I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the “new” modern style that’s been emerging here in Portland. With the upcoming Street of Eames modern home tour, I thought I’d reminisce on a few of my favorite new old places. Although it’s already gotten lots of press, a great example of this style is the Doug Fir Lounge. Designed by my friends Andee Hess and Jeff Kovel of Skylab Design Group, Doug Fir seamlessly blends 1960’s spacey love-landing with a glowingly rustic lodge, reminiscent of Twin Peaks.
rontoms, on lower burnside, also has a nice old modern style, more in-line with a 1960’s rec-room. The feel is more casual and open than the Doug Fir, but it utilizes furniture and nuances like lighting (floor lamps, table lamps) that tie the old-modern scheme together. The chairs, tables and couches are placed in a way that breaks up the large, open space and brings it into a more comfortable scale for lounging around. I also love the fact that they have a projector screen hung on one wall and show old movies and documentaries.
What I’m seeing here is an edgier twist on mid-century modern (you know, Eames, Saarinen, F.L. Wright), and while I very much enjoy the nostalgia associated with this style, I hope that it doesn’t become “overplayed” you know like when you hear your favorite song on the radio so much you begin to hate it? My desire is to continue seeing creative projects being done, so that our colorful city remains just that-colorful.
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