Realizing Dreams: Master Bedroom Makeover
A few months ago Helene Cogen moved from Miami, Florida, to Portland, Oregon, because her children and grandchildren live here. She had owned a home here for years, but only used it in the summer, so it was furnished like a beach house–very casual, with lots of white wicker furniture. With a permanent move, she wanted […]
The Doctors’ Decorating Dilemma
When I first met Drs. Lainie and Jon Yarris, both emergency room physicians, they had been raising their three children in this charming Craftsman home for eleven years. When they weren’t working at their demanding jobs, they were doing activities with their children and with friends, who also have children. Their dilemma was how to arrange the […]
What Every Guest Room Needs
A few months back a long-time client called me to ask if we could do a makeover on her oldest daughter’s bedroom. The daughter had graduated college, moved across the country to start her career, and didn’t know that any changes would be made. She asked if we could please keep the wallpaper so it wouldn’t […]
Vintage Charm for New Construction
When the homeowner asked Emery & Associates to help her choose finish materials for the new home she was building, we found ourselves ensconced in a treasure trove of antique French furnishings, accessories and art work. After listening carefully to her stated preferences, we created a palette around her favorites colors, plum and green. The […]
Repurposing Prexy
Last year I was asked by my alma mater, Reed College, to help with the re-design of the Prexy Building on the college campus. It was designed in 1914 by the renowned Portland architect, A.E. Doyle, as a home for the college president, hence its name. The building was subsequently used as a boys’ […]
Combining Households–How to Make It Work
Susan Bach and Doug Egan combined their households some years ago. When they asked Emery & Associates for help redoing the entire house, it was apparent that what they needed help with the most was integrating Susan’s family pieces and whimsical country style with Doug’s more formal, traditional French style. We began in the TV […]
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 […]
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 […]
French Dressing for Kitchen Nook
When Sue and Bob Van Brocklin first contacted Emery & Associates about some help for their family room, they also mentioned wanting to re-paint the kitchen. After talking with them at length about their interests and their favorite colors, it became clear that they were passionate about travel, especially in France, cooking, entertaining friends and […]
East Meets West
Asian furnishings and objets d’art have been in demand by Westerners since Europeans discovered the magical, mysterious East in the 1600s. My personal style has always run toward 18th century European furnishings, with the occasional Asian accessory thrown in. I have resisted becoming committed to a single palette, because I love changing things seasonally. After […]