The exterior is clean, freshly painted white last year with simple but well-maintained landscaping. I like an uncluttered farmhouse look for the exterior.

It wasn’t until I put shutters on a client’s house that I realized how nice they might look on mine! The shutters ordered by my client were custom made far away and shipped to Maine. I was looking for something more local, and more immediate!  The solution lay in the skilled hands of a local artisan whom I had just met. The young woman had recently graduated from Maine College of Art (also my alma mater!) with a degree in sculpture, and a focus in woodworking. I commissioned Tina to make farmhouse style shutters for my entire house, and could not be more pleased with the result! She set up shop in my garage, and meticulously built and stained the shutters over the next couple of weeks.

The shutters really soften the exterior, and the rustic sage stain blends well with surrounding landscape. I cannot think of a faster and equally inexpensive way to dramatically update your exterior!

It’s official! After two year on Commercial st in Portland, we are moving north! Our time here flew by, and we loved being in the heart of the Old Port. However, as our Postman once so eloquently put it, “You gal have got 10 pounds of potatoes in a 5 pound sack!” We have carried sofas through delicate mazes of italian pottery, slid bookcases under low hanging chandeliers, and broken more than one plate in the process.

The new space is 4200 sq feet of wide open space overlooking the water in Yarmouth, the former home of Maine Cottage Furniture for many years. It is naturally a great space, but Nikki has never moved into anything without adding her personal touches. We won’t give away any secrets, but we can safely say that the transformation will be…noticeable! Our best team of subs are already hard at work, and committed to our tight schedule. We are continually grateful for the trades people and artisans that we have developed relationships with over the years, it brings great peace of mind to know and trust (and love) your sub contractors!

One might wonder why anyone would want to move locations during the busiest time of the year. It has not been easy to take on this logistical maneuver, but the benefits are numerous. There are numerous free parking spaces at the new store, which is a huge perk, as anyone that has gotten a ticket while shopping on Commercial St knows! No more moving your car every two hours, or scrounging between the seats for quarters for the meter.

With more room, we will be better equipped to meet the needs of our design clients and retail shoppers. We will continue to carry all of the same lines, in addition to some great new ones. We will have a limited selection of clothing and accessories, just the really cool ones that Nikki can’t resist! Our design center will have twice as many fabric and floor covering options, laid out in a easy-to-browse fashion. We will display some of the kitchen cabinets and vanities that Nicola favors, as well as some incredible tiles and custom hood options.

We will be able to house an abundance of cool furniture, and the ordering process is underway. It has been so much fun to pick out great shapes for sofas and chairs, and have them covered with unique and beautiful fabrics. There are some heartbreakers in the works…!

In the midst of all of the hard work and chaos, our fearless leader is making it a point to enjoy her free time, and encouraging all of her employees to do the same. A balanced life is a good one! I will end this post with a great home movie of Nikki, riding her bike to the beach and generally enjoying life. Cheers!

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I discovered the Fouta Towel at the New York Gift Show a few years ago. I was immediately drawn in by their looks; great colors, and stylish stripe combinations with a cool fringe on the ends. The Scents & Feel rep and I began chatting, and I was struck by how passionate and sincere she was about her products. The quality of the Fouta is evident to the eye and to the hand, and it was an easy sell for me. Everything about them says luxury!

For those of you new to the Fouta (pronounced Foo-tah), allow me to give you a bit of history. The Fouta has been used for thousands of years in Hammams, or Turkish spas, where is was prized for it’s superior absorbency and softness. Handwoven in Tunisia from 100% cotton, the Fouta is made in two styles, the Honeycomb, and the Flat Weave. They are bigger than traditional towels (48″ x 74″), large enough two wrap twice around my body when I get out of the shower, which feels nice and secure!

We sold them for a while before I decided bring a set home and try them out. Now I won’t use anything else! I have literally decided to give away all of my traditional terrycloth bath towels and replace them with the Fouta, the difference is so dramatic! After a few washes, the cotton becomes luxuriously soft, and water just disappears into them. Foutas are very strong and durable, and are known to last for several years, only getting better over time.

I always appreciate an item that can be used in more than one ways. In addition to being a great bath towel, the Fouta is a lovely textile whose uses are only limited by the boundaries of one’s own imagination! I have used them as shawls, picnic blankets, throws, and even as a bedspread. Try out a Fouta this summer, and send us pictures of how you use yours! They also come in hand towel sized, which make great hostess gifts!

Lightweight Pareo by Scents & Feel

I have designed quite a few bedrooms in my day, and all of them have eventually reached a point where I can walk away from the job and not lose any sleep over it. All of them, that is, except for the bedrooms in my own houses! My daughter Maeve and I have lived in 6 houses since she her birth, and every time we move we are faced with the challenge/ opportunity of redoing our bedrooms.

For the last five bedrooms, I had free range over Maeve’s décor. Her early bedrooms were shabby chic princess palaces, rooms that I filled with hand me down antiques, repurposed textiles, and the occasional custom piece that we would choose together. The rooms were never lacking in pillows or pink!

The hints started about a year ago. I began to notice pictures from magazines on my desk that I was quite sure I hadn’t torn out. Folded corners appeared in wallpaper books, and there was a lot of talk about how cool platform beds are.

Maeve has always taken a slight interest in design, but this time her interest seemed to have a purpose. She broached the subject one evening while we were sitting on the couch, watching a movie and thumbing through House Beautiful together.

I won’t directly quote her, though to her credit she was not ungrateful. The gist of her speech was that while she appreciated the nice rooms that I had decorated for her, it was always my style and not hers. Now that she was a young adult, Maeve wanted a bedroom that reflected her taste, maturity, and her own personal style. Who am I to argue with that?

Maeve dove right into the project, and compiled a folder of wish lists, inspirational photos, and swatches. After a lifetime of sleeping of in pretty, cottage chic beds, her number one request for the room was a platform bed. With a ladder up to it, and built in drawers below.

Luckily, I know a few good carpenters! We came up with a cost effective compromise, in that we would build the platform bed, and build Maeve’s existing dressers into it. We decided to leave them green instead of painting them to match  as an eclectic touch.

The rest of the room came together fairly easily. Maeve chose a bright, floral wallpaper from Anthropologie, a Zebra print rug, and some of my Garnet Hill bedding. We painted my old bookshelves, and moved an ottoman out of the attic. I was pleased with how many pieces have survived the various makeovers. Maeve has had the same vintage daisy chandelier in all of her bedrooms, and her roman shades used to be my drapes! I believe in getting creative with your furnishings and doing what you can to extend the life of your investments. It adds history to a space and saves you a few dollars!

The evolution of my bedrooms closely mirrors the stages that my life has gone through over the years. The first room pictured was the bedroom that I shared with my previous husband, just after we were married. It was my first house, we were newlyweds, and the bedroom was very sweet and romantic. I papered the walls, hung pink floral drapes, and found some great vintage furniture quilts, and pillows.

The second bedroom pictured is my bedroom 8 years later. The colors scheme is more subdued, soothing blues, greens, and natural wood. I fashioned wardrobes by buying simple bookshelves and having 4 vintage pine doors affixed to the front. The bedding is from my very first collection with Garnet Hill, mixed with a few vintage pillows.

The third set of pictures is from my current room.  As my business grows and my daughter gets older, I find that I want my room to more of a sanctuary and less of a style statement. I have kept the same pine wardrobes, the bed, my antique wooden trunk, and my green Italian pottery lamp. I sleep in wonderful sheets under a duvet that I had custom made, which I absolutely love.  The pictures in my room are photographs of my loved ones, with a few pieces of art that always make me smile. Everything that remains in my pared-down bedroom is special and comfortable.

Nicola’s Interior Design

Nicola’s design business is booming! In March we had a second design table made for the design center, which we have quickly filled up with our ever- expanding collection of fabric, tile, and wallpaper samples. Nicola has continued to scour the globe for the unique and beautiful materials, and our new design center reflects her discriminating eye. One of our favorite new lines is Tabarka Tile, a collection of stunning hand painted terracotta tiles. Located in Scottsdale Arizona, they use a unique glazing process that gives the tiles an aged look which adds warmth and old world charm. Give yourself an afternoon to browse, and our helpful staff will be happy to assist you if you end up falling in love!

Maeve’s Way

Big things are happening at Nicola’s Cumberland, Maine development, Maeve’s Way! The third house is complete and under contract, and plans for the next house are on the drawing board. Think traditional with some cool, modern touches for this one. We will share some inspirational photographs soon, and will keep you updated on our progress!

Nicola’s Home Store

Our location on Commercial St. in Portland, Maine is bracing for a busy summer! The shelves are stocked with unique décor and accessories, and our friendly staff are ready to assist you with any of your design challenges! New for this summer are our Fresco terrycloth towels, beach totes, and throw pillows, all of which are seriously soft and fabulous. We also have some great bedding and bathrobes from Kerry Cassill, unique lighting options, and some cool furniture! Come visit us and see for yourself!

June is a significant month in most of our calendars. Kids get all excited for June, knowing that it marks the end of the school year, and the beginning of Summer, which is the best! Teachers share their excitement. Gardeners welcome June as the month that they can reasonably spend every free waking moment outside, up to their elbows in dirt, without really having to worry about one more frost. For many brides in New England, June is the beginning of the Final Countdown…

New England is beautiful year round, and a few brave souls do plan winter weddings here, gambling on the weather and swapping strapless for wool. However, a vast majority of New England weddings occur between June 1^st and mid- September. June officially marks the start of Wedding Season!

The search for the perfect gift can be challenging and time consuming, especially if you have multiple wedding to attend this summer.  I have compiled a list of some of my favorites, to help you find that perfect gift and get back to the beach! All of these items can be found at my store at 215 Commercial St in downtown Portland, Maine, or on my web store, https://shop.nicolas-homes.com/shop. We also have great bridesmaids gifts- scarves, jewelry, and candles, and a few things for the groomsmen as well. Cheers, to all of this summer’s brides and grooms, and the friends and families that support and honor their love!

The Lovebird Pillow $90

Matteo White Belgian Linen Sheet Set Queen $534

The Maine Blanket $226

Antique Italian White Lace Square Platter $110

Framed Art by Maine Artist Lorraine DeMichelle $430

Martini Glass with Pewter Stem,$149 for 2

Eleanor Prichard Wool Blanket $412

Tunisian Bath Towels $150 for 2

Taverna Ice Bucket with Spoon $182

Dainty Flutes with Silver Tray $117

We are so excited to have these amazing summer weight scarves from Tickled Pink! They are perfect for a picnic at the beach, an alfresco dinner at home, Memorial Day cookouts, bridesmaid gifts or a special present for a friend-  at a great price of $27.00. They are flying out our door- so stop by our shop on Commercial St. in the Old Port of Portland, Maine or you can always buy at our online boutique.  We are offering free shipping from Tuesday, May 22^nd through Memorial Day at mid-night. Enjoy!

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