747c422967795987b3f5bad80bc9a6e8.jpg

8 Ways to Lasso Lone Star State Style

Homes in Texas come in most design styles, but its classic appearance still embodies a romance with all the Old West. This varied appearance blends Native American, Spanish, Mexican, Anglo-American and European components using earthy finishes, timber, cherry, leather, iron — along with a rebellious streak. You don’t have to live in the Lone Star State to be inspired by the distinguishing features from these Texas interiors.

The Cavender Diary

1. A colour scheme. A down-to-earth, rustic colour palette defines that this Texan interior. Dusty reds, blues and whites (like on the Texas and American flags) complement hot wall colors.

Get this appearance: Light foundation colours work best in the hot Texas climate, so stick to lighter colors on your walls and use bolder colours for entertaining punches in cloth, art, accessories and furniture.

Zoe Murphy Compton Ltd..

2. Textiles and furnishings. Organic materials like wood, leather and iron emphasize the warmth and relaxation of these spaces. Traditionally, Texas craftspeople made furnishings by hand out of local pine, walnut and cedar. Furniture was upholstered in hides or in sturdy textiles with geometric patterns or Western scenes.

Get this appearance: If you are wanting to save a little money to acquire this Southwestern appearance, reupholster a footstool or side chair in cotton or burlap. Sloping up a thrifted wooden chair using sandpaper and dry brush a layer of paint on top for authentic and reclaimed style.

Rachel Mast Design

3. Rodeo flair. During the late 1800s, rodeos became a favorite test of skill across the western United States. Lots of Texans still hold fast to this cowboy tradition, and it’s frequently represented in iconic art, accessories and textiles in the house.

Get this appearance: Look for rodeo silhouettes of a cowboy and bucking bronco in photographs, prints or paintings. Metalwork and antiques can pay tribute to the tradition, too — old spurs and boots can make a fantastic entryway accessory.

3 Fold Design Studio

4. Limestone. Native Texas limestone is your top stone quarried in the state, and it’s widely used for both interior and outdoor functions. Designers frequently use subtle stone colors like shell, cream, buff and gray in both traditional and modern settings.

Get this appearance: Consider using limestone for a stacked-stone fireplace or a wall, backsplash or flooring. Try accenting a little corner or terrace with limestone border tiles.

Wright-Built

5. Tin roofing. Metal roofing’s reflective surface helps preserve a home’s temperature in the hot Texas weather. Galvanized roof systems have been frequently used in old Texas houses — they withstood the elements beautifully and frequently rusted over time, including personality.

Get this appearance: Reclaimed galvanized sheets can add a gorgeous patina to every part of your home. You’re able to salvage old panels or purchase new ones and use a rust kit from the hardware store to oxidize the metal.

Legacy DCS

6. Reclaimed lumber. Reclaimed lumber and barn timber include history and warmth. Old-school Texan homes embraced this hot and weathered appearance, with old barn wood liner cabinets, walls and flooring.

Get this appearance: Fortunately for us, pieces made from reclaimed lumber are no more difficult to come by, as a wealth of designers and furniture manufacturers really like to use this substance.

More salvage style thoughts

7. The Texas star. Featured about the state flag, this star is over conventional Texan houses. It’s a sign of Texas’ individual spirit and ethics, and houses often display it through the flag, as a sculpture or in carved details, tile work, signage and more.

Get this appearance: Branch out beyond framed flags and textiles, and use the Texas star as a theme on a wall, carpeting, tabletop or tile depth. I really like this homeowner brought the star outside in a rustic, patinated metal.

The Cavender Diary

8. Longhorns. The Texas longhorns are descended from the first cattle brought to America from Christopher Columbus. These cattle are frequently associated with the love of the Old West and are becoming an iconic element of Texas culture.

Get this appearance: These accents look great over fireplaces or as part of a gallery wall, and you can also find ceramic and papier-mâché designs. No luck finding something sculptural? Try out a longhorn pillow or stained motif instead.

More: Texas Design Corrals a Assortment of Styles

See related

9a914dd4d511afecdf4ad0bda56e29f2.jpg

Views and A Hillside Home Commands Care

Fayetteville is a college town (the University of Arkansas) in northwest Arkansas that benefits from the beautiful landscape of the Ozarks. Architects Tim de Noble and Time Maddox of deMx Architecture find inspiration in the natural context and indigenous structures of the area, crafting structures within a style they call vernacular modernism. A fantastic illustration of this is that the Round Mountain House, a strikingly expressive structure that commands the north side of a hill. Throughout its asymmetrical barn-like profile, standing-seam metallic siding, breezeway, natural heating system and barn-like loft, the home references but updates the area’s historical architecture.

at a Glance
Who lives here: Empty nesters Sharon and Charles Killian
Location: Fayetteville, Arkansas
Size:
4,500 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 3 baths
That’s intriguing:
The home has a strange, almost alien form that starts to make sense as soon as you’re inside.

DeMx architecture

The home is a very long bar that is oriented east –west along the hillside. Here we are looking at the long north side, and from here the house’s construction is evident: concrete foundation, then a middle section covered in SIPs (structural insulated panels), either topped by an asymmetrical wrapper of standing-seam metallic panels.

The form and construction indicate that the home is suspended from the industrial structures of this area however is shaped as though it were reaching to the west to get viewpoints.

DeMx architecture

Looking at the south side of the home, we can get a better look at the patio which anchors the tall end of the home on the west. The one-story part in the foreground houses the bedrooms, while the asymmetrical piece in metal wraps the living areas.

Notice the horizontal strip of clerestory windows over the one-story bedroom; these bring light to the living room, something we’ll see later.

DeMx architecture

Here’s the view from the porch on the west side of the home. This is the raison d’être for its own form and the home.

DeMx architecture

The garage is located on the east end of the home. In between the garage and the home is a breezeway that serves as yet another outside area for the owners, the Killians. From here the house’s unique steel structure is evident — we’ll see how this allows for quite open spaces inside.

DeMx architecture

The breezeway is anchored by an outside fireplace at a stone wall that is punctuated by alcoves for displaying artifacts. The method by which the stone wraps the wall and the floor is a wonderful touch, something which provides the space cohesion.

DeMx architecture

The living room is basically one area with a loft at the end. Here we are looking from the loft to the east, from the living room below to the kitchen and dining room outside. (it is possible to find a floor plan here.) The steel beams mark the points of transition in the roof, since the form has taller and taller.

DeMx architecture

This view is looking in the same way, from the living room back to the entrance on the east. From here a few interesting things are worth pointing out: The clerestory windows mentioned earlier are obvious on the ideal side; the stone in the breezeway is picked up on the wall of the fireplace in the living room; along with the steel mounts supporting the lights over the dining room (with a movable bracket) and kitchen are a really wonderful design touch which picks up onto the structural steel subjected throughout.

DeMx architecture

This final view of the home is looking west out of the dining room table. Big windows and sliding doors catch views and provide entry to the porch outside. We can observe the stairs on the right which lead to the wraparound loft. The loft on the far west side sits directly over the porch and contains its own windows for looking at the sun setting over the hills at the distance.

The house’s vernacular inspirations may fall away inside, but the link to the landscape is always clear as an significant part life in the home.

See related

f9b49bab28c84aac629dc8b1b83957b5.jpg

Victorian Design to Get a Restaurant

Mediterranean cuisine, which includes dishes from Greece, Italy, northern Africa and the Middle East, is one of the most dynamic and popular kinds of food for restaurants. While not as important as the food itself, the setting of a Mediterranean restaurant can help diners feel at home and immersed at the dining room experience, which may be anything from a relaxed, elegant day to some fast, lively meal.

Architecture

The architectural design of a restaurant can be an immediate indication of its Mediterranean motif. Arched doors, high ceilings and a large entryway all imitate the classic Mediterranean design. For your building’s outside, exposed rock or stucco can give the impression of a rural trattoria in Italy or some local eatery on the Greek islands. The same goes for Spanish tile roofing and arched or round windows.

Decor

Mediterranean decor fluctuates widely and gives you many opportunities to decorate your restaurant in your own style whilst staying true to the motif. Traditional Greek- or Roman-inspired statuary is just one simple way to signify that a Mediterranean motif in the foyer, setting the visual tone for the remainder of the space. Earth tones, for example tans and browns, can help signify the down-to-earth character of a Mediterranean meal, while pastels and trendy colors can create a more upscale beachfront setting. Ornate rugs, candles, urns, iron mirrors and heavy wooden furniture can all fit inside the Mediterranean fashion.

Family Style

Including a family-style dining area into a restaurant recalls the special relationship individuals from the Mediterranean area have with food. Encouraging diners to face one another and share huge portions of food will enliven the disposition. An alternative arrangement could be family-style dining at large tables in a separate party room or outdoor dining area, with traditional tables elsewhere. This can divide the quiet, romantic side of Victorian dining in the festive setting.

Walls

A Mediterranean restaurant walls are just another prime opportunity to set up or expand the motif. Architectural or landscape subjects are common among Mediterranean art, with still life and cafe scenes also suitable. The walls themselves can be finished or left as bare stone or brick for a more rustic feel. Tapestries and painted stucco offer additional wall treatments that can have a more formal, finished appearance that’s still inside a Mediterranean motif.

Landscaping

Prior to entering a Mediterranean restaurant, diners can be treated to a preview of the ambiance inside. A garden pathway with palms trees, hardy shrubs and evergreen bushes at a temperate foundation will consume comparatively little water and introduce a Mediterranean landscape to complement your restaurant’s exterior design. Stone features and decorative columns recall Roman or Greek ruins and also help form a classical motif. A indoor fountain can serve as a visual centerpiece in the dining room as a waterfall or outdoor fountain is able to create an outdoor seating area even more attractive.

See related

cfaf541448f58d8b889e6b09ecc6f526.jpg

On Trend: Antique Rugs to Dye For

A wave of classic Turkish rugs in surprising colours has landed on our shores, and interior designers are utilizing them in areas from traditional to modern. The carpets are well-worn antiques which have been redyed in eye-catching bold hues, tasteful grays and even black, to freshen up the appearance and mix new and old. “Overdyed rugs are among my favorite ways to add a pop of color to a room,” says interior designer Melanie Coddington. “They’re a fresh, modern take on the classic rug.”

“These carpets are true antiques from Turkey, and they’ve naturally worn over time,” explains interior designer Emily Basham-Hoelscher of Urbanspace Interiors. “They sometimes further distress them using resources to make them more interesting, then they use organic vegetable dyes to get the deep pigment” Each rug is a unique work of art. Take a peek at how performers are finding just the best overdyed classic rugs for a vast array of rooms and fashions.

Callaway Architects

Vibrant pinks and purples amp the colour in this transitional dining area. The patchwork pattern divides the scale of the massive area rug to smaller pieces.

“The patchwork assortment are stitched together and can be customized with colour sewing,” Basham-Hoelscher says.

Urbanspace Interiors

The carpets work well with just about any fashion. “They work superbly in more traditional settings, because they have the decoration and history of the originals but add a unique touch,” Basham-Hoelscher says. “And they are amazing in modern surroundings, because of their vibrant, graphic character and nod into the past.”

Similar carpets accessible through Urbanspace Interiors.

Reiko Feng Shui Design

Urbanspace Interiors

Tip: When looking for a patchwork overdyed classic rug, Basham-Hoelscher recommends locating one in which you can see the stitches at the top. “If the stitching is beneath, it can produce embarrassing puckering,” she says.

Elad Gonen

Coddington Design

“I picked this emerald-green rug since I loved how it complemented the hues in the curtains and wallpaper with no too matchy,” Coddington says.

Coddington Design

The rug also stands up to the wear and tear of a toddler and a dog, and is not difficult to maintain in this family residence.

Shirley Meisels

Interior designer Shirley Meisels loves these carpets for many reasons. “I really like the colours, and they seem great with traditional furnishings,” she says. “They also comparison warm and with up modern surroundings”

Shirley Meisels

Meisels also notes that they are great at hiding dirt, making them her favorite choice for entrances and other areas with a great deal of foot traffic.

Linda McDougald Design | Postcard from Paris Home

Basham-Hoelscher notes that these rugs have worn well for many, many decades, and since they are made from wool, will last for several more. “The only place I would not recommend is bathrooms or outside,” she says.

Similar carpets accessible through Postcard in Paris.

What do the experts say to people who wholeheartedly think the classic version is better? Besides “To each his own,” Basham-Hoelscher adds: “Many of our clients and customers believe that they get the quality of something made so well that it’s stood the test of time, but also has had new life into it” It is a unique combination of new and old that matches today’s variety of fashions.

Similar carpets accessible through Urbanspace Interiors.

RugSpecialist

Patchwork Rugs Produced From Overdyed Vintage Turkish Carpets

Browse oversized antique rugs

See related

425e0edc3f47e672674bdf9d48922fa8.jpg

Herb Garden Essentials: Grow Your Culinary Sage

There are dozens and dozens of sages out there that can add colour and punch to your landscape. Some are strictly ornamental; others are also used for everything from scenting soaps and perfumes to repelling moths and removing cooking scents.

For the herb gardener and cook, common sage (Salvia officinalis) is probably the best alternative. Luckily, this easy-to-grow plant is currently available in a number of varieties.

Pineapple sage (S. rutilans, S. elegans) along with fruit-scented sage (S. dorisiana) are colorful and edible choices for quite warm-weather climates. Be careful not to confuse pineapple sage, with its bright red flowers, with the easily accessible scarlet sage (S. splendens).

Caution: Not many sages are edible, and some can cause nasty side effects, so check the species until you consume any.

Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Light requirement: Full sunlight; semi shade in hot climates
Water requirement: Little once recognized
Prime growing season: Spring through fall
When to plant: Spring; can plant in fall in warm-winter climates
Favorites: Aurea, Berggarten (Mountain Garden), common, Icterina, Italian Aromatic, Purpurea, Tricolor

Aloe Designs

Planting and maintenance: Pick a sunny site with good air circulation and excellent drainage; amend the soil as needed to provide this. You can start from seed, but seedlings and nursery plants are typically more trustworthy. Set them 3 feet apart with the crown just above the ground.

Le jardinet

If you’re growing sage in a container, select a pot that is at least 12 inches wide and 8 inches deep. Water frequently until established, then water as needed. A deep watering once a month could be. Apply a complete fertilizer every spring. In cold-winter climates, bring plants indoors to overwinter. Sage is susceptible to fungal diseases like mildew and can develop root rot in wet soil.

Like many other herbs, sage can get rangy. To keep it in check, return to just over the new increase in the spring. You may need to replace the plants every couple of years.

Harvest: Pick off leaves and flowers as needed. Harvest softly the first year to encourage growth. Do not do a large harvest fewer than two months before the first anticipated frost date in fall, to stop damaging new growth. Dry the leaves for storage. Drying also intensifies the taste.

More: See how to grow more culinary customs

See related

a3036b15eae6be1562aec86257e45cb6.jpg

Kitchen of the Week: Creativity Shines at Seattle

Despite its modern patterned floor and bright crimson backsplash, this kitchen includes some amazingly traditional roots. Built in 1917, this Seattle residence formerly had only 1 owner, who had completed minimal updates over recent years. Although the clients didn’t need to maintain the rusted metal cabinetry or barely functioning stove, they still wanted to honor the house’s history. Designer Laura Zeck used sterile stuff, dressed up that the original flooring and framed discovered art to unite the past with the current in this hot and beautiful layout.

Kitchen at a Glance
Location: Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, Washington
Size: 200 square feet

Zinc Artwork + Interiors

The kitchen had a massive 1950s-style stove, with the burners at a drawer. The clients were not able to salvage it, but they wanted to honor the kitchen in some manner. During demolition, they discovered a bunch of old papers in the cabinets, and framed a few pick clippings as wall art. The colours in the framed advertisement next to the stove motivated the bright orange of the new $3,000 Blue Star range and glass-painted counter tops.

The first hardwood floors have a beautiful honey color, but there were some very damaged sections. The homeowners liked the floor’s patina but wanted to divert from the destroyed parts. After the first coat of finish, Zeck painted large stenciled sections on the ground at exactly the same light grey as the walls, then put on two coats of finish.

Range: Blue Star; hood: Vent–a-hood

Zinc Artwork + Interiors

The kitchen bar area — complete with a zinc counter — had been an adjoining sunroom. The custom maple ply cabinetry layout, fabrication and installation cost about $11,000. The cutouts on the kitchen storage dividers replicate the cutouts on the shelves.

Faucet: Karbon Articulating Faucet, Kohler; sink: Franke;cabinetry: custom by Mike Miller Construction; dishwasher: Fisher and Paykel

Zinc Artwork + Interiors

The wood to the open shelving was discovered in the house’s basement — another tribute to the home’s history. Before refrigerators became dwelling mainstays, the cellar held a bigger refrigerator with individual lockers and shelves to the members of the little fishing community that the house is in. These open shelves once sat within the lockers.

Zinc Artwork + Interiors

Next to the L-shaped counter, a brief hallway with a swinging door helps separate the kitchen’s mess from the rest of the house. The floral wallpaper inspired the stenciled pattern on the kitchen floor.

Zinc Artwork + Interiors

The pantry shelf to the right of the refrigerator makes use of the refrigerator doors found in the cellar, also.

The zinc bar price $850, hence the clients opted for a more palatable choice on the opposite countertops. Salvaged slate chalkboards, found at Seattle’s ReStore for about $ 5 per square foot, were sterile coated, match with a custom stainless steel edge and finished with linseed oil.

Refrigerator: Liebherr

See related

a23b9d9c4fdee2be9f9b8a51b8d025bc.jpg

Love Your Room: Boost Interest With Architectural Details

When upgrading your living space, go back to basics and look at your room’s architectural information. It doesn’t matter whether your house’s architecture is modern, transitional, contemporary or traditional — details such as beams, markets and moldings will help communicate the style you want, even without a remodel. Here are some suggestions.

Leone Design Studio

Note the current architectural capabilities. While contemporary architecture usually plays down embellishments, traditional architecture usually has more elaborate ceilings, windows, walls and doors. A redesign may highlight present attributes, push them in the desktop or add new ones.

Many people love both contemporary and traditional styles. A transitional living area can enable you to get the best of both worlds. Try keeping your architectural attributes neutral in color and show off your style via your furniture. This magnificent living room’s architecture pays homage to the past but honors the homeowner’s fashion with the iconic, eclectic furniture choices.

More about transitional style

Hufft Projects

Add feel to your fireplace. If your area has a fireplace, look at beefing this up with a textural element. This granite fireplace surround provides the space a significant visual attention while remaining true to the room’s blank form.

Hint: Whatever finish you and your designer are all operating with, taking the surround into the ceiling will make the room feel fuller.

Bonesteel Trout Hall

Install ceiling beams. Many of today’s ceilings are extremely straightforward. Ceiling beams may add some style without feeling too traditional. Faux timber beams are much lighter in weight and easier to install, and the warmth and attention they add to a space speaks volumes. Consider the scale of both room and beams. You do not want the beams to feel too hefty for the distance.

Hint: Install additional lighting right in the beams. This is sometimes useful if you want to hang a heavy pendant lighting and the ceiling joists do not line up.

Wendi Young Design

Update your doors with muntins. If your living area has French or glass doors, flat muntins may add a touch of detail and craftsmanship. Horizontal lines can communicate equilibrium, help create a serene area and increase visual distance. The inclusion of vertical muntins as well can give your space more of a Georgian feel.

Schwartz and Architecture

Add a market or 2. Going via a Larger remodel? A market can be a functional and eye-pleasing architectural addition. If you have a dead corner, then a small market with a seat for one can solve the issue. Shelving alone works wonders if built-in seating is too hard.

Amy Lau Design

Bring the brick. The 1970s turned many people against the internal exposed brick wall — happily this look is on the rise again. Done well, humble brick adds character and texture to many styles of design. Old bricks were often handmade and have a gorgeous feel. New bricks may entice the colours from your flooring and furniture.

Hint: Do not neglect to have old bricks resealed for extra insulation. Utilize a matte sealant to get a more natural, earthy look.

AM Dolce Vita

Update your walls. If you have a living space devoid of any real architectural attributes, utilize wall frames to include easy, affordable particulars. If your room has a seat rail, add frames just below the railing and paint them a contrasting color.

Hint: The size of a wall framework isn’t the most important factor for this installation. Make sure you leave two3/4 to 31/2 inches between each framework and that the framework sits 3 to 4 inches up from the baseboard, then you can work out the size of each framework. Measure and mark the layout in pencil on the whole wall first. This may look like overkill, but equilibrium is all about with framing.

More: Interior Trim: 8 Must-Know Elements

See related

339cc7a56889aa242125233e7f8c74dc.jpg

Kitchen of the Week: Color Bursts Enliven an Arkansas Kitchen

Colorful personalities often call for a brilliant kitchen, but these playful customers also wanted a space they would love and use for years to come. Bret Franks Construction functioned to build a kitchen which would handle all of their demands, despite challenges that were spatial. Minimal wall area, shared traffic routes with the remainder of the home and plans to get an adjacent laundry room initially limited the team’s choices to your kitchen floor plan. But designing outside of the traditional work triangle and adding a few playful elements led to an enjoyable space that feels spacious and is simple to use.

Kitchen at a Glance

Location: Conway, Arkansas
Size: 288 square feet
Price: $17,250 (materials, appliances and setup)

Bret Franks Construction, Inc..

Located almost directly at the middle of the home, the kitchen opens up to nearly every major living space on this floor, for example, mudroom, stairwell, dining area, living room and whirlpool.

The kitchen’s plan is due to the limited wall space. The dishwasher, sink and stove sit on a single wall. There is a microwave in the cabinet with the door, and the refrigerator is on a short wall area between the sunroom and kitchen. “It’s certainly not the typical work triangle so often recommended to get a kitchen,” says Bret Franks. “But, the result is a creative and practical use of space”

Dishwasher, refrigerator, stove: Frigidaire; faucet: Whitehaus; faucet: Danze; hood: Kobe

Bret Franks Construction, Inc..

One of the customers wanted to be able to show off her colorful dish collection, so Franks installed several base cupboard drawers for extra storage and put glass inserts on the top cabinets — except for the venting cupboard above the range hood. The brand new cabinetry price about $5,500, plus an extra $350 for your glass inserts.

Countertop: Caesarstone, Organic White

Bret Franks Construction, Inc..

The customers found the playful Clayhaus Ceramics tile online and instantly fell in love with the color mix. The mixture of green, orange, gray and black ended up determining the remainder of the kitchen’s colors: the gray cabinetry, the adjacent tangerine mudroom and respective black accents. Custom made painting ended up costing approximately $1,800, while the backsplash price around $300 (for substances only).

Cabinetry paint: Mindful Gray, Sherwin-Williams

Bret Franks Construction, Inc..

The home’s original plan had the mudroom as a laundry area, which left little space to your walk-in the customers desired. Franks and her team ended up transferring the laundry area to a different portion of the home, making room for a larger mudroom and a walk-in cupboard. The screen door provides a playful architectural element and allows for ventilation.

Orange mudroom paint: Tango, Sherwin-Williams; red pendant: The Old Dixie Cord Light in Barn Red, Barn Light Electric

Bret Franks Construction, Inc..

A couple quirky elements — like numbered cabinet pulls, lettered drawer pulls and lighting with old-fashioned touches — give the space character. The clients knowingly chose things that would make the brand new house look as if it had been designed over time.

Drawer and cupboard pulls: Etsy; pendant light above sink: McCoy, Rejuvenation Hardware; pendants over island: Independence, Hudson Valley

See related

4bfb31a742353c0e9e4630efee02dc76.jpg

Travel Guide: Portland, Oregon, for Design Lovers

Yes, the dream of the ’90s is alive in Portland, but the design-minded assortment of artists, manufacturers and innovators has catapulted this Oregon city into one of the country’s hippest today. Having a small but fast growing population of 600,000, Portland remains rather quaint, which accounts for its deadpan character even amid its latest increase in popularity and its trendsetting status. The town’s quirkiness spills over into its structure, which combines modernism with a wholesome respect for nature. All it takes is a weekend visit to this Pacific Northwest city to convince one that it’s North America’s youngest retirement community.

R. Olson Design

Must-Sees

White Stag sign: Iconic graphic design
Location: 70 NW Couch St. (best seen from the Burnside Bridge)
Noteworthy: Only in Portland would a signal create nearly 75 years’ worth of design controversy.

The White Stag sign, since it’s known by locals, has experienced a set of entrepreneurial identities and designs because it was initially conceived in September 1940 by Ramsay Signs. Merely an outline of Oregon encasing the text “White Satin Sugar” at first, the signal gained its notorious jump stag in 1959 when White Stag Sportswear, occupant and proprietor of the building to which the sign is affixed, took over the promotion rights to it. This also marked the start of a holiday tradition where a neon red bulb glows upon the snout of the stag.

After White Stag Sportswear left the building in 1973, the destiny of the signal was in question. Who’d foot the electricity bill to maintain Portland’s most beloved sign lit? The landmark faced threats of being shut down or eliminated. Eventually the dispute was settled in 1997, with an agreement that the sign could undergo yet another franchise facelift, now for the gift retailer Made In Oregon. However, the Made In Oregon run was short lived, ending in 2006.

Ramsay Signals eventually grew tired of funding the sign’s utility bill in 2008 and searched for a solution. More controversy came together with the proposed advertising of the University of Oregon, whose Portland campus currently occupies the building. But facing much heat, the college withdrew. Ramsay made final risks to decommission the signal in 2010, but this time the city and Ramsay came into an agreement, with Ramsay donating the signal and a $2,000 monthly utility payment into town. For the very first time in its 73 years, the White Stag signal no more peddles any merchandise but simply reads, “Portland Oregon.”

R. Olson Design

The Rose Building: Previously the city visitor’s center
Location: 1020 SW Naito Parkway
Noteworthy: The building was created in the 1940s by Portland’s most prestigious architect, John Yeon.

A sensible beginning for any trip to a new city is the visitor’s center. However, an office wall full of rafting and hot-air-ballooning experience brochures is not what you came to Portland for, can it be? Do not worry; this is not really the city’s info center anymore. Named the Rose Building and now the house of the Rose Festival Foundation, the building was initially created in the 1940s by Portland’s most prestigious architect, John Yeon (pronounced “yon”). Located inside the beloved and always-bustling Tom McCall Waterfront Park, it had been Yeon’s only nonresidential endeavor. The construction is a solid screen of Yeon’s Northwest regional fashion right along Portland’s artery.

Now the inside is a collection of festival memorabilia for the Rose Festival. Even if festival history is not something, stop by because the admission is absolutely free and you’ll get easy access to an interior view of one of Yeon’s most profound works.

R. Olson Design

Watzek House: John Yeon’s first residential design
Location: 1061 SW Skyline Blvd..
Price: $15 (check site for dates)
Noteworthy: Monthly excursions are offered.

Even less successful compared to the likes of Frank Lloyd Wright, Yeon immediately entered the buzzed-about architectural landscape at age 25 with his Watzek house in Portland’s west hills. With its instantly recognizable east facade of floor-to-ceiling windows surrounded by long, slender columns, the house will later go on exhibit at New York’s Museum of Modern Art along with the visitor’s centre. Yeon’s style earned renown for its simplicity and modernism, leading to his being hailed as one of the country’s prominent practitioners of modern architecture, and more especially the Northwest regionalist style.

A notable component of the Watzek House is its connection to landscape, with a roof pitched to mimic its perspective of Mt. Hood, Oregon’s highest peak, and also a long, sloping yard to accentuate the perspective.

At 2012 the University of Oregon Architecture and Allied Arts School, which inherited the Watzek House, started conducting monthly excursions of the House to the public.

More info: Watzek House

R. Olson Design

“Pod” sculpture: Cool interactive public artwork
Location: 10th and Burnside, across from Powell’s City of Books
Noteworthy: 15 ft high with 73 metal sticks

What do Portlandians enjoy more than art? Art you can perform with. If you find yourself in Powell’s bookstore, which you inevitably will upon the recommendation of everybody whom you ask what to watch in Portland, then you might be confused, curious or downright freaked out from the massive metal sculpture throughout the road. The tripod-spider-looking-thing is known as “Pod” and was conceived by Portland artist Pete Beeman to capture the “infrastructure, power and vibrancy of Portland,” he says.

Supported with a 15-foot-diameter tripod foundation, “Pod” brings passersby with its hairdo (for want of a better word) composed of 73 drifting titanium sticks, reaching 30 feet to the sky and linking to an orb at the middle of the tripod that can be pushed and pulled by anybody interested enough (and tall enough) to engage with the massive sculpture.

Bonus: have a look at another piece of interactive art down the road: a massive pile of children’s bikes piled and chained together. Why? Every Sunday evening a large crew of thrill-seeking bicyclists rides down the town’s steep west hills, starting in the Portland Zoo. Hightlighting the citiy’s participation with its own visionary underbelly, these bicyclists built the statue for a meeting point.

Pittock Mansion
Location: 3229 NW Pittock Dr.
Price: $8.50
Noteworthy: Neighborhood craftsmen built the house in 1914.

The Pittock Mansion was Constructed in 1914 for both Henry and Georgiana Pittock, Portland leaders and leaders of the nation’s Top newspaper, The Oregonian. Incorporating what at the time was cutting-edge technologies, including a central vacuum and intercoms, the house was built by local craftsmen and builders and used local materials, signifying the Pittocks’ devotion to the city they helped build. Now the mansion is open to the public for tours and offers some of the finest views of the city.

More info: Pittock Mansion

R. Olson Design

Must-Eats

Food carts: Trailers-cum-restaurants
Location: Throughout Portland

What could be confused for a congregation of wayward parade vehicles is in fact a village of specialization cuisine. Portland adopted the food cart phenomenon from the beginning, and now the trailers-cum-restaraunts are forming pods like schools of fish. These pods sponsor a wide variety of cuisine, and cart owners tend to take as much pride in their cart aesthetic as they do in their food.

Offerings range from a complete menu of grilled cheese sandwiches aboard a double decker bus to European comfort food amid late-night dance parties. One of Portland’s cleanest and finest collections of carts is Great Food Here, located on 43rd and Belmont. Hours vary from cart to cart, but there is always something open.

R. Olson Design

Portland City Grill
Location: 111 SW Fifth Ave.
Price: Plates from $13
Noteworthy: Among the best views of Portland

For a bird’s-eye view of town in the heart of downtown, you’re going to Need to eat. Of course, you can only enjoy the view with a libation, but odds are, you are going to get hungry making the trip around the 30th floor of the U.S. Bank Tower, in which Portland City Grill is located. Either way, the view of Portland and the not-too-distant Cascade Mountains is worth the visit. For the very best show, plan to get there around sunset. Just make sure you’ve got a reservation.

More info: Portland City Grill

R. Olson Design

Must-Dos

Cycle Portland Bike Tours
Location: 117 NW Second Ave.
Price: $40
Noteworthy: There’s no greater way to see the city than from two wheels, maybe explaining Portland’s infatuation with bicycles. Many companies provide bike tours, or whether you’re a solo explorer, then they will rent you a bike. Think about carrying a bridge pedal back and forth across the Willamette Riverto get an up-close view of the engineering and architecture that gave Portland the nickname “Bridge City.”

More info: Cycle Portland Bike Tours

Forest Park hike: Trails in an urban forest

Use Portland’s natural aesthetic and hike in the country’s largest urban forest. Forest Park has 150 miles of trail, offering phenomenal vistas of town through dense forest as well as old expansion in some places. Additionally, the skeleton of an old rock home still lurks alongside a trail in the park. Go find it!

Bonus: Hike through Forest Park to the historic Pittock Mansion, for two great experiences on a single trip.

More info: The Forest Park Conservancy

R. Olson Design

Doug Fir Lounge: Concert venue and bar and restaurant
Location: 830 E Burnside St.
Noteworthy: The log cabin–fashion point

Music lovers should always check Portland’s concert calendar and also pay special attention to the Doug Fir listings. Even when you’re not overly familiar with the band performing on any given night, a concert in this cabinesque venue is worth it. Enjoy food and cocktails in the Doug Fir Lounge before heading downstairs to the bar and concert stage with a log cabin–fashion construction. During the show pastel-colored lights splash over the point and light up the wood grain supporting the band.

More info: Doug Fir Lounge

R. Olson Design

Must-Visit Shops

Beam & Anchor: Home furnishings shop
Location: 2710 N Interstate Ave.
Noteworthy: Many of the town’s greatest designers operate over the shop.

Portland proudly supports its regional manufacturers, and there is no greater example than Beam & Anchor. The store is a carefully curated collection of furniture, housewares and personal merchandise. It’s so homesteady that you’ll want to grab a Pendleton blanket and tear on a sofa upholstered in retrieved canvas.

However, what makes Beam & Anchor really special is the commotion taking place upstairs. Above the storefront is a place that is home to some of the town’s greatest manufacturers, including Maak Soap Labs, Wood & Faulk, Revive Designs and Phloem Studio. It’s no wonder creativity appears to float into the air, and it demonstrates the shop’s devotion to handmade products.

Sometimes, the owners offered the upstairs store space for get-togethers to help connect the community with the craftspeople, everyone sipping local spirits and enjoying the musical acoustics of their woodshop.

More info: Beam & Anchor

R. Olson Design

Reclamation Row: Neighborhood bustling with antiques and salvaged-furniture stores

The Southeast Industrial area is teeming with antiques and salvaged-furniture stores, making it the nickname Reclamation Row. Located within blocks of each other, Rejuvenation and Hunt the Unique both provide treasure chests of artifacts of yore. Many odds and ends can be bought, and each shop also offers one-of-a-kind furnishings assembled using knickknacks.

More info: Rejuvenation, Seek the Unique

Must-Stays

Kennedy School
Location: 5736 NE 33rd Ave.
Price: $115 to $145 per night

The McMenamin brothers have built quite a reputation for their renovation of historic buildings in Portland and the rest of Oregon. Among the jewels is the Kennedy School. Originally built in 1915, the building served as an elementary school until 1975, when it closed because of lack of student enrollment. To stave off demolition of the building, the McMenamin brothers suggested a hotel, which was warmly approved by the neighborhood.

In 1997 the Kennedy School opened. Having a schoolhouse motif throughout the construction, the venue offers more than only a place to stay. Access to a huge food- and beer-friendly theater and a relaxing soaking pool is included with every room; the two places are also open to the general public for a fee when a day trip is all you can fit in.

There are a variety of restaurants and pubs, including Detention Bar and Honors Bar for the poor and good members of your clan. The numerous amenities and activities make this a fantastic family-friendly alternative. Additionally, the place puts you near the Alberta Arts District, one of Portland’s most entertaining areas.

More info: McMenamins

Ace Resort
Location: 1022 SW Stark St.
Price: $125 to $135 per night

in the Event You truly want to feel as If you’re crashing at a friend’s home in Portland, check into the Ace Hotel. Vintage furnishings, modern art and updated fittings mimic a conventional Portland living space.

The Ace is the epitome of cool, with a lobby between the city’s premier coffee roaster, Stumptown, and Clyde Common, a raved-about restaurant. Its place in the heart of downtown makes researching the city easy, and the free bike loan makes it enjoyable. If a typical bike is not sufficient, locally created Hufnagel bikes can be rented for an extra charge.

More info: Ace Resort

7 Design Ideas By the Portland Ace

See related

42495b927e602e1b062090ae9ad49e3a.jpg

Spring Duvet Fix-Ups: 6 Ways to Light Your Outdoor Space

Enhance these long, leisurely evenings on the terrace with the ideal lighting. From subtle landscape lighting and string lights that cast a gentle glow to sconces, pendants and more, these thoughts will help ignite your imagination and strategy that perfect patio.

Nick Noyes Architecture

1. String Lights

Nothing could beat the soft, luminous light of café-style lights strung overhead, and as they’re so cheap, you may use them liberally without denting your budget.

Great to know: make certain to choose outdoor-rated string lights. LED bulbs will last almost forever, but incandescent bulbs can give you that signature glow glow. Solar string lights are a wonderful option if you want to hang them away from a socket.

More manners with string lighting

FormLA Landscaping, Cassy Aoyagi

A note on additional outlets. Having adequate exterior outlets is essential for hanging string lights, lanterns and more (unless they are solar powered). Make the investment in outside outlets instead of running cords through a cracked window not only will your house be safer, but you’ll have the ability to choose exactly where you want the sockets to go.

Great to know: If you reside in an older house, your outside outlets might not have up-to-date security features, so think about having them updated. All outside electrical outlets need to have a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) and a weatherproof box cap to keep the socket protected.

Gast Architects

2. Sconces

Sconces are a great option if you want to cast a glow on an open terrace.

Great to know A lantern-style fixture will cast a larger glow than mounted flush against the house, so consider opting for something larger than you might use on, say, the front porch.

Urban Landscape

3. Landscape Lighting

Not just for the backyard, low-voltage landscape lighting may ramp up the ambience of your patio.

Great to know: Generally inadequate to light up an outside space by itself, landscape lighting may work well along with sconces or string lighting. Try a couple of low lights in bushes enclosing the terrace or illuminating a pathway.

Because picture lighting is reduced voltage, this is a comparatively simple and secure DIY project, should you choose to give it a whirl.

Elizabeth Dinkel

4. Pendant Lights

Few things state outside space quite as elegantly as a well-placed pendant light.

Great to know: If you decide to replace an present overhead fixture on your own, be certain the new fixture is similar in weight to the old one — if it’s much thicker, a pro might need to devote a brand new junction box that may take the additional weight.

Cornerstone Architects

5. Recessed Lighting

Simple and sleek, recessed lighting are perfect tucked to the covered terrace of a contemporary or contemporary home.

Great to know: Dimmer switches allow you to adjust the lighting to perfectly suit the mood — along with a dimmer is some thing you can do yourself.

Frankel Building Group

Extend dinnertime using a well-lit outside kitchen. In case your grilling area is separate from the patio seating area, think about subtly linking the twozones using lighting. Direct lighting is much more important from the kitchen zone than mood, so go to get a overhead option, such as recessed lighting or flexible fixtures that may be pointed exactly where you want them to proceed.

Karen Garlanger Designs, LLC

6. Stair Riser Lights

This little touch can add ambience and prevent falls.

Great to know: Having just a couple of measures can actually cause more injuries than a taller staircase. Especially at dusk, that only step can be easy to miss, so including a mild is a kind thing to do.

Jobe Corral Architects

Inform us Will you be adding lighting to your patio this spring? Which manner of lighting is your favorite?

See related