Interior designer Jessica Helgerson shows us round her most recent project in Sauvie Island, Portland which takes it s inspiration from the homes 1970s past. Here s why we love it
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Off-Grid Guesthouse
At the heart of the Owner’s objectives for this project were preservation and protection of the natural environment. Located on one of the last remaining undeveloped coastal areas in California, this modern guest house resides on a wildlife preserve; exemplifying a successful balance of residential development and ecological preservation. Nestled into a steep hillside, the residence was designed with low visual and environmental impact on the surrounding landscape. Disguised by a low profile and green roof, the home itself invites sweeping (nearly 360 degree) views of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding rolling hills, through a generous amount of sliding glass and expansive decks, which cantilever over the foundation’s steep rock face.
“We had begun working with the client…on a new-build project, but they ultimately decided they did not want to proceed with a new-construction home,” Alisha Borden, senior designer at Jessica Helgerson Interior Design, recalls of an early interaction with one Portland, Oregon, couple. “Instead, they purchased this home, and we…were thrilled when they reached out to [us again].” The house in question is located in the historic northwest Portland neighborhood of Kings Heights. It’s also a short walk from charming small shops and popular restaurants making it an ideal city-set spot.
But for the couple, who have two young daughters, finding this hilltop property required months of searching. “We got a notification that the house had just gone on the market and we went to see it that same afternoon,” one of the homeowners explains. “When we saw the huge flat yard surrounded by mature laurel hedges, we fell in love.… Usable outdoor space is difficult to find.”