FIELD TRIP-March 2010

by Veronique McAree  Photography Amanda Kowalski

Meet Leandra Fremont-Smith, an enterprising young interior designer who delivers high style at an affordable price

Style and design have always fascinated Yarmouth’s Leandra Fremont-Smith. When she was a child, she would accompany her parents, both of whom are antique enthusiasts, as they scoured antique shops and delightedly touched and scrutinized everything in sight. Later, while studying architecture and design, and during stints as an apparel designer, she always hoped that interior decorating would one day become the sole focus of her professional life.

In 2006, Fremont-Smith realized her dream and launched her own residential and commercial interior-design business. In an effort to challenge herself creatively and reach potential clients who prefer practical, affordable design solutions, she recently developed a new design service that is so smart and stylish we simply had to share it with our readers.
www.leandradesign.com

The Look Bag
Fremont-Smith’s concept is a customized design business—packed with all the essentials someone would need to effortlessly transform a room—tucked neatly inside a stylish shopping bag.

Inside Fremont-Smith’s “Look Bag” would-be interior designers can find all the tools necessary to get started, including an illustrated booklet featuring multiple pillow styles, drapery designs, and window treatments to choose from. With this as your guide, the next step is choosing from one of the eight meticulously curated packets of designer-fabric swatches. Next comes a choice of trims and painting tips that will help coordinate colors with fabrics and furniture. All of the collections are interchangeable and offer a range of different styles, from beach-cottage simplicity to urban sophistication. Simply mix, match, and voila! The Look Bag is a fun, engaging way to refresh a room.

While the bags (and consultation service) are available directly from Fremont-Smith, she also holds trunk-inspired events to introduce participants to the product. “I recently invited several people over to my house and took them through the Look Bag concept,” she says.

The Look Bag will be redesigned twice a year and will evolve over time, says Fremont-Smith. We can’t wait to see what bag of tricks this stylish Maine designer will come up with next.