggs