Name: Anisa Makhoul & Graeme Nelson
Location: Portland, OR
Size: 1200 square feet
Years lived in: 4
I visited Anisa and Graeme’s home in SE Portland on a rainy, gloomy, winter’s day. Stepping inside was a lovely escape from gray. You can feel the love that has gone into updating and furnishing this home. It had me wanting to take cello lessons in the bright dining room or cook a 5 course meal in their spaciously renovated kitchen!
The purpose with which things are placed throughout this house indicate homeowners with a keen eye for detail. Anisa is a fashion designer and sells her wares at her Portland shop Makool Loves You. Graeme is a freelance web developer. Together they have created an inspired home. There is a sense of history here that can’t be denied. The windows are original to the house and have the character that old windows do. The pine floors and reclaimed wood cabinets in the kitchen give it a rustic quality that doesn’t overwhelm, but is very satisfying. The farmhouse sink they’ve added to the kitchen looks right at home next to their other more modern appliances. There is balance in this house. Old and new, colorful and calm, kitsch and class. The overall effect is a lovely space designed for living.
AT Survey:
Our style: A little primitive, a little classic, a little old world, a little industrial, a little eclectic
Inspiration: Old european homes owned by modest folk. I love that the European kitchen is something you take with you when you move
Favorite Element: It would have to be our dining room. The people who lived here before us stripped the paint and stained it. A Russian immigrant who was the second owner of the house added that built in. I think the wood is gorgeous.
Biggest Challenge: Lack of space, a damp basement and no room for a home studio.
What Friends Say: Your house feels so cozy, and comfortable.
Biggest Embarrassment: It's between the garage and the basement, we need to replace the concrete floor in the basement because of the dampness, and the garage needs to be knocked down.
Proudest DIY: The kitchen. We knocked out a wall between the kitchen and the basement and completely remodeled the whole kitchen. The sink was where the stove is and we moved it to under the window. We didn't do the plumbing ourselves but I acted as general contractor so it felt very DIY.
Biggest Indulgence: Wolf Range
Best advice: Just do little bits at a time, work with different contractors until you find one that you like.
Dream source: Get Back, Inc., they don't even list their prices online, but I dream of owning most their site
Resources: Our counter was made for us by Maldonados. The flowers are by Fieldworks.
(Thanks, Anisa & Graeme!)
Images: Molly Anderson
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The combination of the green and wood in the dining room is gorgeous! Not really feeling the other elements/styling in the home, though.
A very sweet and personality-filled home. I like how all the colors work together and flow naturally from room to room. That bathroom is downright elegant. Also like the exterior and the angled front door.
The quilt on the bed in the master bedroom is gorgeous!
It feels very dark, despite the fact that I can see there are a lot of "light" touches...
Beautiful bathroom!
I love the kitchen cupboards, and the red trim.
Also like the green dining room and the lovely woodwork & built-ins. What caused the texture on the dining room table?
That bedroom is PINK - oh my. Like the quilt in the master bedroom.
I saw the photos on the main page post and my first thought was, "oh look, AT is reviewing the latest Anthropologie catalog......"
Gorgeous! This is craftsman done right- cozy without being claustrophobic, great mix of old and new, great colors (well, I might have to agree with the other posters about the pink - yowza!)
It's got more "country" touches than I think the average AT reader could tolerate, but I think you guys make it work perfectly.
I love the kitchen! It's wonderful to see an idiosyncratic kitchen made of salvaged pieces. Definitely one to remember.
Nice to see something that isn't MCM. Cozy and cute home.
love the rainbow/rain curtain...where is that from?
I love the blue bedroom, and the bed is gorgeous!
First of all, I adore Anisa and the beautiful things she creates, some of my favorite clothing pieces I am yearning to own & wear. I love Anisa & Graeme's home. Obviously so much love and attention to detail in everything. I can't believe you did that kitchen yourselves...it is so homey, warm and cosy. I love your kitchen sink, and...oh, shoot! I knew I wan't going to be able to remember everything I liked! Let's see....your dining room table, the flowers everywhere in humble vessels...so warm & comfortable. ( I have that same little tiny house with the air plant :) love.) Thank you so much for sharing your home with us guys! It is beautiful and creative & unique!
xo
Melis
I adore the bathroom and kitchen. If I had your kitchen I would add a movable island since I always need lots of work space!
I love the whimsical details. The old/new contrasts are also fun. Thanks for sharing. :)
Thanks for all the comments on our home, it's fun to share.
I would confirm that our house is dark, we like it that way and when given the choice between light and dark wood we would most certainly choose dark, it's just our taste.
I would have to agree our house doesn't seem to fit with the average home you see here on A.T.
The rainbow curtains were handmade by me, from a print I found at the fabric store about 4 years ago.
I enjoyed all the little colorful touches thrown in all over the house.
I swear Ive seen that birdcage fabric somewhere recently, can you refresh my memory? I love the colors on it.
I love the pinks in the bed and bath. What paint did you use on the bedroom walls and bathroom walls and trim? It is just lovely.
Thank you for sharing a house that shows the beauty of dark wood and strong colour!
Love the kitchen - and the fact that it's NOT the typical AT home - and the gorgeous black bed in the master bedroom knocked. my. socks. off.
Hey, the sign over the opening between the diningroom and the livingroom is in dutch! Gefeliciteerd=congratulations!
That and the bike in the diningroom..hmm.. do I sense a connection to Holland?
Beautiful home, btw!
Another arts & crafts house ... with a twist.
Those bird cage curtains, they were one panel from Urban Outfitters, I made it into two and added some color blocking. Molly, said she thought she also saw the pattern at Forever 21.
The pink color paint, I'm not exactly sure of the color, but it's from Miller Paint (local paint company), the bedroom is very bubble gum while the bathroom color is a bit more powdery. I knew pink color choice was a a little wacky at the time, but I went with it thinking that I will probably paint it over in a few years.
The bed I found at Wicks Furniture and it has been with me for a few houses, this is the first home were it's size appropriate to the bedroom, so I was thrilled and designed that quilt to go on it at the same time we picked the blue paint.
"Gefeliciteerd" we are just Dutchophiles. We hope to one day become honorary citizens.
ah it is sooooooooooo wonderful to see a home that has its woodwork unpainted like this! every time i try to find an example of my house in a house tour all the wood is painted and im not sure i want to do that yet, and i have paneling just like that in the dining room! Thanks! :D
Caiti,
I think it's a shame to paint wood in a craftsman. We might not have bought this home if the dining room wood was painted.
makool do you mind sharing the green colors from the dining and living room?
i just need to reiterate my excitement at your dining room. I have only lived with our dark wood paneling for 6 months but it has really really grown on me and I won't be painting it. I love the kitchen too. Great cabinets!
oooo! It's been so long, I don't have the names, but I can tell you it's Miller Paint, a local company. I thought the best thing about having so much dark wood in there was that I could have used almost any bright color and it would have worked because there's so little of it, I thought it turned out looking like mint chocolate chip.
Thanks for your lovely compliments, I'm glad you like it!
This home reminds me of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre for some reason.
It seems a little dark and not my colours, but you know what? its spectacular! the kitchen is great and its got a real feel. Well done!
Very cozy and spacious. I could live there.
Love the kitchen and living room, and that stained-glass hutch in the dining room is fantastic!
Adorable. I really like the look of this place, a lot.
I guess maybe this IS a little my style, although I wouldn't have ever said I liked anything "country." I love the Craftsman style and dark wood, and I love the homey, cozy feel of your design. And I'm so happy to see something other than all the MCM and "Keep Calm" posters we are always seeing on AT. I even like the pink guest bedroom. :)
I love the colors in this home. It feels cozy and individual, as though the owners picked the colors they like and not what all the magazines are showing. I also love the whimsical little touches and the oh-so elegant bathroom
This home is delightful...so many fun touches! The craftsman style of the home is great and the decor is right up my alley. I love it all! My favorite is the kitchen... I don't think you could be sad in this home on the gloomiest of rainy days.
Just wanted to add...the quilts on the beds are wonderful!
Another Dutch girl here who loved seeing the "gefeliciteerd" sign!
Heavy color, or acceptable
I live in Portland as well. Love your house so much, it hurts. Our style is very similar, love the mix of rustic and quirky, with splashes of color. The kitchen and dining are my favorite parts, they're gorgeous. I hope one day my place can look halfway as good as yours. Thanks for the tour !
The kitchen and dining room are my favorites of the space but overall a cool place to live!