My Houzz: European Touches in the Pacific Northwest
This century-old traditional home takes design inspiration from France and England, with plenty of antiques and artful details
Whitney Lyons is a professional photographer, writer and a design enthusiast. She has traveled the world working as a writer and photographer.
Her travels took her to Ireland, where she worked as a photojournalist and reporter for Imokilly People newspaper in Co. Cork.
Whitney spent a year traveling across Europe and Asia, further expanding her photography skills and experience. She eventually landed in New Zealand, where she photographed and wrote articles for Wild Tomato magazine in Nelson.
Whitney is now located in Portland, Oregon where she works as a freelance photographer and writer.
You can see more of her work at flavors.me/whitneylyons.
Whitney Lyons is a professional photographer, writer and a design enthusiast.... More »
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Hutch and Gretchen Johnson moved from their beloved home in the Lake Oswego, Oregon, suburbs into a stunning 100-year-old home in Portland two years ago. They brought with them ideas to brighten and energize the home inside and out while keeping its original character and beauty. "I like change," says Gretchen, a painter. "Things are evolving all the time."
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Hutch and Gretchen Johnson
Location: Portland, Oregon
Size: 2,800 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Hutch and Gretchen Johnson
Location: Portland, Oregon
Size: 2,800 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms
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by Whitney Lyons
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| An abundance of character defines this century-old home. Much of the hardware is original as well as some windows, doors and hardwood floors. "The details are what drew me to the house," says Gretchen. |
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| Gretchen is an avid gardener, so it's fitting that the design changes included the outdoor space. She designed her parterre garden with boxwood hedges creating the pattern. "I wanted to enclose the space to separate it from the road. The boxwood garden gives structure to the space that lasts all year long and is very pleasing to my eye. I added the used-brick walkway, which I think is in keeping with our Old English–style home," she says. |
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| The original doors and windows still grace the living room. The couches were purchased from National Upholstering in San Francisco and upholstered with fabric from a Seattle showroom. |
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| Above the living room fireplace hangs a painting from Versailles Gardens, an importer of French decor in northwest Portland. Continuing the theme, a cluster of botanical prints from France makes a lovely focal point over a console table. Gretchen found them in Sellwood, a popular neighborhood for antiquing in Portland. |
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| The hardwood floors in the living room are original. The previous homeowners had painted them, and they had since been stripped, but the result was not what the Johnsons wanted. "They were beautiful hardwoods, but the color had turned an orange-yellow. I didn't like that, so I decided I was going to paint the floors," Gretchen says. She continued the white hardwood throughout the entire downstairs. Statue: Versailles Gardens |
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| The original dining room features beautiful dark wood and magnificent windows; it's Gretchen's favorite space. A long, distressed wooden table from Restoration Hardware looks like it was made for this room. "It's a really fun room, especially at night. It sparkles with the lit candles and dark wood. It feels a little bit like a solarium," says Gretchen. |
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| The Johnsons were concerned there might be some caulking issues with the windows when they moved in, and they wondered about options. A window expert advised them to never replace these windows because they would never be able to find anything else like them. Gretchen found this stunning French antique chandelier at an antiques shop in Portland's Sellwood neighborhood. Antique French basket: Sesame and Lillies, Cannon Beach, Oregon; wire lamps: Digs |
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| Years ago, the family room was a single-car garage. When the Johnsons moved in, they had beams put on the ceiling to match the rest of the home. They also removed the carpet and installed hardwood floors. |
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| The couple recently had a stone Dennis and Leen fireplace installed. "I wanted it to have an English feel. It needed to be simple and not overshadow the fireplace in the living room. This one was perfect," says Gretchen. Painting: Ira Yeager |
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An old flag holder came back to Portland from an antiques shop in France. The cabinet is originally from Carmel, France; Gretchen bought it from a woman in Portland.
Chair: Mary Roberts Interiors, Lake Oswego, Oregon
Chair: Mary Roberts Interiors, Lake Oswego, Oregon
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| Although people ask Gretchen why she would change a thing in the kitchen, she has a new design in mind. "I'd like it to look a little bit less like a typical kitchen. I'd like to see freestanding pieces of furniture but still have it function as a kitchen," she says. She would also like to put new windows in to match the rest of the house. The current windows were part of a remodel done years ago. |
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San Francisco's Ira Yeager is Gretchen's favorite artist. His work is seen throughout the Johnson home, and he influences Gretchen's own work. "I like his whimsical 18th-century images and the colors he uses," she says.
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This antique pine chest in the entry is from Partners in Time, an antiques dealer in Portland.
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A simple yet elegant half bath sits off the staircase. The mirror is a French antique Gretchen purchased from a friend. The snakeskin table belonged to Gretchen's mother.
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| In a second bedroom, the headboard is made from weathered shutters that Gretchen bought from Cecilia Kruse-Wright, a Portland interior designer. "I originally thought I would like to put them in my art studio, and maybe that will happen one day. For now I think they make a nice headboard," says Gretchen. She added a personal touch by hanging one of her paintings from the shutters. |
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| The spacious master bedroom includes a balcony overlooking the backyard. A sisal floor covering from Contract Furnishing Mart was installed throughout the upstairs. "The original floor was carpeted. I wanted an updated, fresh look, and sisal is so versatile and long lasting," says Gretchen. The headboard is a reproduction from a San Francisco showroom that Gretchen painted and antiqued. The sofa at the foot of the bed is a family piece, and the stools are from an antiques store no longer in business. |
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| The two detached structures on the property are the pool house and Gretchen's art studio. The backyard is large and beautifully landscaped, thanks to Gretchen's green thumb. |
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| Gretchen plans to extend her art studio farther into their back garden. For now she works in this quaint and colorful room just off the garage. It is filled with her canvases and includes clippings for inspiration. "Whatever I see that inspires me, I'll paint," she says. She has been painting since she was a child; she's currently working on a commissioned tulip painting. |
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Gretchen, shown here, attributes her flare for design to her mother. "My mother always had a beautiful home. A lot of our antiques came from her. It's nice to put things in your house that are meaningful. When I look around, so many of our things I grew up with," she says.
"We all use design, even if you don't think you're artistic. When ladies put their makeup on or you get dressed, you are making decisions about color, proportion and design. You can decorate your home using those same principles."
Houzz call: Share your creative home with us
"We all use design, even if you don't think you're artistic. When ladies put their makeup on or you get dressed, you are making decisions about color, proportion and design. You can decorate your home using those same principles."
Houzz call: Share your creative home with us
Ideabook published on Jan. 3, 2013.
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It's inspirational to know that such places still exist in the world.
Brilliantly photographed, as well.
Enjoy !
Thanks, Deborah