PIZZA and BEER, DESIGN WORK!

Recently, I did a BLOG about the amazing LAWSON’S FINEST LIQUIDS new TAPROOM, RETAIL STORE and BREWERY, but I can’t help that another project completed around the same time was a PIZZA restaurant. I know…you think I have a theme going… and that may be true…considering I’ve done a PUB, another BAR, a BURGER JOINT, an ICE CREAM shop…and a few other similar types of places…but I swear I didn’t plan any of it — it just happened! :) I’m just lucky I guess.

I’d love to introduce you to PIZZA 44. If you haven’t already been there — I highly recommend you go. Not for the design…of course, I would appreciate it if you enjoyed that as well — but for the amazing pizza and food. Steve (the chef and manager) and his team really rock it out of the park.

When Tim Williams and Doug Neede (BFF’s for 44 year— hence the name) decided to open up a counter service wood fired pizza restaurant they contacted me right away. Basically Tim called and said — “Hey — want to do a Pizza Restaurant?” and I said “Hey — Ya!”. (Tim and I had already worked on two places together — he is the owner of Archie’s Grill and The Scoop).

They had the perfect spot already — the empty warehouse space that was in the same building as Queen City Brewery. Working with Paul of Queen City Brewery, on Pine Street, and the owners of the building, we can up with a layout and concept for the space. They brought in a PIZZA whisperer from Seattle to help layout the kitchen equipment, wood fired oven, etc — and the rest of the space was up to me. With some original concepts, we all worked together, to tweak, enhance and recreate the design it is today.

Those who know me…I’m a hands on designer — so the white striped tables (I painted with my niece), the word search (created over 3 weeks in my sun room), the pizza peels (some vintage, some made from old wood, I banged up in my front yard) and a few other hands-on touches around the space. With the help of local folks to build, install and custom create seating and tables, it all came together. I hope you enjoy the space — but better yet — the food and the company you keep!

I’m not going to lie…I had an absolute blast working with Tim and Doug on this project — and I’m scheming up other ideas of places we can create to work together again.

XOXO Joanne

HUGE THANK YOU TO LINDSAY SELIN for the MOST AMAZING PICTURES!!

P.S. I’m about to LAUNCH a HUGE GIVE AWAY FEST on MY INSTRAGRAM ACCOUNT. I’m going to be giving away a night away at Main and Mountain Bar and Motel , some copies of MY BOOKS, and thanks to a brilliant idea from my friend and marketing helper, Jen Wyman at Accomplice Marketing, I’m going to be giving away some of my amazing homemade DIY’s. So follow me so you don’t miss out on a chance to WIN!

Warm woods, natural touches, live plants, vintage pieces, custom seating, modern lighting, paneled walls… a perfect rustic modern blend for this counter service wood fired pizza space, called Pizza 44!

Want to watch your pizza being made, then belly up to the bar…and choose these cozy seats to watch the show.

The interior design started with creating comfortable custom booth seating, a community table, cozy couch areas and bar seating to watch the pizza making, ensuring every square inch was accounted for, and the flow of the space was comfortable and welcoming. Instead of trying to cover up the old warehouse details, they were incorporated into the design. A pipe painted black with wood tucked into it, and couple more vintage brick columns were added to highlight the ones that were already there. Old concrete walls were paneled in modern stained square plywood pieces. Unique lighting, vintage pizza peels and other special touches, such as hand painted striped booth tables, have made this counter service restaurant an instant hit.

Community tables, bar seats, couches, and booths…there is a little something for everyone here.

Keep yourself occupied while you wait for your TO GO pizza — or if the kids are getting restless in their seats.

Cheers!

Halloween, DIY's and Projects Update

HELLO! HAPPY FALL!

PROJECTS UPDATE

It’s been a busy fall and I’m thrilled to say that a few of my major projects are complete.

Soon to be open (next couple of weeks) Lawson’s Finest Liquids new taproom, retail store and brewery. It was pure pleasure working with Karen and Sean for the last year and half, not only on these projects but their home as well.

Pizza 44 open a couple weeks ago and it was a whirlwind spring and summer designing, renovating and turning an old warehouse into a warm and welcoming wood-fired pizza restaurant. I’m absolutely thrilled how this design project turned out. Love the space and love that fact that Tim Williams and Doug Neede (best friends for 44 years when they decided to do this restaurant together — hence the name) really let me get creative with the design.

Julie and Brian at Bear Mountain Inn in Maine, have been busy since the day they reopened this spring and I’m thrilled to hear the great response they have received for their newly designed and renovated inn. Their cozy updated indoor and outdoor spaces have made this inn the perfect Maine wedding destination. Main and Mountain Bar & Motel, officially finished its last rooms this summer and Eliza and Justin have been non-stop since the old motel reopened and the renovations have garnered national attention — including the Wall Street Journal and Outside Magazine. The bar is a blast and the new patio with the fire pit on the Main Street sidewalk is a huge hit!

It was so fun to spend some time in Holly, Michigan working with my friends, Cari and Vincent on a Victorian B&B they purchased and turning it into an AirBnB rental for all the weddings and events they have down the street at the Holly Vault. It was a blast and truly a testament on how small changes can garner big results.

Have a few more in the fire now… I’ll keep you posted. #designer #inns #motels #renovations #restaurant #design #hospitality #taproom #bar #hotel #bedandbreakfast #updates #vacationrental #airbnb

Pizza 44 now open!

Warm local woods, metal, custom seating, marble counters, paneled walls, rustic lighting and lots of greenery…Pizza 44, Pine Street, Burlington, Vermont.

If you find yourself in Holly, Michigan, you need to rent this amazing Victorian Home.

Sorry for the bad Iphone pic — but I had to show you this space. This used to be an over sized tub in the middle of the room. Now it has a wall and a usable shower — go figure! Outdated Victorian Inn turned into a fabulous vacation rental.

HALLOWEEN DIY’S

Even with my busy interior design schedule, I still find time to enjoy Halloween and all the fun projects that come with it. I absolutely love making DIY’s for DIY NETWORK and here are a few that you can easily do before the holiday. These can help distract you from eating all the candy too early and have to run out and buy more bags (so I heard). Have fun!

Instant Halloween Bar! Just use an old kitchen cart. Project for DIY NETWORK by Joanne Palmisano

Still one of my favorite Step by Step on DIY NETWORK — Make Your Own Walkway Holiday Lanterns. Project by Joanne Palmisano

A Halloween Walkway Sign, perfect for the front porch or sidewalk. Haunted Hotel Sign for DIY NETWORK by Joanne Palmisano. Easy online Step by Step.

Halloween Dream Catchers (or Nightmare Catchers) are so EASY TO MAKE!

Halloween Vases for a party! Just add yarn (and a fake spider or two).

Then there are lots of creepy spiders! See how on DIY NETWORK.

And if creepy is not your thing…how about an elegant pumpkin fall topiary. This front porch decor is perfect for the whole season and Thanksgiving.

STYLING WITH SALVAGE BOOK GOING STRONG!

Excited that my book, Styling with Salvage, photographed by the amazing Susan Teare, is doing well—only out six months it has gone to reprint. I know it is early for Christmas, but I hope you will consider it for a holiday gift idea to a friend or family who loves decorating, design or DIY with vintage finds, antiques, junk and salvage materials. It has received great reviews! Thanks everyone! You can grab it at your local bookstore, favorite online site or Amazon.

Stay in touch Via INSTAGRAM. I’ve posted some fun projects, DIY’s and pictures of my recent trip to Italy. Still dreaming about that sandwich at the vintage market in Tuscany.

Thanks for staying in touch :) Joanne

Practicing What I Preach...Adding Salvage and Recycled Materials Into Design Work

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!