Introducing our new “The Way We Live” feature, a gesture towards the imperfect, unstaged, lived-in corners of our homes and lives.
PORTIA CLARK
Written by Rebecca Falzano
Photography by Erin Little
For our department debut we talked with jewelry maker and lifelong collector Portia Clark of Portia’s Barn about…
good bones…
Our house in Portland was built between 1869 and 1870. It has lovely bones, great light, an amazing yard and outdoor play space, and a barn. As with all old houses, there is always something we need to be working on. We have a To-Do list with all our immediate repairs and projects, and there is also the To-Don’t list which is helpful to keep track of the dreams, ideas, and less pressing projects to work towards.
works in progress…
In the downstairs hallway you can see the exposed lathing. We had to open up the wall to replace the knob and tube wiring that was still being used when we bought the house. We took the wallpaper down (three stories of it) in the front hallway that went from the attic to the ground entryway. The chartreuse rug, which I have grown rather fond of, was a perfect match to the wallpaper that came down in the first month and has been a great floor covering that actually acts as a doormat as kids and dogs go upstairs. The walls are still opened up for many reasons, mostly because there were many other more pressing projects, a limited budget, and because we have been able to run other important wires up to the second floor while the walls are open, which has come in handy for computer networks and updated electrical systems. I hung the mirrors and sconces up because I loved the look of the exposed plaster and also knew that it might be a long time before the plaster got fixed, and we needed light and sparkle in the space.
things that accumulate…
The piles of paper in the upstairs hall are there because I was in the middle of sorting the art collections my boys had brought home from school over several years.
her weakness for…
I have been collecting since I can remember. I have a weakness for classic shapes and styles that are beautiful, quirky, and slightly unexpected. The barn has allowed me to continue my business of jewelry making while also allowing me to find and sell pieces that make a home feel special and unique. I love connecting cool things with cool people. Having grown up in a dark northern climate in Seattle and living in a dark northern climate in Portland, I have always been drawn towards lamps and great lighting. I also have a weakness for fresh flowers (a weekly splurge during the winter months), which has led to a love of vases. Rugs are also something that add instant warmth and texture to a room. They are so portable and versatile and can easily change the mood and feel of a room.
beauty in imperfection…
A home is most enjoyed when it is being used and loved. We set up a ping pong table in our dining room because it was an empty space most of the year. I love imperfection. It is beauty, forgiveness, creativity, and strength.