A Colorful Portland Condo Has an Incredible 6′ by 6′ DIY Plant Wall

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Name: Kristin Cedar, husband, Joel, and cat, Biscuit
Location: North Williams Neighborhood, Portland, Oregon
Type of home: Condo
Size: 1,000 square feet
Time lived in: 6 months, owned

Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: Joel and I met as camp counselors nearly 10 years ago and have been married since 2015. I work as a social worker at an HIV clinic, and Joel works in banking. We adopted our seven-pound black cat, Biscuit, in the beginning of quarantine. I have always been an avid thrifter, DIYer, and fashion-lover. Joel is my happy-go-lucky better half that is always down to help execute my grand ideas.

We bought our our modern two-story condo last summer and immediately went to work filling this blank canvas with character. Before we even got the keys, I had hand drawn our floor plan and various design plans for each room. The day after we closed on the place, we got straight to work. We splashed color on all the walls, added a couple murals, painted the kitchen cabinets, tile stenciled the cement floors, added molding to the doors and swapped all the lighting, faucets, and doorknobs. Since then, I have installed a plant wall, thrifted a plethora of unique furnishings, and created bold artwork that make our space fully our own.

Sustainability is very important to me, so I try to thrift, upcycle, and create as many pieces as possible. Almost all of the art on the walls was also painted or created by me. Personal touches and unique thrifted and vintage pieces are a huge part of my eclectic aesthetic. I chose a bright palette of pinks, greens, pops of oranges with black and white neutrals, for a bold, yet balanced look. My style is very eclectic and draws from mid-century silhouettes, y2k colors, Parisian prints, and boho textures.

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Maximalist, artsy, vintage, bold

What is your favorite room and why? White walls are overrated! The living room design was the one that I was most nervous about, and it turned out to be my favorite room in the house! Originally, dark charcoal walls made this room feel small and cold. After many coats of primer, I went with a muted apricot and decided to hand paint a mural on the back wall. The whole time I was painting the mural, I hated it and told Joel that I was going to wallpaper over it as soon as I finished. Spoiler alert, I ended up loving it. And it’s here to stay.

We swapped out the basic ceiling light for a brass globe light and hung my great grandpa’s mid-century light in the corner. With the garage door, this room is flooded with natural light and cool air. Biscuit loves to sit on the ledge and stick her head out the window and watch people walk by below. I was obsessed with this coral mid-century velvet couch and knew that it would tie the room together. We added a touch of vintage with a large area rug and our antique green chair. Plants sprinkled all around give it a fancy plant store feel The overall vibe is a perfect blend of the tropics, bold graphics, and vintage character. It feels like home.

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? I made an entire plant wall! The whole 6′ by 6′ wall cost a total of $300 and was so easy to install. I used these giant garment racks that are usually used in retail stores. I attached them to the walls with these brackets. I used a variety of climbing plants with this self-watering hanging wall planter. I used a mix of plants that will grow and spread over time, so the wall will one day be entirely green!

Any advice for creating a home you love? Use a mix of old and new for a totally customized home. I have purchased much of our furniture and decor from thrift stores, estate sales, Facebook Marketplace, and antique malls. Almost all of the art on the walls was also painted or created by me, which makes me feel personally connected to our decor. To me, there’s nothing more exciting than a unique aesthetic that mixes old, new, and homemade.

This submission’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.