Though we’ve been living abroad for about 2 years now, we still have deep roots in Portland a lot of close friends and family, as well as work-ties. My husband and I decided to purchase an investment property in the summer of 2025 to have a home-away-from-home in Portland.

I spent 3 months designing the space, specifying and ordering 722 items to fully equip and curate the townhome. I tapped into my extensive network of talent and, with their help, was able to fully furnish the 978 s.f. and get it ready for renting all while living in it, recovering from oral surgery and parenting.

There are personal touches like photography from our time in the Netherlands and Hawaii, a dining bench made by my best friend with upholstered back created by another close friend and myself and mounted by a trusted contractor I’ve worked with for years. My mother helped to unpackage, wash and put away hundreds of items, getting the space livable before we arrived. Another friend helped hem the 16 drapery panels in the main living space. Yet other friends and family helped watch my daughter while I ran around sourcing the final details. To say it was a labor of love is an understatement.

I’ve stayed in many temporary and furnished spaces myself so am obsessed with making the ones I design be beautiful, comfortable, functional and health-conscious for our guests. Filtered water, filtered air, natural fibers, low tox furniture and access to natural light as well as full darkness are always design filters. Our budget was well below the standard s.f. cost for furnishing a residence so I emphasized spending money on these priorities and then sourced where I could from budget retailers and thrift stores for the rest.