Issue link: http://southshoremagazine.uberflip.com/i/588468
22 Diana Cousineau Aveni walks through the antique building she recently purchased on North St. in Hingham, looking past the pale pink walls of the bridal shop that now occupies the space, explaining her vision to use the building's history as the backdrop for her new home design business, Hingham Furniture and Design. The building, at 44 North St., was moved to Hingham from Bakers Island off Salem in the early 1800's. Aveni plans to restore it to its original glory, exposing brick walls and fireplaces now hidden behind faux veneers and dressing rooms. The wrought iron stairway will be replaced with a traditional wooden one. Carpet will be removed and the original wood floors will be refinished. Outside, the building will get a new coat of paint. Renovations will begin soon, and the new business is expected to welcome clients at the end of October. Constantly changing vignettes of fully appointed rooms will be featured, to help clients visualize possibilities for their own homes. Dining room tables in rich wood will be fully set with linens, candles, unique serving pieces, and many other accent pieces. Living rooms will be fully appointed and arranged in ways to enhance entertaining. The work of local artists will be circulated through also as part of the décor. Every item on display is available for purchase through the store or through the online store. (www.framingconceptshingham.com) An accomplished artist herself, Diana Cousineau Aveni believes very strongly in supporting local artists as well as local businesses. Already part of the Downtown Hingham merchant community as owner of Framing Concepts at 105 South St., Aveni said she waited nine years for the opportunity to purchase a commercial property in the area. "I'm committed to keeping my businesses in the downtown area. This building, being so historic, so precious to downtown Hingham, makes me more passionate because I restore history with art." Aveni said her father, an amateur artist, noticed early that she could replicate anything, and "he totally encouraged all my artistic abilities." She works in many different media – wood, paint, drawing, pottery; but she doesn't believe in promoting her own work in her stores, preferring to do so online. Typically, as many artists do, she learned all aspects of framing and restoration as an extension of the creative process. As with all her passions, which also include playing the cello, cooking, home décor, and entertaining, "It's expressing myself, it's creating!" That passion to create led to the first stop along her path, Cousineau Studio in Plymouth, which opened in 2003. by Maryellen Dever Diana Cousineau Aveni: Framing Businesses Around Art and Design