A charming Portland bungalow, two design styles, and a living room shaped around the people and character inside.
All interiors in the story are original work by Founder, Rachel Anderson, photographed by Evernew.
One of my first living room projects has also remained one of my favorites.
Not only because it was a charmer of a home, but thanks to the charm of the couple inhabiting the space. It was a delight to collaborate with these two on a series of projects. Some clients remain in your heart forever and in an industry that can lean superficial, that makes this job so much more meaningful.
The real kicker on this project was learning that they had just moved cross country, having purchased the bungalow unseen. Talk about an adventurous pair! I knew I was working with two fun souls and I think the final living room is proof of their vibrancy.
Read on to see how we got from the before to the after and helped one sweet couple settle into their new life.
STYLING WITH HISTORY IN MIND
Keeping All the Charm
One of our first and most clear decisions was what to keep. This house had a personality and history all its own and we wanted to honor that.
Original millwork laced the space—regal wooden baseboards, crown moldings, and window trim. A notable solid wood entry with trimmed glass makes a statement all its own. A brick fireplace with original casework and matching windows creates a focal point.
Some houses come as a blank slate. This one brought heaps of character to work with and that steered many of our decisions. Thanks to its grounding details, we were able to explore some punchy color combinations.
This space developed a funk and swagger all its own and lives rent free in my head forever.
FINDING THEIR STYLE
Two Tastes, One Home
Many of my clients have sought out professional design help because they need a mediator, of sorts. People are unique and blending style, preferences, and comfort can be tricky.
Without the help of a pro, the design process can feel clunky and riddled with anxiety. Mental energy that could be put towards creative design solutions gets wasted over-analyzing and two humans circling each other with niceties without conclusion. An unbiased third party, like an interior designer, brings a fresh set of eyes that can steer a clear path forward.
These types of projects are the most interesting because you can’t foretell how the final design will turn out. Some designs are clear right from the start, but this one was a delicate dance between partners until arriving at some unknown middle ground.
We played with a series of mood boards and design concepts before finding the sweet spot of style and color that they could whole-heartedly agree on, and it was worth all the effort. This space is a joy to behold.
The resulting style is a blend of beauty and function that is all their own. And that is interior design at its best.
SMALL SPACE, BIG LIFE
Making Every Piece Work Harder
The living room wasn't enormous, but my clients loved to host, so flexibility became an important part of the plan.
Instead of filling the room with furniture needed only occasionally, we looked for ways individual pieces could serve more than one purpose. A lidded coffee table provided hidden storage for extra blankets. Additional chairs filling in small open nooks can be pulled into the conversation when company arrives.
To save floor space, we opted for extendable wall-mount sconces. Flanking the sofa, they act both as art and function. The custom velvet sofa was clad in a durable fabric with a high rub count to blend high-impact style with functional durability.
To avoid drilling into plaster walls unnecessarily, we chose to install a single art wall ledge. The homeowners can now switch decorative pieces out at their leisure. Optimal adaptability, minimal wall destruction.
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE HOME
The Best Kind of Collaboration
Some projects stay with you because of the finished room. Others stay with you because of the people. This one is both.
These two remain some of my favorite clients to date. They were kind, playful, and wonderfully trusting of the design process. We experimented, changed direction, laughed, and kept going until the design spoke to all of us.
When they trusted me with the full installation and the grand reveal moment, my two toddler daughters accompanied me. My phone is riddled with photos and videos of me and my mini assistants laying out the living room of my clients’ dreams. Writing about it, now years later, gives me goosebumps.
Some projects impact the client. Others impact the designer. I am grateful to have not only worked with them then, but to have been invited back to consult on additional spaces.
Room by room, their bungalow has preserved its true character while taking on a vibrant life that matches the personalities of the two who now get to call it their home.