I am thrilled to announce the opening of my new retail boutique and design studio at 215 Commercial Street in Portland, Maine's historic Old Port District.
I know I say this over and over—autumn is my time. My season. I love Maine’s summers and winters and what we like to call spring, but fall is my favorite. The way the air changes … that back-to-school feeling you never truly lose that becomes a renewed seriousness, a fresh focus. The colors, outside and in. Sweaters. Boots. Scarves. Hardcover books and the longer evenings to read them. Hot, hot coffee. Steaming paper bags of baked goodies on crisp mornings. I could go on and on and on.
Instead? I’ve poured all the excitement and inspiration into two brand-new looks for Nicola Home, my exclusive line for Garnet Hill. I’m going to share much more about these collections in the coming weeks. I’m even going to try posting videos with my best tips on how to get the most out of these distinctive looks. But right now I invite you to visit Garnet Hill’s website to take a look at the Edward Island bed, and for a touch of holiday, the Northwoods bed.
I feel so lucky that the wonderful creative team at Garnet Hill gave me the opportunity to stretch my wings not once, but twice in one season. Both looks mark new directions for me and I’m both excited and apprehensive for how they’ll be received. (See? I told you I never lose the back-to-school feeling!) Please let me know what you think. I’m listening. And starting right now, with all these new ventures launched into the world, I’m back to reflecting. Creating. And writing!
My kitchen at 10 Falls before the holiday transformation.
Family is so important to me. I am so lucky to have my large and boisterous Italian-American relatives living close enough for frequent family get-togethers, parties and dinners. My love of home design springs from my many memories of time sharing stories and delicious food around the dinner table or by the hearth, and I strive to create warm spaces where conversation flows and memories are made. So while I look forward to every opportunity to dine at my mother’s table, I was thrilled to get the opportunity to host the Manganello family Thanksgiving dinner last year. I had just finished many major renovations to my 18th-century home (take a virtual tour here) and could not wait to see it filled with those I loved best. As excited as I was, it did present challenges, and I devised some wonderful ways to make the holiday meal a success.
Clear the space. For me, immediate family means 21 wonderful people, from small children to the young at heart. Finding the best way to seat all my guests was my first, and biggest challenge. While the traditional children’s table can be a smart choice, I am always most thankful at this time of year for my wonderful daughter, Maeve. Not having her by my side was unthinkable. I wanted to share this meal with her, and with all my nieces and nephews, and I was determined to fit everyone at one table. Pushing several tables together is one idea to try. You can also experiment with buffet style service, vintage tea or television trays, and many other ways to bring all the diners into one warm and inviting space.
Smart settings. It isn’t as common to have a fine china service suitable for a large dinner party on hand as it once was. Rather than buying all new dishware, take advantage of today’s vintage and eclectic looks and remember that you don’t need a match to have a set. I decided to use my everyday china, but with a twist. I laid an unexpectedly sophisticated black napkin atop each diner’s dinner plate and finished each setting with a unique vintage salad plate. Choose to make your own service by coordinating colors instead of patterns, or accenting with unusual or antique chargers or punch bowls, and tie it all together with your table linens.
Mix traditional tastes. Taste is one of our most evocative senses, and as Proust well knew, it is tied closely to memory. It’s fun to innovate on the traditional meal, but consider keeping old favorites on the menu. My family has a stuffing contest every Thanksgiving. This spirited tradition lets my parents, my brother, my sister and I each cook our own turkey, and keeps each of us busy researching and testing recipes before the big day. The annual tasting (and trash talking) is raucous, delicious and fun for everyone. This year, it was a tossup between my father’s traditional sausage stuffing in a bread crumb base, and my own Mediterranean take on sausage and bread crumbs that included olives and dried fruit. Depending on your cultural heritage, your traditional tastes could be curry, anise, pepper or ras el hanout. Whatever they are, be sure to find a way to conjure up those Thanksgivings past.
Celebrate. the end, you are simply setting the stage for a celebration of family, friends and food. As your guests arrive, stop second-guessing your choices. Wear something you love—you need to sparkle, too—and try a favorite trick of mine and enjoy a flute of champagne before the guests arrive. I always remind myself to accept compliments graciously rather than focusing on what I didn’t do, or what didn’t turn out just right. If you’re not having fun, it will show in your hospitality. Embrace the ups and downs of any large dinner party, smile for all the pictures and treasure the time with those you love!
The crisp air and stunning landscapes of autumn in Maine draw me outdoors again and again. I know that soon, nights will fall sooner, trees will be bare and eye-watering cold winds will blow in off the sea. So I take advantage of every burnished golden day before winter moves our lives to the hearthside—and that means decking my home in the bounty of the season.
Window boxes can start to struggle, especially after first frost. Many homeowners mulch and cover their window boxes after the last blooms of summer have faded. I think of window boxes as year-round opportunities to delight children and family, entice guests and give your home additional curbside appeal. Be adventurous! While stunning jewel-toned mums can be found at every greenhouse in Maine this time of year, don’t stop with flowers. Let your imagination bloom.
This autumn, I chose to showcase the many varieties of decorative and edible pumpkins and gourds I saw at my local Whole Foods and at the weekend Farmer’s Market. There has been a resurgence of interest in growing local heirloom varieties of pumpkins, squash and gourds that are prized as more than jack o’lanterns. As I fill my shopping basket with the most intriguing examples I don’t always have a recipe or project in mind—often I’m just in love with the dappled creams, browns, greens and oranges, or the ornamental and unusual forms and shapes.
One of my most successful windows used miniature pumpkins available at almost any supermarket. The color of sunshine with perfect chunky stems, I made easy, artful piles of pumpkins in iron window boxes lined with burlap and filled with a bed of raffia. I added spikes of dried Japanese Lantern flowers to add drama, and I love the result. You might try straw or hay as your foundation materials, and do an arrangement of acorn squash and bittersweet. Think local—what flowers, grasses and foods say autumn to you?
Keep the fall theme going with an autumn wreath woven with some of the same materials from your window boxes. I chose bittersweet, dried leaves and Indian corn, but the possibilities are limitless. Just play with the colors and textures of the view outside your window (this year, mine included a family of pheasants!) and celebrate the harvest season.
Juxtaposing old and new pieces in original and compelling new ways, interior and home designer Nicola Manganello creates extraordinary living spaces for clients with distinctive taste.
Keep the fall theme going with an autumn wreath woven with some of the same materials from your window boxes. I chose bittersweet, dried leaves and Indian corn, but the possibilities are limitless. Just play with the colors and textures of the view outside your window (this year, mine included a family of pheasants!) and celebrate the harvest season.
