The creative mind behind the 2023 Bar Harbor Designer Showhouse, broker and entrepreneur Kim Swan, banded together a group of talented designers to pull out all the stops in transforming a mansion on Hamilton Hill—one that had an unusual existing design, to say the least. Marked by black brick exteriors, Roman columns, a sweeping marble staircase, and an elephant statue, the potential for this site to be converted into something spectacular was not overt.
“I think everyone thought I was a bit nutty at first,” Kim laughs, recalling her initial surveys of the property with friends. Yet, this community-oriented mover and shaker connected a mycelium of the town’s collective memories and people to pull off a historic feat in Bar Harbor. Among the collective memories were her own. Growing up next to MDI Hospital in town (named the beneficiary of the 2023 Showhouse), she recalls the large “NO TRESSPASSING” signs that hung from the Hamilton Hill property, barring people from stepping foot on the site. “Many kids would break in,” Kim adds, “but I was a rule-follower”.
Impossible does not seem to exist in Kim’s vocabulary, and, one-by-one, prestigious designers in Maine’s community and beyond—including internationally recognized Nina Campbell—said yes to tackling the massive project of decorating this unsightly mansion. “Now, these designers are forever part of this amazing team,” Kim says. “They truly created a phenomenon. It’s amazing to be a part of that world.”
Though there is a beauty in timelessness, there is art in ephemerality. The Showhouse is full of the intersection of the two: The original house, once owned by Alexandra Hamilton’s nephew, burned down in 1947 during the great fires in Bar Harbor, and has been a part of the town’s history through its changing hands since then. While a landmark in Kim’s past—and many others who grew up on the island—the house is a shifting presence, one that has changed as dramatically in 2023 as it did in 1947. The mystery behind the trespassing signs has been dismantled, the black brick gone in favor of something lighter and more neutral, changing the landscape of Bar Harbor forever. Yet, the ephemeral wonder of this complicated canvas is the artistry created by the designers, making the house burn brightly again, defining a moment in time that was Summer 2023, before all the decor was stripped away.
As if the designers were given a theme—which they were not—each room flowed into the next seamlessly, animatedly. “That is a testament to the talent of these designers,” says Kim. “They could all sense subtleties from the view, pulling in the blue of the ocean and the landscape beyond. All of the bedrooms have this wistful, romantic feel. There wasn’t a single room that didn’t fit.” The maximalist, jaw-dropping designs that ensued demonstrate these designers’ fantastical and limitless imaginations. Stepping into the house—and, we hope, stepping into these pages—is like entering a portal directly into The Great Gatsby, where a giant elephant statue feels in place, and nothing is too over-the-top. The jungle theme, the Gilded Age inspiration, the brilliant wallpapers and patterns, and the art all came together to create an experience of which the likes of Bar Harbor had never yet seen (but we certainly hope will see again).
Though the Showhouse in its full glory only lasted a month, the impacts will be felt for a long time by the community. Kim shared the story of an emergency nurse at MDI Hospital (the nonprofit beneficiary of the 2023 Showhouse) who, pausing during her night shift, saw the brilliant, lit-up Showhouse against the deep sky and felt her relationship forever changed with the house on the island’s horizon. »
The Ballroom
Melanie Millner
The Design Atelier
Northeast Harbor & Atlanta, GA
Bringing back the allure of the Gilded Age and the liveliness of the Roaring Twenties, Melanie Millner of the Design Atelier balanced the existing elements of the ballroom space with the more austere spirit of Maine. Custom drapery from Holland & Sherry paired with pine-green wool fabric hearkens to the state’s natural flora.
Artwork courtesy of Artemis Gallery
Conservatory
Tim Harrington, Krista Stokes, Mark Cotto, and Morgan Gordon
Atlantic Hospitality, Kennebunk, ME
The magical trio of designers at Atlantic Hospitality includes Krista Stokes, Mark Cotto, and Morgan Gordon. Together, they created a sneak-peek of the soon to reopen Asticou Inn in the Conservatory. Given the easy rapport and design intellect of this group, it’s no surprise that they created a stellar room. “This was such a fun moment of the Showhouse,” Kim adds. “This preview of the Inn became a huge attraction. Tim called this a ‘living design board.’”
Landing
Terri & Gregg Scott
Designer & Architect, Northeast Harbor, ME
Terri and Gregg Scott have participated in every single Designer Showhouse that Kim Swan has thrown since 2009. This year, their inspiration came from the elephant statue in the foyer. They painted the walls of the landing a deep sage green, accentuating the architectural trim and marble staircase. A faux window is their tongue-in-cheek nod to the absence of a view to Bar Harbor and the islands beyond.
Artwork provided by Gallery at Somes Sound
Library
Nina Campbell
London, England
Many designers at the Showhouse were starstruck to work alongside Nina Campbell, an international interior design star. Nina centered her room, the library, around the idea that this would be the place for the couple to relax and enjoy their collection of objets d’art. She hopes they sit in the library after dinner, admiring the view and recalling the histories of their collected items. Many of the pieces she used are antique or made by craftspeople, demonstrating how you can mix the unique and unexpected together.
Bath
Annie Kiladjian & Larry Stoddard
Annie K. Designs, Portland, ME &
Distinctive Tile, Portland, ME
When Annie Kiladjian and Larry Stoddard first toured the home, she recalls the feeling of being whisked away to a different era in time, where glamour and opulence were at the core of life. “Nothing seemed like it was real!” says Annie. In keeping with the extravagance of the home, they wanted to add their own element of over-the-top. They achieved this look in the bath with a “Tile Mural” and portrait of Marilyn Monroe.
Primary Bedroom
Brett Johnson
Maine Street Design Co., Bath, ME
Hearkening to the feeling of entering a wilderness one might experience while in Acadia—a land shaped by glaciers and waves—Brett and his team created an elegant space that honored the relationship of humans living side-by-side with the forces and beauty of nature, and the temporary and precious balance of it all.
Area rug courtesy of Mougalian Rugs
Bedroom
Nicola Manganello
Nicola’s Home, Yarmouth, ME
One of Kim’s standout moments from the Showhouse was watching interior designer Nicola Manganello explain her design choices to global icon, Martha Stewart. It’s no wonder that this room had caught Martha’s eye—Nicola layered the space with whimsical color and texture combinations. She made her space a serene “boudoir-style” bedroom, explaining that she is drawn to intimate spaces that are intended to rejuvenate and inspire. With forest-themed wallpaper paired with soft-pink accents in the curtains and bedding, the room was at once sensual and playful.
Artwork courtesy of Moss Galleries
Bedroom & Bath
Leandra Fremont-Smith
Leandra Fremont-Smith Interiors, Yarmouth, ME
In designer Leandra Fremont-Smith’s bedroom and bath, she boldly mixed color in unexpected ways, with vibrant patterns and fabrics balanced to perfection. By embracing the views, she pulls in the rich tones of the ocean beyond to breathe new life into this space.
Artwork courtesy of Artemis Gallery
Bedroom
Louise Hurlbutt & Christina Hawkes
Hurlbutt Designs, Kennebunk, ME
Inspired by the view of Frenchman Bay and the Porcupine Islands, Louise Hurlbutt and her design team recreated the landscape indoors. A carved mahogany four-poster bed complemented the existing wood finishes in the room while adding height. The custom lampshades, upholstery, and pillows added a layer of sophistication, while the sky-colored area rug and grass-green wallcovering evoked nature. An original Craig Mooney oil painting showcased the beauty of the Maine Coast.
Artwork courtesy of Maine Art Hill
Bedroom
Tim Murphy
Tim Murphy Studios, Northeast Harbor, ME
Tim Murphy, a local designer in Northeast Harbor, created a bedroom with a color palette for all seasons, balancing masculine and feminine details. He opted for a delicate wallpaper showcasing birds and flowers. For this space, he was drawn to scarlet and Bruton White from Benjamin Moore for the color palette. He added patterns, whimsical elements, and a few contemporary pieces and antiques to match the over-the-top feel of the rest of the home. With all its grandeur, the room still feels cozy enough to sit down with a cup of tea and a great book.
