This issue’s musings from across the architect’s drawing board ponders how to talk to an architect. When I was in college, which seems like centuries ago, I had two favorite cartoons. One showed a hot dog shaped man opening his mailbox. He was withdrawing an envelope displaying the statement “You may already be a weiner!” The other illustrated a dapper gentleman strutting down the street with cane, beret, and cape. He was flanked by curvaceous supermodels on each arm while another man... more

I am not one to push or tout trends. My belief is that your home should reflect you, your family, your lifestyle, and the way you live in your home. The reality is, as consumers we tend to want a lot of the same things. What’s new in the kitchen for 2010? Not surprisingly, the trends lean toward products that are environmentally responsible and multi-functional, appliances that promote healthy, fresh food preparation, and kitchens that are designed to accommodate personal technology devices. The... more

ECOpdx started out four years ago selling their own custom line of furniture made out of local deconstruction and storm damage woods. Soon after they added the Tropical Salvage line of furniture made from 100% recycled handcrafted tropical woods pulled out of rivers and volcanic pits in Indonesia. Owned and operated by three friends, Darren and Patricia Morgan and Brian Kelly, ECOpdx is a business founded on the belief that quality craftsmanship and personal attention are the cornerstones... more

Most people will agree that a period house looks best with a period kitchen, and that a period kitchen looks best with period stoves. With that in mind, homeowners who are considering vintage stoves usually still have a few basic questions about them, “Are vintage stoves practical?” “Will a vintage appliance have enough capacity?” and “Who will service vintage appliances, can parts be found, and are old appliances safe?” Kim and Roy Fox’s 1915 stove, restored by Dave Erickson. Joan... more

I am lucky. I admit it. I am lucky enough to get to go to Paris once a year to visit the Maison et Objet show. This show is one of the world’s biggest furniture and accessories markets. This year is my second trip to this show and I found it to be just as exciting, if not more so, than the first. We started off in the outdoor section where I needed to visit with a bunch of my vendors, and meet with some new ones. EMU (www.EMU.it) had a stunning booth, as usual — lots of white wire and powder... more

Have you ever noticed how the sound of running water gets your attention? I have a water feature in my front yard that you can hear from the street and I’ve noticed how people walking by actually stop and say, “Do you hear that?” It is so soothing and inviting. When I bought my house it had a huge pond in the front, complete with a waterfall — except for the fact that it didn’t work nor was it likely to in the near future. We spent years trying to get it working and no matter what we did,... more

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

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