1. Coastal design, naturally: Angela Adams
draws on ocean influence
By JIM PEAK
Advertising Department
Portland Press Herald
By now, Angela Adams should need no introduction. She’s been
designing and making handcrafted textiles and modern home furnishings
that reflect the natural beauty of Maine since 1998, designs immediately
recognizable and acclaimed for their ability to evoke a coastal feeling.
Her extensive collection, along with that of her husband, furniture
designer Sherwood Hamill, can be found in their Congress Street studio
and storefront on Portland’s trendy East End and online at
angelaadams.com.
This spring, she’s excited to introduce and share her latest offerings –
colorful down-filled linen pillows, a rug design inspired by a Portland
windsurfer and a new coffee table designed by her husband and made of
solid wood by a furniture craftsman in their shop.
“We have more new introductions this year than we have had in many
years,” Adams said. “We have introduced a large assortment of linen
pillows in gorgeous blues, greens and sunshiny yellows. They are fun to
mix and match and add pops of color to any room that needs it.
“Also, we have just introduced the Marsden Blue rug, a modern spin on
a big ocean wave. And it’s named after one of Portland’s very passionate
wave riders, David Marsden. My favorite new piece of furniture is the
Swell table, which like the Marsden rug, has an oceanic influence. It’s a
beautifully pure design, made with solid domestic hardwood,” she said.
Marsden, friends of the couple for 20-25 years, said it’s true that he’s
been known to be obsessed with windsurfing and carving waves. Like
Adams and her husband, he too has a keen appreciation for the natural
world that she so creatively makes use of in her designs and which appeals
to so many.
“I’m passionate about being in the outdoors, whether it’s the mountains
or the ocean. We’ve had some adventures, and that’s what it’s all about,” he
said.
Adams embraces all things coastal and weaves these wonderful
impressions into a tapestry of textiles for the home or even a weekend trip
to the beach:
• • Luxuriously textured area rugs offered in tufted and
woven construction and intended for everyday living. What she describes
as “a modern aesthetic on the traditional medium.”
• • Bold and textured pillows and lambs wool knit throws
• • Fine bedding
• • Bags and totes
• • Modern dining and entertainment items
Mother Nature is Adams’ greatest inspiration for this abundance of home
furnishings.
“I translate these inspirations in my sketchbook. Simple pen and paper,
the old-fashioned way. I note colors I see and sometimes match paint chips
or wool poms to the colors of leaves, or stones, or seaweed, etc. It’s a
dream job to get to actually make a living doing that. (If only I did that
every day of the week),” she said.
Adams grew up on the coast of Maine and lives in Portland, with its

2. views of the ocean that she values immensely because it’s never the same
twice.
“One recent morning it was gray and cold, and the sea smoke was so
magical looking; it looked like a scene from an old movie. Two days later,
it was a bluebird morning, and the cardinals were celebrating the warmth
while Portland Harbor twinkled in the morning light. We are so lucky every
day to have those views here as part of our daily lives. That’s what makes
Portland (special) and why so many people travel here on vacation.”
As homeowners’ thoughts turn to spring, warmer weather and the
summers we all live and long for here in Maine, Adams offered a few tips
for redecorating and refreshing your home. Among them:
“Make your home comfortable and relaxing. Use colors that make YOU
feel good – don’t rely on trends. I like neutral walls and furniture, and then
you can do anything you want with rugs and accessories. When the room is
grounded with neutral colors, you have the option to move rugs from room
to room, play with art and accessories and not have to do a lot of work to
make a change. Have fun with it!”
If you’re planning to redecorate this spring and want to take on one room
for the most impact, Adams suggests the dining/living room.
“I’m a fan of the combination dining/living room. I love to cook and also like to be able to see the fireplace with our cats
lounging in front of it. It’s also nice to lounge and smell what’s cooking in the kitchen. To me, that’s home, and that would
be the room I would focus on. The place where you live.