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Kevin O’Connor, host of PBS’s “This Old House” and “Ask this Old House” serves as Honorary Chairperson of the 2010 North Shore Design Show to be held Saturday –Saturday, May 15 – 22 to benefit the Wenham Museum. The finest interior designers from around the region will showcase their talents by creating one-of-a-kind vignettes that honor the museum’s mission celebrating the history and culture of Boston’s North Shore, and the artifacts of childhood and New England family life.

Scroll down on this page for the complete event schedule.

Click here to read the feature story on Kevin O’Connor in the latest issue of Northshore!

From a contemporary living room incorporating sustainable design, to a soignee lady’s dressing room reminiscent of the nineteenth century, to the game room of a female North Shore athlete of the early 20th century, visitors will delight in museum galleries transformed into designers’ “favorite spaces,” bringing history and tradition up to the present day through contemporary interior design.

Firms including Wilson-Kelsey Design of Salem, Finn-Marten Design of Beverly Farms, Siemasko + Verbridge of Beverly, Honey Collins Interior Design of Essex, and Camille Garro Interiors of Newton, and others convey their unique design skills while showing their support for the Wenham Museum, one of the North Shore’s treasured cultural venues.

The week-long event kicks off with a gala Preview Party on Friday, May 14, from 6:30 to 9:30, where guests will be greeted by the Honorary Chairman and designers, and enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Programs and events are planned during the Show including:

• A reception and talk with Honorary Chair Kevin O’Connor will be held the evening of Wednesday, May 19th, at 7 p.m. (Admission is $25; $20 for museum members; free for Preview Party attendees.)

• On Sunday, May 16th at 2 p.m., Consulting Designer Lisa Bonneville, FASID, of Bonneville Design (2008 inductee New England Design Hall of Fame) will offer a lecture titled: “Favorite Spaces: The Design behind the Decorating.” The lecture is included free with admission to the Design Show.

• A Meet-the Designer breakfast will be held on Friday, May 21st at 9 a.m. Visitors will enjoy a private tour of the Design Show and then a continental breakfast with the designers at The Exchange at the Wenham Tea House ($25; in advance only). Additional programs are scheduled throughout the week.

• Free-with-admission Lectures will be offered by Jerry Arcari of Landry & Arcari Oriental Rugs & Carpets (Saturday, May 15, 11 a.m.), Sally Wilson of Wilson Kelsey Design (Saturday, May 15, 2 pm), and Kim Smith, of Kim Smith Garden Design (Saturday, May 22, 11 a.m.)

Please visit www.wenhammuseum.org for more information and a calendar of events.

Tickets for the Preview Party are $75 and must be purchased in advance. Tickets to the Show are $15 in advance ($12 for museum members in advance) and $20 at the door. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Wenham Museum at 978-468-2377.

Located on Boston’s North Shore, the Wenham Museum is a family-friendly, hands-on history museum celebrating childhood and New England family life across four centuries. The museum explores how New Englanders have lived, worked, dressed, and played from the 17th century to today through its c.1690 Claflin-Richards House, a world-renowned doll collection, dollhouses, costumes and textiles, model trains, toys, historic photographs, the interactive Family Discovery Gallery, and special changing exhibitions. Wenham Museum is a section 501(C)3 non-profit organization.

The Museum is located at 132 Main Street in Wenham, MA, (978) 468-2377, www.wenhammuseum.org. Hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 10 AM to 4 PM. Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for children ages 1-16.

Program & Event Schedule

All presentations are free with Show admission unless otherwise noted.

For ticketed programs, please call Wenham Museum at 978-468-2377.

Saturday, May 15

11 a.m.: Finding a Family Heirloom – Jerry Arcari of Landry & Arcari, Salem and Boston, MA, speaks on how to choose a quality oriental rug that will become a family heirloom. Landry & Arcari is the Oriental Rug & Carpet sponsor of the 2010 North Shore Design Show.

2 p.m.: Renovation Transformation – Sally Wilson, of Wilson Kelsey Design, Salem, MA, presents the story of the top-to-bottom make-over of a Prides Crossing Carriage House, with illustrative before and after photos, and tips on what to do and what not to do. Presentation and Q & A will focus on challenges, design process, solutions, and prescriptions for success.

Sunday, May 16

2 p.m.: The Design Behind the Decoration – Join 2009 New England Design Hall of Fame inductee, Lisa Bonneville of Bonneville Design, Manchester, MA, to learn the steps you need to take to create favorite spaces in your own home — places where you feel most comfortable and nurtured and where you and your family and friends experience a sense of well being, places where you can be safe while pursuing your fondest dreams. Lisa Bonneville is author of The Safe Home – Designing for Safety in the Home, published by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and available at www.asid.org.

Wednesday, May 19

7 p.m.: An Evening With Kevin O’Connor:

This Old House at 30 – North Shore Design Show Honorary Chairman Kevin O’Connor, host of PBS’s This Old House and Ask This Old House, looks back on the past 30 years of the venerable PBS program and welcomes you at a wine and cheese reception. In addition to hits, highlights, and favorite moments Kevin will also share what’s new and coming up for the next season. Tickets: $20 Members; $25 Non-members; Free to Preview Party Attendees. Advance registration required.

Friday, May 21

9 to 11 a.m.: Meet the Designers Breakfast – Enjoy a private tour of the North Shore Design Show and an opportunity to ask participating designers your decorating and style questions. Adjourn together to The Exchange at the Wenham Tea House, across the street from the Wenham Museum, for a delightful continental breakfast and more conversation.

Tickets: $25; Advance registration required.

Saturday, May 22

11 a.m.: The Fragrant Path – Landscape designer Kim Smith, of Kim Smith Designs, Gloucester, MA, shares the secrets of designing a garden that will intoxicate you with fragrance all season long.