Wenham | Northshore Magazine

Inside Sebastian Carpenter’s Home

Architect and designer Sebastian Carpenter turned a once-forgotten Wenham house into the daring and contemporary home of his dreams. By Regina Cole, Photographed by Eric Roth

It could be said that the lot on which designer Sebastian Carpenter’s home sits was cursed. Its first occupant, a grand Georgian Revival built in 1916, burned down 34 years later. The house erected in its place—a comparatively lackluster 1950s structure with brick and cedar siding and a flat roof—eventually fell into disrepair after years of neglect, with prospective buyers turned off by its awkward, boxlike proportions. But the lot overlooking Wenham Lake was enough to convince Carpenter and his wife, Elisabeth, to take it. The pair purchased the house—the kind of fixer-upper they’d been hoping to find—and promptly went to work on a total transformation that took three years to complete.

Today, the front door of the 5,500-square-foot house leads into a gleaming white marble entry. White is a background color used throughout the contemporary house. “Not off-white,” says Carpenter, who studied architecture and design at the University of Virginia, Yale, and London’s Chelsea College of Art. “I’m a modernist: I like spaces that are clean and light, and I keep colors to a minimum. But on the other side,” he adds, “I want things soft, comfortable, and inviting.” With two young kids, those qualities were as much a prerequisite as they were a preference .

Carpenter’s style developed in London after the couple “spent a lot of weekends visiting big historic houses in the country.” In London, he began working as an interior designer. “My orientation became more contemporary as I was exposed to the work of the great modernists like Mies. I especially came to love the work of Paul Kjaerholm; I have pieces of his furniture. “[Modernists’] influence taught me to see differently: I started treating spaces like works of art, instead of just as space to fill.” Of course, any home must be somewhat filled with furniture, much of which in Carpenter’s home he designed himself, only adding to the newfound appeal of this once-forgotten home.

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North Shore Design Show with Kevin O’Connor

kevin-oconnor_toutlarge Kevin O’Connor, host of PBS’s “This Old House” and “Ask this Old House” serves as Honorary Chairperson of the 2010 North Shore Design Show to be held Saturday –Saturday, May 15 – 22 to benefit the Wenham Museum. The finest interior designers from around the region will showcase their talents by creating one-of-a-kind vignettes that honor the museum’s mission celebrating the history and culture of Boston’s North Shore, and the artifacts of childhood and New England family life.

Scroll down on this page for the complete event schedule.

Click here to read the feature story on Kevin O’Connor in the latest issue of Northshore!

From a contemporary living room incorporating sustainable design, to a soignée lady’s dressing room reminiscent of the nineteenth century, to the game room of a female North Shore athlete of the early 20th century, visitors will delight in museum galleries transformed into designers’ “favorite spaces,” bringing history and tradition up to the present day through contemporary interior design.

Firms including Wilson-Kelsey Design of Salem, Finn-Marten Design of Beverly Farms, Siemasko + Verbridge of Beverly, Honey Collins Interior Design of Essex, and Camille Garro Interiors of Newton, and others convey their unique design skills while showing their support for the Wenham Museum, one of the North Shore’s treasured cultural venues.

The week-long event kicks off with a gala Preview Party on Friday, May 14, from 6:30 to 9:30, where guests will be greeted by the Honorary Chairman and designers, and enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Programs and events are planned during the Show including:

• A reception and talk with Honorary Chair Kevin O’Connor will be held the evening of Wednesday, May 19th, at 7 p.m. (Admission is $25; $20 for museum members; free for Preview Party attendees.)

• On Sunday, May 16th at 2 p.m., Consulting Designer Lisa Bonneville, FASID, of Bonneville Design (2008 inductee New England Design Hall of Fame) will offer a lecture titled: “Favorite Spaces: The Design behind the Decorating.” The lecture is included free with admission to the Design Show.

• A Meet-the Designer breakfast will be held on Friday, May 21st at 9 a.m. Visitors will enjoy a private tour of the Design Show and then a continental breakfast with the designers at The Exchange at the Wenham Tea House ($25; in advance only). Additional programs are scheduled throughout the week.

• Free-with-admission Lectures will be offered by Jerry Arcari of Landry & Arcari Oriental Rugs & Carpets (Saturday, May 15, 11 a.m.), Sally Wilson of Wilson Kelsey Design (Saturday, May 15, 2 pm), and Kim Smith, of Kim Smith Garden Design (Saturday, May 22, 11 a.m.)

Please visit www.wenhammuseum.org for more information and a calendar of events.

Tickets for the Preview Party are $75 and must be purchased in advance. Tickets to the Show are $15 in advance ($12 for museum members in advance) and $20 at the door. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Wenham Museum at 978-468-2377.

Located on Boston’s North Shore, the Wenham Museum is a family-friendly, hands-on history museum celebrating childhood and New England family life across four centuries. The museum explores how New Englanders have lived, worked, dressed, and played from the 17th century to today through its c.1690 Claflin-Richards House, a world-renowned doll collection, dollhouses, costumes and textiles, model trains, toys, historic photographs, the interactive Family Discovery Gallery, and special changing exhibitions. Wenham Museum is a section 501(C)3 non-profit organization.

The Museum is located at 132 Main Street in Wenham, MA, (978) 468-2377, www.wenhammuseum.org. Hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 10 AM to 4 PM. Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for children ages 1-16.

Program & Event Schedule

*All presentations are free with Show admission unless otherwise noted.

For ticketed programs, please call Wenham Museum at 978-468-2377.*

Saturday, May 15

11 a.m.: Finding a Family Heirloom – Jerry Arcari of Landry & Arcari, Salem and Boston, MA, speaks on how to choose a quality oriental rug that will become a family heirloom. Landry & Arcari is the Oriental Rug & Carpet sponsor of the 2010 North Shore Design Show.

2 p.m.: Renovation Transformation – Sally Wilson, of Wilson Kelsey Design, Salem, MA, presents the story of the top-to-bottom make-over of a Prides Crossing Carriage House, with illustrative before and after photos, and tips on what to do and what not to do. Presentation and Q & A will focus on challenges, design process, solutions, and prescriptions for success.

Sunday, May 16

2 p.m.: The Design Behind the Decoration – Join 2009 New England Design Hall of Fame inductee, Lisa Bonneville of Bonneville Design, Manchester, MA, to learn the steps you need to take to create favorite spaces in your own home — places where you feel most comfortable and nurtured and where you and your family and friends experience a sense of well being, places where you can be safe while pursuing your fondest dreams. Lisa Bonneville is author of The Safe Home – Designing for Safety in the Home, published by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and available at www.asid.org.

Wednesday, May 19

7 p.m.: An Evening With Kevin O’Connor:

This Old House at 30 – North Shore Design Show Honorary Chairman Kevin O’Connor, host of PBS’s This Old House and Ask This Old House, looks back on the past 30 years of the venerable PBS program and welcomes you at a wine and cheese reception. In addition to hits, highlights, and favorite moments Kevin will also share what’s new and coming up for the next season. Tickets: $20 Members; $25 Non-members; Free to Preview Party Attendees. Advance registration required.

Friday, May 21

9 to 11 a.m.: Meet the Designers Breakfast – Enjoy a private tour of the North Shore Design Show and an opportunity to ask participating designers your decorating and style questions. Adjourn together to The Exchange at the Wenham Tea House, across the street from the Wenham Museum, for a delightful continental breakfast and more conversation.

Tickets: $25; Advance registration required.

Saturday, May 22

11 a.m.: The Fragrant Path – Landscape designer Kim Smith, of Kim Smith Designs, Gloucester, MA, shares the secrets of designing a garden that will intoxicate you with fragrance all season long.

Mommies Who Shop

Title: Mommies Who Shop
Location: Hamilton Wenham Community Center – Hamilton
Link out: Click here
Description: Visit the Hamilton Wenham Community Center, located at 284 Bay Road in Hamilton on Thursday, May 7th, 2009 from 6pm-10pm.

Peruse a selection of handcrafted clothes, art, toys, books and gear for babies, kids and expecting moms by up-and-coming artists and designers.

Complimentary Spa treatments, wine bar, door prizes, silent auction, and more!

For more information, please email: info@mommieswhoshop.com, or visit: www.mommieswhoshop.com

Start Time: 18:00
Date: 2009-05-07
End Time: 22:00

Wenham Museum Announces Participating Designers for the May 2009 North Shore Design Show!

The North Shore Design Show being held Saturday and Sunday, May 16th and 17th, 2009 will highlight more than 15 top designers, including Sigrid Olsen and Lisa Bonneville. The event’s Honorary Chairwoman is Livia Cowan, Founder and President of Mariposa, Inc.

Former Fashion Designer, Sigrid Olsen is now designing for her new home products firm, Sigrid Olsen Art.

Designer Lisa Bonneville of Bonneville Design was inducted into the New England Design Hall of Fame recently in 2008 – who will also be highlighted at the design show.

Also participating are Carpenter & Macneille, Honey Collins, The Green Egg, Finn-Martens Design, Timeless Interiors, WWS Woodworks, Eye 4 Color, Willowdale, Robin Sears, Yvonne Blacker Interiors, Mimi, Landry & Arcari, and Jane Wykoff.

After orchestrating seven years of successful North Shore Antique Shows, the Wenham Museum Council transforms its yearly fundraising initiative into an exciting annual juried design event. The Council has invited decorators, design firms, and retailers to create one-of-a-kind TABLESCAPES to delight visitors and design aficionados from around the region.

The weekend-long event will kick-off with a gala Preview Party on Friday, May 15th, 2009, from 6:30pm to 9:30pm, where designers will greet guests.

Tickets for the Preview Party are $75 and may be purchased by calling the Wenham Museum at: (978) 468-2377.
The Museum is located at 132 Main Street in Wenham, MA, (978) 468-2377, www.wenhammuseum.org

North Shore Design Show to benefit the Wenham Museum

Title: North Shore Design Show to benefit the Wenham Museum
Location: Wenham Museum – Wenham
Description: Mariposa, Inc. President and Creative Director Livia Cowan serves as the Honorary Chairperson of the inaugural North Shore Design Show to be held Saturday and Sunday, May 16th and 17th, 2009 to benefit the Wenham Museum.

From an elegant wedding luncheon, to a garden tea, child’s fantasy birthday party, and environmentally friendly family room, designers showcase their creative talents in more than a dozen unique vignettes that honor the museum’s mission celebrating the history and culture of Boston’s North Shore and the artifacts of childhood and family life. Designers and firms such as Sigrid Olsen, Tuttle & Company, WWWS Woodworks, and The Green Egg sample their design services and offer lifestyle products while showing their support for the Wenham Museum, one of the North Shore’s treasured historic cultural sites.

The weekend-long event kicks off with a gala Preview Party on Friday, May 15th, 2009, from 6:30pm to 9:30pm, where designers will greet guests.

Tickets for the Preview Party are $75.
Tickets to the Show are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.
Tickets may be purchased by calling the Wenham Museum at: (978) 468-2377.

For more information, please contact Mary Barthelemes at: Mary.Barthelmes@wenhammuseum.org

The Wenham Museum is a family-friendly, hands-on history museum exploring how New Englanders have lived, worked, dressed, and played from the 17th century to today. The museum features the Claflin-Richard House c.1690, a world-renowned doll collection, dollhouses, costumes and textiles, model trains, toys, historic photographs, the interactive Family Discovery Gallery, and special changing exhibitions. Wenham Museum is a section 501(C) (3) non-profit organization.
The Museum is located at 132 Main Street in Wenham, MA, (978) 468-2377, www.wenhammuseum.org

Hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 10am to 4pm. Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors, and $5 for children ages 2-16.
Start Date: 2009-03-15
Start Time: 10:00
End Date: 2009-03-17
End Time: 16:00

Wenham, MA

Blink when you drive through the center of Wenham and you might just miss the whole thing. But if you take it slow, it’s easy to see why the locals work hard to maintain the tranquility and charm of this small North Shore town. Continue reading Wenham, MA

Tomie De Paola at The Gallery Della-Piana

Title: Tomie De Paola at The Gallery Della-Piana
Location: Wenham
Description: Tomie De Paola, world-famous Children’s Book author and artist, in a One-Man show at The Gallery Della-Piana, 152-R Main Street, Wenham, exhibiting his Original Art from “Strega Nonna” and others, as well as his brilliantly colorful personal paintings, from April 4th, 2009 through May 16th, 2009 encompassing Nat’l Children’s Book Week (April 29th-May 16th).

Gallery hours are Wednesdays-Saturdays 11am to 6pm, or by appointment.

Fore more information, please contact Elissa Della-Piana (owner/curator) at: (978) 468-1944.
Date: 2009-04-04

North Shore Design Show Tablescapes to benefit the Wenham Museum

Title: North Shore Design Show Tablescapes to benefit the Wenham Museum
Location: Wenham Museum – Wenham
Description: The Inaugural North Shore Design Show is to be held to benefit the Wenham Museum.

From an elegant wedding luncheon, to a garden tea, child’s fantasy birthday party, and enviormentally friendly family room, designers showcase their creative talents in more than a dozen unique vignettes that honor the museum’s mission celebrating the history and culture of Boston’s North Shore and the artifacts of childhood and family life. Designers and firms such as Sigrid Olsen, Tuttle & Company, WWWS Woodworks, and The Green Egg sample their design services and offer lifestyle products while showing their support for the Wenham Museum, one of the North Shore’s treasured historic cultural sites.

The weekend-long event kicks off with a gala Preview Party on Friday, May 15, from 6:30 to 9:30, where designers will greet guests. Ticksts for the Preview Party are $75.

Tickets $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

Please call the Wenham Museum for more information and ticketing at 978-468-2377
Start Date: 2009-05-16
Start Time: 10:00
End Date: 2009-05-17
End Time: 04:00