Houzz Tours
My Houzz: Personalized Style in a Portland Painter’s Live-Work Home
Empty nesters bring DIY touches and industrial-style creativity to their 1908 Oregon house
“I could immediately see the potential for a loft-like environment,” says artist Jan Martin of the charming 1908 home she shares with husband Toby Chamberlain. “The downstairs was almost completely open except for a brick stack separating the kitchen from the dining room. Once that was removed, the space flowed both visually and physically.” With both kids out of the house, the empty nesters bought this 1,440-square-foot gem and proceeded to remodel the interior, add personalized industrial-style touches and convert the porch into a creative art studio.
Martin scoured websites and local lighting shops but couldn’t find the exact lighting solution she wanted, so she designed her own pendant and took the plan to Hippo Hardware in Portland to assemble.
“I found the wire and the metal grate which the electrical cords are wrapped around on eBay,” she says. The chains, Edison lightbulbs and hubcap all came from Hippo Hardware. “The whole thing cost us very little, especially compared to the cost of similar fixtures in stores. I sent a picture of it to our daughter Lily at college, and her reaction was, ‘Is it going to stay that way?’” Martin says. “It has.”
“I found the wire and the metal grate which the electrical cords are wrapped around on eBay,” she says. The chains, Edison lightbulbs and hubcap all came from Hippo Hardware. “The whole thing cost us very little, especially compared to the cost of similar fixtures in stores. I sent a picture of it to our daughter Lily at college, and her reaction was, ‘Is it going to stay that way?’” Martin says. “It has.”
The couple splurged on the countertop, which was cut and installed by Peter Rigutto at Classico Marmo. Martin mixed the stain for the cabinets, but it turned out less gray than planned. She was worried until she saw the countertop slab, which she knew would pull the elements together. The materials in the kitchen and throughout the house are industrial: metals, wood, brick, stainless steel. The cost for the custom kitchen cabinets and live-edge bar was $11,420, including labor.
Cabinets: Jim Alan, Artisan Woodworking & Design
Cabinets 101: How to Get the Storage You Want
Cabinets: Jim Alan, Artisan Woodworking & Design
Cabinets 101: How to Get the Storage You Want
Martin wanted to replicate the feel of an industrial loft, so she had thin brick applied to one of the kitchen walls, giving the space more warmth.
“During the remodel, I was sad about having to remove a brick stack because I loved the look of the material, so I went hunting for a brick I could use to face the back wall of the kitchen,” Martin says.
“I loathe fake-looking brick, but I discovered thin brick, which is real brick, but ¼ inch thick. It was perfect.”
After the installation, the couple loved the look so much that they decided not to grout it. Then they installed a row of track lighting to wash down the wall and light any artwork they choose to put there.
Know Your House: Anatomy of a Brick Veneer Wall
“During the remodel, I was sad about having to remove a brick stack because I loved the look of the material, so I went hunting for a brick I could use to face the back wall of the kitchen,” Martin says.
“I loathe fake-looking brick, but I discovered thin brick, which is real brick, but ¼ inch thick. It was perfect.”
After the installation, the couple loved the look so much that they decided not to grout it. Then they installed a row of track lighting to wash down the wall and light any artwork they choose to put there.
Know Your House: Anatomy of a Brick Veneer Wall
Light pours into the room. “We love that. When we entertain, people like to belly up to the bar for our fresh-squeezed margaritas, and [we love] the original concept of a cozy yet ample kitchen where people feel comfortable hanging out,” Martin says.
Akron height-adjustable stools: Kitchen Kaboodle; wall paint: Green Umber, Benjamin Moore
Akron height-adjustable stools: Kitchen Kaboodle; wall paint: Green Umber, Benjamin Moore
The couple kept the existing sink, dishwasher and range hood but installed a new range and refrigerator. Liebherr was the only brand they could find with a refrigerator that was counter-depth, tall and narrow. They didn’t want to sacrifice counter space to a large fridge, having discovered from living in Italy that they can shop more frequently and have fresher produce, rather than stack so much stuff in a huge refrigerator that isn’t discovered until it’s unrecognizable. “This wouldn’t have been practical with kids but is perfect for us now, “ Martin says.
After researching ranges, Martin decided on an Electrolux induction cooktop. “I kind of miss the romance of the gas flame, but I have to say it is so easy to clean and it heats four times faster than an electric or gas stove-top. I’m not sorry for that decision,“ she says.
After researching ranges, Martin decided on an Electrolux induction cooktop. “I kind of miss the romance of the gas flame, but I have to say it is so easy to clean and it heats four times faster than an electric or gas stove-top. I’m not sorry for that decision,“ she says.
The large dining room table is a Pottery Barn find from Craigslist. Martin teaches art classes around the table. “We work at that table, eat at that table. It is the world’s most multipurpose table,” she says.
The dining room features an accent wall covered in floral wallpaper that Martin found at Miller Paint in Portland. The
antique wood sideboard once belonged to Chamberlain’s grandmother.
antique wood sideboard once belonged to Chamberlain’s grandmother.
The living room can be seen from the dining room and kitchen.
Ceiling paint: Mascarpone, Benjamin Moore
Ceiling paint: Mascarpone, Benjamin Moore
After the kitchen project, the living room wall was next on the agenda. “I had a pile of pictures from Houzz that I used to design it. There had never been a fireplace in the house, and it is unthinkable to pass a Portland winter without one, so we bought a zero-clearance Heat & Glo fireplace that heats the entire downstairs in the winter,” Martin says. They found metal worker Clay Dennis of Zephyr Stoves to custom-finish steel cladding for the fireplace with a design of nailheads that are decorative rather than functional. “This idea came straight out of Houzz,” she says.
Chamberlain bought the round pedestal table in Cameroon when he lived and worked there.
Theva swivel chairs, Dania Furniture Co.
How to Create and Use Houzz Ideabooks
Chamberlain bought the round pedestal table in Cameroon when he lived and worked there.
Theva swivel chairs, Dania Furniture Co.
How to Create and Use Houzz Ideabooks
The surrounding shelves were made with a custom stain and provide much-needed storage for books and art supplies. A live-edge Oregon walnut slab caps the shelves.
Martin and Chamberlain recently put in a gallery rail above the fireplace to exhibit Martin’s artwork.
“I love it because it is so easy to swap out paintings,” she says. “I don’t ever have to be bored with my own work! I just keep it moving.”
Martin and Chamberlain recently put in a gallery rail above the fireplace to exhibit Martin’s artwork.
“I love it because it is so easy to swap out paintings,” she says. “I don’t ever have to be bored with my own work! I just keep it moving.”
The living room is furnished with a love seat and two swivel chairs so the couple can face the fire on winter days. They also use this room to enjoy their morning coffee, read their newspaper and, in Martin’s words, “bellyache over the state of the nation and laugh over Facebook posts.”
Sofa: Dania Furniture; wall paint: Revere Pewter, Benjamin Moore
Sofa: Dania Furniture; wall paint: Revere Pewter, Benjamin Moore
“We spend most of our time downstairs. We are good at being in the same space but doing our own thing,” Martin says.
The fireplace, custom wall cabinets and live-edge mantel cost $4,222. The Heat & Glo fireplace and steel surround cost $2,078.
The fireplace, custom wall cabinets and live-edge mantel cost $4,222. The Heat & Glo fireplace and steel surround cost $2,078.
The second bedroom is a multipurpose space used for watching television or as their daughter Lily’s room when she is visiting during her break from college.
The table was commissioned and purchased in the Netherlands when the couple lived there.
Wall paint: Revere Pewter, Benjamin Moore
The table was commissioned and purchased in the Netherlands when the couple lived there.
Wall paint: Revere Pewter, Benjamin Moore
The couple also expanded the bathroom that lay between the two bedrooms upstairs by cannibalizing one of the closets in what they call “Lily’s room.”
Paint: Indian River (bathroom walls) and French Press (trim), Benjamin Moore
Paint: Indian River (bathroom walls) and French Press (trim), Benjamin Moore
The bathtub is original to the house. The couple worked with general contractor Colin Grey of Cielo Design Build to remodel the bathroom and kitchen.
The couple also called on color consultant Brenda Smith at Powell Paint in Portland to help choose their wall paints.
Wall paint: Honeybee, Benjamin Moore
Wall paint: Honeybee, Benjamin Moore
The covered porch off the kitchen became an art studio for Martin. “I must be in the Guinness book of world records for the most minuscule studio ever created. But I am glad to have my own space,” she says. “It faces southwest with lots of windows. I can gaze out at my neighbors’ flowers and vegetables.”
Solar blinds: JustBlinds.com; Råskog rolling cart: Ikea
Solar blinds: JustBlinds.com; Råskog rolling cart: Ikea
Seen here on open shelves are some of Martin’s original art and supplies. “Now that I have an art studio, I can leave my mess somewhere other than the dining room table, which was the previous art space,” she says.
Martin is pictured here in her home art studio, where she creates beautiful portraits and dreams of returning to Umbria, Italy.
“We did the space as economically as possible with blue pine walls and a plywood floor. It ended up more beautiful than expected, so we had them come back later and varnish the whole thing. I couldn’t stand all the splashes of paint on the walls and floor,” she says. “I needed to be able to wipe them up. It was his fault. He made it too pretty,” she says about Chamberlain. The studio renovation project cost $3,350, including labor and materials.
“We did the space as economically as possible with blue pine walls and a plywood floor. It ended up more beautiful than expected, so we had them come back later and varnish the whole thing. I couldn’t stand all the splashes of paint on the walls and floor,” she says. “I needed to be able to wipe them up. It was his fault. He made it too pretty,” she says about Chamberlain. The studio renovation project cost $3,350, including labor and materials.
Martin and Chamberlain love the friendly Buckman neighborhood, where they’re within walking distance of restaurants, coffee shops, groceries and the Laurelhurst Theater.
The neighborhood is mixed-use and, in Martin’s words, “rather hipster.” Martin and Chamberlain chuckle about being on the older end of the demographic, but they enjoy being just a block from a major bike route, which Chamberlain uses for a 20-minute commute to work.
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
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The neighborhood is mixed-use and, in Martin’s words, “rather hipster.” Martin and Chamberlain chuckle about being on the older end of the demographic, but they enjoy being just a block from a major bike route, which Chamberlain uses for a 20-minute commute to work.
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style:
Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Who lives here: Jan Martin and Toby Chamberlain
Location: Buckman neighborhood of Portland, Oregon
Size: 1,440 square feet (134 square meters); two bedrooms, one bathroom and a painting studio
Year built: 1908
A small corner kitchen was remodeled and turned into an open galley-style room with custom cabinets, Quartzite counters, a live-edge Oregon walnut slab bar and a few little design features that the owners insisted on. These include a sunken compost bin on the countertop, a pullout pantry and a hidden drawer for a step stool built into the toe kick. Martin saw these last two ideas on Houzz and had to have them. The couple worked with Michael Arrington of MSA Design for the kitchen design plans.
Faucet: George Morlan Plumbing Supply
How to Add Toe-Kick Drawers for More Storage