Design makeover Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Co. has long been a local favorite for their period-style lighting, so design-minded Oregonians are excited about the company’s recent expansion. From beautiful slipcovers to dainty bedding and modern tableware, the company’s makeover is enormous and heartily welcomed. They even teamed up with a handful of local designers and furniture makers to produce the new wares. E.H. Prices vary; pictured slipcover is $1,275; 2181 NW Nicolai St., Portland; schoolhouseelectric.com |
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Out of this world The future looks bright with the Cosmos light by Troy Lighting hanging from the ceiling. It’s shaped like a model of an atom or maybe the orbit of a planet. It will up the mod quotient of any mid-Century modern house. A rich bronze finish keeps the Space Age styling from soaring off into kitsch atmosphere. V.M. $373 starting; by special order at Globe Lighting (globelighting.com); Room by Room in Portland (roombyroominc.com) |
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Avian adornment Rather than distancing ourselves from the “put a bird on it” cliché, we are choosing to embrace it in new ways. Portland native Hadley Hutton’s throw pillows are perfect for this. Their graphic images are dreamy and ethereal yet remain affordable. E.H. $48; hadleyhutton.com |
Sink like a rock It’s solid as a rock and fluid as water. The juxtaposition of hard stone carved into graceful curves is unexpected and beautiful. The basalt Wave pedestal and sink by Stone Forest provides the perfect yin-yang for a Zen spa retreat. V.M. $2,200; Chown Hardware in Portland; chown.com |
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Oddball and adorable Tired of ho-hum seating? This chair will shake things up. The surprising combination of a chunky cube seat with a graceful rounded back makes the Flexx Oval chair by Hancock & Moore a beautiful oddball. It’s part princess, part practical and all stylish. V.M. $2,070 starting; special order at Parker Furniture in Beaverton; parker-furniture.com |
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Bedroom Ayes A modern take on a traditional-style canopy makes this teak and solid wood canopy bed adapt easily to different style rooms. It captures the romance of the antique inspiration piece without the fussiness. Canopies can look crowded in anything less than soaring ceilings. But because this platform sits low to the ground, there’s plenty of space between the top of the posts and a standard ceiling. The 84-inch-tall posts are about a half-foot shorter than many canopy beds. Drape several yards of gauzy fabric like a scarf to add a touch of mystery. V.M. $4,400; Hip in Portland; ubhip.com |
Read this Known for their flirty and fun dresses, online retailer Shabby Apple also carries bright accessories for the home. We especially like the whimsical prints by illustrator Arrolynn Weiderhold because of their cute messages. E.H. $15-$45; shabbyapple.com |
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Design that grows Oeuf (“egg” to all you non-Francophiles) is known for its clean-lined designs of the highest quality. The furniture is perfect for the environmentally conscious parent who knows good design shouldn’t stop at the nursery door. We especially like the sparrow dresser, which can hold a changing pad on top for a newborn babe, and then transform seamlessly to a sleek dresser, with no goo-goo-gaga needed. E.H. $820 at Black Wagon, 3964 N. Mississippi Ave., Portland; oeufnyc.com |
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Days of wine and roses Patience is a virtue. But sometimes you just want instant gratification. Cork Pops delivers with its VinOair Premier gadget. The non-drip spout circulates air into wine as it pours, giving reds the smooth, velvety taste that usually takes, well, at least several minutes to achieve through decanting. It comes with its own carrying case for the connoisseur-on-the-go. V.M. $28, CorkPops.com, Kitchen Kaboodle in Portland, The Kitchen Company in Grants Pass |
Handmade Hub Beginning in 1999 in Olympia, Wash., the four-person team of Buy Olympia sought to fill a need for an online store to sell handmade goods made by their friends. Now the quartet operates out of Portland, curating a massive online site of goods from artists local and distant, such as Heidi Hopfer and the Black Apple, as well as more than 50 other artists. Stop by their brick-and-mortar shop/gallery Land in Portland, or peruse art prints, clothing and music from the comfort of your own home by shopping online. Buying local without having to change out of pajamas? Yes, please! E.H. Prices vary; 3925 N. Mississippi Ave., Portland; buyolympia.com |
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Metal and lace Opposites attract. Sturdy metal appears as delicate as lace in this eye-catching piece by Arktura. Available in three lengths, it serves as a bench or low table. V.M. $1,795 starting; Retail Studio, 404 NW 10th St., Portland; brightdesignlab.com |
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Metal and light Hood River sculpture artist C.J. Rench transforms metal into quirky large-scale art for outdoor spaces. Transform your own outdoor space with his Fire Chimney available from Cannon Beach’s Dragonfire Gallery. The poetically inscribed sculpture doubles as a usable fireplace to enjoy a campfire on your deck. Marshmallows not included. E.H. $1,600, dragonfirestudio.com; more work at cjrdesignstudio.com |
Trendy tabletop We’ve found your new local go-to source for unique tabletop items: full-service design firm Vanillawood stocks contemporary pieces with an organic feel. Leave a polished chrome Tic Tac Toe game ($124) on your coffee table for guests, or stick a single bloom in the bubbly Dew Vase ($60) for a pop of color. The Portland husband-wife duo also carries modern classics, like the King Candleholders ($38), inspired by stately chess pieces. E.H. 1238 NW Glisan St., Portland; vanillawood.com |
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Locavores handbook Lavender honey crème brulee, hazelnut-crusted salmon with brown butter and balsamic vinegar: They only sound complicated. These are easy-to-create recipes from Dishing Up Oregon, 145 Recipes That Celebrate Farm-to-Table Flavors, the new cookbook by Ashley Gartland. Tucked in among the recipes showcasing local ingredients from lauded Oregon chefs are short bios and beautiful photos of farmers, artisan cheese producers and more. Are you drooling yet? E.H. $19.95 at Powell’s Books in Portland; powells.com |
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Mamas and papas If you know anyone welcoming a little bundle of joy into the world this spring, Portland design duo Aaron Piland and Ayumi Kajikawa Piland of APAK have the perfect congratulatory cards to mark the occasion. Their Motherhood and Fatherhood note cards depict either a happy mama or papa with their babies. The mom is helping her tiny bambino feed their backyard chickens, while the dad is hiking with his little one. Ayumi created the original works in gouache and cut paper; around the same time she found out she was pregnant. “I’m not sure if I predicted the near future or my baby sent the inspiration to make them, but I was happy to share the excitement of being parents with others through my cards,” she says. E.H. $5 for two cards; apakstudio.com |
Cooler skewer These stylish skewers put some swish in the shish kabob. The stainless steel branches by Uncommon Goods are so pretty you’ll want to fire up the grill early. Spear green, red, orange and yellow peppers on the nine laser-cut prongs and you’ll have some fancy foliage. Toast multiple marshmallows for some more S’mores. Heat hotdogs for a bough wow. V.M. $20 for two skewers; uncommongoods.com |
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Cover up Bring this trendy yet timeless pattern into your home with an Ikat rug from NW Rugs. The 100 percent hand-knotted wool rug is just one of the more than 25,000 rugs from 15 different countries that the company carries at their three Portland metro-area showrooms, so even if Ikat isn’t your cup of tea, they’ve got you (and your floor) covered. E.H. 7’10” X 10’2” rug for $6,395; nwrugs.com |