When Nina Mayfield’s clients in Hyannis Port were discussing their dreams for a dramatic interior design renovation, the choice to turn to Mayfield was an easy decision. Their main request was for Mayfield to create a vibrant and comfortable summer home where they could effortlessly enjoy themselves and entertain their friends and family. The designer, owner of Nina Mayfield Design, is a true pattern enthusiast, and has built a popular reputation for the sophistication and depth of her colorful designs that are fresh as a sea breeze off nearby Nantucket Sound. During the discussion of changes to be made to the home they had just purchased, one of their adult daughters requested that her bedroom include pink in the design. “This large bedroom was a really fun part of the home,” says Mayfield. “She wanted to keep some of the blue and white theme,” a color scheme Mayfield uses often in her clients’ coastal environments, “but asked that it primarily be pink.” The results are stunning, like the inside of a jewelry box. On the second floor, the daughter’s bedroom is quite large with ample home office space allowing for the flexibility to work remotely from the Cape. Mayfield painted the walls a light, soothing pink so that the fabrics could take center stage. She chose a Schumacher floral pattern for the drapes, Roman shades, and Euro pillows, festooning the room with blue-stemmed pink and coral flowers. At the foot of the bed, a Schumacher Ikat design of pink, blue, and white adorns the cushion on an ivory bamboo bench. The color scheme reverberates, while the bamboo provides a contrasting texture, one that echoes in other rooms. For the office/sitting area, Mayfield designed a custom chair and ottoman with Brunschwig & Fils’ iconic “Les Touches” fabric. Though Barbie is so “Summer of 2023,” and Mattel’s icon tends towards the hotter hues of shocking pink, one could see the evolved Greta Gerwig/Margot Robbie character quite content up here, perhaps curled up with a book or leading her team through a Zoom call.

While this upstairs bedroom doubles down on its pinks, the color is no anomaly within Mayfield’s overall design scheme. For the guest bedroom, also on the second floor, she explains, “I used a bright magenta floral block print for the pillows and roman shades.” Although blue is the primary color at work here, she says, “This pulls in the pink from the other room. It has a calming feel, and there’s a charming window seat that provides the perfect reading nook for guests to curl up with a good book.” Likewise, in a second, smaller downstairs guest room, pink reappears, this time in the form of elephants. The fabric Mayfield selected for the pillows, end stools, and Roman shades features a pattern of alternating pink and green elephants amid ferns on a blue background, pairing whimsically with the twin white spool beds. She says, “Their houseguests love this teeny-tiny room. They feel tucked in, and cozy, and it’s perfect for kids. The fabric is by Charlotte Gaisford, a chic British designer who has colorful, whimsical patterns.” 

In fact, pink announces itself from the very start in Mayfield’s revision of the home. The drapes in the entryway—opposite the staircase—burst with it, and the white bamboo console table is flanked by Dunes & Duchess sconces with pink-trimmed shades. A pink and white shagreen catchall tray by ceramicist Elena Boiardi sits upon its surface.

When the clients took ownership of their Hyannis Port home, they were underwhelmed by its existing design and layout. Pale blue and white regency striped wallpaper covered nearly every inch of the first floor, which, given the house’s floorplan, created a hall-of-mirrors effect. The rooms lacked their own flavor and personality, and the shade of blue was neutral enough to feel dull or muted. Surrounded by a thicket of trees, it was also fairly dark inside. The place needed some enlivening. “The Texan owners, with their warm and gregarious spirit,” shares Mayfield “desired a colorful and welcoming home, ideal for hosting gatherings, where a sense of comfortable informality reigned, and nothing feels too precious.” 

The entryway was also confusing with four separate doors jammed into a small area, and the living, dining, and kitchen felt too separate from the outdoors. Builder Craig Ashworth, owner of Osterville’s E.B. Norris & Son, orchestrated structural changes that greatly improved the flow of the overall house. His team removed an unnecessary door in the living room and created a built-in window seat. Another door in the office was replaced with a window. French doors were added to the central dining room creating a great flow onto the terrace, thus bringing the outdoors in. Although they maintained the home’s secluded vibe—the family had named it Tucked Inn—they removed trees to let in more light. The entrance was simplified by rearranging the layout of a small powder room and the network of doors. “We built a proper entryway that reflects the character of the owners,” says Mayfield. “When you walk in, you’re immediately hit with color and you can tell it’s a fun summer house.” One of the ways Mayfield conveys that energy and call-to-action for ensuing fun, was once again through her deft use of pattern and color. “The draperies are blue and magenta—and I love how the blue and white Thibaut wallpaper pops.” 

Deeper within the interior, Tucked Inn received a few more physical changes. To expand the kitchen’s use and versatility, Ashworth installed a built-in beadboard banquette in the corner, creating a cozy nook for breakfast, tea, or lemonade on a hot day. Mayfield says, “For this additional seating, I used indoor/outdoor fabric—the cushions are Schumacher, and the pillows fabric is by Sister Parish. It’s all super durable, you can sit on it in a bathing suit.” 

Because of its openness to the dining area and now to the outdoors, the living room needed further delineation. “It’s like the hub of the house, but deciding on its layout, posed a challenge,” Mayfield says. She resolved the puzzle by introducing a custom sofa and loveseat perfectly scaled to the room, and she finished these off with custom pillows in Sister Parish and Clarence House fabrics. Both designs are in blue and white, but of differing shades and patterns: one depicts a tropical/safari theme, while the second contrasts with a simple abstract tree shape. The ottoman cushions—dotted in a blue stingray pattern—thematically tie-in with the textured blue ceramic lamp on the sideboard, a piece of art that feels like an exquisite shell retrieved from the depths of the ocean. In addition, the room’s wicker and bamboo elements provide textural juxtaposition against the smoothness of the marble fireplace, and a blue and white rug helps tie the room together while introducing even more texture.  

As the structural pieces of the remodeling fell into place, Mayfield continued to redefine Tucked Inn’s interior landscape by providing texture across its individual spaces, using elements such as spooled bedframes and chairs; the caned sideboard in the living room and octagonal mirror frame in the dining room; wicker chairs; the grass cloth wallcoverings on the dining room’s walls and sideboard. “This gives a layered look,” she explains. “There’s a series of patterns repeating throughout the home.” Along with color, these details provide definition as one moves from one room to the next. For example, in the downstairs Jack-and-Jill bathroom she says, “The tortoise shell blind and the textured caned mirror offer a gentle contrast to the soft blue and white floral wallcovering.” Although blue and white feature prominently, their application is thoughtfully nuanced as Mayfield has deployed them in a wide variety of ways. “I had fun with the dining room, this room definitely highlights our dedication to detail, especially the precise color match between the pastel blue trim and the floral design on the grass cloth wallpaper. The result is a really polished, integrated look.” 

For the tiny powder room, Mayfield’s innate understanding of where and how to use wall coverings in powerful, yet subtle ways is on display. She introduced another shade of blue in wallpaper from Palm Orleans called “Oysters Jubilee,” a design where the white outline of oyster shells appear to rotate around the hub of a wheel in a way that evokes perpetual motion while simultaneously resembling a still life. In the entryway proper she chose a more abstract design featuring shapes that conjure up images of fireworks, a bloom of bee balm, or anemones waving up from a coral reef. She opted for a shade of aquamarine for this pattern, foregrounded upon white. In the dining room, she went more explicitly floral with the design, but she says, “Here, the blue is like a hydrangea, with purple hues.” Because of the texture of the grass cloth, the printing looks almost like it was pressed with woodcuts. In the green bedroom, which she designed for the owners’ other adult daughter, she painted the walls in “Sweet Bluette” that she cut in half, “so that it’s very faint, with just the hint of color, more of an off-white.” She calls it the “Green Room” because, she says, “I was inspired by the Carleton V green and periwinkle mosaic fabric that I used on the Euro pillows,” which she paired with block-printed Schumacher linen roman shades. In the primary bedroom, she opted for more blue and white, including custom sconces and a lumbar pillow in a Sister Parish fabric, Pindler windowpane-plaid drapes, and Schumacher upholstery. If you’ve noticed a theme here, it’s because many of Mayfield’s favorite fabric companies reappear in multiple areas, though usually in different designs and/or colors. For instance, she says, “I just adore Sister Parish’s designs, so I used a lot of their textiles throughout the house.” 

Mayfield recently opened an office/studio on Main Street in Osterville, which has helped her expand Nina Mayfield Design as she is in the midst of designing multiple homes. She notes, “All of our current projects are on the Cape with the exception of a Florida project.” 

For Tucked Inn, she says she loved collaborating with the owners. “I worked closely with them,” she says. “They trusted the process and really let my creativity run, they said to go for it from top-to-bottom.” During the process of getting the home to the final stage, the owners would email when they arrived after extended absences. “They were so lovely to work with and really valued my experience and expertise to guide them through the project. It was truly rewarding,” says Mayfield. “They’d write that every time they came back was like Christmas morning. The icing on the cake though is seeing the family enjoy the house alongside major life moments like the daughter’s wedding weekend and welcoming their granddaughter.” 

Chris White is a frequent contributor to Cape Cod HOME, and finds adventure whenever he can as a travel writer. His day job finds him teaching English at Tabor Academy in Marion.

The post Pretty In Pink (and Blue and White) appeared first on Cape Cod LIFE.

When interior designer Laurie Gorelick, principal of Cape Cod-based Laurie Gorelick Interiors, decided to sell and move from a 10-room house in South Natick, she and her husband downsized considerably. “We moved into a small rental,” she recalls, “and only kept what would work in the rental, and some sentimental items I couldn’t part with.” 

This move marked a new chapter for the business—which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year—as the decision to live full-time on the Cape also translated to interior design jobs that are focused on the surrounding area, with more projects near to home. Gorelick is a pro at furnishing a house from top to bottom, but what sets apart her approach is that she is an advocate for keeping the old things you love. Her own home illustrates how deliberately keeping those things that are meaningful; items that are a part of your past, and affording them a starring role in your future, can offer a deeply foundational connection to your home as they inspire a layered and thoughtful design. 

“When we went house-hunting on Cape Cod, I looked for a home in which our furnishings would work,” Gorelick explains. “With the exception of the guest bedroom, we re-purposed all of the furnishings from our original home and rental.” The new house had been fully updated two years before as a flipped investment, so Gorelick didn’t have to attend to the bones, just the hide, and as she says, “I just had to ‘zhuzh up’ what didn’t work for me. That wasn’t at all difficult for me—I’m confident in my style preferences and I knew how I wanted the home to reflect them.”

During the construction two years before, the builder had addressed updating the kitchen and bathrooms, and had opened the living area to maximize the flow between the living, dining and kitchen areas, thereby making the modest home acceptable to Gorelick and her husband. “I felt I could live with the way things had been done and only change what bothered me and decorate the rest.”

Although Gorelick specializes in new builds and renovations, for her own home most of the decisions she made were more decorative than architectural. In the bathrooms, she replaced the builder-grade countertops, sinks, faucets, mirrors and lighting, and added wallpaper. In the living area she instantly gave the home a sense of history as well as a sense of place by replacing faux wainscoting with shiplap. The traditional colonial fireplace mantle was as she states, “…out-of-scale with the proportions of the house and didn’t mesh with the vision I had for the space. I replaced it with tile I had previously discovered and fallen in love with. The final touch was to top it with a reclaimed wood beam.”

For the intimate space of the dining room where Gorelick looks forward to extended evenings of conversation and sustenance, she says, “I knew when house-hunting that I wanted a dining room. I’m sentimentally attached to my dining room furniture—it’s from my childhood home and includes my grandmother’s china cabinet. The house had a room that the previous owner had used as a rec room; I designated it as my dining room and ‘zhuzhed’ it by adding a wainscot of board and batten and wallpaper above.”

In each of the rooms, Gorelick indulged her client (herself) in an even saturation of color making the spaces cohesively connect. Use of texture and patterns keeps the rooms from feeling weighted down with the richer hues. Gorelick says the color palette for the living room was drawn from a painting she bought years ago at High Point Market in North Carolina. The piece, with its teal, lavender, marigold and terracotta tones, now stands majestically over the warm and inviting space, “Subconsciously, these colors became the palette for the living area. Yet I didn’t realize it until after the process of choosing fabrics and accents!” she says with surprise.  

“My signature is mixing color and pattern in a playful way. I also like mixing old and new. I’m a proponent of sustainability,” says the LEED certified designer. “I’d rather re-purpose than buy new, even if it means spending more.” To that end, many of the furnishings in the house were pieces she had already owned and had re-upholstered or refinished to give them a fresh new life in her new home. While color, pattern and texture ground the space throughout Gorelick’s home, it is the unique and interesting choice and application of the accessories and accents that give this space a personality. 

“I like accessories to further the story the design is telling, short of becoming cliché or kitschy,” she explains. “For example, I don’t like when coastal homes are drenched in nautical motifs. Although my home is on Cape Cod, we live in it year-round. I didn’t want it to be purely coastal. I have accessories that nod to that genre when appropriate—like the bathroom that has the Fornasetti fish wallpaper. But mostly, I accessorize with objects that have meaning to me—things passed down, things I’ve collected on travels and the like.”

Gorelick says the overall design for the project is rooted in the many chapters of her life. “The vision I had for the project came from the things I already had and wanted to use, as well as furnishings I had been accumulating for ‘someday.’ For example, most of the rugs in the house I had purchased on a trip to Turkey in 2021—before I even knew how I would use them. I also often take screenshots of products I like and create galleries, not only for myself but for my clients. That’s how the guest room developed—from pictures I snapped of the wallpaper and the bed which gave me the look and feel that served as the foundation for the layers of detail that got added.”

As with most recipes for perfection, an intuition for what to add and what to include with restraint, results in memorable and exceptional outcomes. Such is the case with Gorelick’s understanding of how to successfully mix patterns. “Mixing pattern requires balance,” she advises. “I take into account the scale, rhythm, color and texture of adjacent furnishings. Typically, I use a motif to unite and harmonize what others may consider competing patterns. For example, in my living area, polka dots and zig-zags are repetitive elements that unite the rugs, tiles and textures in the room. This gives the patterns a reason to be part of the overall scheme. It is the relationship to something else that endorses it; and when it is done successfully, it is a very subliminal understanding.”

These tenets of design are what define Gorelick’s ability to apply the term “Colorific” as a definition of her design sensibilities. “I coined the term ‘Colorific’ around 2010 as a way to define my design niche. ‘Colorific’ embodied my style—then and now—because the salient feature of my designs is the mix and vibrancy of color I use.” While Gorelick acknowledges her use of color as a deliberate tool in her design toolbox, her wide variety of projects exemplify a keen understanding of the entire color wheel. In her own home, the choice of Gorelick’s colors reflect the depth of collective history her possessions have accumulated on their journey through a life well-lived. For other clients, the hues, shades and tones that speak directly to their lives are the cues she employs to create personally fulfilling environments for them. “With clients, I take color cues from them—after all, they will live in the house; I won’t. But I will intervene and provide professional guidance if their color predilections aren’t complementary to a space.”

This home is a modest one, with three bedrooms, two baths and a one car garage. And Gorelick says it fits perfectly for herself and her husband for the time being. “As our family expands—married children and grandchildren—we can create options, either by adding a second story or a wing.” She also says the proximity of the home has the best of two worlds. “We live in a neighborhood of similar homes, and I like not being in a seasonal neighborhood because I enjoy having neighbors who live here year-round like us. What works is its proximity to Boston. What benefits us is we are only three miles from the beach,” she says with a smile.

It took about nine months for Gorelick and her team to complete this personal project and says there are still some things on the design board—window treatments in the dining room and re-landscaping the back yard—but, all in all, her client is very pleased with the outcome. 

“The personality of the home is everything I am: nostalgic, sentimental, bohemian, and global,” she confirms. Kudos to Laurie Gorelick Interiors, another successful project and another happy homeowner. The 25th year of Laurie Gorelick Interiors continues to be “colorific”—and centered around living and working on Cape Cod—now that is something worth celebrating! 

Julie Craven Wagner is the editor of Cape Cod HOME.

The post Colorific 101 appeared first on Cape Cod LIFE.

Gustavo Rodrigues, owner of GR Custom Woodwork has been creating unique and beautiful woodwork for 20 years, building on a family tradition that extends from two generations before him. The custom projects produced by his company are more than just things; each piece is a work of living, usable art that occupies a place in the future history for each of his clients.

GR Custom Woodwork is based on Cape Cod and Rodrigues—who immigrated from Brazil, and established his business in 2009, to embark on a new journey of professional craftsmanship—has accomplished notable work for homeowners in the Boston area, as well as all over the entire Cape.  

The company commits to an unwavering investment in their customers’ satisfaction as they employ a rigorous process when working on custom projects. Their attention to detail and commitment to excellence are evident in every step, from the initial concept to the final installation, ensuring an exceptional client experience.

Each project begins with a detailed consultation to collect the client’s unique and individualized vision and needs, which informs the design component. Utilizing 3-D design technology to create elaborate schematics for every project before ever touching a piece of wood, Roderigues and his team are able to involve the client at every step. When questions arise, the company works with clients to create a positive outcome. “We are here to work through any obstacles,” Rodrigues says as they are skillfully able to create an exact replica that consistently exceeds all expectations while adding their own subtle touches of artisan techniques.

After a design is agreed upon, the company begins fabrication. From sleek and elegant inset panel cabinets to intricately detailed crown molding. Every item is built-to-order in Rodrigues’s workshop, ensuring stringent quality standards are met every step of the way.

GR Custom Woodwork blends style and function into every project. Utilizing decorative edges and symmetrical designs helps the team craft utilitarian storage and shelves without compromising the interior design of a space. In kitchens, the team makes ample use of built-in Lazy Susan organizers and swivel shelves to help homeowners use every inch of space.

Other interesting custom accommodations include specially designed drawers to hold coffee pods, wall and ceiling paneling, and impressive built-in bunk beds, ideal for a children’s room or communal area with additional sleeping options.

For those with a shopping addiction, GR Custom Woodwork specializes in creating bespoke closets tailored to each client’s unique requirements. Do you require more long-hanging space than the average person? Do you own more shoes than you could ever wear? Rodrigues is ready to help design a solution that works for you.

While custom cabinetry and wood projects are their specialty, Rodrigues and his team are also able to install doors, pre-existing materials, and manufactured cabinets. “Our installation pros only employ first-rate tools and equipment to always accomplish high-quality results,” he says. After installing projects, Rodrigues continues his open line of communication with clients, allowing final changes to be made. 

GR Custom Woodwork is available to work on any project, despite size or budget. Whether you’re looking to renovate an entire home with custom cabinetry throughout, create a statement piece for your dining room, or simply upgrade a few kitchen drawers, Rodrigues and his team bring the same level of dedication and skill to every job.

To start your own conversation with GR Custom Woodworking email them at info@grcustomwoodwork.com or visit their website at grcustomwoodwork.com.

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In December 2023, Renata Silva and her husband Rodrigo stumbled upon a game-changing discovery that would marry their passions for entrepreneurship and interior design: Ecodecor, the captivating natural material wall coating. Recognizing the opportunity to serve clients’ interior and exterior needs with their existing land and hardscaping company, the Silvas eagerly pursued this new venture.

Ecodecor originated in Brazil in 2011 and expanded to the United States in 2022. The Ecodecor Hyannis showroom officially opened its doors on July 15, 2024, bringing unique and distinctive ecological home finishes to the Cape Cod area. 

The wall finishing is made from a liquid wallpaper material that consists of natural fibers, cellulose, cotton, polymers, and water-soluble adhesives. This unique composition makes Ecodecor anti-allergenic, fire-resistant, dust-repellent, and resistant to mold growth. Applied with ease using just water, it leaves behind a flawless finish with no seams. The versatility means it is perfect for any space. Additionally, there is no odor associated with the installation of the product: clients can comfortably inhabit spaces where Ecodecor is installed on the very same day.

Renata bursts with optimism about Ecodecor, as she shares her enthusiasm with potential clients who may at first be hesitant or lack understanding. The unfamiliarity of the product can seemingly be too good to be true. But once they step into the Hyannis showroom, potential clients are quickly convinced. “It’s so different in person than in pictures and videos,” Renata enthuses. “You have to come to experience the product, touch it, and see it for yourself,” she says.

Ecodecor’s wide variety of design choices dazzles clients with an array of finishes, including linen and natural stone for customers looking for a classic aesthetic. Renata favors the Elite, Versailles, and Victoria lines. Each provides a specific luxurious look: the Versailles includes lustrous silk threads, and the Victoria features textured silk. In total, the company offers over 300 unique finishes for clients to admire.

Visit their impeccable showroom located at 326 Main Street in Hyannis to view this extraordinary product and see how it can transform your spaces or find them online at usaecodecor.com or call (339) 201-1191. 

The post Spotlight: Ecodecor appeared first on Cape Cod LIFE.

When Alex Lang walked into Lily’s Florist and Gifts, she was seeking color. “I wanted that feeling that color brings to a gray winter,” she says. 

Lang, a native Cape Codder, grew up surrounded by flowers. “My grandparents always had a garden—snapdragons and phlox—or flowering bushes, hibiscus, and lilacs,” she shares.

Her interest in color and florals led her to study botany and horticulture at Cape Cod Technical High School, and at the prestigious Stockbridge School of Agriculture at UMASS Amherst. After an internship in North Carolina at a flower shop where she learned the intricacies of design—her desire to open her own shop was solidified. 

Determined, she ran her own landscape company in order to save money for a business one day, “It was rewarding, to see the end result and know I had touched everything in the process,” Lang says. 

But Cape Cod winters are often long and dreary, so Lang found herself walking into Lily’s Florist and Gifts in her town of Yarmouth, in the hopes of not only finding color but also to return to her “roots” of floral design. The business has been a mainstay over 20 years, and at the time of her visit, was operating under its third owner, who was looking forward to retirement. Beloved local businessman, Bob Sabatalo, recognized a kindred spirit in Lang and hired her, mentoring and allowing her to spread her creative wings. They developed not only a friendship, but also a plan for Lang to purchase the business. Sadly, just as flowers don’t remain with us long enough, Sabatalo passed, after a battle with cancer. 

Lang has continued on as the owner of Lily’s and is the friendly—and knowledgeable—face behind the counter. While cleaning one day, she came across the resume she had eagerly brought Sabatalo. It hangs in the shop, serving as a reminder of how her dream to share her love for color and design, is a dream realized. 

Skillfully, she brings color galore all year long to Lily’s through local blooms, and off-season, by importing flowers from across the globe. Lang’s philosophy on the beauty and importance of florals is poignant, “I think flowers are meant to help us live in the present. They show us their beauty and then they’re gone. They aren’t meant to last forever; they’re meant to remind us to enjoy the present and be happy.” 

Visit Lang and her team of dedicated professionals at the shop in Holly Plaza at 1049 Route 28 or online at lilysfloristandgifts.com. 

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Reliable Fence Co. of Cape Cod has proudly served Cape Cod residents for decades, offering exceptional fencing solutions that blend durability, beauty, and craftsmanship. As a family-owned business, Reliable Fence has built a reputation for providing top-tier service to homeowners and businesses alike, always focusing on quality and customer satisfaction. With deep roots in the community, they are committed to enhancing the beauty and security of Cape Cod homes, one fence at a time.

Spring brings thoughts of renewal and improvement. In preparation for summer, Reliable Fence is excited to help homeowners make the most of their outdoor spaces, the cornerstone of relaxation here on Cape Cod. 

Looking to enhance your garden with a decorative fence? Their impressive garden fences can provide a charming border for your landscaping, while their customizable arbors create an inviting entrance to your garden or outdoor retreat. Outdoor shower season is almost upon us and Reliable Fence Co. of Cape Cod offers durable and attractive shower enclosures too. These versatile additions not only add aesthetic value but also create practical solutions for your outdoor living.

Whether you want to add privacy to your backyard, secure your pool, keep your pets safe, or create a serene outdoor oasis with a custom arbor, Reliable Fence is the trusted partner to bring your vision to life. Their expert team can also help with innovative additions that offer both function and privacy—perfect for outdoor spaces that demand style and seclusion.

Building upon a legacy of excellence, Reliable Fence Company is proud to continue serving the Cape Cod community, ensuring every project meets the highest standards. As you work on enhancing your Cape Cod home, consider the expertise and reliable craftsmanship that Reliable Fence brings to every project. They are more than just a fence company—they are your trusted partner in transforming your home and garden. Reach out today and discover how Reliable Fence Co. of Cape Cod can help you create the perfect outdoor space.

546 Higgins Crowell Rd, West Yarmouth, MA • (508) 775-7500 • reliablefence.com

The post Spotlight: Reliable Fence Co. of Cape Cod appeared first on Cape Cod LIFE.