we always get excited when we have a new home from jessica helgerson to share. based out of of portland, oregon, jessica creates spaces that somehow manage to be both welcoming and glamorous. (jessica first shared this dreamy home with us and then last spring, this portaland four-square.) the whole space is lovely, but kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms – that is where jessica absolutely shines. i would seriously sell my soul for that laundry space. and that kitchen?! there are no words. when i grow up, i want a jessica helgerson kitchen! santa? {thanks, jessica! and thanks to lincoln barbour for the lovely photographs!} – amy a.
[The clients for this project were a young family with a very modern aesthetic. The trick was to take their hundred-year-old Northwest Portland house and make it feel fresh and current while avoiding a remodel that would feel dated, trendy, or not work for somebody else if they were ever to move out. I’ve always had an environmental side to my work, but my philosophy lately has been to try to do the absolute right and best thing for each house we work on so that it will never have to be remodeled again! Then I think it’s fine (great in fact!) to put in very special lighting and furniture that is exactly right for the people who live in it now, but could be easily changed by someone else. The color palette is a simple gradation of whites and cool grays with a bright entry fading to a darker living room and a dramatically dark dining room and library. During the course of the work the clients also became dear friends, which makes this project very special to me.]
[In the entry we had mirrors laser-cut to form organic shapes that dance along the walls reflecting surprising snippets of the house. The living room opens up to the entry space. The knitted poufs are by the amazing Christien Meindertsma who knits them by hand with GIANT needles. The lamp is by another super talent – furniture designer Kenneth Cobonpue]
[The family room with a cozy cotton velvet upholstered sofa we designed, based on one by ligne roset but customized to fit into a bay window.]
[The dining room is a dramatic dark grey but manages to feel bright and fresh. The light fixture is a custom piece with tiny three watt lights that glow softly. The glass work is by super talented local Portland artists Andi Kovel (Esque Studio) on the table and Andy Paiko on the cabinet.]
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[We gutted a dysfunctional '70's kitchen. The new kitchen has lots and lots of storage but no upper cabinets which keeps it very open feeling. The lights are by Niche Modern. We opened the kitchen to the dining room with two-sided glass front cabinets and a generous doorway.]
[We removed a full bath downstairs and converted it to a powder room, opening up a back hall that had probably been original and vastly improving the flow of the house.]
[I hand-painted the master bedroom with my mendhi-inspired technique. This is the fourth project I’ve done this on and I love it. It is contemplative, quiet, peaceful work, very different from a usual day in our office.]
[The clients asked us to add a master bathroom to the second floor if possible. Luckily for us one of the bedrooms was larger than it really needed to be and we carved out a master bathroom with double sinks, tons of storage, and a generous shower.]
[The other thing the clients were hoping for was an upstairs laundry. There was nowhere left to put it but the hall, so we we designed a pretty cabinet that conceals a washer, dryer and lots more storage at the top of the stairs.]
[The library is cozy, moody, and inviting with walnut wallpaper http://walnutwallpaper.com/ and lots and lots of shelves painted to match.]
[We did a total remodel of the second bath, with black and white marble hex tiles on the floor and a white tile wainscot. We designed a little niche for the tub. The super cute (and waterproof!) window shade is from Delia Shades.
