Dovetail - SRM's Approach to Residential Interiors

2011-12-05T14:43:00.000-08:00

Solution of the Week: Grey, the Chameleon of Color

This may come as a surprise to you, but we believe that not every project requires a remodel (gasp!). In fact many spaces are perfectly functional, they just need a little extra support. Color, particularly on the walls is a great way to get new life into an old room. Here’s the problem: our tastes change, and every season there’s a new color that takes the spotlight. Obviously there’s no way you’ll be painting three to four times a year. Paint is considered a cheap, easy fix, but its still requires some real time and effort. If you enjoy the change of the seasons as much as we do, how about pick a paint color that can adapt. Neutrals often get a bad rap for being boring, but we aren’t suggesting cookie cutter beige or an uninspired taupe. Instead we love colors that with the proper lighting and furnishings make a dramatic statement. And our favorite is the chameleon himself, Grey.

Greys are incredibly versatile. They can be cool or warm and have a huge array of undertones that really set off a room’s furniture, fabrics, and art. They make things pop. Don’t believe me? Look outside…all that lush foliage outside is actually more vibrant because of the subdued grey surrounding it. Now to be clear, there are tones of greys that are dreary, but gray is rarely only grey. It can be more brown, blue, or even pink depending on the mix, and therefore each one has a different personality. They are also very light sensitive. They transform throughout the day depending on the sun, and this is particularly noticeable as the seasons change. Cooler winter light can make them feel rich and warm, while the brightness of summer makes them feel fresh and clean. In a city where grey is almost always in the forecast, this may seem like the opposite of good advice, but we’ve dug through our archives and these examples should help you embrace the grey.

2011-10-27T11:54:00.000-07:00

Solution of the Week: Ipe Wood Deck

As we dive into the rainy season, here’s a small project that should brighten you up and remind you of the not yet forgotten splendors of summer. This home is a retreat, nestled in the heart of forest park and surrounded by lush foliage on all sides.

On our first visit, we realized that in addition to a problem of clunky detailing, the front of the house is the only spot that receives direct sun. Our clients wanted to alter their existing entry porch to better take advantage of that.

The first step was to trade the heavy wood trim for a lighter, more neutral palette that better complimented the house. We also got rid of the porch columns in favor of angled supports that opened up the space and allowed a much better view of the site.

Another goal was to create an inviting entrance patio that features the gardens, and introduces rich, modern detail into the look of the house. We enlarged the porch’s footprint to include a direct connection with the street as well. The bridge enables the landscape to look and feel more intentional, and truly allowed its beauty to shine against the neutral backdrop of the house itself.

Finally, a contemporary look was accomplished through the use of rich colored Ipe wood on the deck and the horizontal wood detailing in contrast to exposed concrete landscape planters. The horizontality of the built improvements are in contrast with wildness of the plant life, but the warmth of the wood harmonizes the two elements, making them seem like the perfect pair.

2011-10-19T14:46:00.000-07:00

SRM Featured on Houzz.com

One of our favorite residences, Fazan, is currently a featured project on Houzz. Check it out!

Regional Modern: Oregon Homes Respond to the Landscape

Houzz- Kitchen Remodel, Bathroom Remodel and More»

Browse Bath Products on Houzz- For Example:

Bath And Spa Accessories · Bathroom Faucets · Bathroom Mirrors · Bathroom Sinks · Bathroom Storage · Bathtubs · Toilet Accessories · Towels ·

2011-10-14T12:37:00.000-07:00

Designer Word of the Day
Deliverable: Despite how awesome it sounds, it's definitely not a word. Since Merriam Webster has yet to add it, here’s our definition:

(n). something either tangible or intangible intended for another party, usually a client or a contractor. Ex. “Hey Laura, we need to meet to discuss the deliverables for the Johnson’s bedroom remodel, there are a lot of orders that need to go out by end of day today. “

2011-10-10T13:01:00.000-07:00

The Glamorous Life... of a Designer

Mix together 11 parts beautifully designed homes, one part hand-crafted hors d’oeuvres and sprinkle with a good cause, and you have a recipe for a great time in South Salem. The SRM interiors crew headed down to Salem to help with the Chef’s Tour, an annual benefit for the Assistance League of Salem.

One of our residential projects, Creekside Residence, was featured on the tour. People poured to see behind the doors of eleven distinct homes and nibble on a variety of appetizers from nearby restaurants. We weathered the dreary day by keeping our feet moving and showing visitors around the house, which we designed from the ground up. We spent the day answering questions and occasionally refueling in the kitchen, where Crooked Street Bistro kept us warm and well-fed with their delicious treats. All in all, not a bad way to start the week!

For a detailed rundown on the day, check out this article from Salem's Statesman Journal. Click here for more photos of the gorgeous South Salem house.

2011-10-06T17:19:00.001-07:00

Designer Word of the Day
Luminaire: The French word for light fixture. It sounds more graceful, more beautiful, more expensive…don’t be fooled, you have them in your house too.

2011-09-29T17:16:00.000-07:00

The Glamorous Life... of a Designer

Who doesn’t love birthdays? We certainly do, especially when we’re invited to the party. Designtex celebrated its big 5-0 a few weeks ago and it was a hoot! They set up huge tapestries at The Cleaners, an event space next to the Ace Hotel in downtown Portland. showcasing their fabrics and innovations throughout the years. They also had a wonderful spread of food and drinks and an A-List of local designers. The cherry on top was the guest appearance of one of the fabulous designers at Designtex, Kimberly Frost. She flew in from New York to talk about her New Mexican-inspired collection. We loved it, but not as much as we loved her!

2011-09-01T17:20:00.000-07:00

Designer Word of the Day

CFA: Sounds like a top secret organization, doesn’t it? Actually, a Cutting For Approval is a little term we like to throw around when we are ordering fabric.

Here’s the rundown: we find a sample (aka memo) of a fabric we like. If the client likes it, we ask the fabric company for a “cfa” which is a piece of the fabric from the actual roll they will cut the order form. Since not all rolls are exactly the same color, we want to make sure the client is getting what they asked for. If we “approve” the cutting, they go ahead with the order. If not, they will send us cuttings from as many rolls are available in the hopes of a good match. Not so top secret after all!

2011-08-06T17:22:00.000-07:00

Visit SRM's Residential Projects on Houzz

SRM Architecture and Interiors

Featured On

We have some of our newest residential projects featured on houzz.com. Check it out!

2010-12-27T12:33:00.000-08:00

Stupid Paint Color Name of the Week

2010-12-22T10:43:00.000-08:00

Solution of the Week: Teak Grill

For a spa in one of our newly constructed homes, we installed a 3-foot deep Japanese-style soaking tub that extends below the concrete slab. Because the tub is clad in marble, it’s impossible to have easy access to the motor for the tub’s jets. So, we developed a creative feature to access it; this teak grill is sleek-looking, great for a drip-dry, and is easy to pull up.

2010-12-15T10:12:00.000-08:00

Stupid Paint Color Name of the Week

2010-12-14T09:20:00.000-08:00

Neocan't: See and Be Seen

We had the privilege of attending the 3rd annual Neocan’t this past August. Neocan’t is an opportunity for local vendors, designers and architects to come together. At the event we were able to see our favorite vendors and view their newest products and designs. We are already looking forward to next year!

2010-12-09T09:02:00.000-08:00

Meet Our Interiors Intern: Blaise Adkison

Blaise has been with us since September and has been a great addition to our interiors department. When she isn’t assisting Laura with projects, she is studying interior design at the Art Institute of Portland. Blaise has been interested in architecture and design ever since she was little. She says that her grandfather, who was an architect, was a big influence in pursing her career in interior design. After Blaise gradates in March she plans to land a job and continue following her passion in sustainable design practices.

2010-12-08T09:24:00.000-08:00

Stupid Paint Color Name of the Week

2010-12-06T09:01:00.000-08:00

Cool Local Find: Core-Ten Fire Place Wall

This fireplace was made out of Core-Ten that was cut and sourced from the Portland based, Versa-Tech and then installed by local contractor, Bob Nicholas. SRM introduced the rustic metal fireplace wall to play against the clean lines and modern furniture around this Hood River vacation home we recently designed.

2010-12-01T13:07:00.000-08:00

Solution of the Week: Painted Case Goods to Make Your Art Pop

We showcased this colorful artwork by hanging it in the middle of the library’s bookcase. To further highlight the artwork we installed lighting in the shelves, then to make the lighting more dramatic, we painted the shelves bright white, except for the back which we painted black. The contrast really makes the artwork standout.

2010-11-17T11:55:00.000-08:00

Stupid Paint Color Name of the Week

2010-11-04T12:16:00.000-07:00

Super Star Vendor: Melinda Royce

Melinda is our Masland Carpet rep, and she brings energy and positivity to every project. She’s helped us with both residential and commercial interior design projects. Most recently, Melinda assisted SRM in choosing a carpet and rug for a coffee shop client. We wanted something that would add to our light, bright space, and Melinda found the perfect match.

Check out Masland Carpets at www.maslandcarpets.com

2010-11-01T10:25:00.000-07:00

Solution of the Week: Vase into Lamp

We transformed this old pot into a living room lamp for one of our clients. Naomi’s Lampshades & Lamps helped us find a lampshade that complemented the style of the pot and didn’t overpower its stout frame. With over 60 years of experience creating lamp solutions, Naomi’s knows their stuff. We love how it turned out!

Visit our vendor: Naomi's Lampshades and Lamps

2010-10-29T12:12:00.000-07:00

Stupid Paint Color Name of the Week

2010-10-29T10:58:00.000-07:00

Cool Local Find: Namuh Design

We met Eric, Joe and Scott, designers at Namuh, at the recent Serving Up Style event and it turns out they are our neighbors!

Namuh is a lighting company with a distinct product line of chandeliers, pendants, portable luminaries and other alternative lighting. They also specialize in custom light fixtures and light branding. We stopped in to see some of their creative work; two of our favorites are “The Medusa Chandelier"and "The Classy Chandelier."

Along with producing quality and original work, Namuh strives to stay sustainably minded and support local. They design products that have minimal impact on the planet, and leave a long impression. We think Namuh is a great new company and look forward to working with them on future projects.

To learn more about Namuh, visit: www.namuhdesign.com

2010-10-28T15:52:00.000-07:00

Solution of the Week: Library Makeover

To create a more pleasant space for our clients to study and read, we changed the light fixtures and added layers of lighting. The new lighting is soft, but powerful enough to illuminate the whole library. Brighter accent fixtures light the bookshelves.

The walnut cabinetry was custom built for this library. It creates more places to shelve books while lending to greater organization, which makes the library feel larger and less cluttered.

2010-10-25T09:42:00.000-07:00

Superstar Vendor: Rainbow Lampshades

The owners of Rainbow Lampshades, Louise Myers and JoEllen Lyster, are seriously creative people with seriously expansive knowledge about lampshades. Rainbow specializes in custom lampshades and has helped SRM create beautiful shades for many of our clients’ lamps. Since they make lampshades in their shop, shades can be designed specifically for your project. Here, SRM and Rainbow are creating custom lampshade possibilities for our client’s lamps.

Visit our vendor: www.rainbowlampshadeshop.com

2010-10-21T12:59:00.000-07:00

Stupid Paint Color Name of the Week

2010-10-19T10:05:00.000-07:00

Cool Local Find: Kurt Van Vlack

Kurt Van Vlack is a local Portland artist who makes these incredible Raku pots that we just have to share with you. Raku is a Japanese technique that differs from traditional Western pottery in a few ways. Western pottery remains in the kiln during the warm up and cool down process, which can take up to 24 hours. Raku pottery is put in a kiln that is already heated and is taken out before it cools. The pottery is immediately put in a container with combustible material, like sawdust or leaves, and left to smoke. The smoke creates a metallic and cracked glaze, which gives Raku pottery its distinctive look.

Like what you see? Visit www.caplanartdesigns.com for more of Kurt's work.

2010-10-11T15:45:00.000-07:00

Solution of the Week: Woven Drapes

Woven window coverings are a great middle ground between the harsh, bright light of bare windows and the darkness of thick blinds or curtains. Woven drapes give you privacy-- you can see out, but neighbors can’t see in-- while still letting in soft light.

Our client’s breakfast nook is situated in the corner of the condominium and receives bright sunlight through the three surrounding windows. SRM added these gorgeous woven drapes so that our clients wouldn’t have to start their day squinting over their cereal.

Visit our vendor: Hunter Douglas

2010-10-08T13:20:00.000-07:00

Stupid Paint Color Name of the Week

2010-10-07T12:02:00.000-07:00

Super Star Vendor: Jill Hodge

SRM has worked with Jill Hodge of Custom Frame Design on many residential projects. Her frame consultation firm offers private appointments and service to ensure that our clients get the right frame for their artwork. Here’s an example of her framing work for a painting belonging to one of our clients.

2010-10-06T10:35:00.000-07:00

Solution of the Week: Drum Stand

SRM found this drum pot at Room & Board and thought it was perfect for our client’s living room. But the drum felt a little too simple, and needed some alterations to jazz it up.

To add character, we had our favorite metal worker, Gregory Miller, make a metal stand to lift the drum off the floor. This made it feel lighter, while also adding some complexity to the piece.

Visit our vendor: Room & Board

2010-10-05T10:28:00.000-07:00

The Butterfly Project

We showed you the butterflies in progress, and here they are as completed pieces! We were so happy to sponsor Serving Up Style at the Home and Garden Show. The event was a benefit for Molly's Fund Fighting Lupus, an organization very close to our hearts. In the hands of local artists, the butterflies were turned into incredible works of art, and helped to make the event a smashing success.

For more about the artists involved in The Butterfly Project, please visit Caplan Art Designs.

2010-09-30T14:11:00.000-07:00

Superstar Vendor: Mark Johnson

Mark Johnson is our freelance art installer. His superpowers include hanging expensive artwork without breaking a sweat. Here, Mark is installing a Kush tapestry for one of our residential clients. Bravo, Mark!

2010-09-22T10:09:00.000-07:00

Two-Week Beach House: Just Add Water

One Monday morning, we received an interior design project with what has to be the quickest turnaround in SRM history. The client needed to fully furnish a four-story beach house—and he needed it complete in just two weeks. We had to rely on our strong relationships with vendors to meet this tight deadline. We took furniture right off the showroom floor, asked workrooms to prioritize our projects, and even went down one weekend to personally set up the entire house. But we met the timeline, and couldn’t have been happier with the results.

2010-09-20T11:22:00.000-07:00

Stupid Paint Color Name of the Week

2010-09-17T10:13:00.000-07:00

Cool Local Find: Soliloquy Textiles

Soliloquy Textiles is a local residential fabric manufacturer, and we love their unique and beautiful fabrics. The patterns are inspired by the natural world, and Soliloquy is committed to using environmentally-friendly business practices. Along with their regular collection, Soliloquy also creates custom fabrics for their clients. They can modify current patterns, turn prints into woven fabric, bring back archived designs, or even create a fabric design from scratch.

We use Soliloquy frequently on residential projects. Here, we upholstered two living room chairs in this earth-inspired brown.

Visit our vendor: www.soliloquytex.com

2010-09-10T11:18:00.000-07:00

Stupid Paint Color Name of the Week

2010-09-05T10:10:00.000-07:00

Solution of the Week: 1950s Chairs

There’s nothing better than a set of classic vintage chairs—that is, unless they are stained and covered in dated fabric, which was the case for these pieces. We refurbished and reupholstered the chairs to revitalize their look and launch them into the twenty-first century.
The chairs were first acquired almost sixty years ago by the mother of one of our clients. While the fabric was trendy back then, it definitely felt to us that the time was right for an update. We had the wood stained to bring out the natural walnut color and highlight the “good bones” of the chairs. The chairs were then framed with black wool and re-covered with this mod Maharam fabric. These changes refreshed the chairs while still staying true to the original style.

Visit our Vendor: Maharam

2010-08-30T10:16:00.000-07:00

Company Picnic

Summer has finally arrived, and that can only mean one thing: It’s time for a company picnic. So we packed up our Frisbees and lawn chairs and headed up to Laurelhurst Park for some fun in the sun. Here, SRM’s employees and friends are enjoying the bounty of food and Michael holds our most junior partner, baby August. So cute!

2010-08-27T13:28:00.000-07:00

Solution of the Week: Kid-Proof Pillows

Let’s face it: kids are messy. And they tend to get their mess all over the house--especially on our most delicate, stainable, and expensive possessions.

Many parents sacrifice having a stylish home while their children are young. But one of our clients refused to wait until her children outgrew their grubby-hands phase to design the living room of her dreams. She needed a room with a double life: in the daytime, a play area for her kids, and in the evening, a space for entertaining guests. So SRM came up with a solution.

We designed unique pillows for the living room couch, a place where both children and guests spend the majority of their time. One side of each pillow is fabric, and the reverse side is leather. When children are playing in the living room, the leather side faces out. Spills and dirt are easily wiped away, so she doesn’t have to worry. When guests arrive, she flips the pillows over to reveal the chic fabric pattern.

2010-08-26T11:19:00.000-07:00

Stupid Paint Color Name of the Week

2010-08-20T10:44:00.000-07:00

Helena's Going Away Party

All good things must come to an end, and last week, we had to say goodbye to our interior design intern, Helena. She’s been with us since January, but is now heading back to school in Kansas. She was an incredibly valuable member of the team and we miss her already! Best of luck Helena!

2010-08-17T13:29:00.000-07:00

Solution of the Week: Highboy

This piece sits in the entry of the French Tudor house of one of our clients. While much of the home’s interior design is of a traditional French style, some of the rooms are more contemporary. As the centerpiece of the entryway, this highboy needed to fit with both design styles.
The space is small, which presented a bit of a puzzle for us. How could we design a tall cabinet that wouldn’t make the room feel crowded? One part of the solution is its metal legs, which make the highboy look like it’s almost floating, and creates more space in the small room.

2010-08-17T13:28:00.000-07:00

Super Star Vendor: Amy Caplan

Amy Caplan is the owner of Caplan Art Designs, and she represents local Portland artists. We love working with Amy because not only does she have exceptional taste in art, but she always goes the extra mile for our clients. She regularly brings art to our clients’ homes so they can get a feel for how the pieces will look before they decide to purchase.

Amy recently opened a gorgeous new showroom in the Pearl. Check it out at 1035 NW Lovejoy.

Visit Caplan Art Designs at: www.caplanartdesigns.com

2010-08-12T14:07:00.000-07:00

Molly’s Fund Butterfly Takes Flight

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s… a plastic butterfly?

These large butterflies are for Serving Up Style, a benefit for Molly’s Fund Fighting Lupus, one of our favorite charities. These butterflies will serve as canvases for 10 of Portland’s most talented artists, who will transform the butterflies into unique works of art. The finished butterflies will be auctioned off at Serving Up Style, with proceeds going towards lupus research.

Our fabulous intern Helena designed these 3-dimensional plastic butterflies. She worked closely with Fullbore Innovations, Inc. to turn the concept into reality. Creating these butterflies was no easy task. This type of plastic usually does not lend easily to dimensionality, so they had to come up with a creative solution to achieve the bubbled look. Fullbore used a two piece injection mold, which created the dome of the butterfly wings and brought Helena’s design to life.

Stay tuned for more information, videos, and pictures of the Molly’s Fund butterflies.

For more information about Serving Up Style please visit: servingupstyle.org, mollysfund.org, fullboreinnovations.com.

2010-07-07T13:06:00.000-07:00

Solution of the Week: Suzani Throw

Suzani is an embroidered tribal textile, native to Uzbekistan and other central Asian countries. Traditionally, brides in the region make Suzanis as part of their dowry, as a gift for grooms on their wedding day. The intricacy and beauty of Suzanis have universal appeal, and now Suzanis are being made sans wedding.

Here, SRM converted an authentic Suzani from Indigo Traders into a bed throw. We backed the textile with a reinforcing fabric to protect the integrity of the piece.

Visit our vendor: Indigo Traders

2010-06-01T10:11:00.000-07:00

Culture Club: Portland's Iron Chef

Portland’s Iron Chef event was a huge success this year, drawing 480 supporters to the Hilton Ballroom, including half of our staff. The event raised over $290,000 for the Children’s Relief Nursery, an organization that works to prevent child abuse and neglect in Portland.

SRM is proud to call the Children’s Relief Nursery a client, and we take every opportunity we can to support their cause. Our graphics department designed the print materials for the event, and it was great to see their work in action!

Learn more about the Children's Relief Nursery and Portland's Iron Chef at www.crn4kids.org

2010-04-20T13:30:00.000-07:00

Behind the Scenes: Pratt & Larson Tour
Recently, our neighbors Pratt & Larson, one of the country’s leading tile manufacturers, hosted a walk-through their studio. On the tour, we got to see how they make their beautiful, handcrafted tile, which we have ordered for many of our clients over the years.

Pratt & Larsen opened in 1980. It now distributes its tile all over the U.S. and Canada and has over 100 employees.

Check Out Pratt & Larson's beautiful tiles at www.prattandlarson.com

2010-04-16T15:00:00.000-07:00

Hot and (Not) so Local: Moss Studios

We love our local talent and there is certainly plenty to choose from around here, but please forgive us this week as we give a shout out to Breck Armstrong of Moss Studios in Michigan. These mirrors pictured above are made using old tire molds. The pine frames were given a wax finish and both convex and standard mirrors were set inside to give these industrial pieces a more contemporary look and an interior application. They’re functional and lend dimension to the wall, not to mention, they’re really cool to look at, but all of that aside, we just love how unique they are.

2010-04-12T10:51:00.000-07:00

Culture Club: Race For The Roses

Several of our staffers were among the 5,000 participants in this year’s Albertina Kerr Race for the Roses. SRM employees participated in all three events – the 5k, 10k, and even the half-marathon.

The annual race raises awareness for Albertina Kerr, an organization that works to create a community where all people with developmental disabilities can lead rich and fulfilling lives. Here, our team is photographed with our friend Jeanne Farr, Senior VP of Developmental Disabilities Services at Albertina Kerr. We met some incredible people at this event, and can’t wait to participate again next year!

Learn more about the race and the cause at www.albertinakerr.org and www.race4theroses.org

2010-03-10T11:58:00.000-08:00

Stupid Paint Color Name of the Week

2010-03-08T14:38:00.000-08:00

Superstar Vendor: Hexafoo

Hello Hexafoo! This great workroom is where we go to have fabrics of all sorts changed into pillows, duvet covers, and draperies to name a few. Corby and her team are incredibly talented and have created many a beautiful furnishing for our clients. Our most recent obsession is the knife-edged pillow. Consider our version a reinvention of the bolster.

Not quite as formal and traditional, this is a great way to create the same horizontal statement in a more casual and contemporary environment. Its clean shape and sharp stitching along with its impressive length make it something to drool over.

2010-02-12T14:22:00.000-08:00

Solution of the Week: Creative Reuse

This week, we’re all about creative reuse. Instead of allowing this beautiful leftover granite from a different project just sit in a garage for years, Laura had a different idea. She designed a sofa table to proudly show it off. At six feet long, the frame had to be specially engineered to support the stone tiles which were just a tad on the heavy side. Well after a little talk with professional furniture designer, Gregory Miller and a bit of extra support, the carbon tube steel frame is both incredibly solid as well as sleek enough to display in the family room. Not too shabby Laura.

2010-01-05T10:51:00.000-08:00

Stupid Paint Color Name of the Week

2009-12-11T15:02:00.000-08:00

Visit to Steelcase

Recently, Michael was asked to join SmithCFI on a trip to visit Steelcase, a giant international company famous for their office furniture. Seven lucky architects and designers were hand selected and sent, mind you on a private jet (!!!) to Grand Rapids, MI, home of Steelcase. During the visit to the headquarters, Michael participated in strategy sessions to look at current furniture trends in the modern office. Above is Michael, along with one of our favorite people to work with at SmithCFI, Shannon Ferrigno.
Michael was also given a sneak peak at Steelcase's new residential furniture line that should be out next year. We heart these exterior patio chairs.

2009-11-25T14:57:00.000-08:00

Behind the Scenes: The Mitchell Wine Group
If you've been to our office before, you may already know that we share the building with a few other companies. But did you know that one of these companies is a wine distributor that houses a large basement filled with European fine wines right below our desks! Last Friday, Mitchell Wine hosted a wonderful party with yummy food and spectacular wine. Valerie, Madeline, and Stacey had a particular taste for the cupcakes.

2009-11-25T14:55:00.002-08:00

Stupid Paint Color Name of the Week

2009-11-13T14:45:00.000-08:00

Hot and Local: Karen Friedman
Gorgeous! Absolutely stunning! That's the first thought that came to my mind when I saw this oil painting of a Peregrine Falcon by Karen Friedman. It looks so personal, like the falcon is trying to tell me something. Well, apparently, it is. This painting, which was commissioned for a client, is part of a series called "Animals in Controversy". This is a series of grouped paintings, each accompanied by a written narrative. The concept of controversy suggests not only endangerment but also issues of general welfare, human and animal interrelation, and questions of human and organizational responsibility.

For commissions, sales and more samples of her paintings, contact Caplan Art Designs: www.caplanartdesigns.com. For questions on "Animals in Controversy", contact Karen at karenfriedmanstudios
@comcast.net or visit www.karenfriedmanstudios.com.

2009-11-13T14:44:00.000-08:00

Superstar Vendor: Castellano Custom Furniture, Inc.

This is a recent project Michael and I finished. The beautiful sofa lounge was fabricated by Castellano, our favorite custom furniture fabricator in town! We love working with them. They can make anything our lovely hearts desire!
The photo to the right is from a visit to their workroom. This custom piece was specially designed for one of our client's. The fabric is by one of Michael's favorite designers, Paul Smith for Maharam. We can't wait to see the finished product!

2009-11-13T14:43:00.000-08:00

Solution of the Week: Lighting perspective
I absolutely love this photo! Valerie what are you doing down there?!
In order to get the a more real perspective and distance from the light fixture, Jim, our Cascade Lighting rep, has decided to take the daredevil approach by standing on a table, while Valerie has taken the safer approach by sitting on the floor. Oh, the compromising positions we put ourselves in for our clients and design!

2009-11-13T14:42:00.000-08:00

Stupid Paint Color Name of the Week

2009-10-26T12:15:00.003-07:00

Behind the Scenes: Ann Sacks Factory Tour
Recently, Michael, Valerie and I went on a design industry tour of the Ann Sacks tile factory. It's amazing to think that this well known high-end tile manufacturer is in Portland. Oh Portland, you are filled with surprises! The tour was really great and super educational! Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take photos in the factory, but we could in the showroom! We enjoyed a sneak peek of the new tiles. Gorgeous!

To the right is Cecilia Don, Ann Sack's Portland Showroom Manager, Valerie, and me. Cecilia was very gracious and we learned so much from her! Thank you!

2009-10-26T12:15:00.001-07:00

SRM Wins Designer's Choice Award
As we mentioned in our last Details, SRM had the privilege to participate on one of six interior design teams competing at the first-ever Serving Up Style design showcase. The fantasy dining room design event benefited Molly's Fund Fighting Lupus, attracted 5,000 visitors, and brought our team the event's top prize - the Designer's Choice Award!

The Designer's Choice award was the only juried prize at the show chosen by members of Portland's design community, including Randy Gragg, editor of Portland Spaces and Portland Monthly, Bridget Otto of the Oregonian, and Katie McNelis, General Manager of Portland's Crate and Barrel store. Along with our partners from Maison Inc., we caught the judges' eye with our theme "Moor, Please..." a fantasy dining room steeped in the aesthetics of the spice trading routes of the Near East and southern Mediterranean.

If you missed the show, you can still see highlights on Flickr!

2009-10-26T12:14:00.000-07:00

Superstar Vendor: Kush Hand-knotted Carpets

Ahhh, Kush...we love Kush! This winsome rug shop is owned by two of our favorite rugmongers, Brian and Rebecca. Not only do we love them and their rugs, we love the service they provide for us and our clients!

Kush brings in rugs from all over the world representing all sorts of styles from modern to tribal to Tibetan to custom. To the right is a gorgeous rug called Hetch by Tamarian. We love how the golden silk creates a warm depth calling attention to the dining room!

Not only does Kush have rugs, they have many gorgeous textiles from all over the world. Check out these patchwork tapestries! They are from Rajastan-- the Northwestern part of India. Each piece is unique and hand-made from colorful sequined and embroidered remnants of saris and ceremonial garments-- the ultimate expression of recycling as art. Kush donates 50% of every sale of South Asian Patchwork Textiles to Progressive Women's Association in Pakistan. The PWA provides shelter, medical care, legal assistance and counseling to women victims of abuse in the region.

2009-10-26T12:13:00.000-07:00

Stupid Paint Color Name of the Week

2009-10-20T23:14:00.000-07:00

Hot & Local: Vitrelux Glassworks

Displayed in our dining room at Serving Up Style (see "SRM wins Designer's Choice Award" below) was a centerpiece made of hand blown glass by Vitrelux Glassworks. This local company makes beautiful glass vases of all shapes and sizes in wonderful eye popping colors.

To the left is Lynn, the uber cool owner / designer / glassblower. That glass looks hot!

Because we love his glass so much, you can see his work in almost every residential interior we do! This is a living room recently enhanced by his beautiful work.

You can purchase his glass art through Caplan Art Designs: http://www.caplanartdesigns.com/