Floorcloths are painted canvas rugs that originated in Europe in the 1700s. They were initially an artisan craft, hand painted and stenciled by house painters and often made to look like marbled floors, used in place of more expensive woven carpets. Eventually, manufacturing was established in several cities in Europe, most notably Bristol and London in England, and Dundee and Kirkcaldy in Scotland. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

Kohler Karbon Kitchen Faucet With five pivoting joints, the Karbon articulation faucet offers total range of motion, putting water exactly where it needs to be. Now featuring an extended palette that includes Bronze, Polish and Brushed Gold, and Black with polished Chrome. Available in deck and wall mounts units. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

On February 11, Architectural Historian Jack Bookwalter met with Mrs. Halliburton’s 2nd/3rd grade class at Access Academy for an after-lunch discussion of common Portland house styles. This was followed by a walk through the Northeast Sabin neighborhood, looking at many of the architectural features mentioned in the talk. This unusual endeavor was facilitated by Judy Berck, mother of one of the students in the class. The class had been studying Japanese culture and design as well as... more

The average homeowner remodels his or her home one time. One of the most important decisions homeowners make during the remodeling process is choosing the right cabinetry. In most cases, the individuals remodeling know very little about the subject and often feel obligated to hire whomever their contractor suggests — not knowing the contractor will be making a considerable profit from the purchase. In some cases a friend or neighbor may have had a recent remodel and the name of a seemingly reliable... more

Stalking the Victorians Portland was a prosperous and expanding city in the late 19th century. Many fine quality homes were built in this period. Unfortunately, many of them were demolished to make way for the expansion of the prosperous downtown. Still others fell victim to changes in fashion or land use. But having said all this, Portland still has a remarkable legacy of standing Victorian-era homes — most of them well maintained, and most with original (or near-original) exteriors. This is... more

The kitchen can be the most challenging room to light. Your surfaces need to be bright enough to be able to see where you are chopping, soft and inviting for conversation and midnight snacking, and in many cases, available to show off collections or family heirlooms. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

A Designer’s Take on How to Become Architectural Salvage Savvy Photos courtesy of Arciform LLC One of the hottest renovation trends today is the use of salvaged materials in remodels and even new construction. With today’s builders trying to incorporate more sustainable practices and materials into their work, salvaged materials offer a great mix of financial, environmental, and esthetic benefits. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

We renovate our homes for many reasons — whether for making better use of existing space, adding space for growing families, general upkeep, or increasing value. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →