SAMPLING OF PROJECTS… Modern Motel Makeovers, Taprooms and Bars, Cottages and Kitchens, Lake Houses and Lodges, Historic Resorts and Inns, Vacation Rentals and Retro Redos, Pizza Restaurant, Burger Joint and Ice Cream Parlor and more! (Pictured here… Main and Mountain Bar + Motel)
FULL COTTAGE RENOVATION
When the editor of Eating Well Magazine asked me to help her with the renovation of her cottage home, I was thrilled. Now, a lovely open kitchen with a deep pantry and warm and inviting colors and materials, it is truly ready to entertain.
ACCOLADES
Featured in Better Homes and Garden 100 anniversary issue.
Get Organized Magazine
TruexCullins is a firm that I collaborate with on frequent occasions. I’m thrilled they continue to ask me to be a part of their design teams to come up with unique and exciting concepts for refresh projects, such as this one. Once called the Painted Buffalo, now Mountain Modern Motel, this downtown Jackson Hole motel needed some serious love. The investor group hired TruexCullins (who they have worked with on numerous projects) and Kim Deetjen, the interiors principal, asked me to be a key player on the design team. The remodel of the motel was an instant hit! So much so, that they bought the lodge next door and extended it and now have even more room options.
I have worked with TruexCullins on numerous projects and continue to do so. I love collaborating with other firms and enjoy being able to do much larger hotel design projects when I work for Architectural and Interior Design Firms.
Boutique Design Award
Country Living Magazine
Ski Magazines
and Numerous Other Publications
Hotel Vermont (Lobby Design Team)
Hotel Terra (Current Refresh Team)
Hostel Refresh (at Jackson Hole)
Tram Haus (at Jay Peak) Guest Rooms
and more…
This residential interior design project was special because it was an opportunity for Joanne to combine some lovely modern elements, with local product. This modern farmhouse style lake house is filled with light and big contemporary windows. Working with the homeowner on the layout of the space, lighting, finishes, fixtures and furnishings, allowed Joanne and the homeowners to create a space that was not only comfortable but beautiful.
Private Client
This unique private vacation home started out as a 1800’s post and beam barn that someone had turned into a hunting cabin in the turn of the century. When the owners’ bought it — it was seriously run down and not touched since the 60’s.
When working with the owners, it was important to understand why this old barn cabin was so special to them. Once we understood what the property meant to them and how they wanted to feel when they arrived, every design decision, always came back to that. A space that was once so dark but had so much charm in the structure, was really brought to life by allowing the post and beam to shine.
We wanted to hold onto the history of the space while making more modern and inviting. The addition of many large modern-style windows to bring the outside in, and the comfortable furnishings, such as leather club chairs, high back dining chairs, warm rug, and textile touches, gives barn cottage a modern farmhouse look.
The mix of old and new, with modern design elements and sense of openness, has really embraced the charm and history of this once old barn— turned cabin — turned vacation home.
AWARDS and FEATURES…
Dwell
Country Home Magazine
Farmhouse Style Magazine
Fine Homebuilding
Photos by Lindsay Selin
Joanne Palmisano has renovated numerous short-term rental properties. This third project with the same clients, is a renovation of an outdated home to convert into an income-producing short-term vacation rental. Full budget-friendly renovation of guest rooms, kitchen, living room with the addition of a deck, bedrooms and master bathroom.
AWARDS and FEATURES…
New York Times
Domino
Apple News
Apartment Therapy
Vermont Ski and Ride
Bear Mountain Inn, is a four-season lakefront bed and breakfast in Waterford, Maine. Joanne will with the owners, Julie and Brian on a total renovation of their historic inn in the lakes district of Maine. This renovation project — a combination of simple decorative changes to some structural changes and additions is now approachable, hip, and relaxing place for today’s modern traveler while keeping its charm and cozy character for a unique lodging experience.
Joanne worked on the complete renovation of inn, including the lobby, restaurant, barn wedding and event area and guest rooms, with reconfiguration of some spaces to include additions of bathrooms into the rooms as well as modern services and amenities.
AWARDS and FEATURES…
Best of New England, 2022, Yankee Magazine
Couples Choice Awards, 2018, 2019, 2022, Wedding Wire
Decor Maine, 2021
Yankee Magazine
The Mad River Barn in Waitsfield, Vermont (or "the Barn", as people call it) is an Inn, Restaurant, and Pub located at the base of the Appalachian Gap, serving skiers, cyclists, and craft beer enthusiasts. It is a historic 18 room inn that Joanne helped bring back to life with a rustic industrial design to connect the past while delivering a more unique and modern experience for the guests, including recycled, vintage and salvaged materials.
After the renovations it was named one of the top new ski places to stay by Outside Magazine. All rooms were totally renovated, including the lobby, restaurant, pub and game room.
Joanne's expertise in salvage design was also important, as the owners wanted to ensure the Barn retained its connection to the past, while at the same time, delivering a more modern experience for guests.
Guest and visitors alike still like to tour it just to marvel at the design, commenting on all of the creative design elements located throughout. One of the elements most frequently commented on is the restaurant welcome sign, where "The Barn" is spelled out using old plumbing handles and bits of copper pipe. Another favorite is light fixture Joanne made out of bed springs from the 1950's, which believe it or not, were still in use when the new owners acquired the property.
AWARDS and FEATURES…
7 Best New Hotels in Ski Country, 2016, Outside Magazine
New York Times
Ski Magazine
Seven Days, Vermont
Vermont Ski and Ride
Mad River Barn: Inn + Restaurant + Pub
Photos by Susan Teare
Lawson’s Finest Liquids is a one of the top ten IPA beers in the nation. This new build project was hands-on from start to finish and Joanne enjoyed every moment of it. The architect, Austin Designs, created this incredible timber frame design, that Mad River Post and Beam built.
Joanne planned the interior design from… the layout of the bar, bathrooms, seating and retail store. Working hand and hand with the owners, Karen and Sean, Architect, and Builder, together, they created a warm and inviting welcoming environment for guests to enjoy their craft beers. The taproom has become a destination brewery, taproom and retail store.
Everything from paint colors, to types of wainscoting, to finishes, fixtures, seating, custom lighting and more…there were hundreds decisions to make. Being able to incorporate numerous local sources and artisans was extra special. From picking local stone, to creating designs for custom furniture pieces, to fabric swatches for chairs…every detail was thought of so guests would have a comfortable, inviting and intimate Vermont experience, while enjoying a delicious craft beer.
AWARDS and FEATURES…
Boston Globe
Best Vermont Brewery, Vermont Sports
Small Business Award, Vermont
Numerous Other Awards and Accolades
Vermont Ski and Ride Best Places
One of my favorite things to do is Modern Motel Makeover Design Projects. As an interior design for boutique hospitality properties, I find that we have to be creative on smaller budgets — which is always a fun challenge.
This project was a total renovation of a Vermont motel, Main and Mountain Bar and Motel. Turning an old managers apartment into a hip bar, updating all guest rooms of the motel, including halls corridors and creating a coffee room.
All aspects of the Interior design, including original concept, layout of spaces--including transform an unused manager’s apartment and small lobby into a bar, and overgrown front lawn into patio space with a gas fireplace, and custom furniture pieces, were designed by Joanne Palmisano. Joanne worked closely with local artisans and tradespeople to create unique and custom pieces.
This motel has received numerous accolades and won Vermont’s best new hotel in 2019 by Yankee Magazine, New England Editors.
AWARDS and FEATURED.
Vermont’s Best New Hotel 2019, New England Editors, Yankee Magazine
Country Living Magazine
Washington Post
Vermont Ski and Ride Magazine
and numerous other publications
Open since 1886, Basin Harbor Club is a historic 700 acre resort on the shores of Lake Champlain. Family-owned, the fourth and fifth generations are now making changes to meet today’s travelers needs.
With over 74 individual cottages, 4 lodge buildings with numerous guest rooms in numerous historic building, Joanne Palmisano is creating a design and style that speaks to the history of the resort. Joanne scoured the attics of the resort to bring in some of their own historic pieces, while also bringing in other unique touches. Joanne reused some of the furnishings and gave them a painted cottage look. The cottages are given a charming cottage feel, while the guest rooms in the main lodge have a more elegant, yet comfortable and inviting, look and feel.
This is an ongoing project.
AWARDS and FEATURES…
Wall Street Journal
Historic Hotels of America
Travelers Choice, 2020, Trip Advisor
Couples Choice, WeddingWire
and numerous other features
Pizza 44 is a counter-service wood-fired Pizza Restaurant. When the owners, Tim and Doug, (BFF’s for 44 year— hence the name) decided to open up a counter service wood fired pizza restaurant they contacted Joanne right away. Basically Tim called and said — “Hey — want to do a Pizza Restaurant?” and Joanne said “Hey — Ya!”. (Tim and Joanne had already worked on two places together — he is the owner of Archie’s Grill and The Scoop (two other interior design projects of Joanne’s).
The empty warehouse space was in the same building as Queen City Brewery. Working together, they came up with a layout and concept for the space. Instead of trying to hide the character of the warehouse, Joanne decided to incorporate it. She added additional reclaimed brick walls, left piping exposed, and created a look and feel that worked with the building’s design.
From rustic wood tables, to contemporary plywood panels on the wall and marble counter tops to custom bends and striped tables… every details was thought out.
Joanne also create a few of the details herself — from making some of the pizza peels on the wall, to the painted stripes on the tables. Joanne design is such an experience that the owners say it is helping driving business.
AWARDS and FEATURES…
Seven Days Magazine
