Designers at Work + Play

Now that I have your attention, I am ready to share some behind the scenes of the #YorkShowHouse! Trio Design (myself, Rosanne Palazola and Katherine Hawkins) have been traveling to Kittery at least once a week to prep, prime, paint, and determine our design installation plans for our spaces (bedroom, bath, mudroom and powder room).

Lately, our early morning commute from Massachusetts has set itself on auto pilot, navigating us to Beach Pea Baking Company in Kittery to grab coffee, delicious sandwiches for lunch, and sometimes a sweet or two (the ginger snaps with lemon creme filling are heaven!) When we are completely done setting up our rooms, one of their decadent cakes is on my reward list.

Katherine, myself, Rosanne, Barbara Elza Hirsch

In mid-April, before the house was made available for its transformation, the show house committee hosted all of the designers at a meet and greet at the Remick Barn in Old York. It was a great chance to catch up with some old friends and get to know the other artists we will be working alongside of this spring and summer. The media sponsor for the show, Maine Home + Design Magazine, was there, as was Jay Goldsmith, our official portrait photographer. He took a group photo while we were all gathered, and later in the evening a bunch of us went out for more Maine goodness (When Pigs Fly Wood-Fired Pizzeria) and took some candids of our own. 

We shared small plates and design discussions with Meredith Bohn

(I highly recommend the roasted brussel sprouts!)

And shared lots of laughs with Frank Hodge and Valerie Jorgenson (on right)

and their significant others who have witnessed many a show house together.

Each day when we show up for work, I like to go by the salt water pool first. The grounds are starting to fill in with lush perennials, but I have heard the landscape will look completely different by the time the show opens.

The view outside the screened porch is another favorite of mine.

Bathroom Number One, Day One

I brought a postcard from work to mark my territory

Bathroom Number Two, Day One

Bye Bye Birdie ... wallpaper removal time

At our front door (after a long day of prep work)

On a return visit, Katherine has recruited help (with her husband, Dave)

After three days on-site, I have managed to make some progress (hello two coats of fabulous Farrow + Ball paint on one ceiling!) For now, however, all I can show you is a sneak peek of the guest soaps I have chosen for each space ...

Hand-cut soap from Saipua // Hand towels from Frette

For show house updates, follow the #YorkShowHouse tag on twitter and instagram, and be sure to visit our Trio Design blog posts where each of us will be sharing our behind-the-scenes adventures. While it certainly takes a lot of work and resources to pull off a design show, I know it’s well worth the effort. Spending quality time with the other designers and watching how they go about accomplishing their visions is a bonus.

Stay tuned for more fun from York ...