Gyprock plasterboard brings architect’s vision to life at Maroubra home

Sarah Golombek and Bryan Laskowski, who moved to downtown Marblehead seven years ago, have been renovating their 3,900-square-foot antique home with the goal of creating a space that reflects their personalities and suits their young family. They enlisted Carly Blackmore, founder of Habitat Design, to assist with the renovation, starting with a floor plan finessing and extending to the overall interior and exterior design. Golombek emphasized the importance of not waiting for their children to grow up to enjoy a beautifully designed home, and Blackmore's design focused on creating a functional and playful environment for their five and eight-year-old children. The initial project involved devising an exterior color scheme. Blackmore utilized the interior palette and Golombek's preferred wardrobe colors as inspiration, ultimately painting the front and side doors an unexpected shade of chartreuse. This vibrant color extends cheerfulness into the entry hall, complemented by an antique brass lobster knocker and a lively Dash & Albert indoor/outdoor rug with an Indian palace-inspired graphic, which visually draws the eye up the stairs. The formal living room, despite its designation, is designed for family use, with a lacquered grasscloth cabinet by Bungalow 5 strategically placed to conceal children's toys and maintain a tidy appearance. Blackmore's aesthetic choices were influenced by the home's coastal location, moving beyond typical nautical themes to reflect Golombek's "wicked sense of humor." The misty gray/blue walls served as a foundation for the color scheme. A standout element is the "Sparrows2" fabric by Kravet Couture, used on an armchair, while Chinese Chippendale chairs lacquered in robin's egg blue with apricot jacquard cushions add vibrant accents. Neutral sofas and a rug ensure that these colorful elements pop. To improve the room's flow, a wall was opened at the other end of the fireplace, creating a connection to a newly added mudroom and making the living room less of a dead-end space. The mudroom, a crucial addition, features a radiant heat floor, beadboard, and built-ins. Accessories in the mudroom, such as a cushion made from a modern, magical toile with Asian influences in persimmon, mustard, and blues, link back to the living room's design. This space serves as the family's main entry point and addresses the previous lack of a coat closet on the first floor. The kitchen underwent a significant transformation from a cramped, dysfunctional area with an angled peninsula to an open, airy, and bright space. The new kitchen includes quartz counters, a hydrangea-blue center island with four Serena & Lily stools, and a layout conducive to communal cooking and entertaining. Design details in the kitchen include elongated subway tiles set in a herringbone pattern extending to the ceiling and unlacquered brass hardware, which adds a soft glow and texture without excessive cost. The passage connecting the main kitchen and butler's pantry was widened and reconfigured. Previously cluttered with cabinetry, a bulky fridge, and double wall ovens, it now features a streamlined design with the fridge recessed into a niche and all functions consolidated on one side with sleek pantry cabinets flanking a coffee/smoothie station. The design thoughtfully considers the kitchen's visibility from the entryway, with the end of the island and white glass globe pendants serving as eye-catching elements. The overall renovation, particularly Blackmore's changes, transformed the first floor's previous loop layout into an "infinity layout," contributing to the home's designation as a "forever house" by the homeowners. #HabitatDesign #MarbleheadHome #HomeRenovation #InteriorDesign #AntiqueHome #FamilyFriendlyDesign #KitchenDesign #MudroomDesign #ColorScheme

Living Swell, a design studio and boutique in Marblehead’s Old Town, is led by founder and principal designer Diana James. The establishment embodies a coastal elegance, blending the unique natural light of Marblehead, characterized by expansive sky and water, into its aesthetic. Living Swell functions as a dual entity: a retail boutique offering home accessories, décor, lighting, rugs, kitchenware, and gifts, and a comprehensive interior design studio. James and her team provide a range of services, from assisting with minor selections like light fixtures or window treatments to managing extensive residential and commercial renovation projects. Diana James developed an early interest in design, building dollhouses as a child. Her professional journey initially led her into telecom after college in Boston. However, a pivotal experience designing a restaurant for a friend, who recognized her talent and encouraged her pursuit of design, marked a turning point. James subsequently immersed herself in the design industry, joining the IFDA (International Furnishings and Design Association), networking with seasoned designers, and engaging in extensive self-study. She gained experience with companies such as Hunter Douglas and California Closets before establishing Living Swell. The business transitioned from a smaller location on Atlantic Avenue to a larger, historic building on Washington Street in Old Town approximately a year and a half ago. The current space, nearly double in size, includes a showroom kitchen designed for hosting parties, events, and client consultations. The interior design of the studio itself reflects Living Swell’s core principles, featuring grass-cloth walls, sophisticated lighting, high ceilings, layered textures, and a blend of elegant and whimsical elements. The overall ambiance is bright and coastal, aligning with the brand’s identity. Living Swell continuously updates its inventory, with a recent focus on spring and summer collections. James notes a shift in design trends from an earlier preference for gray tones to warmer palettes and vibrant colors. The resurgence of interesting shapes, intricate details, darker wood furniture, and antique rugs also influences their selections. The boutique carries a unique line of tableware that emulates antique serving pieces with ruffled designs, alongside rich fabrics and wallpapers. In addition to retail and design services, Living Swell hosts “Living Swell Sessions,” a series of events aimed at teaching practical design skills. Recent workshops have covered topics such as styling a front entryway and decorating around a fireplace. One popular session allowed participants to design their own pillows using fabrics from Living Swell’s collection, which were then custom-crafted by in-house artisans. James views Living Swell not merely as a business but as an extension of her personal passion, allowing her to live authentically and share her love for design with others. #InteriorDesign #Marblehead #CoastalElegance #HomeDecor #DesignStudio #Boutique #Renovation #DesignTrends #Workshops

The ancient building technique of plasterwork is experiencing a modern resurgence, transforming walls and ceilings into elevated aesthetic elements within homes. Jimmy Sanfilippo, through his company Sparrow Plaster and Tile, has been a central figure in bringing specialized plasterwork to Vineyard homes for nearly three decades. His work blurs the lines between trade and art, emphasizing functional, durable, and aesthetically pleasing outcomes. Sanfilippo's approach is distinguished by his willingness to undertake complex, creative, and physically demanding projects, continuously learning and imparting his extensive knowledge to his team. He works with plaster, a delicate mixture of lime, gypsum, sand, and water, which is highly sensitive to environmental factors such as humidity, heat, and air circulation, as well as the concentration of aggregates and water temperature. These variables become even more critical when working with curved surfaces, domes, barrel vaults, or cast moldings, or when incorporating integral color pigments or marble-like Venetian finishes. Sanfilippo prioritizes high-quality, time-intensive jobs using superior and often rare materials. He transitioned from drywall in the mid-eighties as he found it becoming too generic. His specialization lies in the esoteric aspects of artisanal wall surfaces, particularly plastering over wirework for complex shapes like barrel vaults and domes, which cannot be achieved with Sheetrock. This process involves multiple layers, each requiring precise and consistent curing to prevent future cracks, making meticulous preparation essential before mixing the plaster. Teamwork is fundamental to Sanfilippo's plastering projects. He divides areas into sections, assigning each to a worker, and the crew collaboratively determines the exact amount and consistency of plaster needed for each section, accounting for individual working styles and area specifics. This collaborative approach ensures a cohesive and beautiful final product, fostering a sense of shared accomplishment rather than competition. Plasterwork offers significant longevity due to its material durability and its ability to expand and contract with environmental changes, making it resistant to seasonal shifts and humidity. Aesthetically, a hand-tooled plaster ceiling or wall imparts a distinct, handcrafted quality that integrates seamlessly with other artisanal elements like handmade floors and custom woodworking, creating a unified sense of craftsmanship within a home. While much of his work is on Martha's Vineyard, Sanfilippo also undertakes projects in New York City, drawn by innovative architectural designs that challenge his skills. He has collaborated with restaurateur Keith McNally on several projects, including Pravda and Pastis, and McNally's Vineyard home. A notable project for McNally involved creating a unique layered plaster surface that was smooth yet revealed rougher inner layers, designed to absorb color washes differentially, resulting in a distinct visual and tactile effect. Sanfilippo stresses the importance of clients articulating their aesthetic preferences, often asking them to provide examples from magazines or descriptions of their existing decor to ensure the plasterwork complements the room's overall character, considering factors like rugs, furnishings, and room temperature. Historically, plastering is an ancient practice dating back nearly ten thousand years, used for protection, insulation, and sanitation. Early civilizations, including those in India, China, Jordan, and ancient Egypt (the pyramids were plastered), utilized it. Limestone in plaster acts as a mold inhibitor, a property leveraged by early Europeans to protect their walls. Even the indigenous people of Martha's Vineyard used a form of clay-concentrate mud plaster for their wetus, demonstrating the timeless principle of building with earth materials. Sanfilippo's journey into plastering began in his father's drywall business, where he developed a foundational understanding of construction. He later advanced his skills through an industrial arts program and eventually transitioned from drywall to plastering, taking a pay cut to learn and refine his craft, ultimately achieving mastery. His philosophy, as encapsulated by a shared quote, emphasizes that true artistry in his trade emerges when one works not only with hands and head but also with the heart. #Plasterwork #ArtisanalCraft #HomeDesign #InteriorFinishes #ArchitecturalDesign #BuildingMaterials #HistoricTechniques #CustomHomes #Craftsmanship