We are heading up to the beautiful coast of Maine for today’s episode! Our guest is Laura Keeler Pierce, the founder and principal designer of the New England-based interior design firm Keeler & Co., and the co-founder of Rusticator, a curated home furnishings shop located in Seal Harbor, Maine.
Laura sits down with Caroline, Taryn, and Liz to discuss her signature aesthetic, which masterfully blends historic New England charm with modern, updated livability. She shares how growing up moving from city to city shaped her design eye, the inspiration behind the “rusticator” lifestyle in Acadia National Park, and her approach to designing incredible commercial spaces like the reimagined Claremont Hotel.
What You’ll Hear This Episode:
- 00:00 Welcome & Introduction to Laura Keeler Pierce
- 02:00 Growing up surrounded by “sawdust and custom draperies”
- 06:00 Balancing a heritage design sensibility with modern living
- 12:00 The foundation of Keeler & Co. in Boston and Maine
- 18:00 The story behind Rusticator in Seal Harbor and the island lifestyle
- 25:00 How to source timeless furnishings and everyday heirloom pieces
- 32:00 The design process for reimagining the historic Claremont Hotel property
- 38:00 How a sense of place and local nature influences interior color palettes
- 45:28 Closing thoughts and where to visit Rusticator in person
Also Mentioned in This Episode
- Keeler & Co. | Website
- Rusticator (Seal Harbor, ME) | Website
- The Claremont Hotel
- Follow Keeler & Co. on Instagram: @keelerandco
- Follow Rusticator on Instagram: @rusticatorshop
- Shop Ballard Designs
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Happy Decorating!
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