Interior Designer: Nicki Bongiorno

“A sense of place is important in making a person feel at home” - Nicki Bongiorno

Based in the historic seaside town of Kennebunkport, in Maine, Nicki Bongiorno set up her interior design company Spaces By Nicki Bongiorno in 2008. Before this she had been working as a first-grade teacher, and indulging her passion for interior design in her spare time. But when her husband passed away in 2007, she needed a job with more flexibility so she could look after her then 8-year-old twins. She decided to follow her heart and began working directly with homeowners to transform their interior spaces. “My first clients were people I knew, who were willing to give me a chance. 17 years later I still love what I do and am still working with some of those original clients,” says Nicki.

A few months after launching her interior design business, Nicki also opened an interiors shop, that reflected her more personal style and tastes. Last year, after 15 years, she decided to close the bricks and mortar side of the shop, allowing her to focus on the e-commerce side of the business as well as her residential and commercial interior design clients.

This particular bathroom was designed for three siblings to share, and has an enormous 5ft wide sink with three individual taps that meaning all three children can brush their teeth together. Nicki used Seascape in Summer Wallpaper on the walls to go with the blue detailing in the room. “Seascape was the perfect nod to the Atlantic Ocean, which is located steps away from this historic home and with views from this children’s bathroom. I love Seascape for its whimsical nature and for its simple, soft, soothing movement that feels timeless. It evokes a sense of place, and the joy of the ocean in Maine” says Nicki.

Spaces By Nicki Bongiorno has a clean, modern, coastal aesthetic, and embraces organic materials and lots of texture. Nicki likes to layer neutrals with pattern and colour. “I am fortunate to have clients that love all sorts of styles. I believe it is my job to create a home for each owner that feels uniquely theirs, and so none of the finished projects are ever alike,” she says. 

Endlessly inspired by the natural beauty that surrounds her in Maine, including the fresh air, the smell of the ocean and the texture of the sand and sea, the mountains and woods, Nicki uses subtle, contemporary coastal patterns throughout her interior’s schemes. “I love pattern and gravitate towards both small and large scale prints. I appreciate patterns that I can mix with others to give a layered textured look.”

To see more of Spaces by Nicki Bongiorno’s work visit her website, or to see the rest of this beautiful ocean side home click here.

For behind the scenes and to see what projects Nicki is working on, you can find her on Instagram.

All photographs by Chris Smith

Nicki Bongiorno of Spaces by Nicki Bongiono