A home design goes from “grandma vibes” to warm layers of materiality

Mar 7

Living room with high vaulted ceilings, slat wall, and a sectional couch.

PROJECT NAME: Pacific Lonestar Ranch

PROJECT LOCATION: SW Portland, Oregon

When a couple purchased a home in southwest Portland to relocate from out of state, they contacted Anne Holbrook Interior Design for help. A house with good bones, incredible light, and in a lovely neighborhood just needed a new look for the young family about to inhabit it.

“We want to lose the grandma vibes.”

Image of light filled living room from dining room with dated banister in between the two rooms

While the project scope covered most of the home in one way or another, the primary focus was the front living room and entry. A space flooded with wonderful southern exposure light but also outdated large format tile, sage green carpeting, and a banister and support posts that allowed the entry, living room, and dining room to be open to one another.

Progress photo of construction of wood slat wall in SW Portland home.

In discussing design direction, the client shared they loved the idea of the warmth of wood given that they were moving to Oregon with its plethora of forests. AHID aimed to create a space that grounded the young family in their new environment with nods to their roots using layers of rich materials to give the space dimension and accentuate some of its best attributes. Wrapping the existing beams in oak and creating a slat wall where there once was a banister provided an opportunity to add visual interest and make a statement while not sacrificing the natural light.

The design plan specified that the slat wall turned the corner at the stairs, extended the slats up to the vaulted ceiling, and a handrail extended from the horizontal slat with hidden hardware. AHID had always envisioned that the lower horizontal slat of this wall be at code height for a handrail so that when the wall turned down the stairs the handrail was an extension of the horizontal line. We worked with the team to ensure that the handrail effectively served its primary function as a handrail without showing any hardware so the slats got all the glory.

Image of a oak wood slat wall that descends down stairs to a tiled foyer

Included in the design plan was the replacement of the tile in the foyer and fireplace. AHID selected a terracotta star and cross tile for the foyer and a deep green zellige tile to run from the hearth to the ceiling to add to the layers of materiality and warmth in the space.

We carried the warmth of the wood onto adjacent walls in the space with a thick floating mantel and extra wide floating shelves to display art and tchotchkes that extends up the wall to show off the ceiling height.

Finally we swapped out the front door and side light windows to provide privacy without losing the beautiful southern light. We selected a solid oak door with an oversized reeded glass side light window, which coupled with the terracotta star and cross foyer tiles and the custom runner rugs up the stairs provides a welcoming first impression.

Once the renovation design plan was in place, AHID pivoted to furnishings to create a dynamic space of materials. Combining beautiful wood in all the right places, layers of lighting, a chenille upholstered couch with extra thick down-wrapped cushions that feel like sitting on a cloud, a tufted leather ottoman, and a custom made wool rug from Morocco. The final layer of accessories and artwork were a combination of the client’s own personal collection with a select few strategic adds to round out the room.