BLOG: INSPIRATION, TIPS, TRICKS and DIY’s.
Clients Shown Here: Mad River Barn -- Inn, Pub and Restaurant, Main and Mountain Motel and Bar, Bear Mountain Inn, Basin Harbor Club, Stowe Vacation Rental.
Who doesn't love a good before and after story. So here it is. I have about 10 other projects I have not had the chance to get photographed yet -- so hopefully, there will be a sequel to this soon. But I thought it would be fun to compile a few of the fun renovation stories in the hospitality industry that I've been involved in. I love redoing, renovating and refreshing old outdated motels, boutique-size hotels and teaming up with amazing firms like TruexCullins Architecture and Interiors (who I've done 5 fun projects with so far and looking forward to many more) on design projects and refresh projects. These are just a few of the projects I've had the privilege of designing for -- whether it's just a budget-friendly refresh or an all out -- let's take it down to the studs -- I'm game! If you know of an amazing motel, small hotel, inn or bed and breakfast, that could use a little love -- let me know -- I'll help bring it back to life! xoxo Joanne
As the somewhat-still-new decorator/designer for Basin Harbor Club, I love the opportunity to make some refreshing changes while keeping the charm of this 130 year old family-owned resort on the shores of Lake Champlain. Slowly and carefully, we are going through all the cottages, lodge rooms and public spaces and making changes that will reflect what Basin Harbor Club is, while ensuring we enhance today's guest's experiences. This winter (when the resort is closed) we got to work on a few of the lodge rooms, cottages and the town hall. Hope you enjoy these pictures of the simple transformations of a couple of the bedrooms -- one in the lodge and one in a cottage. Visit Basin Harbor Club (www.basinharbor.com). It is truly an amazingly unique and special place!
This guest lodge room is very cute -- and has all the guests need. Cottage style room overlooking the lake -- but with a few minor changes, it was transformed.
Same side tables, same bed, same chair, just a few small changes. The wainscoting was added -- which serves as a headboard -- the wallpaper was removed on a new one was put on the bed wall only. The carpet was updated as well as the bed skirt and and the nautical vintage-style lamps really give the room a nice goal. On the opposite walls (painted a calm blue) are old frames found throughout the resort's multiple attics. Photo by Susan Teare.
This is the not the actual before picture (since I forgot to take one) but very similar. Again, such a nice bedroom in one of the cottages -- that is perched on the edge of the lake -- but with some small changes -- big results happened in the Birches cottage.
The side tables were just painted--lovingly referred to as Basin Blue -- the vintage life throws I found at a vintage market -- the lamps are a great nautical look and the Vermont vintage-style map is a great interactive piece for the guests. The platform bed was made by a local Vermont company. Wallpaper removed and a calming tan color brightens the room. Photo by Susan Teare.
Hope you enjoyed the simple transformations...keeping what is so special about Basin Harbor...special! I'll see you there!
My best, Joanne
As I'm about to head off for two weeks -- book signing in Texas, Salvage Design Presentation in Naples, Florida and a hotel renovation in Jackson Hole, Wyoming with the TruexCullins Architecture and Interiors team, I'm thrilled to say that throughout these journeys I get to talk about salvage, vintage and recycling...
But I don't just talk about it...I really do it. I've had the honor of working on some pretty amazing designs lately and have a few more in the bucket coming up. Here are some ways I Practice What I Preach in using these age-old materials into today's modern design. I hope you follow along for more these amazing ideas in future blog posts for your own home, business, restaurant, resort or office. Ciao! Joanne
Basin Harbor Club Resort on the shores of Lake Champlain. If you have never been here, you had better mark your calendar for a week away this summer. This resort is in a class by itself. It has been around since 1887 and with over 100 buildings and barns, and a 130 years of -- they never throw anything away -- you can bet I'm having some fun! For example-- these lamps -- once in the cottages or tucked away in the housekeeping building are perfect working order -- except they are a little blah. So I asked the folks to run around to the dock buildings, marine and boat storage shed (I did mention this resort is on a lake) and the bin you see is the collected old ropes (or lines -- for you sailors). Well, with some assistance from my lovely daughter (que the daughter in video) we created some amazing lamps that will go back into the cottages -- this time with a story and a history unsurpassed. Recycling and Upcycling their own things...that's what I'm talking about!
Use old boat lines to upcycle a table lamp.
Next, let's talk about HMC Advertising. If you check out the entire project on my work page, you will see it is filled with upcycled, recycled and vintage material. We reused the couches and chairs they had in their upstairs space that noone used and set them in a configuration that was conducive to team work. Then we add some funky recycled pieces -- an old industrial base turned into a work station table, industrial shelving for storage, old maple buckets for plants, vintage flag, rug, chalkboard and signs add to the charm. Sometimes it is as simple as using rusty old nuts and bolts to create magnets. Throughout the space we used recycled, local or vintage pieces --proving that old stuff is very cool!
You all know about Mad River Barn, where I pretty much went to town with salvaged and recycled goods! You can't swing a ... well, something, without hitting a recycled piece. But some of the salvaged and recycled goods are not glamorous but just as important. Such as using the left over pieces of plywood and carpet batting made from recycled fibers to create the headboards. Or recycling all the old sinks and then picking up other recycled sinks to take their place. If you want to see the whole project check out their website and my work page. Thrilled it was just named one of the top seven hotels/inns in Ski Country by Outside Magazine!
Archie's Grill -- a local favorite -- has reopened to a new location across the street from its former spot. I was honored to be asked to design the new restaurant. Working with local talent -- we were able to bring in locally milled lumber and custom pieces. But again, the things that were repurposed and reused, sometimes aren't as exciting as the decor but just as important. For example. All the benches were reused -- with a fresh coat of paint and cover. All the chairs were used again and the tables -- which the bases were sprayed red and the tops wrapped in metal or replaced with a beautiful reclaimed wood top. It is these small gestures of repurposing and reusing that will change the way we design hospitality spaces, restaurants and offices.
Currently I'm working on a few projects -- a 5000 square foot office, another great office space, a coffee house, a lake house, and three small renovation projects and more Basin Harbor Club. All of them will have unique salvaged and recycled features. The offices will have gorgeous work stations from Exterus -- including recycled fabric to funky vintage pieces brought in for common areas. The coffee house will be filled with vintage barn board and antique pieces and the lakehouse and other projects-- just beginning to dream on those!
Can't wait to share those. But until then, let's all practice what we preach.
Ciao! Joanne
P.S. Having some issues with LINKS -- arrggghhh... will get them in ASAP!