By Suzanne Hodgson
Staff Writer

It’s a far cry from algebra, but a interior decorating class project may prove just as practical as learning the Pythagorean Theorem for some students at Middle School of the Kennebunks
 “All of these kids have individual specialties like graphic design or photography in the design field. Are there jobs for all of them in design?” asked Art Teacher Mary McCarthy.
McCarthy was asking Home & Garden TV designer Michael Payne, who came to visit the budding designers at the middle school on Monday.
McCarthy’s students are redesigning the bridal suite at Kennebunkport’s Nonantum Resort and were hoping the “Designing for the Sexes” TV designer could give them a few tips.
Payne reassured McCarthy that artistic minds would always be needed.
“What’s staying in this country is creativity and design,” said Payne. “They will forever have people that need those services.”
This is the fourth year art students in McCarthy’s design classes will redecorate rooms for the Nonantum.
“Students each year have done a fabulous job considering the challenges a 27-year-old hotel presents,” said Nonantum’s Marie Caswell. “It is a wonderful program for the school in Kennebunk and a privilege to support.”
Payne suggested photography students go with designers to take “before” pictures of rooms to show the full transformation. He said while people can look at a redesigned room and think it’s great, they won’t realize the full transformation without a before picture.
“If they would have seen what it looked like before, they would have had their minds blown,” said Payne.
That’s exactly what student Marie Jarowicz did on the Sunday before Payne’s arrival, the first time the class has done a before picture. McCarthy and Jarowicz took a tour of the bridal suite without furniture packed away and  rugs torn up in anticipation of the redesign.
“I’m doing accessories,” said Jarowicz as she took pictures of the dated floral wallpaper and a floor-to-ceiling mantel in the living room. “We’re thinking of maybe a chandelier in the living room.”
The students have $6,000 to transform the scratched wooden floors and white walls into a more modern oasis. The budget includes any plumbing needs in the bathroom, removing wallpaper and sanding floors.
McCarthy said the project is also about budgeting and taking the project out of the classroom and into real life.
Students have to look at what the client wants, and learn how to stay on a budget.
“They [the Nonantum] don’t produce anything, they produce memories,” said McCarthy. “It’s all about the experience. How we create the experience is very important.”
Claudia Dalton, a middle school teacher working with McCarthy and the students, said she had heard that year after year visitors come back asking for the student-designed rooms.
In the past, the students have designed guest rooms with an environmentally friendly modern look, as part of the Nonantum’s specifications.
As the client, Nonantum staff give students an idea of what they are looking for in the designs. This year they want to keep the environment in mind while designing a bridal suite that can be used for other occasions.
McCarthy lets the students do all the designing, but keeps a watchful eye on price points and quality.
The students redesigning the rooms use  organic fabrics in the purchased sheets and student-sewn pillow.s Woven baskets in each room are used as recycling bins, and because of the students’ forward thinking, any room redesigned in the future by the Nonantum staff or students will use bamboo flooring.
Two teams are collaborating to come up with a harmonious design that will flow from the living room through the bathroom and into the bedroom.
The two teams have yet to come up with a color plan for the rooms, although Jarowicz said the students are looking at white, light blue and chocolate brown.
Another challenge facing the students in and older room is a low-hanging pipe running through both rooms.
“The challenges are the pipes,” said student Ebonie Burritt, but she liked Payne’s suggestion painting the pipe the same color as the wall.
Another challenge iss working in two separate groups for one cohesive final look.
“There’s a mix of styles,” said student Gabrielle Brown. “The original building is more traditional. Some people want to go very modern.”
“Like neon colors!” said Burritt.
The girls said the group was working toward a middle ground.
The bridal suite construction will begin at the end of February and McCarthy’s class will hold a grand opening of the redesigned suite in the beginning of May.

Staff Writer Suzanne Hodgson can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 233.