“I don’t particularly like trendy things,” says Oregon-based designer Donna Dufresne. “I think a home should be timeless, but we can still add a few modern touches to keep it fresh.” So when Dufresne designed a historic home in downtown Portland for a young couple and their 10- She wanted to make sure she was using the architecture to her advantage. Built in 1973 by Ellis Lawrence, the 4,000-square-foot home is on the National Register of Historic Places, and Dufresne wanted to pay tribute.
“The house is really rustic overall, but we used certain elements to make it more contemporary,” she adds, referring specifically to the metal accents throughout the living area, the modern statement lighting from West Elm above the stairs and the Carrara Marble in the bathrooms. Dufresne also wanted to use the original architecture as much as possible in the room, which proved to be a real challenge, especially in the kitchen.
CHRISTOPHER DIBBLE
CHRISTOPHER DIBBLE
“Originally the stairs were very close to the kitchen, which meant the kitchen was very small,” she says. “We had to move the stairs a little to one side to make room for the big island that the family wanted.” Features pans and other utensils.
Another challenge revolved around the clumsy-looking soffit in the kitchen: to make the ceiling of the room more cohesive, Dufresne added a large man-made beam. And since statement lighting wouldn’t really work on a ceiling of this shape, she opted for recessed lights with dimmers. “This was honestly the most difficult room to design because we wanted a space where everyone could gather,” she says. “But I think we made it.”
Likewise, Dufresne installed a statement tub in the main bathroom to take up space behind the oddly placed sink and make sure it faces the window. She also kept the closets in the hallway, but painted them white and added metallic accents. “And of course – texture, texture, texture,” she says, pointing to the vintage carpets that she has strategically positioned throughout the house. “You don’t need too much crazy color when you have structured articles from responsible sources.”
Overall, Dufresne appreciated the challenges the home brought as it forced them to show their creative possibilities. “All design decisions were tailored to the customer and made them feel like they were forever home,” she says. “What more could we have asked for?”
Guest toilet
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Because it was such a small space, Dufresne was able to play with colors and patterns without overwhelming them – but she made sure she only did so temporarily in case customers’ tastes change across the board. “After all, it’s just wallpaper,” she explains the dark gold and black walls. “We can always exchange them.”
Background: Schumacher. Water tap: Waterworks.
chimney
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The fireplace initially stood on its own and looked out of place until Dufresne added floating seating on each side. “The couple’s boy loves to read in the cozy corner,” she says.
Wall lamps: Visual comfort. Pillow: Rooms & meals.
kitchen
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Even if it was the most difficult to design, the kitchen is undoubtedly Dufresne’s favorite room in the house. White tiles and recessed lights combine the stylish meeting room.
Brass sieves: Armac Martin. Water tap: Waterworks. Countertop: Black absolute granite. Colour: Donald Kaufmann. Hardware: Classic brass. Area: Vikings. Back wall: Arto brick.
White bathroom
CHRISTOPHER DIBBLE
CHRISTOPHER DIBBLE
The modern white bathroom contrasts with the more rustic exterior – but since the colors aren’t intrusive, they blend in with the rest of the house.
Fittings: Waterworks. Wall lamps: Rejuvenation. Vanity console: Palmer Industries.
hallway
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Antique carpeting adds a touch of color to the hallway filled with cupboards. “It came with the space, so we had to use it to our advantage,” says Dufresne, who added metallic accents for interest.
Lighting: Visual comfort. Hardware: Upper buttons.
stairway
CHRISTOPHER DIBBLE
CHRISTOPHER DIBBLE
Relocating the stairs proved to be a real challenge – but Dufresne found a way to make sure it would fit near the entrance to make room for a more spacious kitchen. “My client wanted a big island and it just didn’t fit where the stairs were originally,” she explains.
Lighting: West Elm.
Main bathroom
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The huge Waterworks tub anchors the main marble bathroom where it’s positioned near the window and becomes a true statement piece.
Sanitary fittings and tub: Waterworks. Medicine cabinets: Glass craftsman. Hardware: Classic brass.
living room
CHRISTOPHER DIBBLE
Wood and cream colors let the rustic ambience of the house shine through, while marble, white and patterns give the timeless atmosphere that Dufresne was striving for.
Chimney: Nero Marquina.
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