Mary Alice Hatch is a wife and mother of two. Six years ago she actively pursued her dream of starting her own interior design studio. For the last two years she has served as her own client designing and decorating two homes in New Hampshire and Wellesley, MA. She is most happy when she is creating something beautiful.
After you read Mary Alice's post and view her images, will you leave a comment? Not only will you be eligible for the $75 gift certificate, you will give Mary Alice the gift of being heard and seen. And what finer gift is there?
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Since I was a small child, I have always loved to create. I love to create something magnificent from something ordinary. I love entering a new space and coming up with new possibilities.
As a young girl I would constantly create new room layouts; when my parents would go on a trip I would repaint my furniture and add new hardware. In college, I started to build furniture; I also love to arrange flowers.
Because I have always enjoyed design, I went back to school 6 yrs ago to take a correspondence course in Interior Design from a school in NYC. Though I opened my own design studio in May of 2003, for the last three years, I've been my own client as I rebuilt an old boathouse and new guest house at our home in New Hampshire.
About 1 1/2 years ago, Architectural Digest had an Open Submission, the first time ever. One of my life-long goals has been to submit my work to a first rate Interior Design publication like Architectural Digest. I knew the chance to be picked for the single published spot was slim, but I nonetheless photographed and submitted my boathouse, went to New York, and stood in line outside the D&D Building.
When my time came to meet with one of the editors, I was so excited. As I showed her my "before" and "after" portfolio and listened to the editor's expressions of interest, I felt such a feeling of accomplishment.
Dock: Before and After
Master Bath: Before and After
Kitchen: Before and After
Family Room: Before and After
When I was finished showing her my portfolio she asked me if she could keep it to show Paige Reese, the Editor-in-Chief of the magazine. Of course I said "YES", and then floated out of the meeting. It was so validating to have someone at the top of my field like my project. Unfortunately, I didn't win, but I was competitive -- and that felt good, really good.
Does Mary Alice's experience signal for us how we can know that we really want something? Including being willing to travel to another city, and stand in line all day, so that our work can be seen? And what kind of courage does it take to put our work in front of someone knowing that may like it, but they may not?
As I read this post, I thought of Christine Vick's post Simply Living, and her comment that "for a task to be valuable, it doesn't need to be weighty, solemn, or make history, it just needs to matter to me."
I also couldn't help but think of how much time I spend visiting (and buying) Portabellopixie, Swallowfield, Sarah Jane Studios to name a few. Why? Because what I see there is beautiful to me.
As you think about your dreams, arent't they about creating? Something not ugly, but beautiful?
One final note: All images are copyright of Mary Alice Hatch.
I have nothing deep or substantive to say, just a gushing compliment, "Wow! You are awesome." I love your aesthetic. Your spaces are so livable.
When I finally "make it," I will be your client.
Posted by: Janna | June 13, 2009 at 10:09 PM
Such beautiful work. Totally inspired. I may end up painting the rooms in my house sooner instead of later.
Posted by: Macy | June 13, 2009 at 10:56 PM
What an amazing transformation--the rooms are so beautiful. And I love the dock!
Posted by: Christine | June 13, 2009 at 11:05 PM
You can see what a visual lift Mary Alice physically created in these spaces. Light, air and openness are evident in each room. Couldn't we all use a little more of this not only in our homes but in our lives?
Posted by: Julie | June 14, 2009 at 12:29 AM
For me, it takes a lot of courage and confidence to do this kind of marvelous transformation to a home or space. Mary Alice definitely have a gift for this work... and you inspire me to trust my own sense of design. After seeing your pictures, I want to think about how I can create some beautiful spaces of my own! (And I just LOVE it that you stood outside the D&D building in NYC with your pictures!)
Thank you!
Posted by: Jane | June 14, 2009 at 08:21 AM
I know you put your heart into everything you create! I'm so amazed that you can go after your dreams even with a busy family. So many of us (by which I mean me) put things off with the excuse of being to busy with daily tasks. Your story makes me want to do more.
Posted by: Katy | June 14, 2009 at 09:20 PM
WOW! The sheer power of taking yourself to stand in NY to share something that you have done! Good for you! Good for your kids to see you doing something that makes you feel good! You mentioned that you haven't figured out your dream yet - what you have thought of so far looks pretty great to me. Keep it up - Architectural digest will be coming to you!
Posted by: Lee Chipman | June 14, 2009 at 09:34 PM
Wow! I think Mary Alice transformed her home from 'fine' to 'phenomenal!' It seems to me that when we dare to dream, we actually transform ourselves from feeling 'fine' about our lives to feeling 'phenomenal' about them. Regardless of the results of our dreaming, we truly create something beautiful when we dare to dream.
Posted by: Rachael | June 14, 2009 at 10:36 PM
You are wonderfully talented and tell about your experience beautifully.
Posted by: Rebecca Menzie | June 14, 2009 at 11:28 PM
Beautiful, you and your spaces! Do you have a blog to post your portfolio?
I love how you start with what you DO know. They say success is where opportunity and experience connect ( something like that ). Before you see the opportunity, you must understand the experience (I'll add "passion" too) within you. I believe dreams evolve as we see opportunities to express our talents. It's a fun journey of discovery to be open to what God and life give you. Keep going atta-girl sister.
Posted by: Dana King | June 15, 2009 at 03:05 AM
What talent! It's hard to believe these are the same spaces! You know who would love these before and after photos is the blog www.thisyounghouse.com. Being a before/after junkie myself, I love going there for inspiration on making my humble abode into something I love. Thanks for sharing your work with us!
Posted by: Janika | June 15, 2009 at 09:38 AM
This is a person with ridiculous talent. Wow.
Posted by: Jerry Thompson | June 15, 2009 at 02:47 PM
The family room. WOW!
My favorite.
Keep creating. It's obviously rewarding to you in a deeper way than financial... but at this rate, your determination and savvy in this area will definitely pay off. Mary Alice's got TALENT.
Posted by: Jenny | June 15, 2009 at 05:49 PM
i have often wondered why it is so important for me to have a visually pleasing living space. sometimes decorating feels frivolous. sometimes it is labor intensive. sometimes you move every few years and it feels like a waste of time and energy.
the conclusion i have come to is that it is important to create beautiful space because beauty inspires, beauty comforts and beauty brings people together. those are all things i want people to feel when they come into my home. those feelings far outweigh the hassle or expense that decorating occasionally involves.
anyway this is all to say, i think the work you do is important (and i love your style)!
Posted by: Mercedes | June 15, 2009 at 09:39 PM
Mary Alice, WOW! That is amazing.
As for the questions, I have to say that I really believe that a lot of what makes something beautiful is the amount of effort we put into it. Isn't beauty always determined by the beholder?
Posted by: Lisle | June 15, 2009 at 10:48 PM
I appreciate the lift and light you provide your working spaces. It reminds me of the lift and light staying true to my beliefs gives me. We create who we are by what we believe and who we can be by sheer effort. It's obvious of the effort you've extended. Everything is beautiful.
Posted by: amy jo | June 16, 2009 at 11:02 PM
Thanks for creating beauty, light and harmony for so many lives. You are truly talented working with wood and paint but also with hearts and people.
Posted by: Jamie | June 17, 2009 at 04:54 PM
As I read your story I could almost see your sense of pride and accomplishment after the meeting with the Architectural Digest editor. I know that feeling. I don't have the training in design that you do, but my husband and I have had so much fun (and frustration) remodeling our first home. It is such a great feeling when we have guests who sincerely tell us we have a beautiful home.
One of my favorite compliments was when my 18 year old daughter had a birthday party and, after visiting our guest bathroom, one of her male guests came out and exclaimed, "You HAVE to see this bathroom!" He didn't know I was in the kitchen and could hear the ohhs and ahhs from all of the teenagers. I thought it was so funny (and flattering) that an 18-year-old guy would be so enthusiastic about our bathroom!
Posted by: Jana Kendall | June 19, 2009 at 01:33 PM
You have the wonderful ability to infuse spaces with positive energy and beauty. I love the light, clean look you created. There seems to be space there to think or to dream, away from distractions. Since I am a person who appreciates beautiful design and my taste is similar to yours, it was a great pleasure to read your entry and see the photos. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Jenny Bluhm | June 20, 2009 at 04:49 PM
I loved this! Mary Alice you are so talented and you are so loved. I enjoyed reading all the comments and seeing how you have obviously touched lives the way you have touched design projects. And having stayed at your beautiful home I can say it really is amazing!
Posted by: Allyson Fleugel | June 22, 2009 at 03:19 PM
MA,
I LOVE the idea of you standing in line at the D&D building. This is a side of you that I don't know, and it sort of thrills me to find treasure in a familiar place.
To reiterate what someone else said, I love the idea that you put yourself out there so boldly. That's an inspiration. Way to go!
Posted by: Diane Sampson | July 09, 2009 at 08:00 AM