A view of the kitchen hutch. Rustic tumbled slate combines with rich cherry cabinets to give an old-world European flair to this new home. This piece not only makes a beautiful display area, but is also extremely functional.

Lynn Sanders and Jeff Young

Portland, Oregon

The clients were building a new home in a prominent neighborhood in Portland. They did not want the typical cookie-cutter home that is so often occurs with new construction-no matter what the price-range home. Their previous home was built in 1920s and they want to recreate the character and lived-in feeling of that home.

The family room's wood-burning fireplace has a cherry-wood mantle and custom-designed forge-iron adornments. Outdoor lanterns used in this indoor application offer an interesting lighting twist. Copper plumbing pipe lines the entire room, which then becomes both the curtain rod and picture rail. An 18th-century Indonesian bridal door was converted into a coffee table. Various neutral-toned silk panel drapery offer a pleasing backdrop to the many colors and patterns of the room.