There is more than a touch of glamour to the refurbishment of this mid-century Portland home by Jessica Helgerson Interior Design (JHID). Plush gold fabrics sit side by side with decadent purple and lavender velvets. Vintage chairs are reflected in the mirrors of the living room, something of a real-life jewel box itself, faceted as it is with panels of antique mirrors making the space appear to light up like the inside of a diamond.
Listed on the National Register of Historic American Places, the 1885 house had its restrictions. There was no random pulling down of walls or taking out of windows, but that wasn’t high on Helgerson’s list anyway.
“The existing details were so exquisite and the proportions so lovely we felt that we needed to proceed with caution with everything we did. Our goal was to reflect our clients’ love of modern design while being absolutely respectful of the existing architecture,” said Helgerson.