This month’s musings from across the architect’s drawing board reflect on matching the client with the architect. Most articles about selecting an architect suggest checking references, viewing previous work, and taking the time to talk to a number of architects before hiring one. These are important aspects in the selection process, and should be followed. But I would like to introduce another idea that may be even more important: Defining who you are as a client. Just as each project, house,... more

Design often gets my blood pumping. Looking through interior design magazines and websites puts me in a dream world of creating something that is individually “mine.” If you work and live in the design world, maybe your reaction is similar. For me, the same is true with concrete. Concrete is a medium that is indescribable because it begins its’ journey in liquid form. The best way I have found to describe it is the French word couleé. Translated, it means “to flow” and that is the great... more

Driven by air quality regulations, architectural coatings, paints, and stains have been trending greener for almost 20 years. Developers seeking a price premium for projects certified through the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) point system have demanded low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) paints for a decade. Consumers concerned about indoor air quality are increasingly interested in zero-VOC paint. Metro’s Recycled Paint Program has seen a... more

By J. Hanson-O’Connell Redoing your bathroom can increase your comfort and satisfaction — making your home more appealing and/or “greener” while you live there. “Thoughts of renovating the bathroom often occur when a leak results in water damage, or the room loses its appeal — maybe the look is outdated, or the function of the room fails to provide a quality experience,” explains Karen Sedwick, Certified Bathroom Designer with Square Deal Remodeling Co. in Portland, OR. Photos... more

One of the most common types of remodels done in older Portland neighborhoods is the renovation of the attic (or “upstairs”). People back in the early part of the 20th century must have been more athletic than us today, because usually going up the “stairs,” alluded to by the word “upstairs,” was more like climbing a ladder while ducking to clear low headroom and carrying an armload of daily laundry, or other detritus. Some of those goofy Japanese TV ninja-style course competitions pale... more

Over the years, homeowners have used on various paint schemes to “hide” their shed in the back yard. Thirty years ago when I was a kid, my mother would send me out back with forest green or tree trunk brown paint to hide the shed in the landscape. Twenty years ago the shed was painted the same color and trim as the house with the hope the shed would be blend in with the home. Today, with the deck and patio used more as an extension of the home’s living space, the shed has become an exterior... more

I love to entertain. I love to entertain outdoors even more. How lucky we are that we live in the perfect place to fully enjoy at least two, if not three seasons of entertaining in the great outdoors. It can be as easy as having some friends over for coffee and pastries in the morning, to a simple Sunday brunch, a casual weekend Bar-B-Que, or even a low-key bridal shower. Or perhaps an afternoon of outdoor games, like croquet or badminton. There is no shortage of reasons to get a bunch of people... more