Sisters Maureen and Sue Walsh are owners of ARTEFACT Home|Garden, where they offer beautiful furniture, garden accessories, and decor for the home.
The theme of the evening was “First Impressions: Subtle or grand, make them memorable” and our diverse panel of design professionals had plenty of insight as to how to do just that. Andrew Sidford of Andrew M. Sidford Architects in Newburyport, Massachusetts, whose enthusiasm for the design process was apparent, said he looks to his clients for guidance first, then offers them some guidance of his own, respecting their vision but often expanding their horizons as to what is possible. In one case, he proposed a daringly placed glass-encased dining room in the front of the home, a plan the clients followed to great satisfaction.
For Rose Ann Humphrey of Home Life by Rose Ann Humphrey, an interior design firm with offices in Boston and Vermont, the focus is on the clients’ personal styles. Once she uncovers what they are, she brings them into her designs in interpretive ways. For one family who loves boating, she incorporated appliques of shells into the fireplace, for example. The result is a custom home that reflects the essences of its inhabitants at every turn.
The Belmont, Massachusetts, showroom held a captivated audience, as the topic of first impressions also included a discussion of how design professionals work together with clients and each other.
Stephen Payne, a partner in the esteemed fine building company, Payne|Bouchier of Boston, used a wonderful example of a dramatic first impression with a staircase that was a worthy centerpiece for an entryway. Stunning details also lasting first impressions as seen from the exquisite crown moldings and custom chevron wood floors that are part of the company’s portfolio.
Capping off the evening was Laura Kuhn of Laura Kuhn Design Consultation, an Arlington, Massachusetts, landscape designer. With fabulous red lipstick-colored tulips she made a bold statement in the front yard of the former home of notorious scam artist, Charles Ponzi. (Who knew he lived in Lexington, Massachusetts). Her scheme was no scam. The property’s grounds are now the real deal made possible by her pure artistry.
Please join us for our next salon on Thursday October 11 at Dover Rug Home in Natick. http://designnewengland.eventbrite.com/
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