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Northshore Home Fall 2018

Northshore Home magazine highlights the best in architectural design, new construction and renovations, interiors, and landscape design.

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28 FALL 2018 kitchens nshoremag.com/nshorehome/ The Person home is a mix of modern-meets-barn in all the best ways. Situated in one of Newburyport's newer neighborhoods, the home sits on what was once a 27-acre 19th-century farm. As such, farmhouse- inspired elements are given their due alongside more modern touches, including the bold color featured prominently on the kitchen island (it's Benjamin Moore's Newburg Green, for all who will undoubtedly want to know). Sleek Carrara marble countertops from European Quarry Imports in Salem, New Hampshire, are classic and modern at the same time, while spa- cious cabinets by Newbury Cabinets are as functional as they are beautiful. The dining table itself is crafted from wall panels from 19 Federal Street in Newburyport, and the hard-to- miss historic Woodbridge School of Newbury sign (circa 1898) is displayed above the kitchen entryway. A sliding French door is as much of a showpiece as it is a functioning door that hides the pantry when not in use. Behind it, the contents are likely to be the envy of many a homeowner, including a Marvel wine fridge, a full bar and arguably, the holy grail of kitchens—a second dishwasher. The floors are prefinished engineered white oak by Seacoast Floor Supply in South Hampton, New Hamp- shire, and are an understated nod to the house's farm history and another embodiment of Gagne's style, incorporating function, design, and historical elements seemingly effortlessly. But bringing stunning and often complex designs from paper to "real life" is anything but effort- less, and Gagne (who earned her Master of Interior Architecture from the Boston Architectural College) and her team like to get in on the ground level and be as involved in the process as they can from day one. Whether it's a full-scale renovation or addition, or brand-new construction, Gagne and her staff rou- tinely work with architects, general contractors, and builders to ensure every client's design is brought to life in the best way possible. The houses that Gagne designs are also homes in the truest sense of the word. In many instances children live in them, they are not design pieces to be ad- mired from afar but couches that are sat on, breakfast counters where toddler meals are eaten, spaces where friends are entertained, and homes where pets not only live but are loved. "I truly want to give people the abil- ity to live comfortably in their home" says Gagne who believes it can still be a well-designed space. While design preferences can vary widely from client to client, many do crave a clean aesthetic, which often serves as a perfect backdrop—and an opportunity to add in "less-safe" design choices, like wallpaper, which, Gagne reassures, is not the lifetime commit- Spacious cabinets are as functional as they are beautiful to look at; the floors are prefinished engineered white oak, an understated nod to the house's farm history. ment it once was. Personal touches are worth it; design risks, no matter how great or small, are worth it in order to make your mark on a space. It just makes good design sense to "bring a little bit more of your person- ality" into the spaces you spend time in every day, says Gagne. Being comfortable and happy in a functional space isn't a concept that needs a lot of selling, but it does sound like a great place to get started. For contact information, see Resources on page 122.

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