Hey Friends,
I’m honored to share that our home reno is on show in the Summer 2021 issue of Portland Monthly! This transformation has been my main creative focus for years: a slow-burn to maximize function, inspire and reflect us, and free up the energy in here. “Magazine-worthy” was an intangible quality control litmus test that helped me stay true and not cheat on my vision.
MANIFEST!
Lo, that intangible is now FOR REAL in SEVEN WHOLE PAGES now, and forever in perpetuity online. How did it happen? Well, once I was done blog/documenting this whole process after having a minute to really break down what all of it meant to me, I just kept on trying to manifest. In a perfect world, my friend Chris Dibble would come photograph our mojo, and my neighbor Liz Crain (who watched the whole thing in real time) would write the piece. Now I have never pitched a story to a magazine, but it was not too hard: I am pretty much the target audience for Portland Monthly. It is my favorite waiting-room read. A few months went by, and I was just about to turn to another publication when their editor contacted me to say it was a go.
My dream scenario was on!
COVID PROTOCOL
Because the photoshoot happened in March before any of us were eligible for vaccination, we were super safe with the protocols. We maintained 6’ distance at all times, left the windows all open for good airflow, wore those masks the whole time, etc. No snacks were shared. With a crew of just Chris, Art Director Michael Novak, and me as the stylist, seven full hours flew by. What a COMPLETE THRILL to have other humans INSIDE our house in the first place after over a year of lockdown. Not only that, but these 2 right away began talking about the space using DESIGN WORDS!
THE PHOTOS
Chris generously shared all his photos from that day to do with as I please, so I’ll share them here. Most of these photos appear in the magazine article, but are thusly pretty small. The whole issue is a fun read and serves as time capsule for this bizarre endless pandemic period. Thanks forever to Chris for showing our home in it’s best light!
TO RECAP
Finishing a home remodel is one huge accomplishment, and having it featured forever in a magazine is beyond validating. My unusual choices, my optimism in the face of exponential costs, my patience: all of this paid off. I marvel at our luck every day.
What’s next? Landscaping. Our outdoor space is a total mess and due for it’s own transformation once everything aligns. For now, we need a brief rest from the budgeting and the choice-making etc. Oh and there’s a supply chain snafu that is wrecking everyone’s plans indefinitely, so that is another reason to press pause.
AND I am always looking for my next big project. If you have one, give me a ring 🤓.