We often don’t know what our homes lack until we’ve serendipitously stumbled on that one special item. With this in mind, we’ve spent days exploring a few of Oregon’s finest design stores, and we’ve discovered some truly remarkable salvaged, reclaimed and repurposed items that will give a much-needed dose of character to any room. Here, we show off a few of our favorites.
Tucked against a hillside in the Rogue Valley, a unique guesthouse inspires the kind of tranquil activities you might expect from a rural getaway — watching a deer bound over a nearby ridge, observing the sunset on vineyards from an outdoor hot tub, picking wild blackberries or listening to cows bay.
Allisen Larsen shares details about what inspires her and how living in Oregon influences her design choices.
What do you notice when you meet someone for the first time? Some pay attention to a person’s sense of style — things like clothes, shoes or hair. Others notice physical attributes like a dazzling smile or shimmering eyes. And some even recognize personality traits like kindness or confidence. But interior designer Angela Todd is a little different — she envisions a person’s color palette.
The kitchen is the hub of a home. It’s where our mornings begin and our workdays end. It’s where we cook, eat and spend time with our families over dinner. But a kitchen is much more than just a place to prepare a meal; it’s the social pulse of a household.
When is it time to bring in professional designers? The Prewetts, who own a cozy home in Southwest Portland, were not initially convinced they should take such action when tasked with remodeling their living and dining rooms. But after considering taking on the project themselves, they quickly realized they could use professional help.
Light and color require balance. Without light there would be no color. Without color our homes would be unbearably bland. It is only because of light encountering an object that we are able to see it. And when we do see that wall or chair or art, it should make us smile. Or, better yet, take our breath away.
When Beverly Vogt moved into her 50s Ranch home in the southwest Portland Raleigh Hills neighbor- hood in 1972, she wanted to renovate the original galley kitchen that featured fluorescent tube lights and darkly stained, plywood cabinets, as soon as possible. Still, for well over the next three decades, Vogt cooked in the dim, cramped space.
Randy Ramos was the church’s saving grace.
As a contractor who specializes in historic preservation, Andrew Curtis is naturally drawn to homes that come with a good story. So when he first saw the Irvington Heights cottage that he would eventually transform into his home and office, he was more interested in what he was hearing than what he was seeing.
