Out and About: A Short Guide to Hood River

By Amanda Rickenbach

What do you know about Hood River? Probably that there are a lot of fruit trees, that it’s a windsurfing haven, and that it produces some pretty great booze – and you would be right. It’s a sweet little town tucked between two mountains on the Columbia River and it just happens to be my home. Hood River folk tend to love the outdoors (not unlike Portlanders) and it’s the perfect place to be for skiing, hiking, windsurfing, kite boarding, kayaking, camping, and cycling; really anything that involves installing a Thule rack on your Subaru. If you think there are a lot of Subaru’s in Portland, drive east an hour. And in case you want to go check out the Subaru population, I thought I would give you a couple of other things to investigate while you are there. I could go on forever about what to do and where to eat, but I narrowed it down to a few of my favorite places so I didn't end up with a novel.

Walk the old highway. 

On the 5 mile stretch from Hood River east to Mosier you will find the old highway that has been converted into a pedestrian/cycling path. It’s great for a jog, walk with the dog, bike ride, or leisurely stroll. There is even an old tunnel and of course fabulous views. 

Walk the stairs.

I grew up just a few hundred feet from the Hood River stairs and until a friend recently informed me, I had no idea that they were the second longest flight of stairs in the country. During my teens we would attempt to ski down them, race slide down the hand rails, and even make some of my friends carry me up on their backs. So if you want a good workout and some nice views of the town and Columbia river, check them out. They are smack dab in front of you when you drive into town from the second I84 exit. Can't miss them.

Brewery Tours

Hood River is home to Full Sail and Double Mountain – and they are only two blocks away from each other! I am partial to Double Mountains KÖLSCH, but seeing as that they are so close; why not have a beer and maybe a tour at both.

Wine Tasting

The micro-climates in the Hood River Valley make it ideal for growing a variety of grapes and because of this there are are more than a handful of great wineries in Hood River. My favorite is Cathedral Ridge. They have fantastic wine and a peaceful outdoor space that is perfect for a picnic with friends. Taste Katrina’s Chocolate while you are there too, a local chocolatier. 

Twigg

If you like jewelry and home accessories then check Twigg out. They have some really unique and pretty jewelry and the people that work there are super nice. 

Silverado

This shop has something for everyone. I have a plethora of rings I’ve gotten at Silverado over the years and still love every one of them.

Doug Sport

If you need sports wear, this is a great place to stop by. It's also a great place to pop into if you are looking for some cute clothes, sunglasses, shoes, or maybe a bathing suit. 

It honestly doesn't take long to stop in every little store downtown - it's not a very big place.
 

Stonehedge Gardens

Stonehedge is a fine dining restaurant but they definitely have inexpensive options. I worked there as a teenager and whenever I was home from college and have always loved the place. During the warm months they have lots of weddings, concert, and parties. The restaurant itself is an old house, one of the first built in the Hood River area. There is even a secret wall that opens to get to a private apartment upstairs.

6^th Street Bistro

If you are wandering about downtown this is one of the many good restaurants to eat at. They have a variety of options and a nice little patio that is open in the summer.

Hood River is also a whole lot sunnier than Portland, so if you are growing tired of the clouds in our beautiful gray city, and hour drive might just bring you sunshine.

Photos: Mountain, Stairs, Old Highway, Beers, Winery Lavender, Shops (amanda), Restaurant.

Illuminate Color: Hawaiian Stream

It's cold here in Portland so the thought of hopping rocks across a warm Hawaiian stream sounds really lovely. I can almost smell the warm rain forest air, can't you? These colors are perfect for creating a relaxing and calm retreat from the grey skys over our city right now.

1. Leather Saddle - Mythic Paint
2. Paradise Green - Benjamin Moore
3. Palest Pistachio - Benjamin Moore
4. Devine Jacquard - Devine Color

photographers blog

Riad Dixneuf La Ksour

If trip planning is an addiction, consider me off the wagon.  I'm one of those people that loves to have something big to look forward to.  Dinner parties in the backyard, a road trip to the beach, planning a Yurt adventure with friends (this weekend!) all fall under my definition of big.  I am so happy to add one more exciting excursion to my list:  Marrakesh.  Yes, my lifelong dream is going to be realized this coming April, after the Milan Furniture Fair.  I imagine myself winding through the Souk with nothing but a camera in my hand and silver tea sets on my mind.

Marrakesh is probably the most exotic location I've ever had to plan for, so choosing a comfortable and safe place to stay is top priority.  Thanks to trusty Trip Advisor (don't steer me wrong now!) and style authority Remodelista, I discovered Riad Dixneuf and booked a room right away.  I sought out this traditional accommodation as an alternative to traditional Western-style hotels and guest suites in the hopes that I would fully immerse myself into the Moroccan culture and better experience all that Marrakesh has to offer. 

Riad Dixneuf is located in the heart of the Medina, the old quarter, and within a short walk to Djamaa El-f'na Square.  I've learned through extensive research that as a first time visitor, it is critical to reserve a place of peace and refuge.  The Medina can be overwhelming to say the least, and a quiet retreat is essential to center yourself after a long day of winding through the city and dodging motorbikes.  Rome it is not.  Riad Dixneuf's design is exactly that:  peaceful, calm, and simple.  It seems very organic, and calmly authentic.  I viewed other accommodations that definitely reflected Moroccan sensibilities, but were overwhelmingly decorated with a clear emphasis on color.  There is something so great about a white wall, and Riad Dixneuf knows exactly how to use it. 


The central courtyard is surrounded by a mix of shared spaces and guest rooms.  I'm particularly attracted to their cozy library and lounge space, which seems perfectly suited to sipping mint tea.  Again, not shrouded in every Moroccan texture available in the Souk, but a perfect mix of organic and well- combined materials that definitely reflect my goal of finding a peaceful retreat. 

I'll be happy to report my findings upon my return-  until then, I'll be reading the Marrakesh archives over at Beers and Beans and practicing the art of the bargaining at my local thrift shop- they'll lower my price for the promise of a stick of gum, right? 

All images are via Riad Dixneuf's booking site.  Layout is by Fig Studio.

Bocci Studio Tour + Omer Arbel

Photo by Fig

Inform Interiors was kind enough to host Hope and I for the weekend and we had the pleasure of attending several intimate events over our three days in BC.  Although I've found it nearly impossible to rank my favorite, I'd have to say that our time with Omer Arbel and touring the Bocci office and production facilities was the most inspirational and mind shifting in terms of shaping Fig Studio for future success.  As many of you may know I never set out to be an entrepreneur or business owner. I just wanted to design my heart out and work my creative muscles until I became old and gray, still creating from my rocking chair on a porch somewhere.  What I learned during my short time with Omer, is that design is inherently entrepreneurial and that there is no reason to fight the business side of your creative endeavors.  Approach ideas with openness and see where they take you.  You don't have to take traditional routes in Interior Design or what your professional practice publications tell you.  Why not play with materials, shapes, and construction and decide it's function later?

Bocci 28 Series as displayed at IDS West and 14 Series at Vancouver's Inform Interiors Showroom  Photos by Fig

I'm lucky enough to have recently specified Bocci's 14 Series pendant fixtures on a current project on the Columbia Gorge in White Salmon, Washington.  When grouped, the ethereal quality of these lights allows volumes of space to be turned into an artistic focus.  The above right photo demonstrates a few different combinations of the 14 series while the photo at the top of this post takes the concept a few steps further and envelopes a 5-story stairwell at the Bocci offices.

White Salmon Residence. Architect: Giulietti/Schouten.  Interior Design: Fig Studio Rendering by Tim Schouten

Bocci's creative process and Omer Arbel's design philosophy really got me thinking about the path Fig Studio will take in the future.  How can we turn our love for good design into an accessible product for our clients and collaborators. How do we weave our tapestry of ideas?  Fig is still an infant, and we have the chance to really shape where we go and what we become.  I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to meet visionaries like Omer, Brent Comber, and Ross Lovegrove at events like IDS West.  My goal for the next year is to seek out as much information as I can, continue to experiment with new ideas, and allow myself the freedom to try. 

Oh yeah, specifying amazing light fixtures is pretty cool.  I think I'll do some of that too.

IDS West + Vancouver BC

 Photo by Fig

I'm recovering from a near-perfect long weekend in Vancouver BC, which included a recharging trip to IDS West trade show and auxiliary events hosted by Inform.  My friend and fellow interior designer Hope Telford and I met the whirlwind trip head-on and enjoyed nearly every second of our time in chilly BC.  We spent a fair amount of time exploring product booths in the Convention Center and we definitely spent some time drooling over design details in the building itself.  The multi-layered end-grain wall paneling somehow seemed quintessentially Vancouver.  The structure was built during preparations for the 2010 Winter Olympics and has lived on as a beautiful resource for this growing city.

Photos by Fig

Trade shows are the perfect opportunity to recharge your design batteries, hone your editing skills, and meet new and interesting products in the world of interiors.  With Dwell on Design last Spring, IDS West, and my upcoming trip to the Milan Furniture fair, I'm focused on what's new and fresh in my industry and can pass these ideas on to my clients.  Knowing how to distill all of what we see into our design library and knowing what to toss aside is a great exercise in editing.  Let's face it, not all trends are worth following and may not be the right fit for every client.  Good designers know where to direct their focus and know what to leave back at the show.  I'll be sharing my favorite finds from IDS this week and may throw in a few from Dwell on Design last Spring.  Until then-  Fig. 

Out and About: Rolling Huts

Continuing our tradition of surprise travel, Jeff and I celebrated our second wedding anniversary a few weekends back in the beautiful Methow (met-how) Valley, Washington.  After running myself ragged trying to work full-time, move from our condo to a little cottage in Portland's Sabin neighborhood, and take on a few DIY projects, I managed to catch a nasty bug right before we left town.  If you remember last years epic anniversary trip to a rural fire lookout, you might recall that I was struck with food poisoning just before departure.  Here's to a healthy July 2012.

 Jeff and I made a pact to alternate planning a surprise celebratory trip each July.  Last year's fire lookout + Crater Lake Lodge combo was tough to beat, but I think I managed to pull off a grand surprise.  We're both architecture geeks (and Jeff is just one test away from being awarded official Architect status!) so I decided to make our trip both design and adventure friendly.  Sunset Magazine had an integral hand in my scheme, enticing me with their December 2010 feature on peaceful winter getaways.  I knew the Rolling Huts would make for the perfect surprise trip, even during the summer months. 

A night in the Rolling Huts is like upscale camping, complete with a Danish-designed woodburning fireplace and an epic view, both night and day.  I don't think I've seen so many stars in my life.  We lucked out with incredible weather, friendly hut neighbors, and many wildlife sightings.  We spent a lot of time wandering,  hanging at Twisp's natural market, eating Cinnamon Twips, and even managed an 18 mile (what seemed ALL uphill) mountain bike ride.

We really couldn't have asked for a better weekend (with the exception of the super cough I developed) and would recommend the trip to anyone interested in getting away for a few days.  If you go, be sure to grab a meal at the Wesola Polana Diner adjacent to the huts.  Their tapas can't be beat.  It's true, we had tapas while camping and didn't feel the least bit guilty.

L.A. Bound

via Vintage LA

I'm headed down to L.A. this afternoon to partake in all the Dwell on Design festivities with my friend Casey.  We may not be able to rent a car quite this cool, or wear chinos quite that colorful (you can bet I am going to try that hot Jughead Jones-style hem detail this summer) but we'll be soaking in all that LA's design scene and sun has to offer.  We are planning on getting to know the Silverlake neighborhood and tour some incredible homes in the area-  crossing our fingers that they allow interior photos. 

Cheers!
Jenny

In a Heartbeat

SASAKI in action via Dwell on Design

Dwell on Design 2011:  tickets are purchased and the excitement builds.  My friend Casey and I are headed to LA at the end of June to seek inspiration, see what's new in Dwell's design world, and tour a few fabulously modern homes.  If that isn't enough, we have the chance to see and possibly participate in SASAKI'S Heartbeat drawing; a live art installation benefiting Japan's relief efforts.   

From HEARTBEAT DRAWING:

"People are being connected with one another through the heartbeats..."
This is a way that people from all over the world can purely feel their 'living'. This is... to feel 'heartbeat'. This is an artwork of ripples that SASAKI feels the rhythm of a real time heart beating of the participants by putting a sensor on their fingertips. This HEARTBEAT DRAWING is a 'connect' with all the visitors' proof of living"

"Heartbeat-Portraits in Chiyoda" 2010, 3331 Arts Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan via HEARTBEAT DRAWING

The rich story behind SASAKI'S art is mesmerizing, inspiring, and beyond meaningful.  I'm truly grateful to have the opportunity to seek design inspiration in such an amazing city and to be surrounded by some incredible creatives.  I'll be sharing our journey as it unfolds.  Until then, I have a heap of fun projects to complete!

Until next time,
Jenny @ Fig

NYC Trip Wrapup

This trip was full of highlights and visiting family, friends, and architectural sites top the list.  I can't possibly write about everything we did, but I'll share a few other photographs that describe the full breadth of our adventures... 


Broadway

images via playbill.com

My friend and fellow interior designer, Erin, joined us for a night on Broadway to see Promises Promises.  The all star cast was incredible, and we are all thrilled with surprise when Molly Shannon stepped out to play Marge Macdougall.

Top of the Rock

Top of the Rock, the best view in Manhattan, is always our favorite.  The architectural and interior details are stunning.  Wizard of Oz, anyone?

Top of the Rock Chandelier

Food

Penelope on Lexington has a stellar breakfast- their french toast is amazing and our table neighbors seemed to enjoy their fresh cider mimosas.

I don't have any photos, but my family treated us to an amazing ravioli meal from Pastosa.  Pastosa has a long history of serving Staten Island residents with the best fresh pasta.

Family

Although I'll spare my family by omitting photos from the blog, we had a great mini-reunion over food and wine.  I got to meet my brand new baby cousin and see how my other small cousins have grown.  Family is the most important aspect in my life, and I'm happy that we were able to make it back East to see everyone.  We were treated to a feast, and I hope someday we can do the same for them.

Enjoy your weekend, everybody!

Fig Studio

Glimpse & Gander: Maharam Design Studio

Our fabulous local Maharam rep, Richelle, hooked us up with an amazing tour of the Maharam Design Studio, located on 5th Ave., just steps from Union Square.  We were so impressed with the kind atmosphere and inspiring projects they have in process...and I know exactly what fabric I'm going to use on my next cafe project. 

 difficult to tell from this photo, but those pieces are actually embroidered!

We were surprised by the intimate size of the design team, and that such sweeping projects and new product offerings came from such a tight group.  Maharam does partner with some of the most cutting edge folks around: Hella Jongerius, Bruce Mau, and Paul Smith to name a few, and they're new products really show a commitment to innovation. 

Maharam is a fourth-generation, family run business.  The office is light, bright, and airy (any creative's dream!).  The head honcho's office is out in the open, with a library fit for a design king.  In fact, anyone in the office is welcome to borrow his books.  He also has a nice collection of bikes I would have liked to take out for a spin.

 Textile Sneak Peeks

Maharam Digital Projects - Full Scale sampling.  "...at the convergence of art and design, Maharam Digital Projects is an expansive are carefully curated portfolio of digitally printed wall installations."

I have a renewed appreciation for what goes in to launching new textile patterns and weaves.  Maharams studio is the perfect example of what dedication and hard work can bring to designers and the marketplace.

Hunt & Gather: Cake

No Birthday is complete without a chocolate cake.  We stumbled upon Little Cupcake Bakeshop while walking the streets of soho.  While I think the Americana trend is a little overdone and overused (we saw it just about everywhere we turned) the place was very cute and warm.  The cake itself was incredible: moist, with just the right amount of sweetness.

The classic carrera marble cafe table with iron base will always be my favorite.  It serves as the perfect backdrop for baked goods.

Later that night, my friend Sarah brought me a bounty of yummy cupcakes from Billy's, her favorite bake shop.  Their pumpkin spice is amazing!  We also celebrated with a Belgian Beer toast and lots of frites.

Hunt & Gather: The Brooklyn Flea

I somehow managed to completely skip over Saturday in my trip diary, a day that was actually quite eventful and fun.  We journeyed over to Fort Greene, Brooklyn to check out the Brooklyn Flea, a highly recommended stop by many of our friends, including Casey over at KID Collective, who happened to be arriving in the city the day we left!  Be sure to check out NYC through her lens over at her blog.

I love the pattern play the trees created on these old Brownstones.  We both felt that if we were to move to Brooklyn, this felt like a very comfortable neighborhood that reminded us of home.

Portland is seriously lacking in the Flea Market arena, so it was with great anticipation that we dug through each vendor's collection.  You can learn a lot at a place like this- a cooling table is not for sunbathing, for example.  I'm only on season two of Six Feet Under, so you'll have to cut me a break. We agreed before we entered that we could only purchase items that could fit in our suitcase, unless we encountered the deal of the century.  The Fritz Hansen table we so desperately wanted to take home was overpriced, and we really couldn't justify shipping an industrial table home.  So, we ended up with a few lightweight souvenirs from our trip:

Fig Studio Fact:  I collect tea towels.  I have a towel from every trip I've been on in the past 5 years.  My husband has managed cut holes in nearly all of them, but they are still special to me and every time I hang my towels it's a reminder of my love for travel.  This 2011 Buy Local Calendar towel is by the talented Claudia Pearson- you can make your purchase in her Etsy store.

We collected enough vintage press letters to spell Guggenheim, now we need to figure out how we want to display them in our home.  Perhaps mounted on a beautiful wallpaper sample or in on of our terrariums?

My birthday fell on a Monday and the one stop that I could not miss wasn't going to be open for us to celebrate, so we were sure to hit it up Saturday.  The Red Hook Lobster Pound.  I'm pretty much obsessed with seafood, and lobsters aren't exactly an Oregon specialty.  I wanted to try Maine fresh lobster, whole, with all the juices.  We weren't disappointed!  Full flavor with all of the trimmings.

Secret find:  The new Brooklyn Ikea has a free ferry on weekends.  Red Hook to Pier 17 in 20 minutes flat.  What a deal, and what a view!

Glimpse & Gander: Empire State of Mind

The best cure for jet lag is to hit the ground running and never look back.  Our first NYC destination has been on our must-see list for a while, as Phase 1 was still under construction during our last visit in '08.  The Highline phase 1 is a 9-block long elevated public park offering sweeping views of Chelsea and the Hudson. The design reveals a true nod to the structure's past role as a freight rail line, and has preserved what could have been a true loss to the city.  This is one of the best examples of adaptive re-use I've seen, and I hope it serves as a model for other cities facing industrial change.

Nature softens industrial remnants and modern interventions

The success of this project is magnified by the sheer number of people using the space.  It's a beautiful, safe place that allows users a respite from the concrete jungle below. Many used the reclining lounges to finish up work on their laptops, while others were simply taking the opportunity to bask in November's mild warmth.

After spending almost an hour in the park, we headed down to the Chelsea Market to pickup some Oregon wine from the Wine Vault (a favorite I discovered while studying at Parson's) and grab a quick bite at the market's crepe stand.  We made our way back to our home base for the week and relished in the fact that we still had six days left to explore and eat our way through the city.

Planes, Trains, and Ferries

Fig Studio is off to New York City to see family, friends, and a few incredible showrooms.  We've gathered a list of all of our favorite spots in the city and a few new-to-us adventures, including treasure hunting at the Brooklyn Flea...

...a lobster feed in Red Hook...

....and a side trip to the Philip Johnson Glass House. 

We'll share our finds with you upon our return.  Enjoy your week!

Bay Area Gallery

Way back in July, Fig Studio visited the Bay Area to check out new offerings at the SFDC and to check a few items off the ol' bucket list.  This gallery of snaps is a quick review of our favorite spots from the trip, including the Red Blossom Tea Company, The Fairmont, Hearst Castle, Filoli Center, and the Charles Schulz Museum -  a must see for all you Charlie Browns out there.   

Glimpse & Gander: Heath Sausalito

Photos by Fig

Anyone with an ounce of love for Heath Ceramics knows that you can't complete a trip to San Francisco without taking a detour to beautiful Sausilito and the historic Heath factory.  Though my schedule didn't align with the weekend factory tour, I managed a peek into the production room and saw the craftspeople hard at work, perfecting their beautifully simple products.  The mug that holds my morning Oolong was made by hand in that room!  How great is that?  I love that this place is so easygoing and freespirited.  I love that their signage isn't made from fancy materials and that they've maintained such an approachable facade.  I'm committed to Heath for life and look forward to passing my collection down to the next generation of Guggenheims. 

Glimpse & Gander: Ames Boston

I'm planning a getaway to Boston this summer for a friend's wedding and stumbled upon the new Ames hotel.  Housed within an 1889 Romanesque-style structure, this historic property recently received a full renovation by the hotelier's in-house design team in partnership with the Rockwell Group.

Minimal white on grey standard guestrooms allow for relaxation after a day of heavy historical sightseeing and bountiful Italian cuisine, while the dramatic lobby art suggests a whimsical hello.  Suites are styled to glamorous Hollywood standards rather than historic revival, and I particularly like the hint of lavender creeping into the grey tones they've used throughout the property.  Now I'm on the hunt for the perfect lobstah dish.  Any suggestions?