Portland Oregon

Accent Walls: The Best Way to Add Depth to Your Design

Adding an accent wall can drastically elevate the design style in a space. Because it is just a single wall, it can be the easiest way to direct focus, create depth, and even take an "outside of the box" risk. Check out my favorite five accent wall ideas you can do!

1. Paint

This is by far the simplest and most cost effective. I am a huge fan of using highly saturated colors to create a statement when painting an accent wall. Challenge yourself to a bolder color and if you hate it, it's easy to change!

An accent wall doesn’t have to be those vertical spaces. Don’t forget about that fifth wall, the ceiling. By painting this kitchen’s ceiling, we were able to draw the eye all the way to the beautifully barrel vaulted feature.

I love how just the navy wall of this kid’s bedroom painted creates depth and allows lighter objects to pop.

2. Molding

Putting molding walls got a bad reputation when so many builders decided to put a single piece of molding around the room called a chair rail (literally one of my least favorite things). However, molding on a wall can look super sophisticated. From the traditional picture frame molding to the more contemporary box molding. 

A staircase can be a forgotten space which is why it is the perfect place to add molding to really punch up the design.

tall tufted headboard against a wood paneled accent wall

Taking a traditional molding and turning it into something special with this square geometric designed wall using molding.

3. Wallpaper

Yes, wallpaper is still in, in fact, it never left. I have used wallpaper in no less then 100% of my recent projects and with the endless possibilities of patterns and styles wallpaper can work for everyone. It really does make me overly excited. 

Sometimes just one wall is all you need for wallpaper. This creates the perfect layer for this grandmillennial office space.

The perfect teen girl’s wallpaper. It's bold and beautiful and it only needed on the feature wall.

4. Tile

I love a tile accent wall! I use them frequently in bathrooms, bars, and even in bedrooms and other spaces. There are some really amazing tiles that will wow you and create huge impacts in a home. 

blue floating bathroom vanity with under cabinet lighting

Having fun with a wall of accent tile in a bathroom can bring so much style to your home.

An accent wall tile doesn’t have to mean the entire wall. In this design, we decided to only do it in the nook behind the bar. It helps draw the eye in and layers in the sex appeal.

Using tile that starts in a shower and continues beyond the normal boundaries makes this small bathroom feel grand. Use this to trick your eye and make your tighter spaces truly expand.

5. Wood

I tend to lean more towards the modern use of wood as an accent wall, but for clients who love that "farmhouse" style, you can also use reclaimed wood. 

using wood modern slats as an accent wall

Wood used in a more contemporary fashion to define this TV wall. This decorative wall with evenly spaced wooden slats for a sleek and contemporary look.

For this covered outdoor design, we wanted to add texture with a shou sugi ban accent wall. Shou sugi ban is a traditional Japanese method of preserving and weatherproofing wood by charring it with fire. The charred surface is then brushed and oiled to create a durable and attractive finish.

6. Living Wall

Creating a living wall as an accent is a unique and beautiful way to bring nature into your home. The result is a stunning and sustainable accent wall that adds life and color to any space.

"Local" Artists on my Radar

“Abstraction allows man to see with his mind what he cannot see physically with his eyes....Abstract art enables the artist to perceive beyond the tangible, to extract the infinite out of the finite. It is the emancipation of the mind. It is an exploration into unknown areas.” ― Arshile Gorky

I have always had a love for abstract art. I feel like it can completely bring a design together by tearing down the normal expectations of what art should be. Sometimes it is a beautifully seamless canvas that ties in all of the colors from the designed surroundings and other times it is the contrast in the room. 

Since starting my design business and moving to an artsy city like Portland, Oregon, I have been keeping an eye out on local artists from around the country. I loving having a resource to go to in order to infuse some personal pieces into my client's homes which will afford their homes to have a more personal touch with a commissioned work of art. 

Here are some fantastic artists I have been following recently that are giving me so much life! I have even had the joy to work with a few of them and the ones I haven't, keep an eye out for me using in future projects.

Lana Nguyen

Originally from Kiev, Ukrane, she now travels around the United States drawing inspiration from her fascination with nature. Her current works us the medium of Alcohol ink on Yupo. The movement makes me want to get up and dance! She is currently in Phoenix, AZ and has had a studio in Austin, TX. [Get to know Lana more]

Lana working on a commissioned piece for a project

Lana working on a commissioned piece for a project

Paulette Insall

A southern gal living in Portland, Oregon, Paulette is a a contemporary abstract painter expressing her visual language through pure color and an expert eye. She creates one-of-a-kind original works and commissions.  [Get to know Paulette more]

Paulette Insall

Paulette Insall

Current original work of art "Joyous Beginnings"

Current original work of art "Joyous Beginnings"

Lisa Jensen

Lisa is a stay at home mom in Portland OR who found her voice in art. She is drawn to calming and relaxing landscapes and reimagines them in a modern way. There is a true freshness to her work and I am in love. Exciting news for Lisa is that she is going to be a new WEST ELM artist starting August 2018. [Get to know Lisa more]

Lisa Jensen

Lisa Jensen

Collection of works bu Lisa Jensen

Collection of works bu Lisa Jensen

Jose Trujillo

Jose is a self-taught artist originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, now living in Tucson, Arizona. Heavily influenced by impressionist artist. He blurs reality with saturated colors, movement, and uses his artists sight to take liberties on out view of the world around us. [Get to know Jose more]

Josa Trujillo

Josa Trujillo

Couple under and umbrella

Couple under and umbrella

Kyra Kendall

Base in Toronto, Kyra does all affordable original works of art and commissions. She has made a name for herself with her superb water color skills which trail outside of the lines in the most beautiful way. My cousin has one of her pieces and it it one of my favorite things. [Get to know Kyra more]

Kyra Kendall

Kyra Kendall

Rainbow of Lips

Rainbow of Lips

Original Portrait

Original Portrait

Outdoor Patio Design: Summer in the Hamptons

Outdoor Patio Design: Summer in the Hamptons

The weather is so beautiful this time of year and it has inspired me to get summer ready! Over the next few weeks I am going to share with you some of my favorite outdoor patio designs that you can get right now to spruce up your space. Today I am keeping it classic with my "Sumer in the Hamptons" inspired color pallet.

Inspired by Portland, OR

Inspired by Portland, OR

It's no surprise that in a visual profession such as interior design I am influenced and inspired by my constant surroundings in Portland, Oregon. This city is full of history! New styles like modern and industrial blend seamlessly with historic styles like traditional and stately, all while keeping nature's beauty in mind. Today I want to share with you a visual story showing you around the city that inspires me on the daily.