In most kitchens, it seems that everything behind the first row in the pantry gets lost and falls into a black hole, never to be found again. Are you always looking for those items you know are there but cannot seem to find? If you want to use your mixer, you have to get...
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Building
Increase Your Kitchen or Bath Cabinet Storage
Historic Irvington
Irvington landmark commonly known as The White House. Two photos above are two historic apartment buildings that emulate large single-family homes in the Irvington neighborhood. On November 5, 2010 northeast Portland’s Irvington neighborhood was officially listed as an Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. It joins Ladd’s Addition, King’s Hill, Lair Hill,...
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Caring for Your Douglas Fir Floors
They say a messy desk is the sign of a genius. But what they don’t tell you is that the same mess can ruin your Douglas fir floor. So, heed your Dear Auntie’s advice and keep it clean. It’s as simple as knowing what to watch out for and knowing when to clean, so...
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Bungalow Kitchen Wins Design Award
Think back on some memorable moments in your home from the past 10 or so years. Chances are many of them have been in your kitchen. In mine, I’ve not only cooked, eaten, and entertained, I have made my first candles, had pivotal conversations with my daughter, and watched our border collie pup delight...
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The Different Shades of “White”: Vintage Tones for Painting the Trim of Historic Interiors
There is a broad spectrum of appropriate trim colors for historic homes, but white is one of the most common and difficult to select. Finding the right white to paint the interior trim of your home can be a daunting task. Instead of making the choice easy, there is a staggering palette of whites...
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Lighting Your Outdoor Spaces
WHEW! Sure glad that spring is over! What a horrible, wet, yucky, gloomy (well, you get the picture) season it has been. I’m ready to get outdoors, not just to work in the garden and make it pretty, but to sit in the garden, have a cocktail, and enjoy the company of my husband...
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Kitchen Remodel at a Fraction of the Cost
You’ve been tearing pages out of magazines, searching websites, talking to co-workers, friends, and family members to find that right kitchen or bath design. You seek a design that you can afford that won’t disrupt your household for six months or more. Over and over you keep thinking, I love the layout of my...
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From Ordinary to Stunning: A Cape Cod Kitchen
When it comes to favored architectural styles for old Portland homes, the Cape Cod doesn’t have the cachet of its Craftsman cousin. However, homebuyers Carolyn and Bret Winkler weren’t put off by the unassuming exterior or unappealing kitchen of the 1947 northeast Cape Cod. “We liked the space, the neighborhood, and above all, the...
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Period Floor Coverings: Floorcloths Then and Now
Floorcloths are painted canvas rugs that originated in Europe in the 1700s. They were initially an artisan craft, hand painted and stenciled by house painters and often made to look like marbled floors, used in place of more expensive woven carpets. Eventually, manufacturing was established in several cities in Europe, most notably Bristol and...
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Kitchen Faucets
Kohler Karbon Kitchen Faucet With five pivoting joints, the Karbon articulation faucet offers total range of motion, putting water exactly where it needs to be. Now featuring an extended palette that includes Bronze, Polish and Brushed Gold, and Black with polished Chrome. Available in deck and wall mounts units. Delta Addison Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet...
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