About Portland's Pearl District

Last Day in Portland - What a Beautiful City!

So after Portland Raincamp Wednesday held at the Pure Space Center, we toured the Peal District area of Downtown Portland.

What an amazing metropolitan center! It has the perfect combination of modern restoration of older buildings in a contemporary "planned urban community" feel. I am so digging it.

The city is so clean, and the people are so plugged in and environmentally aware of their environment. I love how there are recycling bins everywhere you go.

I spent all day Thursday touring the city. We went over to Multnomah Falls, next to the Columbia River, which is absolutely breathtaking. A wonderfully serene area of waterfalls, lakes, rivers, and pine trees. It's what I think of in my head when I think of Oregon.

Then later in the day we went back to the Pearl District in Downtown Portland to explore some more.

I went into Powell's Bookstore to buy some reading material for the plane back to Los Angeles. Powell's Bookstore in Portland has got to be the largest bookstore in the country! It is 4 huge floors and If I'm not mistaken multiple buildings. They have such a wide spectrum of new and used books and magazines that they have to color code each of the large sections of the building!

The contemporary restoration of the downtown area is just SO nice. I could definitely live there! The Pearl District is one of the most dog-friendly metropolitan areas in the U.S. It is so cool to see the shops and restaurants put a bowl of water and doggie snacks outside there door to show that they are dog-friendly!! I noticed in general that Portland in general is one of the most dog-friendly cities in the U.S.

It's so funny because Portland is usually on the milder, cooler side. When we came in on Tuesday, the weather shot up to a very rare 95 degrees! And the funny thing is, when we leave today, the weather is supposed to go back down to the 70's-80's. So the locals are all telling us that we brought the hot weather with us from Los Angeles, and they're glad we're taking it back when we leave!!

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Portland Interior Designer Shares: Where to Shop in Portland, Oregon's Pearl District - Lux Lighting

(Photo: Pearl District Bridgeport Condominium featuring monorail lighting, George Kovacs Floor Lamp, Kartell pendant lamps - interior by Pangaea Interior Design)

If you are moving to the Portland, Oregon Pearl District from somewhere in California (who isn't? -- I did!) or any other sunny place, you are probably noticing that there just isn't as much light here with the cloudy and rainy days we often have. In fact, for the whole first year I lived here, I would think it was around 5:00 or 6:00 in the evening when it was only 2:00pm!! So today I'm sharing a little of my expertise on designing lighting plans and where to buy the coolest contemporary lighting fixtures and lamps.

Many of my clients living in the Pearl District are in one of the wonderful Lofts, Condos or Townhomes in buildings like 937 Condominiums, Bridgeport Condos, Streetcar Lofts, The Elizabeth, Indigo @ Twelve West, The Encore, The Wyatt or The Henry -- just to name a handful. If you are not lucky enough to have a corner unit, although you may have floor to ceiling windows, they are probably all on one side and you have big lighting issues further back in your home. To complicate matters, you may have concrete ceilings or walls and steel studs. Enough to stop the DIY design enthusiast in their tracks! Many of my clients call me for help in designing a lighting plan for their Pearl District loft or condo. If you want a truly unique and upscale look, I have many "To-The-Trade" resources. But lots of my clients hire me to help them come up with a lighting plan, and they want to do their own shopping at retail stores to keep their costs down. They then run their favorite options past me for advice before making their final decisions.This is a great way to avoid any expensive mistakes! With a lighting plan consultation you can be sure you have all your lighting needs addressed and that it all looks great together.

So, I'm sharing my favorite retail lighting specialty store in the Pearl District. It's Lux Lighting on the corner of NW Glisan & NW 13th. Their showroom will just knock your socks off with the latest in modern, contemporary and transitional lighting. They carry a huge array of brands. Some of my personal favorites are Foscarini (I have their Big Bang Chandelier in my own entryway - fabulous!,) Flos, George Kovacs, Luceplan, Modernica, Robert Abbey, Pablo and many, many more! They have amazing and unique high-end light fixtures and lamps as well as amazingly affordable and beautiful designs. I have always found Lux Lighting's sales staff to be knowledgeable and willing to help with tricky lighting design issues.

Here in Portland, and especially in the Pearl District's high rise lofts and condos, coming up with a great lighting plan is important to feeling good in your home. The first layer of light, ambient lighting (or overall general lighting) can be addressed through ceiling fixtures. Monorail and track lighting are two solutions that give a great amount of flexibility to your lighting through the myriad choice of spot lights and pendants. Task lighting is the next layer. Reading lamps and above counter lights in the kitchen are two good examples of lights that make it easier for you to function in your home. Accent lighting is what really brings your space to life and adds that designer look. This includes lighting for your art, "up lights" that wash light onto the ceiling, and decorative lamps that are beautiful in their own right.

I also want to recommend Red's Electric as my go-to resource for installation of all lighting elements in high rise condos, lofts and townhomes in the Pearl District. They have experience in these buildings and know how to work with all of the concrete, steel and special restrictions. Please tell them Pangaea sent you!

If you have one of these great Pearl District lofts, condos or townhomes and need help lighting up your space, call me today to schedule a lighting plan consultation! 503.816.4394

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Portland Interior Designer Shares: Where to Shop In Portland, Oregon's Pearl District - PH Reed.

Photo of Dellarobbia Grant Seating Group, via PH Reed Furniture Store in Portland Pearl District

In my work as a Portland Interior Designer, shopping in the Pearl District is one of my favorite job duties. I specialize in modern interior design emphasizing warmth, comfort, and sustainable options in home decor. Portland's Pearl District is home to some great furniture and accessory stores and also wonderful art galleries showcasing both local and national artists.

Some of my clients choose to work with an interior designer so that they can gain the access I have to shopping at "To The Trade Only" stores. But I also have many clients who are trying to keep costs down by hiring me to help them develop a decorating plan and then doing the shopping themselves. Then they bring me back again to help them decide on the best pieces once they've seen what options are out there. So, I thought I would help you along by sharing my very favorite retail furniture, accessory and lighting stores in Portland's Pearl District.

When I first came to Portland, Oregon over 4 years ago to see if I would like to live here, I spent some time checking out the Pearl District Furniture Stores to see what was available. I immediately fell in love with PH Reed on the corner of NW 11th & Glisan. I was blown away by the great selection of contemporary furnishings, accessories and lighting. When I finally moved into Portland, I purchased my platform bed, dresser and nightstands here. To this day, it is still one of my favorite sources for interior design inspiration in the Pearl District. The store is laid out in room vignettes that are packed with great modern decorating ideas. One thing that I think is cool - but you would never know just by looking at the showroom - is that the store is divided into one half with more affordable brands and the other half with higher end brands like Dellarobbia. Since they have carefully curated their collection of beautifully designed furniture lines, you would think it was all high-end. But don't let the high class look keep you standing on the sidewalk. Go on in. You'll find great design to be more affordable than you might have expected.

If you are looking for sustainably made furniture in the Pearl District, be sure to look at PH Reed's Creative Elegance Furniture - a member of the Sustainable Furniture Council. The environmentally friendly manufacturing processes and fresh, contemporary designs are a winning combination.

I help busy professionals create comfortable and contemporary spaces so they can relax and enjoy their homes. If you would like help coming up with a decorating plan and help in making your selections so that the end result is a space that looks fabulous, call me today to schedule a consultation! 503.816.4394

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I met an agent ( Sandy, name changed to protect the innocent) at a real estate seminar last week who was bending any ear that would have a listen. Her story was about the trials and tribulations while working with a Buyer over the past 4 1/2 months ( far to long in my opinion ) and the Condo's they were unable to purchase.

Sandy starts out by telling me about this wonderful Condo located in The Pearl, Portland Oregon. According to Sandy after previewing this condo on line she is certain this home has everything her Buyer could possibly want.

Gaining access is quite another thing. The home is by appointment only and must be Listing agent accompanied.

This is where Sandy is having the problem. It seems as though from Sandy's point of view that the listing agent is trying to keep her from viewing the home. She has called several times to no avail. She emailed and even tried calling the other agents Broker seeking access.

This is an interesting question to me. What causes Sandy or others to feel just because the home is listed for sale that they have the right to see it?

Yet more often than not the feelings that an agent has often will manifest itself into a larger problem than exists. Truly these feelings of perceived ill will are often the single biggest contributing factor to complaints that arrive at the Real Estate Agency at least that is what I was told from one of the Agency's investigators during a casual conversation that I was having with them.

My mother always told me that there was always two sides to every story. Just because you get to tell your story first does not mean your right. Certainly there are times when your worst fears are true. More often than not though the other side as very valid reasons why they were not able to accommodate.

The truth be told, Seller's sign contracts with agents whom they have some connection with. That does not always mean that the connection is that the agent is the best at what they do. It could mean that the agent and the Seller are much alike. Hard to get along with and stubborn. I remember interviewing an expired listing once where I asked the Seller what he liked about his previous agent. The answer astounded me. They thought the other agent was arrogant and often belligerent. They went on to say " He reminds me of Me! " I did not get that listing but soon found out that they did re-list with an agent who was known to have those same qualities.

Most agents who represent Buyer's do want to work the hardest for their clients. But remember just because the Home is on the market does not give you the absolute right to participate.

As the rain has started to come down in sheets and the nights have turned COLD, my fireplace has been put into use in a big way. Many years ago, urban living in lofts, condos and apartments meant living without a fireplace. But technology has changed all of that. One client who recently contacted me said his one concession in buying a condo in the John Ross Condomiums in the South Waterfront district was to forego a fireplace - but we have a solution for him. Another client in The Wyatt high rise apartments in the Pearl District had a fireplace listed as one of her first items to add to her decor. I was also in the 937 Condominiums in the Pearl District last week and felt sad that for almost half a million dollars, you end up with no fireplace! So, this post is for you!

Whether you have a condo in the Pearl or South Waterfront, or a house where there is no built-in fireplace, with today's technology, there is now a fireplace for everyone, every room, and just about every budget! Read on to see several modern fireplaces that would be at home in any contemporary home where no built-in fireplace exists. There are free-standing models, wood burning models, environmentally friendly models, suspended ones and wall hung types. Links on where to shop for these are at the end of the article. So, make yourself a nice cup of cocoa and imagine sitting next to one of these!

Pangaea's Picks: Top Ten Modern Fireplaces

1. Harry Leenders - Hands down, my fave for a suspended, rotating fireplace. Love the sleek lines.

2. EcoSmart's Denatured Ethanol burning fireplaces can be set into a built in display or they have many free-standing styles. Environmentally friendly and renewable fuel is a plus.

3. This Eurofocus has nice clean lines and is angled to look great in a corner.

4. Rais is just a simple and lovely, minimal design.

5. What top ten list would be complete without the modern classic Fireorb suspended fireplace?

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