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Need some help with gift shopping?! We have collected a wonderful list of local, well designed, woodsy & winter, holiday inspired gifts for friends and family! All the products on this list can be found in Portland-owned shops and many are made in Portland! FOR HER: 1. Gold Leather Bracelet, from Alder & Co. 2. Pendleton Portland Collection Scarf, from Tilde. 3. Timber Votive, from Vanillawood. 4. Bunny Slippers! from Alder & Co.   FOR HIM: 1. Wildwood Scent Bar Soap, from Tanner Goods. 2. ‘Stache Wax, from Wolf’s Apothecary. 3. Workman Wallet, from Tanner Goods. 4. Son of a Sailor Opinel Folding Knife, from Tilde.   FOR KIDS: 1. Terrarium Kit, from Bridge City Mercantile. 2. Fox Scarf, from

With the trend of houses and dwellings getting smaller to be more efficient and sustainable, comes the inevitable question of “but where do we put our stuff?” This question creates a challenge for both designers and those dwelling in smaller houses to get creative with organizing their belongings within less square footage. If you are interested in living in a smaller but don’t want to deal with the headache of sorting through (and getting rid of) your things, we have collected the following seven smart solutions for designing and living in smaller spaces: 1. Sliding doors and walls: (images from houzz.com and dezeen.com) These are great for smaller homes and apartments and allow rooms to be hidden or open

[vc_row fullwidth="yes" css=".vc_custom_1471897963246{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;background-position: 0 0 !important;background-repeat: repeat !important;}"][vc_column][vc_column_text] When it comes to inclusive or universal design we often immediately begin to consider seniors, persons with physical or mental disabilities and those with vision or hearing impairments. The ADA has helped regulate fairness in building practices for these groups and building codes often address safety issues for everyone in the case of an emergency. However we often do not readily think of children as a part of inclusive design and there are few “requirements” beyond basic safety (height and spacing of stair railings and open treads, for example) that help designers consider children as a user group. A study

Over the last couple years we have observed the rising trend of hexagon-shaped products popping up in the interior design market – hexagons show up on walls, ceilings and in furniture design. And now after the most recent Neocon* in June, where ‘Hexagon,’ a new carpet tile shape by Shaw Contract Group was released and won a silver medal, we think the trend is here to stay. We don’t know if it is the six equal sides and six equal angles, the puzzle-like way that multiple hexagons fit perfectly together or the inherent reference to nature (beehives!) that makes them so aesthetically pleasing, but we love them and want to share our most recent hexagon-shaped

A designer always loves a good DIY project: No matter how big or small the task, we love an undertaking that allows us to customize and make something completely ours. Most design in the professional world involves construction drawings, specs, deadlines and budgets, so sometimes it is fun to escape, get messy and do something (relatively) quick and crafty (or invest a bit of time on something bigger)! Here are 8 awesome DIY blogs with some links to several of our favorite projects! 1. VINTAGE REVIVALS: Fantastic DIY blog with vintage flare! Some of the best before and afters we have seen on a DIY blog. One of our favorite quicker projects reuses an old leather

We’ve came across a fascinating book by Paul Jackson (it’s one of several by him on the subject of folded forms), called “Structural Packaging: Design Your Own Boxes And 3D Forms,” – Essentially, it gives you introductory knowledge on how to create your own packaging designs. It instructs the reader how to turn 2D materials into 3D forms by using folds, tabs and closures. While it includes basic templates for nets*, ultimately the book is focused on instructing the reader on how to understand the design rules, so they can then develop their own units and packages. Many of the forms begin as basic shapes and then are manipulated – twisted, shaved, stretched or combined

Curtain |'k?rtn| noun; a piece of material suspended at the top to form a covering or screen, typically one of a pair at a window. Or our interpretation: the traditional, relatively over-done interior sun-shading (and insulating) device considered a favorite amongst interior home decorators OR the heavy drapery that closes at the end of each Act of a play. And while they are functional and practical (don’t worry, we still are ok with the traditional uses when appropriate), both of these options are outdated, unimaginative ways of thinking about a piece of material that slides along a track. Instead, we like to think of curtains as a new flexible medium for interior design and space making, and

Concrete is familiar: made of cement, water and stone aggregates it is one of the most used building materials today. Concrete technology has existed since the ancient Romans and concrete has been being used as a modern building material since the mid-18th century. It is strong, hard, easily cast on site (usually from local resources), fire resistant and is a wonderful insulating material. Concrete is an incredibly versatile material, which is used widely in architecture for foundations, walls, pavement, pools, pipes, fences and more recently has become a popular interior finish for floors, counters and walls. Since concrete is poured into a mold, it can be formed into unlimited shapes, given a variety of textures

Now that it’s officially summer in the Pacific Northwest, we decided it was time to do a post about outdoor spaces, especially since many of us have started to spend more of our free time on a porch, patio or in a garden. While these spaces are outdoors and must be weather-proofed, there are opportunities to create, buy or design elements that make outdoor spaces feel more like indoor rooms. By incorporating coverings, fireplaces, kitchen counters and sinks, cooking surfaces, seating, tables, lighting and even walls we can make outdoor spaces more comfortable for us, our families or our guests. Whether you are interested in entertaining this summer, relaxing in your garden or just want

Felt is one of the most versatile, natural, soft materials that you can use in interior design. Felt stands out from other fabric materials because it is not woven (not looms needed here!) and is also not made like many plastic fabrics (essentially pliable formed sheets of material). However, it is resilient, durable, insulating, wear resistant (does not ravel or fray), is flame retardant (and self-extinguishing), can be used inside or outside, can be made water repellent and is an excellent sound absorber… all things we look for when spec’ing upholstery, wall or panel coverings. Because felt is made through a process that condenses and presses woolen fibers – depending on the density, layering and