Notes from a Maine Interior Designer: natural beauty

I have been in Maine for all of 20 months. Not going to sugar coat it (although I am pressured to do so, daily), it has been a culture shock. I love the people I have met. I moved here for family, and every minute I get to spend with them is treasured. I lived most of my life on the other side of the country. Silly interactions (borrowing the truck, playing phone tag, stopping by to swipe the sunday paper) have become cherished experiences.
But creatively, I have had to learn where to look for inspiration. I am no longer surrounded by cutting edge boutiques, manufacturing warehouses, the warm pacific coast, etc. So when it snows....I go for walks with the with my iphone.. The colors, the natural lines created in the snow by the harsh New England wind....inspires me and awakens my creative senses. As an Interior Designer, I need these creative experiences. I pour my heart, soul, and creativity into my clients's spaces. Part of growing as a designer is learning how to "refill". Yesterday we got oh....a foot of snow. It was gorgeous. If you don't mind, I would like to share my one walk around the block I took...20 minutes produced THIS:

yes, skiing down the street in front of my house...

Gorgeous Newfoundland was at home in the snow... ocean view, ocean WIND

So odd, we usually leave footprints in the snow, not footprints of snow?

There is a smiling baby being held by his mother in the upstairs window-both are watching Dad clear snow.

Take 5 minutes...turn off all the noise and enjoy what is around you. 

Notes from a Maine Interior Designer-Freshening up the Fireplace!

Tiling your fireplace surround is a little change that has a BIG impact.

It can update an older fireplace without being a large demo project, or add style to a simple existing fireplace.

glass tile with a hint of metallic

Diamond shaped travertine

classic subway tile

Fiore Interiors works with a broad range of tile manufacturers and design styles.  What changes do you hope to make this winter?

info@fioreinteriors.com

p.s. Denise this post is for you!

When a Maine Interior Designer chooses paint color...for herself!

Chameleon Design....

Benjamin Moore Woodlawn Blue HC-147

This month I am finally working on a project of my own (which never happens). My bedroom. Of course I have all my fabrics and concept pulled together already. Narrowing the color down today.

I like colors that have depth and interact with light.  Enter the lovely shade of blue above....

This color is rather popular with designers. I specified for a client's living room in the west end of Portland, Maine last year.

This is not the simplest color to work with, it REALLY depends on the lighting in the space. Large amounts of natural sun make it appear quite vibrant. Examples below:

Rooms with LITTLE natural sunlight will see the color appear more demure blue-gray. Examples below:

photo by garrison hullinger interiors

Light is the most important factor in choosing paint color.  I don't receive much natural sun into this specific room, the color will appear rather mellow similar to the photo above. Prior to moving to Maine, I would not have chosen a color for the walls. I preferred beige, grays, or a mix of the two. However New England winters are sorely lacking in color and are LONG. Using more color inside meets the fundamental need for balance and makes those harsher seasons more beautiful.

As always, I will be using low VOC paint. If you do not know why that is important, let me know asap!

Fiore Interiors is a full service Interior Design company in Portland Maine. From simple paint color consultations to large renovations-we design spaces that are both functional and beautiful.

For more info: info@fioreinteriors.com

Notes from a Maine Interior Designer....Best Runners of the Season!

One of my duties as an Interior Designer is transforming spaces that are often overlooked. Have you ever put much thought into your hallway? A few choice pieces can turn one of the most used spaces into your home from blah to SPECTACULAR.

I love a good runner (long rug) because you can do more with pattern. The overall size is smaller so it won't be overwhelming. Get bold!

Angela Adams just introduced her newest collections, "pathways".  If you have ever walked barefoot on her rugs, you can imagine why I am excited about this new collection. Lush, soft, and perfect for chilly nights.

"The series of rugs called "Pathways" are inspired by walks in the woods, on the beach and in the garden. They transform your home into inspiring spaces that remind us of our favorite places in nature and times spent there."

The organic shape is what drew me to the collection. The flowing lines and lack of hard edges will transform angular  hallways!

"Stream" by Angela Adams. The loop and pile construction means there are different "heights" to the rugs.

"Woods" by Angela Adams, also part of the Pathways collection. Each one is 3'x8', $1800, and can be found at Angela Adam's flagship store in Portland, Maine or online here

Designed by Fiore Interiors and published in the Portland Press Herald.

This is a hallway that I designed over the summer. Simple in its elements (paint, art, rug, lighting) I wanted something that wouldn't clash with the FOUR rooms it opened into but also retain some style. 

The runner is from Portland Rug Design.Julie Omsberg (owner) and I created the color palette (see below). It is wool and silk, the raised circles are silk and incredibly soft. These were a limited edition design. Last I checked there were 2 left in stock so I would contact them directly for availability and pricing: julie@juliesrugs.com.

Creating custom rugs with custom colors. Too fun!

The runner above is an indoor/outdoor runner from dash and albert. These are for those with messy puppies! They can be taken outside and hosed off to clean.  I recommend them for enclosed porches and mudrooms (think salty boots!) Indoor/Outdoor rugs are great for very messy areas. However they are not plush so I recommend a good rug pad to keep it from slipping.  You can buy them locally at http://www.bradfordsruggallery.com/

Practical tips for choosing a runner:

-High quality wool and woven silk are good choices. Yes, you will need to clean them once a year or so, but they outlast machine made rugs by decades.

-Don't be afraid of pattern and color. These are small compared to room sized rugs, so have fun.

-Texture! You will be walking on these barefoot at some point, so why not make that an enjoyable experience?

-Don't skimp on the rug pad. It extends the life of the rug and keeps it from moving.

-You can put a runner on top of carpet. Just use the proper rug pad.

-

Fiore Interiors is a design firm in Portland, Maine. We love shopping locally, attending first friday art walks, puppies, and transforming everyday spaces into beautiful homes.

PSO Designer's Showhouse featured Artist: Ellen Thayer

Maine Artist Ellen Thayer created a one of a kind piece just for the PSO Designer's Showhouse. She was kind enough to work with my color palette and concept.

"Between the sun’s angle, the sky condition, and the surrounding environment, the magnificent range of colors in the resulting rhythmic water reflections have inspired eight of Ellen’s paintings to date.  These mesmerizing reflections have a relaxing and meditative quality for the viewer.  “Reflection, Oak Island” was created specifically for the hallway above the staircase to create a feeling of calm and repose." 
Ellen is gaining recognition for her Reflections series, each of them different in color and mood, which I find appropriate because of how the Maine coastline changes its colors and moods throughout the year! I am so pleased with her stunning piece that supports the PSO.
More about the Artist:
As a former television meteorologist in Portland and Boston, Ellen Thayer has been a Maine island adventurer for most of her adult life.  Living on Casco Bay in South Portland affords frequent boating and kayaking excursions where Ellen finds limitless artistic inspiration in the remarkable rocks, weathered shells, and driftwood as well as island vistas and calm coves.  Ellen’s vast collections, from what the sea discards, inspire a variety of art forms and the images she captures on camera become vibrant oil paintings.  Ellen has been painting in oil for over twenty years and continues her art education through various artist’s workshops.  In recent years, Ellen’s commissions have expanded to include pet and people portraiture.

"breaker"

Ellen’s work has been exhibited at Art of the Sea in South Thomaston, Archipelago in Rockland, and Tara Home and Gift in Cape Elizabeth.  From June to September of 2011, sixteen of Ellen’s oil paintings are exhibited at Townsend Real Estate and Art Gallery in Willard Square, South Portland.  This year, Ellen has been an artisan exhibitor at the Seacoast Home & Garden Show in Durham, NH, the Maine Home + Design Midcoast Show in Lincolnville, and the Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors Show in Rockland.  Ellen’s work has also been accepted into the Ogunquit Museum of American Art’s Invitational.  This Fine Art and Craft show takes place at the museum on November 4 & 5 this year.

Recognizing the significant character of Maine’s islands, Ellen has been a long-standing member of the Maine Island Trail Association whose model of thoughtful use and volunteer stewardship strives to assure the conservation of Maine islands while providing an exceptional recreational asset for the people who use them. Ellen has also been a long time supporter of the Island Institute who works in close partnership with Maine’s year-round island and coastal communities to ensure that these special places remain vibrant and viable. Ellen donates ten percent of all sales to these two organizations. Her original piece inside the showhouse will support the PSO and an ever larger % is donated (Big talent = big heart).

(One of my other favorite pieces-her one of a kind hearth art)

Ellen's words to live by: "“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.” - Goethe’s Faust

The current showhouse is open to the public now through October 3rd. It contains many original works of art, decor, and design and raises funds for the Portland Symphony Orchestra.  More info can be found here

Heartfelt thanks to:
Ellen Thayer
(207) 450-5951

http://www.maineislandtreasures.com/

Portland Symphony Orchestra 2011 Designer's Showhouse Countdown!

One week to go!
I have been getting MANY questions about the process, so lets address them...

149 Western Promenade, Portland!

For those of you who are wondering, gracious homeowners (Ed Gardner and Steve DiMuccio) moved out of their home and allowed 17 designers to each have their own space to design, create, and often demo/rebuild. Each designer funds their participation. Why? Because this is the largest fundraiser for the Portland Symphony Orchestra, and only occurs every 2-3 years. Hundreds of volunteers participate.
The designers compete to earn a spot within the house. We submit proposals, and a board/committee chooses which design they feel best fits the space.

Showhouse board members Tracy Davis, Susan Dench, and Ed Gardner contemplating my presentation.

More of the other presentations in the background, mine is in Susan's hand.

We install our designs from August 4th-August 31st. This year was a bit different as the projects included a kitchen upgrade/remodel, new tile in the upstairs bath, and a complete remodel of the master bath. Many of the spaces had only a few days to install because of the construction debris. It was a bit like an episode of Extreme Home Makeover! So far all of the results have been beautiful and the remodeling is a beautiful mix of modern technology with respect to the historic character of the house.

The September 2011 issue of Down East magazine contains the designer profiles as well as a schedule of events, which can also be found on the PSO page HERE

I can finally show my design presentation  for my space. Many changes occur from concept to completion, so I am not giving anything away. This is simply a peek into how my creative brain works.

This was my inspiration board created MANY months ago. Highlighting local artists, Maine's history, organic colors, and art noveau lines.

My concept for the first floor

My concept for the second floor

TICKETS can be purchased through PORTtix or by calling (207) 842-0800. They are $25 and you view ALOT of amazing square footage for that price! Tour is open September 10- October 3rd.

Before and After-Interior Design in Historic Portland Maine

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Here is a glimpse into the oldest house on the western promenade in Portland, Maine.

The breakfast room exists to eat in, but also to enjoy the amazing gardens. So I (Vanessa Helmick of Fiore Interiors) did a simple update to the room that reflects the owner's current style but also complements the garden view. Open, airy, and serene.

Enjoy!

I do plan on professionally photographing the house when its finished, but for now the snapshots will have to suffice.