When Portland architect Andrew Montgomery of Terraforma, a Portland-based architectural firm, first saw the highly dilapidated home that Oliver Properties had commissioned his firm to remodel, he saw beyond the leaking single-pane aluminum windows and rotted walls. He could tell this was the work of a skilled architect.
Exposed wood, nature inspired prints, low slung furniture lines and a neutral color palette are some of the many elements that make midcentury design so pleasing to the eye. In the spirit of the era from which it came, we poured ourselves a martini and went to work gathering together goods to invoke this iconic style into your own mix.
We’ve added a new section to Oregon Home; tasteBUD puts a spotlight on the home cook and features local food-industry expert recipes and tips. We’re excited to start off our new section with not one but three fall-time treats from expert candy maker Jami Curl whose forthcoming book, Candy Is Magic: Real Ingredients, Modern Recipes, will be released next March.
In an idyllic southwest Portland neighborhood sits a row of midcentury homes, unofficially known as the “Wall Houses.” Each residence is a shared display of a unique style, consisting of a gated courtyard that creates a tranquil barrier between the street and the veiled bungalow inside. Nestled on this street is the home of renowned local foodie Jami Curl. We were able to get an inside look at Curl’s playful, midcentury modern style and see just how much she loves life in her little oasis.
The way she tells it, Tara Verotsky was almost destined for a career in landscaping. She grew up in rural Pennsylvania with surrounding creeks and forest as her playground. “I was outside as much as possible and ‘played nursery’ by tagging plants in the yard,” she recalls.
This year we’ve added on Greta Hogenstad and Penny Williams to our team. With a vision for the magazine to be something more than it once was, to cover the best home projects in a new way, these two ladies have been instrumental in making my dreams come to life.