SOUTH WATERFRONT
PORTLAND OREGON

Speaking of design… Those who attended the Second Annual South Waterfront Tour of Homes certainly got an eyeful. From Rick’s castle in the sky, to Billie’s fresh lime green and white John Ross cabana, and the stunning, art-filled red and black Krage penthouse; tourists admired finishes, noted details, evaluated differences and took in the range of diverse home environments created by neighbors of the South Waterfront.

I found comments and comparisons exchanged at Umpqua’s Home Tour after party quite intriguing and got to wondering if participant’s impressions were as diverse and personal as the residence’s themselves.

Here is the beginning of what I hope to become a rich compilation of thoughts, by us, about the homes that make up our community.

I invite you to send in answers to the following question:
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE HOME ON THE TOUR AND WHY? (If you were not able to attend the tour, feel free to comment on other SWF homes).

Here are some of the responses I’ve received, including my own.. I hope you will participate but sharing your thoughts via a comment to this blog or email.

* Rick Miller’s Castle in the Sky was my favorite experience on the tour.. not necessarily because the home is designed in my personal taste, but because I admire the owner’s ambition and passion to bring his vision for something extra-ordinary to life. I appreciate the meticulous attention to detail, orderly (walk-in) closet, rich fabrics and materials, and massive furnishings that even the largest adult could get lost in like a little kid. I loved that his place felt rich in stories and history, despite the buildings infancy.

I would like a weekend locked in there with a Jane Austen novel and good bottle of merlot! - Heidi McBride

* The hospitality shown by those who opened their homes to us was most impressive. The hosts were charming, welcoming, and gracious. Also impressive was the level of high art on display in each of the stylish residences. The tour provided an opportunity to view the different perspectives and views of the stunning, surrounding architecture and urban landscapes. My thanks go out to the resident hosts, Peggy Pusch, Umpqua Bank, and Neighborhood House for providing us with this wonderful opportunity. THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
- Christopher Paillé, Atwater Place

*WEll John and Kathleen have my vote hands down. Lots of People? I liked last yrs better…
- anynomous

* (I neglected to clarify I was speaking of the Home Tour when I asked Carol name her favorite home and why, but loved her answer all the same).
The home that is the favorite for Rog and I is here at the Meriwether. Having a beautiful view of the Willamette River, Mt. Hood, the gorgeous sunrises, Ross Island and all of the creatures that fly and/or swim by is wonderful. Calms my soul! And, being an old Chicagoan, easy access to downtown Portland is ideal. Love that streetcar. I really like the closeness of our neighbors, too. For the most part, they are active, interesting and fun people. We have it all here. One more very important advantage that our SoWF neighborhood has is our easy access to OHSU’s Center for Health and Healing. Rog and I spend much of our mornings at the gym there. Keeps us feeling alive.

The home that was great as it was filled with our four kids was our home in Salem. It was very modern…all steel, glass, and cedar. It was located on a slight hillside among the trees. We had all sorts of little wildlife that frequented us since we were just a block from the Willamette River. We had a nice view of the State Capitol when the leaves dropped and opened up the sights of the downtown.
- Caryl

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 11th, 2007 at 10:20 pm and is filed under Art & Design. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

3 Responses to “Home Tour * Your comments requested”

1. mikepdx Says:
   December 12th, 2007 at 10:24 am

   You know, whether or not you like the particulars of taste for each of the homes on tour, it does remind us all as condo dwellers that you don’t have to live within the confines of what we were given when we moved in. These spaces are essentially living boxes, and we make them our own whether we add something as simple as a coat of paint or tear down walls or bring a suit of armour up the elevator! Kudos to the brave among us that combine old and new, stretch the boundaries of what is appropriate and tasteful.

   It’s also refreshing that our neighbors, in the midst of this rebirth of modernism, are not allowing the likes of West Elm and DWR to dictate to us what we like. It’s so much more than that; to make the journey to follow your tastes, explore what makes YOU feel at home and not worry about what your neighbors are going to think.

   I for one can’t wait for next year and in the meantime to push my own limits within these walls…

2. hw Says:
   December 13th, 2007 at 12:06 pm

   I liked them all! But i did enjoy Rick’s castle. It actually wasn’t even my style but I loved the attention to detail and the coherent theme. It was very inspiring that even though these condo’s are very modern in design, design is limitless.

3. JDS Says:
   December 17th, 2007 at 3:36 pm

   I have to concur with most of the sentiments that have been offered so far. Great job Rick - an impressive task indeed building a 19th century castle within a 21st century condo tower. I don’t think I could live there, but I absolutely appreciate the passion and detail that went into creating that space. Must be one of the most unique condos in Portland.

   The condo that I could have moved into in a heartbeat was Billie Buford’s - what a serene and tranquil environment. The white and green decor, along with Billie’s artwork created such an inviting and zen-like space. I am envious of her on beautiful Sunday mornings or rainy evenings when she can cozy up by the big windows and look north, curl up with a book from her library and sip on a cup of tea.

   Bravo to everyone - your homes are all beautiful and uniquely yours, I can’t wait to see what next year’s tour will bring. Rick mentioned something about a log cabin…?

Comment On This Entry

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website