Accent Magazine Blog

Meet the Designers - Update from Old York’s Decorator Show House

The Museums of Old York just announced their lineup of designers (both inside and outdoors) for their 2009 Decorator Show House. You’ll recognized some familiar faces and meet some new talent:

Back row, left to right: Debby Ronnquist, Valerie Jorgensen, Linda Hentschel, Patricia Finn, Chuck Hugo, Michael Jones, Janet Swanson, Margareta Claesson and Eric Anderson. Front row, left to right: Nicole Yee, Frank Hodge, Amy Thompson, Diane Hughes, Amanda Colosi, Sarah Duquette, Maya Travalgia, Michaele Boehm, Andrea Maher, Jen Spencer, Tom Dunn and Joyce Jordan. Not pictured: Anne Cowenhoven, Nichole Donovan, Annie Kiladjian, Jay Goldsmith, Georgie McGowan, Kacey Graham, and Christine McGill. Photo courtesy of Jay Goldsmith of Goldsmith Fine Portraiture.

Want to really meet the designers? Come to the annual preview gala on July 17 where you can meet the designers and enjoy food from the Green Monkey/Brazo, drinks, and live music! Accent will also be announcing our 2009 best of award winners so it should be an exciting and fun time. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased by calling the Museums of Old York at 207-363-4974.

In the six weeks leading up to the show house opening, you’ll also be hearing from the designers on Accent’s blog, where they will share updates on how their rooms are coming along, what inspires them, what challenges they face, and anything else that comes to mind. If you’ve ever visited a show house, I think you will enjoy hearing from the designers as they get ready for opening day on July 18. The list of designers and their rooms is below.

The Dooryard Garden
Maya Travalgia
Charles C. Hugo Landscape Design, LLC
P.O. Box 263
South Berwick, ME 03908
(207) 752-3046
www.charleshugo.com

Barn Patio
Tom Dunn/Jen Spencer
Stoney Brook Landscaping
138 Woodside Meadow Road
York, ME  03909
207-408-2705
stoneybrookllc@yahoo.com

Farmer’s Porch
Brian Howland and Margareta Claesson
Eldredge Lumber Company
627 U.S. Route One
York, ME 03909
(207) 363-2004
www.atlanticdesignctr.com

Powder Room
Nichole Donovan
Distinctive Tile and Design
1132 U.S. Route One
York, ME 03909
(207) 351-3300
www.distinctivetileanddesign.com

Annie Kiladjian
Annie K. Designs
www.anniekdesigns.com

Living Room
Sarah Duquette
Duquette & Company, Inc.
7 Lilac Lane
York, ME 03909
(207) 363-1827
www.duquetteandcompany.com

Reading Room
Diane Hughes
Diane Hughes Interiors
150 Lafayette Road
Rye, NH 03870
(603) 964-9543

Dining Room
Anne Cowenhoven
Accent & Design, Inc.
P.O. Box 352
York, ME 03909
(207) 363-7949
www.accentdesignmaine.com

Main Stairway
Jay Goldsmith
Goldsmith Photography
32 Cottage Street
Portsmouth, NH 03801
(603) 436-2343

Savannah’s Room
Joyce Jordan
Joyce Jordan Interiors
Shoppers Village, Unit 8
Hampton Falls, NH 03844
(603) 929-7700
www.joycejordaninteriors.com

Marjorie’s Room
Frank Hodge
F.D. Hodge Interiors
748 Tremont Street
Boston, MA 02118
(617) 267-8103

Family Bath
Amy Thompson
Standard of New England, LLC
100 West Road
Portsmouth, NH 03801
(603) 436-1400
www.standardne.com

Jim Wood
Signature Builders, Inc.
173C Dover Point Road
Dover, NH 03820
(603) 749-2188
www.signaturebuilders.com

Charlotte Rose’s Nursery
Andrea Maher and Michael Jones
Andrea Maher Interior Design
111 Seamist Lane
Wells, ME 04090
(207) 216-0287

Frankie’s Room
Janet Swanson and Georgie McGowan
Fiona’s Porch
7 York Street
York, ME 03909
(207) 363-6270
www.fionasporch.com

Secret Hideaway
Linda Hentschel
Renaissance Interiors
P.O. Box 142
North Reading, MA 01864
(978) 664-0064
www.renaissanceinteriors.com

Master Bedroom and Balcony
Nicole Yee
NY Interiors
62 Whipple Road
Kittery, ME 03904
(510) 326-5390
www.nicholeyee.com

Sitting Room
Michaele Boehm and Kacey Graham
Boehm Graham
25 Darby Lane
Bedford, NH 03110
(603) 472-5830

Mudroom
Amanda Colosi
Diane Hughes Interiors
150 Lafayette Road
Rye, NH 03870
(603) 964-9543

Kitchen and Pantry
Frank Hodge
F.D. Hodge Interiors
748 Tremont Street
Boston, MA 02118
(617) 267-8103

Trophy Room
Patricia Finn
Finn-Martens Design
1 Bridle Path Lane
Beverly Farms, MA 01915
(978) 927-9959
www.finn-martensdesign.com

Family Room
Valerie Jorgensen
V. Jorgensen Design, LLC
241 Preble Street
Wells, ME 04090
(207) 251-0447
www.vjorgensendesign.com

In addition to the wonderful items brought in by the interior and landscape designers, items will be available to purchase through a boutique and at a juried art exhibit in the barn:

Boutique
Christine McGill
Christine’s Crossing
1000 Washington Road
Rye, NH 03870
(603) 964-6063
www.christinescrossing.com

Barn Art Exhibit
Debby Ronnquist
611 Haley Road
Kittery Point, ME 03905
(207) 439-3981

Add comment June 3rd, 2009

This weekend take a “Before Tour” of the York Decorator Show House

Are you a fan of “before and after” stories? You can see one in person when the Museums of Old York hosts a “Before Tour” of the 2009 Decorator Show House this weekend. The tour is a special opportunity to see the rooms before top local designers transform the house into a spectacular decorator showplace.

I’ve been to the house, and I can’t wait to see what the designers do to it. This year’s show house will be held at McIntire Farm, a farmhouse located on 270 Cider Hill Road (Route 91) in York, overlooking the York River and approximately 300 acres of fields, woodlands and marsh.

The McIntire Farm

I’ve been to the house, and I can’t wait to see what the designers do to it. This year’s show house will be held at McIntire Farm, a farmhouse located on 270 Cider Hill Road (Route 91) in York, overlooking the York River and approximately 300 acres of fields, woodlands and marsh.

Personally, I’m most interested in the kitchen, which is a 1940s original, with appliances and countertops to match. It reminds me of my own grandmother’s farmhouse kitchen, which, though charming, was never updated unless absolutely necessary. Since the kitchen will retain most of these original features, it will be interesting to see what the designer can do with the space. I’ve pasted some photos I took at the house, but it should be seen in person to be fully appreciated.

A before shot of the kitchen.

One of the front rooms.

Part of an addition, the master bedroom boasts amazing views of the river and marsh.

This table of Legos will be gone by the time of the tour, but I couldn't resist taking an action shot.

While you’re there, don’t forget to take to check out the surrounding landscaping, which will also undergo a makeover, and the barn, site of this year’s preview gala on Friday, July 17. With a high ceiling and huge chandelier, the barn will also be home to this year’s boutique and may also include an art show while the show house is open.

The Before Tour will be held May 2nd and 3rd from 11 a.m to 4 p.m. On-site parking is available and a donation of $5 is requested. The show house will be open to the public from July 18 through August 15. All proceeds support the museum’s education programs, exhibitions and preservation initiatives. For more information, visit www.oldyork.org.

Also, check the Accent blog for regular updates direct from the designers as they create this year’s Decorator Show House. They officially begin work on May 4, and they have their work cut out for them!

Add comment April 28th, 2009

Art In Bloom

Inspired by the rich colors and iconic imagery, garden clubs and specialists contributed to the Boston Museum of Fine Art’s thirty-second annual Art In Bloom show. A limited engagement for obvious reasons, the show only ran for a few days. We can’t wait until no. 33 to see what they dream up next. Thanks Debbie N for sending in the photo!

Add comment May 1st, 2008

Boston Flower Show

I try to get down to the Boston Flower Show every March but since I wasn’t able to this year I asked a friend and Portsmouth resident Debbie N. to show me some of the shots from her trip. She said she was ‘blown away’ but the creativity, color and variety and from what she showed me I have to agree. I thought they were amazing enough to share so I asked her for her to jot down her impressions:

Boston Cityscape (sorry, not its real name. . .my code for it) was one of four miniature floral arrangements in small glass cases. Every year I flip over these. Within the space of 2-3 feet are whole universes made of tiny leaves and flower/tree elements. This case incorporates the new Zakim Bridge, a stunning, simple architectural addition to the skyline with some significant Boston landmarks done primarily in lush greens. It is from the point of view of Dorothy (and her scarecrow and lion pals) in the Boston Public garden looking out to the "emerald city." I love Boston and this captured a really good, warm feeling for the city.

Floral Form (also not it’s real name) was one of several dress forms adorned with flowers. I loved the colors, shapes and whimsy of them all. It’s also a great home decor idea as a work of art! I could easily see this in our house or on the porch and it could provide endless opportunities for changing floral fashions.

Fan Dance (again not it’s real name) was one of many gorgeous arrangements meant to interpret a concept. Sorry I don’t recall the concept, but do remember how vibrant and clever they were. This one just got me! I loved its playfulness and who knew leaves could do that?!

Thanks for sharing Debbie!
If any of you have caught the flower show fever, let us know and send along your favorite pix!

Add comment April 5th, 2008

Artist at Home

Ever fantasize about becoming a world class photographer, doing celebrity portraits, shooting ads for cosmetic companies, publishing your personal work and spending your later years traveling the world as a teacher? Sign me up for that kind of talent, right? In the upcoming May/June issue ACCENT takes you into the home of just such a special individual – Joyce Tenneson. We caught up with Joyce just as she embarks on a month long travel workshop to Asia and just prior to the publishing of her 40-year retrospective, a personal collection of her portraits and florals. We were able to see some of these photographs in full bloom; super-sized plexiglass prints on the walls of her ocean-side Maine home, along with an introduction to her unique and eclectic collection of furniture collected from her years of flea-market browsing and travel finds. Keep an eye out for the full story!

Add comment February 8th, 2008