Overview
Top Designers
10
Urban Elements
Designer:
Michael Newsom
Address:
6110 SW 90th Avenue, Portland, OR 97223
About Urban Elements
Michael Newsom, principal and designer of Urban Elements, specializes in exceeding expectations and providing clients with more than they thought they could afford. He implements fast and simple design and space planning strategies. In 1992, Newsom earned his degree from the Interior Design Institute in Newport Beach, California, and he then relocated with his family to the Pacific Northwest. He quickly landed a job as an interior designer with Howard Hermanson Design until establishing his own firm. Newsom was recently featured in the top 15 Portland Interior Designers by BuildDirect. For those in the early stages of design process, or for those who want a change but don’t know where to begin, Urban Elements will come into your home and provide recommendations as a listening outsider with a trained eye. Urban Elements often teams up with local real estate agents to help prepare properties for listing.
Featured Projects
Urban Elements is a people’s firm. This is not to say that regular folk do not have a good eye, but Newsom is comfortable working with a variety of clients and their needs. Take the Bachelor Pad on Lake Vancouver. The project began from the ground up with a 1960s teardown. In touch with the clients personalities and desires (who were were well traveled and seeking an open, and eclectic European look, while also enjoying their local view), Newsom was able to use wood, stone, and dark colors to truly give it a “wow” flair. Another featured project was the rustic revival to modern. Working with a family who wanted to update their bungalow-style home and transform it into transitional design, Urban Elements mixed styles and colors and ended up with a kitchen with no holds barred and woodwork that was quite spectacular to behold.
9
Wendy O’Brien Interior Planning & Design
Designer:
Wendy O’Brien
Awards:
Serving Up Style Judges’ Choice Award,
Serving Up Style People’s Choice Award
Address:
2800 NW Thurman Street, Portland, OR 97210
About Wendy O’Brien Interior Planning & Design
Winner of the Judges Choice NW Natural Street of Dreams Design, Wendy O’Brien has also been featured in The Oregonian, The Home Builders News, Oregon Live, and Portrait Magazine on numerous occasions. With a degree from UCLA, she started her own company after realizing that her unique blend of gifts and passions would be an excellent addition to the design community. Lucky for us, she chose the Portland community. Wendy has a menagerie of experience in interior design, fashion, music, and visual art. Wendy believes, “For those seeking a stylish, innovative, and remarkable home that uniquely represents them… it’s time to consider your lifestyle, your likes, loves and inspirations as the guiding light toward a new living environment.” She has been a winner of both the Judge’s and People’s Choice Award in the “Serving up Style” competition.
Featured Projects
A newly constructed home in Lake Oswego appears Mediterranean at heart but is also balanced with the Northwest vernacular. Every detail of the home was designed by Wendy O’Brien, beginning with rich, warm tones to emit an old world and rustic flavor. Rock work and classic architectural details were incorporated into dark and stained, distressed oak floors. Natural stone tiles, hand-finished textures, and earth tone walls with accented espresso stains align the custom built-ins and stair railings. The finished product embodies the Pacific Northwest with passing dreams of the Italian countryside and Mediterranean Sea.
8
Jenni Leasia Design
Designer:
Jenni Leasia
Address:
3339 SE Division Street, Portland, OR 97202
About Jenni Leasia Design
Located in Portland, Oregon, Jenni Leasia Design primarily works on projects throughout the Pacific Northwest, but also nationally. With 15 years of experience, the firm’s process concentrates on programming, Schematic Design, Design Development, and Design Management. The firm’s work ranges from large-scale, new custom builds and whole-house renovations to bath remodels and home furnishings projects. Focused on comfort, pleasure, and peaceful environments, which bring ease to the daily routine, budget and client satisfaction are always ensured with Jenni Leasia.
Featured Projects
A project in Hawthorne was in the Colonial Heights neighborhood in SE Portland. The existing kitchen was a dark cave, with no workspace and limited storage. Their goal was to connect the space to the living room at one end and the dining room at the other. After removing various walls, they also relocated a powder bath to an unobtrusive corner. The result is an open concept main living space, perfect for entertaining, sprawling on the sectional, and cooking. Another custom home redesigned by the firm is perched above the Willamette River in the historic Old Town neighborhood in Lake Oswego. With the clients desiring a sense of inviting coziness, the firm designed the interiors to reflect the neighborhood’s cottage architecture. The kitchen opens to the living room and great room, which expands seamlessly to a covered outdoor room with a wood-burning fireplace. Soft and neutral colors were chosen in order to emphasize the spectacular view seen from the windows.
7
Kimberlee Jaynes
Designer:
Kimberlee Jaynes
Address:
Portland, OR
About Kimberlee Jaynes
With a background in fashion, art, and design, Kimberlee Jaynes has merged her many talents to create a firm that invents bold but simple interiors with both modern and traditional styles. After establishing her firm over a decade ago, her projects have spanned all over Oregon and Washington and have brought her to Santa Fe, San Francisco, and Stuttgart, Germany. Her award-winning designs have been published on the covers of reputable presses, including The Portrait of Portland Magazine. She’s been featured in the Home and Garden section of the Oregonian, as well as in Oregon Home Magazine. Jaynes is a finalist in the Residential Interiors category of the Benjamin Moore HUE awards and is an associate member of the Northwest Society of Interior Designers.
Featured Projects
The Lake Oswego project is a home with an already built-in amazing view, but when Kimberlee Jaynes arrived, it was clearly in need of a remodel. Kimberlee was able to take the entryway and completely make it over inside and out, including relocating the stairway. The living room has low ceilings, so “to fool the eye I had the ceilings painted in the same color as the walls but in a high gloss sheen. Now the outdoors is reflected inside!” The fireplace was also newly designed and became a focal point, rather than the TV and audio, which was moved behind closed doors. The master bath saw a feminine retouch with a freestanding tub, placed for the perfect window view and lighting. The second bath hosts a honey onyx vessel sink and is minimalist yet classically, and decidedly masculine.
6
Angela Todd Designs
Designer:
Angela Todd
Address:
7505 SE Stark Street, Portland, OR 97215
About Angela Todd Designs
Looking for a full-service, boutique interior design house in Portland, Oregon? You might recognize Angela Todd Designs’ award-winning work, which has appeared in a variety of shows and recognized media outlets, including Oregon Home, Lake Oswego Review, Better TV, Better Living Show, The Oregonian, NW Natural Street of Dreams, and News Radio KXL. Angela Todd is a member of the National Association of Home Builders and an active participant with the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland, where she served for two years on the local board of directors of the HBA. A unique case, she is the sole interior designer to ever be voted in by general membership. She is also a part of the Portland Remodelers Organization, which has given her contact to the most experienced general contractors in the Northwest. Extremely detail-oriented, Angela Todd Designs provides myriad visual tools and relevant questions during client consultation in order to prepare concepts that are always fine tuned.
Featured Projects
Todd got creative and recently remodeled a fourth bedroom in Southwest Portland, converting it to a master suite. This bedroom was previously under-utilized, mostly for the purposes of additional closet storage. ATD created a master bathroom that aligned with the style of this Mid-century influenced ranch, but with some additional flair, like an extra vanity, an expansive shower, toiletry and appliance storage, and heated floors. All this was done on a budget. In another project in the Pearl District, Todd was one of seven designers chosen to contribute to the HBA’s hosting of the Street of Dreams. ATD’s design focused on unexpected line and color combinations, along with cosmetic reconstruction of the fireplace, mosaic tile renovations in the kitchen, and custom artistry finishes along the walls. The project won the People’s Choice Award for Best Master Suite at the Northwest Natural Street of Dreams.
5
Pangaea
Designer:
Pangaea
Awards:
HBA Remodeling Excellence Award
Address:
412 NW Couch Street #224, Portland, OR 97209
About Pangaea
Pangaea Interior Design focuses on creating custom solutions with an emphasis on functionality and beauty. The HBA remodeling Excellence award was bestowed upon the company both in 2014 and 2015. Pangaea is comfortable working with a variety of clients’ needs. Whether that means adding square footage, ameliorating a home’s lighting, reconfiguring a house layout, or even doing cosmetic updates, they are driven to come up with inventive solutions for each specific project. Their approach has goals for each area of the home: their kitchen designs tend to center around effective work zones, efficiency, and flexibility, all while maintaining heart. Typically, their bathroom designs are drawn to enhance one’s emotional relationship to morning routine while also providing a relaxing and restful space for unwinding.
Featured Projects
One will find many of the top interior designers working on residential projects in the Southwest hills of Portland. One featured project of Pangaea’s is a spacious, transitional kitchen. Incorporating modern function, the design was still able to keep and enhance the classic look, featuring soft white Shaker-style cabinetry with a contrasting island. Additionally, there is a second prep area with medium-stained display cabinets, which were custom designed with rift cut oak, run on a horizontal grain. This all came with cutting out the cabinets, which obstructed the panoramic view — a major selling point of living in the West hills. A hidden pantry, specialized pull-outs, and Sub-Zero Wolf appliances were added for luxury and clean appearances. Another featured project is the penthouse in Portland’s artsy and walkable Pearl District. With another spectacular view of the city, this project was designed to create a modern space that featured the client’s art collection. Pangaea chose low-slung, sleek, European-made pieces from B&B Italia, Minotti, and Roche Bobois and was then crafty enough to blend these with locally made furniture pieces of their own design. Also originally designed by Pangaea were the added lush, silver-gray, hand-knotted, wool and silk rugs. A raised bar was added to allow visual differentiation between the kitchen and dining area. Again designed by Pangaea was an entryway bench made of three small upholstered ottomans, fitted with a wood base of ash color. Similarly, the dining chairs were not only tasteful and modern, but also easy to move to arrange in different ways, either for dining or sitting.
4
Garrison Hullinger
Designer:
Garrison Hullinger
Awards:
ASID Design Excellence Awards
Address:
506 SW 6th Avenue, Fifth Floor, Portland, OR 97204
About Garrison Hullinger
Garrison is the principal designer and owner of Garrison Hullinger Interior Design. His work is featured on the Luxe Gold List, and he was recently named a 2017 fixr Top 200 Influencer of Home Design and Industry. Garrison was once a project manager at Gap Inc., but he changed the course of his career when he began taking on remodelling projects. Eleven years later, he launched his own firm. Garrison is well known for his contemporary designs; he works with the residential interior architecture, including design, finish specification, presentations, and project management. He brings a thorough understanding of form, color, and construction. His work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Embark Magazine, and Portrait Of Portland.
Featured Projects
Built in a stylish suburb community just south of Portland, Lake Oswego is a perfect place for Garrison Hullinger’s 4200-square-foot, shingle-style home: the Berwick House. The clients who requested this design wanted a home that embodied a Northwest lifestyle and that would also be bountiful in space and roominess for visiting guests to gather and stay. The project was semi-challenging due to the community’s numerous zoning and planning requirements, on top of keeping with the clients’ vision. However, GH created large- and open-vaulted spaces on both the first and second floors, which made it possible to build and design spaciousness and beauty, all while aligning with the aesthetics of this upscale neighborhood. The majority of the house is painted a soft and creamy wood color with a white trim, which gives it a look of modern organization and cleanness all while fitting into the natural landscape and giving off a warm and classical gaze.
3
Ida York Design
Designer:
Ida York
Awards:
Serving Up Style Award
Address:
601 1st Street, Suite B, Lake Oswego, OR 97034
About Ida York Design
Another name on Build Direct’s Top 15 Interior Designers, Ida York Design Group is an award-winning interior design firm based in Portland, Oregon. Ida is the principal designer at IYDG. She holds a Bachelor in Fine Arts in Interior Architecture & Design from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Ida has been designing interior spaces since 2006 but began company in 2009, which eventually became incorporated. Since then, York’s design work has been featured in a number of business journals and other reputable publications, such as Elle Décor, Interior Design, and Alaska Airline magazine. Ida York Design Group primarily specializes in large-scale remodels, new construction, and furnishings. The firm’s style emphasis centers on tasteful elegance blended with functional solution.
Featured Projects
Located in the beautiful West Hills of Portland, the Summit Drive first-floor renovation was a true wonder. First, the entire first floor saw the installation of new hardware. Without having to majorly remodel the entire kitchen, the finished and glazed hardware, along with the refinished cabinetry, provided a fresh look. Also added was a new tile backsplash by Ann Sacks and Pratt and Larson. In the dining room, they were able to keep the existing furniture but finished off the windows with custom treatments. New finishes and fixtures were put in the powder room, including redone wallpaper, wainscoting, plumbing, and bonus accessories. Finally, the new living room concept added a desk space to the area, so as not to separate the computer user from the rest of the living area. The interwoven fabrics and textures of the room tied the space together for its final continuity.
2
Donna DuFresne
Designer:
Donna DuFresne
Awards:
Northwest Design Awards for Best Individual Room
Address:
1010 SE Water Avenue, Portland, OR 97214
About Donna DuFresne
Donna DuFresne’s design work features uniquely attractive, livable interiors. She excels in balancing individual and eclectic preferences with the practical needs of everyday living, and all with a bit of zest. Donna completed formal training at the Design Institute of San Diego and eventually joined Warren Sheets Design of Beverly Hills. Her own work in Portland began in 1995, where she concentrated on both large and small residential and commercial projects. Now DuFresne even designs and manages the production of custom-built furniture for clients. Among her awards is second place for Best Individual Room – Traditional at the 14th annual Northwest Design Awards.
Featured Projects
Located in the classic Alameda neighborhood, this project took a lovely Portland home in need of an update that matched the active, young family who occupied the house. As the client was seeking a stylish, calming interior that was also livable and durable with children and pets, DuFresne designed a sofa and settee by means of a local manufacturer and was able to use high-performance fabrics stylized with elegance. In another project, their newest kitchen renovation in Portland, they were able to accomplish the feeling of a complete renovation, all while on a modest budget of $30k. Keeping the original floor plan and carefully selecting original elements of the space, they then utilized ceiling height subway tile as backsplash and integrated all new cabinets, shelving, fixtures, and appliances. The deep gray selected for the cabinetry, set against the shine of the stainless steel, gives it an airy yet grounded renewal.
1
Jessica Helgerson
Designer:
Jessica Helgerson
Address:
112 SW 1st Avenue, Portland, OR 97204
About Jessica Helgerson
With work featured in The New York Times, Gray Magazine, Contract Magazine, Architectural Digest, and Casa Vogue (to name a few), you may recognize the work of Jessica Helgerson Interior Design. And even if not, you won’t forget it once you’ve seen it. Helgerson herself has lived and worked in Italy, Switzerland, and France. Her life in Europe and her travels in India, Mexico, Morocco, and the Far East have strongly influenced her work. The overall design group has expertise and experience that is applicable to the many types of projects they complete, both their small residential and larger renovation work. Helgerson has been a NW Design Award finalist and an Interior Design Best of the Year Award finalist.
Featured Projects
Featured in Gray Magazine and Architectural Digest, the expansion of the 1920s Portland home senior designed by Chelsi Lee is real beauty. The house now has an additional fourth bedroom on the second floor, and they converted basement and attic into livable spaces. The kitchen was relocated to the back of the house, a bit closer to the garden, which now houses a steel washed window that lets in light. Custom pickets were designed for the stairs, which were also reconfigured to access the attic and basement. The integrity of the house’s history is upheld with new soft and muted colors, which blend nicely with the newly chosen furnishings that have an element of youthfulness and modernity. If you have not already seen it in the Martha Stewart magazine, the tiny house located a few miles outside of Portland on Sauvie Island does a great job of making the most of space. With one “great room” (the kitchen, dining room, and living room), it still feels spacious with large and cozy built-in sofas that cross function as twin beds for guests. The ceiling was opened up in the main space, but the bathroom and bedroom have lower ceilings in order to accommodate the sleeping loft above, made accessible by a ladder made of walnut wood.
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