Roxanne Jones Photography by David Petty

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Wow. That’s probably the first word you’ll utter as you enter Mayfair, Old York Historical Society’s 18th Annual Decorator Show House. The expansive historic estate on Route 1A in York Harbor, Maine has been restored to its turn-of-the-century elegance––with contemporary flair––by some of the region’s most talented and respected interior designers. And you can take it all in from July 14 through August 11.

Mayfair was built in 1903 as a summer home for H. Blanchard Dominick, a founding partner of Dominick and Haff of New York City, considered among the great American silversmiths of the nineteenth century (but often overlooked in comparison to such names as Tiffany and Gorham). The name Mayfair derives from one of Dominick and Haff’s silver patterns.

“It’s like walking through a fine interior design magazine in three dimensions,” says Cheryl Farley, community relations director of Old York Historical Society, of this year’s show house. “It’s a great source of inspiration to see how professionals interpret the spaces we all live in.”

The spaces at Mayfair—thirty-one in all––include four bedrooms, five bathrooms, a nursery and a nanny’s room, a living room, dining room, study, media room, kitchen and pantry, veranda, laundry room, and numerous stairways and landings. And each is a unique interpretation of a designer’s vision. Here’s a sampling of what you’ll see:

The juxtaposition of casual and formal in Mayfair’s pink-and-green dining room is evident in the material selection: traditional chinoisserie wallpaper, Roman shades with beaded trim, silk organza drapery, casual check chair upholstery, and a custom green wool rug with a cream starburst center and border.

A soothing and airy master bedroom
“When I walked into the master bedroom, I could see the ocean off in the distance,” says Anne Cowenhoven of Accent & Design in York, explaining what inspired her to use icy blues and creamy whites for this room’s color palette. “I thought it would make a wonderful space for subtle colors that would be soothing and airy on a hot summer day.”

“I had seen this Hydrangea Matelassé fabric and always wanted to do a room with it,” she continues. “The soft, muted colors worked perfectly here.” Cowenhoven used the fabric for the spread covering the caned, French-style bed with an aged white finish. It’s centered under a bank of high windows framed by sheer linen drapery panels in a cool blue horizontal stripe aptly called “Seaglass.” A chaise in the sitting area, covered in a deeper blue cotton fabric, beckons you to sit back and enjoy the view.

The room’s coolness is countered by the warmth of mid-tone pine furniture pieces, including a striking armoire.
“This is a big house, and I’m sure the owners would have a lot of company,” she adds. “I wanted the master bedroom to be a nice retreat where they can escape and relax—to walk in and say, ‘Ahhh, this is so lovely.’”

When Mayfair’s owners are feeling sociable, they’ll enjoy entertaining their guests in the pink and green dining room designed by Melissa Kane, ASID, and Valerie B. Kyros of Inspired Interiors in Portland, Maine.

“We thought this room needed to fit with the style and age of the home, but also address today’s lifestyle,” Kane explains. “And this is a family home, so the dining room can be casual and formal at the same time.”

This juxtaposition is reflected in furnishings throughout the room. For example, the team’s inspiration started with “Chinese Landscape,” a Brunschwig & Fils chinoisserie wallpaper. Its traditional look and feel is countered by a silver starburst pattern wallpaper––on the ceiling. And while the designers used elegant silk organza for the window treatments, its pattern is a lighthearted pink polka dot.

“The home’s original owner was a silversmith, so we wanted to tie in this history,” says Kyros, referring to the silver stars in the wallpaper. “But they’re not traditional stars; they’re more whimsical. We like to bring a bit of whimsy and fun into everything we do.”

Boy’s bedroom says “fun”
There’s a sense of fun in Andrew’s Room, too. This child’s bedroom, designed by Nancy Twomey of Finnian’s Moon in Rye, N.H. delivers an unexpected jolt with its unusual color combination of a pale gray-blue and a rich red-orange. The inspiration for the color palette was a series of framed prints of letters of the alphabet Twomey found through a stationery company.

“I also wanted to combine a little contemporary flair with classic furnishings,” she says. Case in point: the traditional Shaker-style four-poster twin bed adorned with playful star-and-moon finials.

“Even though I used orange, a bright color, on some of the other furnishings, there’s not a lot of other action in the room; you might even say it’s under-decorated,” she notes. “Kids’ rooms tend to be messy places, so the tidier they are to begin with, the better. I wanted to create a space that feels calm and serene.”

Good cause, great fun
The annual Old York Decorator Show House is the historical society’s major fundraiser. Proceeds support the organization’s educational programs, special events, and general operating fund. “We’re happy to have found an event that resonates with the public,” says Farley, noting that the show house has sustained its popularity for eighteen years, attracting between 4,500 and 7,000 visitors each year.

“This event is a win-win-win proposition,” she adds. “Visitors get inspiration for decorating their own homes. The designers have the opportunity to show their work to a wider audience. And Old York is able to engage the community and enhance awareness of our work. Plus, it’s really fun!”