Final pics from York Show House ...

“Syrena’s Bath” // 24th Annual York Decorator Show House

Yvonne Blacker for Trio Design // photo credit: Eric Roth

It’s hard to believe that the York Show House has been over for a month already! Time to post photos from my second bath in the show (first one here) and the rooms of my Trio Design partners, Katherine Hawkins and Rosanne Palazola.

– BATH BEFORE –

While my glamorous Petite Powder Room downstairs was influenced by the runway collections of fashion designer Jason Wu, my full bath upstairs was part of a teen girl’s bedroom suite, so it was a bit more whimsical in nature. Even so, I chose to incorporate elements of maturity that would allow this bath to age gracefully. Farrow + Ball Manor House Gray on the walls was the first step in transforming this originally powder pink room to a more sophisticated space. Farrow + Ball Pitch Blue on the cabinets and shelves (chosen to coordinate with the existing tile) added a youthful exuberance while still being on trend with current color palettes.

Since Katherine’s adjoining bedroom was mermaid-inspired, I had a custom shower curtain made out of a silver dance/swim fabric (something a teen girl might wear for a recital) that resembled shimmery mermaid skin, then had it trimmed with seaweed green ruffles. The pearl shaped sink with a custom sized glass counter  (a favorite showroom display piece of Katherine’s from Designer Bath) replaced the original formica counter. The built-in cabinet below, however, just received fresh paint and new knobs. An easy switch when renovating a bath. All new fixtures from Brizo’s RSVP collection (faucet and towel bars with Swarovski finials, robe hook, mirror, toilet tissue holder) added shapely sparkle. This bath suite collection added just the bit of designer glam that I was looking for ...

Brizo RSVP towel bar with Swarovski crystal finials

“Drawing on the influences of Art Nouveau, RSVP features a sensual design that follows the curves of a woman’s silhouette.  Adding a touch of ‘bling’ with genuine crystal accents, RSVP promises to be a conversation piece in the home.”

– Judd Lord, director of industrial design at Brizo

Below are a few photos from Katherine’s bedroom. I chose the colors for my bath to coordinate with the bedding she selected from Company C. The overall feeling of Katherine’s teen bedroom/hangout was one of being “under the sea.”

“Syrena’s Room” designed by Katherine Hawkins for Trio Design

bedding from Company C

Syrena’s closet styled by Katherine Hawkins // photo credit: Eric Roth
Benjamin Moore + Ralph Lauren paints from Home Decor Group

– TEEN BEDROOM BEFORE –

While Katherine felt challenged with a rather small bedroom to work with, my good sized bath was not without its own unique design dilemmas ...

BEFORE: An awkward location for a

mirror and medicine cabinet combination.

AFTER: since the medicine cabinet had to be reinstalled after the show per the homeowner’s request, I created a temporary diorama in its place.

Step 1: medicine cabinet removed

Step 2: freshly painted walls and niche with

wallpaper covered panels being tucked in place

(wallpaper from Thibaut)

Step 3: Katherine found this vintage-style mermaid illustration on tin, which just happened to fit within the niche (hung on string). A white frame and beach stone finishes it off.

Detail shots of Syrena’s bath ...

Succulent arrangement by Laura Thomson Design

photo credit: Rosanne Palazola

shelves styled with items from Blue Peacock Home + my personal collections

black makeup towels from The Turkish Towel Company

photo credit: Eric Roth

framed canvas: “Meadow” modern art collage by artist Parvez Taj

accessories via Blue Peacock Home // tile work via Weaver Brothers of Lynnfield

sink, glass counter, faucet and mirror available via Designer Bath

window treatments and shower curtain via Acorn Interiors Design Center

I liked how this Duralee sheer so closely resembled the round sink bowl

flat fold roman shade in Molokini Natural from Thibaut

Farrow + Ball paints: Borrowed Light, Manor House Gray, Pitch Blue

ceiling painted in Farrow + Ball Borrowed Light, trim in Strong White

The Turkish Towel Company Zenith in Silver, Blue Ice, and White

my jewels and organic touches // other accessories via Blue Peacock Home

One of my favorite parts of designing a show house space is styling it. It comes very easily to me, setting up vignettes. I love taking on these types of projects for clients as well. Of course it helps when beautiful objects are donated to the cause. Thank you, Blue Peacock Home and The Turkish Towel Company!

generous sized storage basket and coral sculpture from Blue Peacock Home

Let’s take one last peek downstairs at the room Rosanne transformed for the York Show House. What used to be a dark mudroom is now a vibrant space with luxurious amenities to enjoy the salt water pool just outside the door ...

custom mesh window treatment by Rosanne Palazola

art via Tracy Finn // accessories via Blue Peacock Home

recycled coke bottle glass lighting via Lucia Lighting

console fabric: Duralee // design by Rosanne Palazola

photo credit: Eric Roth

photo credit: Rosanne Palazola

Poolside Portal shelves styled by Rosanne Palazola 

photo credit: Eric Roth

Benjamin Moore paint (shelves and walls) via Home Decor Group

art: Tracy Finn available via Lucia Lighting

Just as Rosanne helped me by fulfilling my framing requests for my two spaces and Katherine added art to my upstairs bath, I was able to leave a small mark in Rosanne’s Poolside Portal. I chose a poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson that I felt spoke to Rosanne’s design, the seaside location and the salt water pool just outside her room. I had Charles Trainer of Artistic License output my typographic treatment and then he installed it right on the glass door. He has helped me with many retail display projects at Designer Bath, and I knew this typographic treatment would easily solve the aesthetic problem of an interior window without a view.

POOLSIDE PORTAL: BEFORE

A handful of snapshots from York ...

with Rosanne at my mom’s summer cottage in York, Maine

the fourth person in our Trio team: Katherine with her husband Dave

Meredith Bohn in her living room




Barbara Elza Hirsch in her screened porch

Frank Hodge with Michael Nest in the Study // art by Frank Hodge

ombre wool carpet via Landry and Arcari // lighting via Hudson Valley

photo credit: Dave Hawkins

To see more photos from the York Show House,

visit my facebook album and Trio Design site.

– related post on the Designer Bath blog –

Summer’s End by Tracy Finn

While this may be the end of my York Decorator Show House updates, I do have another show house project waiting in the wings ... The Danvers Historical Society Designers Holiday Show House at Glen Magna Farms scheduled for December 2013. How could I possibly say no?!