The time has COME!
After assisting so many people downsize the past 5 years- it is now MY TURN!
I have sold the 4,000 sq ft home in suburbia – and I am heading URBAN- to a small 900 sq ft rental cottage I own.
This is a side step since the dream is to build a new modern urban home- stay tune for some more downsize ideas!
I am be taking a break from the blog- getting settled-have a great summer and see you in September with lots of fresh ideas!
Let me know how your downsizing is going and where you are moving!
Building room for your hobbies : Weaving Studio
Just recently, I had the pleasure of meeting Leah Hersey of Jersey Girl Weaving. She’s a client of mine and when she told me about her home studio, I wanted to know more! Over tea and snacks, she told me the story of how her newly built studio was born.
Leah has always had a passion for textiles and inevitably fell in love with the art of weaving. Not quite as portable as knitting or as compact as cross-stitch, Leah soon realized that she would need space – a lot of space – to fully devote her self to this craft. After all, a real loom takes up a whole lotta floor. Enter the idea of constructing an out building and making it her full time studio!
Aptly named Jersey Girl Weaving – a throwback to her time living on the east coast – this new building has provided the space, natural light and artistic solitude that Leah was seeking.
I couldn’t resist capturing all the beautiful details of Leah’s space…
I just love all the colors and textures! The groupings of sheep create a sense of whimsy and honor Leah’s love of wool.
I know that having this new space makes Leah’s art a central focus in her life and brings her much joy.
By thinking creatively, she maximized her property and utilized her space with care and purpose.
Do you ever dream of having your own home office or studio? Where could you create this space?
Thanks to Leah for inspiring us!
Small Spaces : A Jewel Box of Ideas
Hello! Hope your summer is going well. Mine has been very busy – working, gardening, planning my remodel and visiting with family and friends! Finally had some time to check out the internet for some inspiration and I had to share this with you…
Found this amazing design contest via Jovoto, that has closed but the plans submitted are just fabulous! The assignment was to design a “Jewel Box” studio apartment within 420 sq. ft. Here are a few shots from the 1st place winner…
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Some really ingenious ideas here. Go check out more of the design entries…I could have spent all day going thru them! So inventive!
Have a great rest of the week!
Skinny Downsizing
Hello all! Hope your week has been fabulous!
So, I had to post this! I’m all for downsizing, as you know…but this…is…well, it’s outside the box to say the least…
{images via}
This itty bitty, skinny mini house, designed by Jakub Szczęsny of Centrala, is proposed to be an “art installation” in Warsaw, Poland. (It doesn’t meet Polish building codes – ha – no kidding!) Designed to fit in between two buildings, it certainly challenges the typical living space, being only 4 feet across at its widest point! Yikes! I’m guessing if you don’t already suffer from claustrophobia, you might just develop a healthy case residing here.
Inventive, yes. Architectually challenging, indeed. Livable? Not in my opinion, at least not long term. What do you think?
To read more about this design go here.
Have a fantastic weekend!!
Multifunctional Rooms
Hi all! It’s been a busy couple of weeks but I’m back with some more inspiration from my real life “downsizers”. One very talented client of mine went through the downsizing shift with grace, settling into her new life and making sure she made room for her beloved grandchildren. A creative whiz and fabulous artist, she made the second bedroom of her new townhouse into a warm sanctuary where she balanced creative space and kid space! Check it out…
By utilizing this niche she created the perfect place for reading stories, playing, cuddling and of course sleeping! She stacked two inflatable mattresses that easily rearrange to meet her needs. Beautiful colors and a handmade quilt make the little nook inviting and comforting.
Framing the area with soft draperies, further defines the space and gives it that cozy feel.
The other half of the room becomes her lovely art studio…
Don’t you love how she worked with this space? She honored her passion for art, while cherishing her bond with her grandkids. Now, that’s a great multifunctional room and a really cool Nana!
For even more inspiration check out these other bed/reading nooks…
traditional family room design by los angeles interior designer Susan Jay Design
This one is pure genius! What kid wouldn’t want to hang out up there? Too cool!
Seattle Weekend by Train
Hello friends! Hope you had a fantastic holiday weekend. We went on my favorite quick getaway and caught the train up to Seattle. I absolutely love the train ride – reading magazines, sipping wine and just relaxing. By the time I arrive, I have unwound and I’m ready to enjoy the city! Traffic and parking can really burst my weekend escape bubble…Speaking of trains, I recently headed over to the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation site to discover an exciting event coming up on June 30th – The Willamette Bridge groundbreaking – which will bring light rail, cyclists and pedestrians straight by the Engine House & Rail Heritage Center. For more info go here.
Okay…on to Seattle…We stayed at the fabulous Hotel Max. This place is all about art and photography – featuring 39 local artists! Each floor has its own vibe and influence…we stayed on the Rock n’ Roll floor!
Images via here
With its eclectic mix of luxury, art and culture we would definitely stay here again and I love that it’s sister hotel – Hotel Lucia – is right here in Portland.
Okay, now for a couple of my fav restaurants that we hit…and yes, a little I SPY bathroom design to boot!
For a decadent French breakfast complete with a cocktail happy hour, you can’t miss Toulouse Petit Kitchen. I had to have a French mimosa with my crispy beignets and pork cheeks confit with eggs! I told you it was decadent!
Think of funky-bistro with a bayou twist (so fun) and the bathrooms didn’t disappoint either…
Honey hued with a mix of tile, stone and bronze the bathrooms were very elegant. I love the little detail of the fleur de lis in the flooring. So très French…
For dinner we headed to Barolo Ristorante…Glamorous and sexy with a good dose of modern Italian flair…this place is a must!
Images via here
The food was impeccable, with an impressive wine list. It’s a hot spot for sure…just look for the flashy cars pulling up to the front!
On to the gorgeous bathrooms…dripping with glitter and shine…I just love the beaded curtain below the counter top! Genius.
Image via here
It was such a wonderful weekend and by taking the train we avoided all the hassles (and pollution) of driving the car. Consider taking the train for your next weekend getaway.
Now all we need is one of these…
Image via here
Meet China’s amazing new bullet train…I’m dying to ride this one! This would get me to Seattle in about an hour! Get with the program Amtrak! Seriously!
Where have you traveled by train? Did you enjoy it?
Rejuvenation and Rummer
A couple of nights ago, I attended a fantastic lecture at Rejuvenation – one of Portland’s most loved vintage lighting and home wares store. This lecture series is sponsored by a wonderful organization called P:ear – they creatively mentor and inspire homeless youth! Check them out here.
A nice bonus to the evening: famed, local architect, Robert Rummer was in attendance and celebrating his 85th birthday too! His wonderful designs were prominent in the 1960’s and still are en vogue today. His homes are modern, one level and abundant with natural light thanks to his signature atrium at the heart of the space. Rummer homes are seen all over Portland…
And a peek inside…
images via here
I really love his clean, contemporary lines and open floor plans! So perfect for us hip Portlanders!
Okay, so I am off to Seattle via train for a fabulous weekend in the city! Stay tuned…I’m sure to bring back some stories.
Have a great Memorial Day weekend!
P.S. If you are going to be in town make sure you don’t miss Rejuvenation’s huge Memorial weekend sale!!
Closet Office
I have begun to meet up with several of my 555 residents to document some of their downsizing solutions. It has been so much fun re-connecting with them, touring their homes and having them share their downsizing stories with me.
One of my favorite solutions that I have seen is the closet office! In a smaller living quarters, sometimes the office space is the first to go but with a little creativity, one can put that workspace back into the plan! One of my “downsizers” did just that!
By lining the space with shelving and inserting a desk top she has given her husband a workstation that didn’t originally fit into their home. The best part – when it gets messy she can just close the door!
Here are some other fabulous closet offices…
Home Tour : London Style
Hi all,
My name is Ivette and I’m guest posting on Candace’s blog today.
She sent me out on assignment yesterday! Where? On a huge, red, London-esque double-decker bus, of course! Yup, at 10 am me and a gaggle of Windemere real estate agents boarded the cherry red bus for a royal real estate tour. Like most places, Lake Oswego is aflutter with talk of the upcoming Royal Wedding, so why not view homes via a Brit approved bus! We sipped mimosas and watched the gorgeous scenery of West Linn, Oregon City and Lake Oswego whizz by.
Our first stop was Candace’s listing…a lovely home in West Linn…click here for the listing info and more pics.
From house to house we traveled, up winding hills and over bridges, laughing at the crazy hair pin turns and gasping as our big red bus careened down hills and narrow passes. The sun finally made an appearance and brightened the experience. Each home offered something different – a beautiful view, a glamorous bathroom, a slice of history. It was a lovely way to spend a few hours and I felt lucky to get the chance to go!
Here’s a little slide show of the tour…
Here is a list of the homes we toured with corresponding links…
1. 1494 Skye Parkway, West Linn MLS# 11184239
2. 4145 Horton Rd. West Linn MLS# 11333578
3. 2510 Oregon City Blvd. West Linn MLS# 10075196
4. 812 John Adams St., Oregon City MLS# 11591359
5. 3520 Riverknoll Way, West Linn MLS# 11482902
6. 1956 Cheryl Ct. Lake Oswego MLS# 11437047
7. 2070 Ridge Point Dr. Lake Oswego MLS# 11665122
8. 1196 Fairway Rd. Lake Oswego MLS# 11086534
Go take a peek at these gorgeous homes! Thank you Candace, for sending me on this adventure.
I had a blast!
xo,
p.s. Looks like the bus was spotted around town (it’s kinda hard to miss) and was featured on KATU…see here!
Wacky Weather, wacky furniture
Up here in the Northwest, Spring can’t seem to figure out if it’s coming or going. One minute, the sun is out and it’s in the 60’s, the next it’s hailing like crazy and in the 30’s! It’s a wacky time of year so when I saw these ridiculous pieces of wacky furniture, I couldn’t help but share them with you. Hope these give you a giggle!
“BAD TABLE!” lol.
Have a fabulous weekend!
Images via here.
