Redesign–What does it mean?
Emery & Associates did a major remodel of a client’s living room fireplace several years ago (see my previous post “Hot New Looks for Old Fireplaces,” February 24, 2011). The clients liked the remodeled fireplace so much that this year they rearranged their furniture so that the sofa faces the fireplace, which has become the […]
Always Sunny in Portland, Oregon
Yes, I’m kidding. But even on dark and rainy days the mood in this room is sunny and warm, like a day in Provence. When we first started talking about what kind of changes they wanted in their home, Sue and Bob Van Brocklin let me know their color and style preferences, and we […]
Outdoor Rooms and Fresh Looks for Summer
Now that summer is officially here, how about a few ideas to freshen up your home for the season? One of the easiest ways is to add garden flowers–if you don’t grow your own, you can stop off at your local farmers’ market for a large bouquet for just a few dollars. Another idea is […]
Sweet Dreams
Often the master bedroom is the last room in the house a homeowner tackles, probably because it’s a private space–not the first room seen when guests enter the home. However, it is a space where the homeowners will spend a large part of their time, so it’s important to make it inviting and comfortable. The […]
Pulling it All Together
Often one of the first things homeowners say to me is that their rooms don’t feel “pulled together.” This post explains how to accomplish that feeling of cohesiveness, and demonstrates how you can do it without pitching everything out and starting over. In each of the rooms below, the homeowner wanted to keep some of […]
Master Bedroom Makeover: Light and Luscious!
The young couple who hired Emery & Associates in 2009 to do the main floor of their 1903 foursquare home in Ladd’s Addition called me back this year to do their master bedroom. “It’s really dark. What can you do to help us?” I gave them the obvious answer: add lighting! They really didn’t […]
Penthouse in the Pearl
When the new owners of this penthouse condo at Tanner Place contacted Emery & Associates, they told me that their taste was very contemporary, but they had fallen in love with this rather traditional space because of the high ceilings and large walls where they would be able to showcase their collection of art. They […]
Moving! Where do I begin?
Nathan Cogan’s phone call to Emery & Associates was straightforward. “I need to hire you because I’m moving from a furnished condo to an unfurnished one in the same building, and need some help sorting out my stuff that’s in storage and also figuring out what new furniture I’ll need. I have a lot of […]
The Upside of Downsizing
Our client had sold her home and most of her furnishings several years ago, when she first moved to into a one-bedroom apartment in a retirement community. She called me when she had the opportunity to move to a two-bedroom unit so she could have an office space. She wasn’t happy with the furniture she […]
Outdoor Entertaining
It felt like summer would NEVER be here. But it finally is, and the plants in the garden have been enjoying the damp, cool weather. My hydrangeas are especially happy, and my upper terrace (below) is now ready for a 4th of July party. You can create this kind of garden-room look on your deck […]