Bohemian Home Inspired by Organic 1970s Design
Though they still have ongoing projects throughout the house, the couple embrace the fact that it’s a work in progress. “I think it is really cool to think of houses as organic things,” Katz says. “They are always evolving. As a contractor once said to Adam when he was first working on the house, ‘It’s never done.’ ”
Location: Northeast Portland, Oregon
Size: 1,600 square feet (149 square meters); three bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms
Year built: 1906
A floor-to-ceiling embroidered self-portrait of homeowner Adam Porterfield’s girlfriend, Emily Katz, stands as the focal point in the bright and open living room. Some of the couple’s favorite pieces in the home include the driftwood light fixtures, like the one seen here —made as a collaboration between the couple and sold by Porterfield through his company, Golden Rule Design — and their collection of colorful textiles, which includes a kilim rug.
The couple describe their joint design aesthetic as “a modern maker-collector home.” Each room is filled with prized finds from their travels and visits to thrift shops and estate sales, as well as pieces by their favorite artisans. The home is also an incubator space that houses prototypes of some of their products in progress.
Dream catcher: Anna Korte; mirror: Golden Rule Design
The couple kept their decorating costs down by making a lot of the decor themselves and by using their secondhand shopping skills at thrift stores and on Craigslist. One of their most notable finds is their Dan Droz Popsycle coffee table, which they bought for $50. Katz also traded her skills in marketing and photography for some pieces.
Katz especially finds inspiration in 1970s design books, which feature rooms overflowing with plants. As a result, the couple have more than 100 plants throughout their home, many of them in the dining room. This space features a thriving cactus-like euphorbia and hanging plants cradled in macrame hangers crafted by Katz and sold through her company, Modern Macrame.
Windows: Infinity from Marvin
The simple wood shelving displays the couple’s growing collection of one-of-a-kind ceramics and pottery.
The wood floors in the main living area are original. Porterfield salvaged them during the renovation and matched the new oak flooring in the kitchen almost exactly.
Pillowcases: Golden Rule Design; bedskirt: Modern Macrame
Rug: Kaya Kilims; pillows: Loloi; macrame piece: Modern Macrame
Bed: Mission Craft
Besides his father, Porterfield worked closely with Colin Grey of Cielo Design Build, who helped guide him through the more technical aspects of the remodel. With the help of James Moulton, who acted as 3-D project manager, Porterfield was able to serve as general contractor and architect for the renovations. Moulton facilitated all of the 3-D rendering and drafting that helped Porterfield make key design and spacing decisions for the home, a step he highly recommends to others thinking about remodeling.