Design on the Water

Design doesn't have to exist solely on dry land.  There are plenty of opportunities that lie right in the water.  Houseboats, house barges and floating homes are becoming increasingly popular and come with many unique options for design, both interior and exterior.

Houseboats of one form or another have been around for years in many different parts of the world.  In Amsterdam there are houseboat hotels, Hong Kong has its' own floating village, and Lake Union in Seattle is home to a large community of floating homes or float house neighborhoods.  There are some differences between the types of homes found on the water and their primary use.  Houseboats refer to a boat that has been transformed to be used primarily as a home; a float house is actually a house that is on a float or a raft; and a house barge is a home built on a barge that can be towed.

Here is a peek at a houseboat project that we at Donna DuFresne Design were able to be a part of...

In Portland there are an abundance of both houseboats and float homes along the Willamette and Columbia Rivers.  Here are a few of our favorites.

Fennell Residence -- Robert Harvey Oshatz Architects

Hayden Island Home

Marine Drive Home

Have you ever thought of moving onto the water?  Let us know your thoughts!

Wild for Wallpaper

When some people think about wallpaper it brings to mind a stuffy, outdated, floral print.  This isn't your grandmother's wallpaper anymore though.  Wallpaper has come back into fashion in a big way.  It is a great addition to any room that you want to make a statement in.

Wallpaper dates back to before the 1700s.  It was originally designed to mimic the large tapestries that the wealthy would hang on their walls for decoration and insulation.  Those with less money turned to hanging large sheets of paper that were painted with designs to brighten up their rooms.

Hand Painted Chinese Wallpaper c. 1780

Here is a recent project from Donna DuFresne Design.  This bathroom needed an update and wallpaper was a great option to add a bold new look.  You can see how simply adding wallpaper instead of repainting gave the space quite a dramatic change.

Before

After

Cole & Son - Summer Lily

Here are some examples of current wallpaper options that we love.

Phillip Jeffries Ltd.

Maya Romanoff

de Gournay

Have you used wallpaper recently in a project?  Please share your experience with us!

Tile as Artwork

There are so many options for gorgeous tile these days that it doesn't need to serve only a functional purpose.  Tile can be used as artwork in rooms like kitchens and bathrooms.  Since most tile is fairly durable and moisture resilient it is a great option for spaces that get a lot of use.

Here, at Donna DuFresne Design, we recently completed a tile project for a client's master bathroom.  The wood in the bathroom was beautiful and she wanted to keep it while updating both the style and function of the room.  One of the main issues was that there was no shower; only a bath.

Before

Since there really wasn't room for a dedicated shower, making the space into a wet room was a clear choice.  The client loved the idea and several tile options were selected for the featured wall.

Artistic Tile - Foliage - Be Bop White Glass Mosaic

Pental - Satin - Grigio Wave

The client chose to go with the Grigio Wave tile and then Quarziti 2.0 Glacier from Oregon Tile & Marble was picked to compliment that.  A shower was installed along the back feature wall and towel hooks were added.  While the Foliage tile would have looked great, the Grigio Wave really brightens things up.  Here is the finished product!

After

If you are looking for some local places to get amazing tile here are a few of our favorites.

Ann Sacks

402 NW 9th Ave

Portland, OR 97209

Oregon Tile and Marble

1845 SE 3rd Ave.

Portland, OR 97214

Pratt & Larson

1201 SE 3rd Ave.

Portland, OR 97214

Check out any of these showrooms to find a new artistic tile for your home!

Wellness & Design

It's easy to think of interior design as a frivolous expense, but when healthcare is considered, it becomes apparent the key role good design can play.  It can help shorten healing time, improve overall mood, and increase ease and comfortability.  These are just a few reasons why well thought out design in the healthcare field can make such a difference.  When most people think of where they would like to be when they are sick a typical hospital rarely comes to mind.  Most have been designed simply for efficiency and lack many of the finishing touches that make a space hospitable, but this shouldn't be the case.

During the last snowstorm, we had an emergency visit to Randall Children's Hospital at Legacy Emanuel for an appendectomy and we were wowed!  It showed just how amazing a hospital can be.  The team at ZGF truly kept the end user in mind during their thoughtful approach to a space for those who need comfort the most.  Not only is it an inviting space, but sustainability played a large role during the whole process.  From experience, it was hard to get our young patient to even want to leave.

"A cramped, outdated hospital wing was transformed into a new, 334,000 square-foot, nine-story building dedicated to pediatric care.  The building features single-patient rooms, large windows that bring natural light into rooms and corridors, unique family and social spaces, and access to stunning outdoor gardens - all design elements that studies have shown can improve the health of patients and enhance the quality of care provided."  - Nathalie Weinstein

My Design Associate, Katherine O'Brien, also used a similar concept for her senior thesis.  The project focused on creating a space that the patient is happy to be in and able to heal more quickly.  Another key point was to make sure that friends and family of a patient would want to visit.  Finally, making sure that form did not outweigh function, the space was designed so that the workers could easily do their job in a space they could enjoy.  The space featured single patient rooms, two apartment-style suites for family who might accompany the patient, a gym, gardens, and much more.

We can only hope that future healthcare facilities take their patients and staff into consideration and continue to make more spaces like these.

Do you have an experience with good or bad design that influenced your well-being?  Let us know!