The 16th Annual Tour of Remodeled Homes

 The 16th annual Tour of Remodeled Homes in Portland, Lake Oswego, Wilsonville and Tigard will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, and Sunday, March 15. Tickets, $22 for both days, are available at remodeltourportland.com; 503-684-1880).

One home on display will be one In Gabriel Park.

Janet Eastman explains the history and lets us know that "JB Construction and Deb Seeley Designs'  client was 6 years old in 1940 when her parents built this Southwest Portland house in dairy pasture, now known as Gabriel Park.

Over the years, the house changed along with its surroundings but the family held on to it, recounts Jim Bruce of JB Construction.

As an adult, the second-generation owner wanted a few upgrades: A master suite with an attached reading room, and to move the laundry out of the basement.

A wall of windows on one side of the old master bedroom became a well-lighted hallway leading to the new reading room and spacious master suite with a cathedral ceiling, walk-in closets and a bath with a walk-in shower.

Windows frame views of beautiful gardens and double sliding French doors open to a new deck.

The main floor laundry has custom cabinetry for front load washer/dryer and a built-in ironing board. The space doubles as a garden potting room with a separate counter and sink bench.

A den was created by reconfiguring a coat closet and part of the old living room.  With double pocket doors for privacy, it is perfect for viewing sports, says Seeley.

Listen To Two Professionals And How They Work With A Client

That's Larry Mock and Deb Seeley

The Professional Remodelers Organization's Tour of Remodeled Homes returns each March featuring top remodeling professionals in the Portland Oregon area. Types of remodels highlighted include kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, whole house remodels and additions

Love The Vessel Sink!

Many bathrooms that I see in magazines or on House Hunters International feature bathrooms, either new or remodels, have an impactful image of vessel sinks.  These sinks sit on the cabinet like exotic flowers catching water from a great height. In a way they hark back to the hotel room basins and water pitchers seen in so many westerns. 

Our friends at VesselSinks.com have a variety of designs ranging from glass, copper, stone and ceramic.

• Glass sinks are tempered, so they are quite strong, come in many beautiful colors and you can use a common bathroom cleaner to keep them clean.
• Stone sinks are porous and can stain making them a little harder to maintain
• Copper products from VesselSinks.com are made in Mexico or India where there are many mines and copper artisans.
• Usually white, ceramic sinks are very popular because they are very easy to maintain and don’t stain.

I spoke with Deb Seeley of Deb Seeley Designs and member of NKBA about her use of Vessel sinks in remodels and new construction. Seeley cautioned that you must coordinate the height of the vanity with the height of the vessel.  Vanity heights are now 33”, if you add a 5” vessel sink, your vanity is now 38” and too high for a lot of women and children.  Remodels must take the height of the vessel into consideration.

Faucets are different, also.  They can be purchased with various spout heights (SH) and spout lengths (SR) and can be mounted on the vanity or on the wall.

One great thing about vessel sinks versus undermounts is the ease of changing your sink for a new color to match a change in décor.

Seeley also cautions homeowners that vessel sinks may be best in a powder room.  She thinks they take up more room and they can be harder than undermounts to clean around.

Deb Seeley's Two Living Rooms

We received a wonderful email yesterday from interior designer Deb Seeley of Deb Seeley Designs LLC

Here are the living rooms I completed not too long ago. You will notice, with the exception of the chaise lounge in the purple room, all the furniture came from your store!!!

Beautiful rooms! It's such a pleasure to see how our furniture is used. That's certainly one of the perks of having my own business! Thank you Deb.

BTW, Deb Seeley is featured on our website as one of our Top Ten Interior Designers of 2010.

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design gallery
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Deb Seeley Of Deb Seeley Designs LLC

Interior designer Deb Seeley, member of ASID and NWSID, writes,

The before picture represents the view from my clients entry. When I first entered this contemporary home I observed a living room filled with traditional furniture, with no cohesiveness. My clients wanted color, seating, and a more contemporary feel without going over the top. My goal was to not only accomplish their wishes, but to add badly needed warmth to their living room.

First, on my list was to tackle the existing industrial looking cement fireplace, I added a wood mantle 10"D, the cement was resurfaced with Jerusalem gold limestone to add needed warmth with onyx tile accents across the front to add punch and interest.

This room has an amazing view of Mt.Hood and the day I was there the most brilliant blue sky. The sky was my motivation for the color of their walls. I wanted to bring the outside in by using a rich blue, and the ceiling a lighter version. This also made the white beam ceiling and moulding details pop. The teak shelves were recycled to another area in the home and replaced with white shelves which gave continuity to the space.

The depressing gray carpet was replaced with a New Zealand wool Fabrica carpet. Its contemporary pattern and gold color was selected to coordinate with the fireplace, adding texture and warmth.

To eliminate a bowling alley appearance from the front door the furniture was angled allowing two loveseats and overstuffed chairs, which created badly needed seating. The Precedent sofa covered in a Kravet goldish chenille fabric added contemporary flair with its stream line style, and pulled in the carpet color. The Precedent contemporary style chairs were done in a Pollack, gallery slate square patterned fabric to add a little punch and individuality to the space, at the same time pulling in the wall, sofa, and carpet colors.

I always tell my clients, the furniture is the cake, but you need to add the frosting to make it complete. My frosting, aka, accessories; included plants, lamps, pillows, candlesticks, mirror, and do da's for the shelf. Accessories are the jewelry of the room and the one area badly neglected by homeowners. Accessories are a must, they add charm and personality to a space.

Now my mission has been accomplished, a functional, warm, cohesive environment for my clients and their guests to enjoy!!

Deb Seeley Designs LLC
503-635-2967
www.debseeleydesigns.com
Allied Member ASID and Associate Member NWSID

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery
@landfairfurnitu