Diana Cousineau Aveni
Artist, Author, Chef, Designer Owner of Hingham Furniture & Design and Framing Concepts
44 North St., Hingham; 36 Finnell Drive, Weymouth
781-875-3255 hinghamfurnituredesign.com
What is unique about your Hingham showroom?
I purchased the historical property in August of 2015, renovated the entire building, and was open for business that November. The shopping experience is lovely. Being a designer, I am able to select furnishings and décor items from my store showroom or my warehouse and instantly satisfy my clients’ needs. We also have a great selection of gifts and customers tell us how they love coming in and seeing new items.
Do you often work with local artists?
Hingham Furniture & Design is the home of Framing Concepts Custom Framing and Fine Art Gallery and for the past 15 years we have had a featured artist of the month; sometimes more than one. We also promote local artists at all of our events. I love that part of my journey.
How important is art to a home’s interior design?
Art brings a sense of style and design to a home. It can also lift your spirits and make you feel alive. The art we choose to surround ourselves with, whether it is a painting, music or sculptures, can have a huge impact on our mood and emotions.
Do you like to change up your decor according to the seasons?
We have a new theme every season and holiday. Our unique items delight the young as well as the sophisticated shopper. Autumn is my favorite season of the year. We have real pumpkins and gourds of all sizes and colors, decorative potted plants for outdoors, indoor/outdoor decorations, lights, fabrics and dishes with autumn patterns—and the ghosts that I’ve inherited with my historical building.
I saw that HFD is now on Etsy. What inspired you to expand in this way?
We sell on many e-commerce sites Including our own. Etsy is more for independent artists and designers who have a product to sell. As a business person, I need to satisfy all of my customers including those who prefer an Internet market.
What has owning your own business taught you?
When one can combine passion and purpose in a business, it is very fulfilling. That is my definition of success.