Northwest Renovation interviewed the owner of Portland Vintage Plumbing, Brenda Wasco, on what products she has to offer and how she can help her customers find the right products for their home remodel. Why did you start Portland Vintage Plumbing? I’d worked in the plumbing industry for over 10 years when the business I worked for closed. I couldn’t imagine anything I would rather do, so with the encouragement of a very good friend, I opened Portland Vintage Plumbing. I have been... more

Boys’ Fort, the design team of Richard Rolfe and Jake France, loves summer in Portland. “You can LIVE outside…just briefly,” jokes Rolfe. Highlighting a recent design for an outdoor living space, Rolfe and France illustrate how they incorporate salvage and vintage items into their designs to create a one-of-a-kind look. “When someone walks into your home, you don’t want him or her to feel like they’ve just walked into a Pottery Barn catalog. You want them to feel intrigued... more

As she made her morning coffee, Ari Starke realized she needed a sweater for the first time this season. She sighed, “Here we go again.” The owner of a 1930s Tudor, Starke loved her historic little home with all of its charm. Unless it was cold outside; then she was torn. “I have these beautiful wood windows, but it was miserable to sit too close to them. On windy days, they rattled and you could even feel the air coming in between the top and the bottom sash. The amount of money we spent heating... more

With their “shotgun” arrangement of space along two walls, galley kitchens are often narrow and can feel cut off from the rest of the house, but thoughtful design connects people and living spaces in the Beaumont-Wilshire kitchen of Rose and Eric Brooks. The Brookses had all the usual reasons motivating their decision to remodel the kitchen of their 1940s house. The existing kitchen was the product of multiple cheap renovations, with unattractive cabinet veneers and worn linoleum... more

Your front door is the gateway to your home. It’s the first impression visitors get when they enter your home. Over time an entry can look outdated and weathered. Replacing a new exterior door today could cost more than you’re willing to invest, depending on the quality of materials and craftsmanship. However, if getting a brand-new door sounds like a lot of work, with all the demolition, time, and money, you’ll be surprised to hear of a cost-effective way to create an elegant entry. BEFORE AFTER Most... more

Community Energy Project (CEP) has been serving Portland for over 30 years with free services focused on energy conservation and safety. They provide free community workshops and materials for DIY weatherization and lead poisoning prevention, as well as direct weatherization and safety repair services to low-income seniors and people with disabilities. With the help of over 200 volunteers a year, CEP serves thousands of households in the greater Portland area, empowering people with the information... more

Whether you’ve been taking steps toward green living or you’re a newbie and want to jump start your efforts and reduce your carbon footprint on earth, one area of opportunity is your toddler’s room. Two interior design instructors from The Art Institutes share how to make your toddler’s room sustainable. “Sustainability is a popular subject, and most experts in design agree sustainability has to be a way of living and incorporated into our every day,” says Kristina Held, interior design... more

“It is not your mother’s light bulb anymore. Most of us grew up with the 60-watt light bulb in our lamps and the smaller 40-watt light bulb in the refrigerator. Seniors recall the big silver-tipped bulbs, 200 or 300 watts, that were part of the white ring fixtures in schools. Then, when I was a child I saw a new kind of light, fluorescent tubes, used in schools and work places to save energy and provide even light,” claims Kay Newell (the Light Bulb Lady), owner of Sunlan Lighting, Inc., North... more