TEXT BY JEN DEROSE
PHOTOGRAPH BY EMILIE INC.
The interior designer and owner of Urban Dwellings in Portland on delineating an open plan, her favorite spring fix, and how cooking for a crowd aboard an 1871 schooner has influenced her work.
A creative solution we recently came up with is…
An eight-foot-tall, mid-century-style walnut partition. It divides an office/living space in an open-concept Cumberland home. I love how it combines aesthetic and function, as well as the contrast of rich wood with the surrounding white walls.
An easy way to update for spring is…
Flowers! I like to plant pots of hyacinths for the color and, of course, the scent. Skillins Greenhouses are one of my favorite nurseries to visit and source from. Potted hyacinth, $3.99. skillins.com
Every dinner party needs…
A spread on a beautiful charcuterie board. This one, originally used for baking bread, has a lovely grain and patina. Vintage German bread board, $80. urban-dwell.com
My favorite room to design is…
The kitchen. In a past life, I was a steward cook on the midcoast’s Lewis R. French schooner, and then on private charters, sailing as far as South America. With this background of cooking in small spaces, I love strategizing how to maximize every square inch.
I love to collect…
Hand-blown glass ornaments. The tradition began when I was a penniless college student — the ornaments were a gift to myself for surviving finals — and continues today. We all deserve a bit of beauty in our lives and it doesn’t have to be costly. Lobster Buoy Ornaments, $32 each. cascobayglass.com
The perfect front door color is…
High-gloss black. It makes such a strong statement about the design and style awaiting you inside. Sherwin-Williams Tricorn Black, $67.99/gallon. Sherwin-Williams stores
Future clients, please let me use…
These delicately proportioned, wood-and-glass tables. I love to present clients with pieces that cannot be found at big retailers — these feel as though they were custom made for the owner. Mastea Coffee Table Miniforms, $952–$1,199. lomuarredi.com
