We’ll start with the dining room. In a lot of homes, the dining room is sort of a special occasion space – an area that’s only used when company’s in town, and there’s something to celebrate. To my way of thinking, that’s kind of a shame. So when I designed this space, I wanted to make sure it could be used for those occasions – but that it would still feel comfortable and accessible enough to use on a regular basis. So, to keep things grounded, we opted for paper-backed burlap wallpaper. The texture is simple and functional, but its rich earth tone is a natural complement to the cast iron and glass chandelier. The ceiling paper picks up on the chandelier’s metallic finish, with hand block printed gold details situated against a soft, sage-green background. The paper’s four-color process feels rich without overwhelming – giving the room a welcoming feel that dresses up easily for formal occasions – and dresses down just as easily for a family meal.

Following on the dining theme, our next stop is the kitchen (pictured at the top of this post). Given the fact that this is likely to be the highest-traffic room in the house, it’s designed to work well – and to feel instantly familiar. We made choices that were intentionally rustic – from the recycled bucket island lights to the reclaimed timbers – that contrast beautifully with the modern appliances that make cooking a pleasure. We also found the perfect use for a pair of reclaimed semicircle windows, which we combined above the sink to form a perfect circle of light. I’ve had the windows for years, and like so many of the pieces I love, it was just a matter of time before they found the perfect home.

Finally, we’ll turn to the entry areas. Like most homes, this one has a main entrance – which is unlikely to see much traffic – and a rear entry that will see the majority of everyday comings and goings.

In the grand foyer, we opted to use three-quarter light doors. Typically, main entry doors are solid. But because of the beauty of natural light, the three-quarter light doors add a whole new dimension to the room. Once inside the door, visitors will notice the distressed oiled oak floors, with a traditional herringbone pattern that adds a touch of sophistication. The entry light is a converted candle lantern that provides warm, usable light after dark. And the salvaged brackets framing the doorways – covered in more detail in my previous post – add another touch of tradition.

The rear entrance is every bit as grand as the front. A second round window is situated to provide a clear view of the outside fireplace – making it a perfect vantage point to see what’s going on outdoors. The back stairs are outfitted with reproduction fence balustrades, to provide a welcome variation to traditional square round balustrades that are more commonly used.

So things are moving along well. And while it’s required a flurry of activity, the results of the hard work are coming together really well. Check back in a couple of weeks. With a little luck – and a lot more hard work – we should be able to show you the finished project.

So it was such a privilege to be selected as one of the interior designers featured in their very first Interior Design issue this February. I was in such stellar company, and I’m so proud of the home I shared! It was also a treat to have photographer Trent Bell photograph one of my spaces again. If you love design, you must get your hands on a copy. If you’d like to peek inside my project, click here:

“A Living Space that Unites: Nicola Manganello of Nicola’s Homes”
Maine Home + Design, February 2012

Nicola Manganello, owner of Nicola’s Homes, a design studio and boutique on Commercial Street in Portland, said her clients seem to be using more color in general.
“I think with the economy and everything, there’s just a general overall gloom and doom,” she said. “I think color is kind of coming back as making your space a happier place to be.”
Deep blues, with accents of yellow, are really on trend right now, according to Manganello. A beige room with more blue in it would “definitely be a little bit more edgier of a look,” she said.

To read the entire “Room and Bored” article, click here. And if you are looking for a fresh approach to a room or your entire home, call the Nicola’s Homes Design Center at 207-899-3218 right away.

“I want you to see the Portland I love,” Anna S. of the blog Instant Portland declares. And it is such a treat that today, my Old Port boutique made that list. In Your Own Personal Design Consultant: Nicola’s Homes, Anna proves to be a kindred spirit with a very discerning eye. So many of the beautiful objects she singles out from our selection are my own personal favorites!

Anna also mentions browsing my winter Garnet Hill line – and that she was able to pick up a few pieces she loves on sale. So true! As Garnet Hill sells out of pieces like the popular Grace Flannels and Old Port Quilt, I still have a few in the shop. And they are all on Last Chance Sale, so if Anna has piqued your interest, you should definitely stop by. And remember – even if you can’t make it into downtown Portland, you can always shop our collection online.

“Bedding, cookbooks, art, pillows, glasses, toys, sweaters, rugs, tea sets, even a top hat – it’s all here. Every item is clearly selected as much for its high quality as for its physical beauty, and — perhaps the best part — I feel like every item would fit well into any style of home.  And if you find yourself to be inspired, or perhaps need some inspiration, at the back of the shop is a design center staffed by friendly and knowledgeable designers who can help you find exactly the right pillow or a farmhouse table or perhaps just help you talk through a particular design challenge.”   Anna S., Instant Portland

Anna’s blog is a savvy insider’s view into so many of the unique shops and eateries that make this city such a special place to live. I appreciate her commitment to buying locally and her glowing writeup was the perfect start to a frosty January day! The next time she’s in the store, I hope she comes back to the Design Studio to say hi.

For the past couple of months, the Nicola’s Homes crew has been making plans into reality on my latest design/build project on 30 Maeve’s Way. For those who aren’t local, Maeve’s Way is a neighborhood named after my daughter, and located a short hop from Casco Bay on the Cumberland Foreside, just north of Portland, Maine. Projects like this are personal favorites, where I get to see my ideas take form, from initial sketches to plans to reality. Granted, it requires a lot of focus, but it’s immensely gratifying when the dust settles, and everything comes together. At this point, 30 Maeve’s Way is already well underway. The exterior and landscaping are largely complete and the interior is taking shape. Over the next several weeks, I’ll share some photos and stories of work in progress, to give you a sense of how things are coming together.

As a designer, I’ve always been drawn to materials that make spaces feel warm and inviting. And few materials provide that warmth more effectively than reclaimed wood and stone. In this first photograph, taken from the kitchen, it’s tough to miss the impact of the antique timbers used for the dual purpose of structure and beauty. From a purely visual standpoint, the beams define the living space, making it feel both warm and familiar. As the process moves forward, I’ll choose furnishings and fixtures that play off the structural aesthetic of the beams to bring the room together.

Like the old barn beams, the fireplace surround is also made of reclaimed material. Crafted of three granite foundation stones from the original house on the property – which we moved and renovated, and now sits at the entrance to Maeve’s Way – the scale of the fireplace anchors the room, and will serve as a natural gathering place for the family that eventually calls it home.

The second photograph shows still more reclaimed materials in the main entrance to the house. From the simple sophistication of the antique leaded-glass interior window to the ornatereclaimed shoulders, these details add a sense of tradition to offset the home’s contemporary, open-space design. By incorporating the shoulders, we’ve broken up doorways that wouldotherwise feel too open, lending a sense of intimacy that helps to make the home feel more familiar and inviting.

To learn more about 30 Maeve’s Way, send me an email. I’d be more than happy to share details about the property, and even to arrange a walk-through. And staytuned. I’ll be sharing more details as the project moves forward.

Gayle showcased my work on her wonderful Vintage Farmhouse blog and it was so well received by her readers – and a wonderful surprise to find while browsing. Thank you, Gayle! And for all you other vintage farmhouse lovers, her blog is a treasure trove of inspiration – and a great read.

A sense of belonging, comfort and familiarity that’s both personal – and universal. Now, in my brand-new Nicola’s Home online store,  you’ll find everything you need to create the home you’ve always imagined. And because I want you to feel truly at home, I’m offering a very special grand opening discount – 30% off all online purchases through January 16, 2012.

Start shopping!

I knew from the very first paragraphs it was a book I needed in my life:

We have forgotten what enough feels like … We live in a world seduced by its own unlimited potential. We are driven by a presumptive grandiosity that any economic, social, or political limitations can seemingly be overcome with more speed or technology. But for us, as human beings, our limitations remain constant, eternal, fully intact. Rather than feeling large and omnipotent, our own very limited, human days are likely to feel more cramped, overgrown, and choked by impossible responsibilities. At worst, we feel powerless; no matter how strong our hearts, or how good or kind our intentions, each day the finish line seems farther away, the bar keeps rising, nothing is ever finished, nothing ever good enough. So we work and add and never stop, never back away, never feel complete, and we despair of ever finding comfort, relief, or sanctuary…

If this resonates with you, you’re not alone. I cried when I read it. For the last twelve years – ever since I started my own business – I have been unable to stop. To rest. To let go of the idea that at any given moment, I need to do MORE.

I had a very, very good friend who approached life very differently. He was successful, but he enjoyed that success, every bit of it, all the time. He was always teasing me, telling me to slow down, have fun. I needed to hear that. I needed him. And then, in October of 2011, I lost him. He lived every day as if it were his last and his best and in the end, that is what took him from me. In all my grief I’ve had to sort through where he went wrong, but I keep coming back to what he did right. He celebrated his life every day. In his memory, I mean to do the same.

So in 2012, I resolve to be more grateful. (For my family, for my beautiful daughter Maeve, for my friends – the greatest blessings in a very blessed life.) I will trust my inner voice. (It does not lie if I listen well.) I will accept my outward appearance. (I am so loved, exactly as I am.) I will make sure everyone I admire, love and look up to knows that I do, each and every time I see them. (It is not a given that I will see them again.) And I will accept compliments from others. (They are sincere. There are things I do well.)

Here’s to truly living – and truly loving – our lives in 2012.

And remember, just a few more days until you can shop my pieces online!

Thank you, Erin, and all your wonderful community for your sweet words. To read the entire post, and to spend some time browsing Erin’s other finds on House of Turquoise, click here!