All photos Ty Milford/Courtesy Vanillawood |
How did Vanillawood come about?
After buying our first house in Venice, CA, we fell in love with the process of
renovating and designing together. We realized that this is what
we really wanted to be doing for a living and not just as a hobby. Portland, Oregon, where I'm from, seemed like a better place to be buying
and selling homes (this was at the height of the real estate market, mind you)
and we were looking to slow the pace down for our growing family. We sold
that beloved house and moved our family to Portland to launch Vanillawood.
We
started the business doing spec houses, and, after being approached by several
people to design and build "our style" for them, the client part of
our business was born. About two years ago, we were expecting our third
son and looking to move our business from our home office. We stumbled
upon this amazing location in Portland’s Pearl District. This location begged to be a
retail store and showroom and our working studio.
We opened our
doors in July of last year, and it has become a great space where our clients,
as well as people who happen upon us while walking by, can touch and feel our
work, ask questions and get inspired. The fun part about having this
store is often people will come in to look at our retail wares and end up
hiring us for our design, build or interior design services.
How would you define your style?
Organic contemporary with a touch of Hollywood glam. Life is nutty enough and
we are all running at a break-neck pace with work, kids, obligations, so home
is where we unwind, decompress and refuel. At Vanillawood we create homes
and spaces that are livable and approachable, that make you feel good every
time you enter the room. It’s what “design, build, live” is all about.
What's the design scene like in Portland?
Portland has got a lot going on! I left at 18 thinking I would never live
here again and, boy, has it changed. I've lived in New York, LA and Italy, and I
love seeing this city attract so many people for the creative
culture and lifestyle. There are a lot of extremely talented people.
Sustainability is obviously a huge part of what Portland design is all about. At Vanillawood we use a lot of really
interesting reclaimed materials in our custom furniture and case goods and our design and build projects. It lends a great story to the finished
product. Function and design are
critical, but it’s also important to feel good about how things are made.
How has the web changed your business?
Gosh, how has it not? Design is so much more accessible with the web.
Inspiration can be found a click of a button—there’s a global
marketplace at your fingertips. That can be amazing but also potentially
overwhelming for a client faced with so much information. Part of a good
interior designer’s role these days, I think, is to help their clients sift
through all the choices out there and help define and curate what’s really
right for their lifestyle and their home. The web also means that it’s not
enough to just be a good online store or showroom. You need to offer an
aesthetic and a service that’s about more than just the merchandise you are
carrying. You need to set yourself apart and really communicate the passion and
perspective you bring to a job.
If you're in Portland drop by and say hi. If that's not in the cards, check out Vanillawood. They've got a portfolio up, and you can shop!
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