It is heating up this Spring with four great home shows in Portland, Oregon. Gain ideas and meet great professionals for building, remodeling and interior design.
Scattered Home Tour throughout the Portland, Oregon area
Presented by the Professional Remodelers Organization (PRO), a council of the Home Builders Association of Metropolitian Portland. PRO includes top remodelers, subcontractors, interior designers and suppliers. PRO of Portland is the third largest organization of its kind in the United States. One of reasons it continues to grow is PRO’s committed to ethical business practices, and encouragement of members to invest in training and education.
The show is a scattered site tour of homes that were remodeled in Portland by these great tradespeople. Get a chance to see these great projects, network with expert remodelers and in some cases even meet the homeowners.
The show features all things green. Learn ways to shrink energy costs and carbon footprint in your home.
Angela Todd Designs is teaming up with the Energy Trust of Oregon, Progressive Builders Northwest, Basco, and Neil Kelly (to name a few) to build and design the Energy Trust Good Energy House, one of the show’s features. Come see how to build and design green - tres’ chic!
Around the House with Handyman Bob, KXL 750 will also be on location broadcasting the show live. Come meet Handyman Bob and yours truly on Saturday from 12:00pm to 2:00pm. Bring your home improvement or green question to our booth and we may even put you on air!
Tax Credit are up to $8k. We have near record interest rates, and ample inventory. These three incentives make now a great time to buy a home. There may never be another buyers market as good as today.
This Saturday night was the first annual Distinct Style Awards introduced by the Interior Design Society of Portland and presented by Contract Furnishings Mart. The 124 entries were sent to a committee at the Bay Area Interior Design Society for selection. It was an honor to be selected among my peers in several categories, and a sheer delight to see so many of my respected peers receiving appreciation for their residential interior design projects.
Here are the 2010 winners (drum roll please)
Best Staging
Pangaea, Pangaea Interior Design
Staging Semi-Finalists:
Garrison Hullinger
Angela Todd Designs, Luster of the Pearl
Angela Todd Designs, Vista
Best Redesign
Nicole Rivlin, Redesign Works
Redesign Semi-Finalists
Angie Morse, Home Street Design
Josi Underhill, Decor by Josi
Best Color
Teri Peck
Color Semi-Finalists
Jason Ball Interiors
Angela Todd Designs
Best Bath Remodel
Susan Nicholson
Bath Remodel Semi Finalists
Teri Peck
Leslie Minervini, Minervini Interiors
Best Kitchen Remodel
Jason Ball Interiors
Kitchen Remodel Semi Finalists
Kirstin Havnaer, Hearthstone Interior Design
Katya Waff, Blue Pearl Interiors
The best in show was selected from the six winner in the above categories and received a $500 cash prize.
Best in Show
Leslie Minervini, Minervini Interiors
The Interior Design Society also awarded member awards for exceptional contributions in 2010:
Member Achievement Award
Jamie Stark, Love it Design
Vendor Achievement Award
Brandy Marsh, Area Floors
New Member Recruitment Award
Angela Todd
Congratulations to each of our members who entered the Distinct Style Awards, and to our winners and semi-finalists. A special thanks to our additional sponsors Sherwin Williams in the Pearl and Parker Furniture for making the event a smashing success.
Do you love HGTV and home makeover shows? Have you ever wondered what ideas a skilled interior designer would recommend for a room in your home? Come take my class this January! We have just a few more spaces left.
One lucky student in the series wins a one day room makeover. The first class in the two part series focuses on how to use fresh eyes in your home and put design principles into place simply and easily with amazing results. The second class is a class redesign at the winner’s residence. Learn invaluable tools to transform any space in your home into something truly rewarding.
2 Sessions
Wednesday, January 13th, 6-9 pm
Saturday, Jan 16th, 10-2 pm
Price: $59
Location: Whole Foods Market - Fremont
This video features three homes my team and I redesigned in November 2007. Each room took only 4 hours and included $0 - $300 in new pieces and accessories.
Online voting opened today. For what you might ask? The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is searching for someone to sing the National Anthem at the International Builder Show in Las Vegas in January.
The National Association of Home Builders search for their choice to sing the National Anthem at the International Builder Show in Las Vegas in January is heating up.
This time of the year makes me think about what I am thankful for:
I am thankful for a supportive family, great friends, awesome clients and a special someone in my life that makes me ponder the word ’soulmate’ for the first time in my life.
I am thankful for a thriving interior design business. I feel as though I play all day, everyday. What could be sweeter?
My clients truly amaze me. It is a pleasure to help infuse their personalities and style into their homes. I cherish them.
My sister Diane is my rock in life. She understands me before I even speak. I am really lucky to have such a great support.
I am thankful for my friends at KXL radio. I adore Handyman Bob. He has become a great friend, father figure and mentor.
Speaking of mentors, I am thankful for my interior design friends and cheerleaders. Faith Cosgrove from The Studio Resource Group has placed me under her wing so much in the last year. Her 30 some years of design expertise amazes me. I love that she believes in me. Pamela Sandall, Sheila Botke, and Maureen Pulicella are always great sounding boards for businesses tough challenges. Mitch and Arlene from Stanley Home Renovation and Design, you guys are among the best at what you do. I am lucky you put up with me. Thanks for teaching me so much.
I am thankful for two lovely dogs that sit at my feet when I am in my studio. May I strive to be the great person they think I am.
Sometimes Portland, Oregon isn’t big enough for an interior designer, so in mid August a van load of interior designers and I went to Statements in Seattle to seek inspiration for our remodeling projects.
I love to walk a showroom with fresh eyes. I get so inspired with fresh design ideas after viewing other artisan and interior designer concept boards. The eye candy is downright heaven to me.
Statements is a line that is a step up in price point from companies like Pental and Cronin, but lower in price point than companies like Pratt and Larson and Ann Sacks Tile. They fit a nice niche. Most of their pieces are imported from Italy. The family owned company has deep roots in tile, and settled on this comfortable niche market. They fit the west coast well, and have great, unique pieces to choose from, at a reasonable price for the quality and design.
We walked the immaculate showroom with a tour of the facility. Honestly, the presentation started to fall into the background of my mind when I became mesmerized with Status tile. Statements recently purchased Status tile, a Seattle neighbor and added them to their line. Hand painted, hand pressed, oh my it is just fabulous. See for yourself. (I like the frogs and turtles best.)
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It is hard to find someone in Portland that hasn’t heard of the Street of Dreams. The Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland has done an amazing job branding the show over the past 30+ years. It has changed over the years, but has maintained it’s position to be the most well-known home tour in the region. It has earned it’s reputation. Each year developers, architects, builders, and designers show the latest and greatest in innovation, technology and style. 60,000 people pour through these stunning showpieces clamoring to get ideas for their own home remodeling and building projects. There is no other design project opportunity to have so many see your work firsthand.
I admit, when I started my design business it was one of my goals to lead a design team on the Street of Dreams. Always the overachiever, it wasn’t good enough for me to support another designer. Being the lead designer had style, grace and I knew clients and potential clients would appreciate the experience on my resume. As my firm grew and I became more connected in the design and building community, I heard crazy stories of impossible deadlines, small budgets and huge expectations. They commonly call it on the inside “The Street of Screams”. Still, I always seem to be up for a challenge. So this year opportunity knocked, and I was one of 8 designers selected for the first urban Street of Dreams in the United States.
The Street of Dreams has been over since August 31st. It makes me laugh to think I haven’t written about it in two and a half months on my blog. Have you noticed I had a lag in writing? I can pinpoint one reason. The Street of Dreams wore me out and I needed a break. Am I glad I did it? You bet. Would I do it again? Don’t ask that question. It is like asking a new mother if she would go through labor again. Really, this is a question for another day!
Our team took home the People’s Choice Award for Best Master Suite. It was an honor. I couldn’t have done it without my design colleagues and friends Pamela Sandall and Julie Hranicka and the various vendors that helped with furniture, lighting, accessories and wall finishes.
Can you see the award I am holding? Pictured from left: Julie Hranicka, Pamela Sandall, Angela Todd, Barbara Baldwin (Parker Furniture). Back row: Bruce Gibson (Parker Furniture).
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I value my partners, vendors and resources immensely. They serve my clients and I am careful to surround myself with partners that share my core values.
There are many resources for flooring and surfaces in Portland. As a matter of fact, I meet new resources all the time. One of my favorite resources is Area Floors. Why do I choose them over other resources? Their customer service is divine.
Here are some real life examples:
I don’t get sent to voice mail when I have a product, application or pricing question. The person who answers the phone knows who I am and helps me.
My clients sometimes visit the showroom without me and they have always reported they were welcomed and treated well.
I don’t know it all and sometimes I make mistakes. They have fixed problems and found errors with my orders. This saves everyone time and money.
My favorite real life story: My client once found a glass tile for their back splash that was $85 a square foot - well outside of their budget range. I took it to Area Floors, and they found an identical tile for under $25 a square foot. Everyone was happy with this outcome!
It was an honor this month when they launched their first online newsletter and they chose to highlight me in their vendor spotlight column. It is fun to read what someone else thinks of you. Well, maybe it is more simple. It is nice to like someone and they like you back.
I have to admit, I am feeling a little lucky. Last week general membership of the Home Builders Association of Metropolitian Portland voted me in as a board member. Wow! If it is possible to get voted in for the board of directors for the most prestigious home builder association in Portland, surely I can win a little singing contest, right?
Here is my audition video for all to see. I’d appreciate your vote on the NAHB site too. I will post the link on November 2nd, once the deadline is reached for entries.
"I help homeowners create exceptionally designed spaces that reflect their personalities and style."
Angela is best known for helping clients incorporate their personal style and treasures into their spaces. She provides full service design for busy homeowners including remodeling, redecorating, color consultations, and one day room makeovers.
This summer, Angela led the design of the “Luster of the Pearl” in the 2009 Street of Dreams, winning a People’s Choice Award for the best master suite. She has created award winning designs for homeowners including best interior design for Real People, Real Houses, and she was a Semi Finalist in two categories at the Society of Decorating Professionals’ National Conference in 2008. Angela's design work has been published in The Oregonian, The Lake Oswego Review, The Beaverton Valley Times, The West Linn Tidings and most recently Explore the Pearl magazine. She has also been featured on KPTV’s Better TV and Tualatin Valley CTV’s Outside the Box.
A transplant from the Midwest, Angela has enjoyed living in Oregon since 1996. She enjoys entertaining at her home, reading every design magazine imaginable, singing, and spending time in wine country and the Oregon coast. In the summer she spends as much time as possible on the water and going for long secluded hikes. Her pride and joy are her two beloved dogs, a Golden Retriever named Kashmir and a Sheltie named Sadie Sue.
Angela believes in community involvement and contributes to many charities including the Home Builder’s Foundation and the Children’s Cancer Association granting design makeovers to families and children in need. She teaches interior design classes through Portland Community College, and her own "Girls Night Out" events in Portland, Oregon. She is a board member of the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland and an active member of the Professional Remodelers Organization where she serves on several committees. Angela is the co-founder and Vice President Elect of the Interior Design Society’s Portland chapter.
You can catch Angela live on-air each Saturday from 12:00pm to 2:00pm on 750AM on KXL's Around the House with Handyman Bobduring her segment, "The Design Angle".
