Casey’s Intentionally Designed Live/Work Space in Portland

Written by

Ellie Arciaga Lillstrom
Ellie Arciaga Lillstrom
Ellie Arciaga Lillstrom is a proud Seattle resident and newlywed, whose style is best described as 'art teacher chic'. As of late, her days are spent as a commercial + interiors photographer, and she welcomes any excuse to travel for work.
updated Dec 19, 2019
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Home Type
Style
N/A
Bedrooms
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Square feet

1400

Sq ft

1400

Post Image
(Image credit: Ellie Arciaga Lillstrom)

Name: Casey Keasler and her dog, Winston
Location: Portland, Oregon
Size: 1,400 square feet
Years lived in: 6 months

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For many freelancers and small business owners, working from home often means using a laptop at the breakfast table and/or wearing pajamas for 95% of the day. But Casey Keasler, creative director of the multidisciplinary design firm Casework, wanted her home office to be a space that was both client- and staff-friendly. Using her 14+ years of experience in the interior design world, Casey set out to make her live/work space versatile, calm and above all, comfortable—a space in which she would be happy to entertain friends and clients alike.

(Image credit: Ellie Arciaga Lillstrom)

Casey occupies the master suite in a large Craftsman home; she shares the communal kitchen with her three roommates, who are also creatives in similar fields. As a way to maximize the potential of her living area, Casey created a sleeping loft in the previously unused attic space and finished off the project by painting the floor and ceiling a crisp white. The loft is a restful and comfy perch that overlooks the whole space, and it is easily accessible from the office area by a library ladder.

(Image credit: Ellie Arciaga Lillstrom)

When it comes to furnishing and decorating the home, Casey considers her style to best be described as “intentional”—having an eye for pieces that either tell a story or serve a purpose. This approach ensures that the home feels cozy and lived-in and leaves Casey surrounded by things that she loves.

(Image credit: Ellie Arciaga Lillstrom)

Apartment Therapy Survey:

My Style: I like to think of my style as intentional. Everything has a use, purpose, or tells a story. I don’t like things for the sake of things but know that things are a necessary part of being a human and of especially living comfortably. I try to keep myself in check and not accumulate too much but in my field, it’s hard not to bring things home when out searching for clients!

Inspiration: My current vintage pieces, the high ceilings and natural light, and the colors charcoal gray, salt, and navy.

Favorite Element: The high ceilings and the natural light.

Biggest Challenge: Getting up and down the ladder every day 😉

What Friends Say: What happens when you get drunk? Do you still climb up the ladder to get to bed?!

Proudest DIY: Buying three small rugs and hand stitching them together with a contrasting thread as an inexpensive alternative to a very large rug.

Best Advice: Don’t fight your space to make something work. If it’s asymmetrical, don’t try to make things symmetrical.

Dream Sources: TRNK NYC and 1stdibs

Resources

(Image credit: Ellie Arciaga Lillstrom)

PAINT & COLORS

  • Attic floors: Sherwin-Williams Snowbound
(Image credit: Ellie Arciaga Lillstrom)

LIVING ROOM

  • Sofa: vintage
  • Black and white striped rug: Dwell Studio
  • Blue chairs: vintage
  • Chair: vintage Bertioa
  • Desk: Parsons Console from West Elm
  • Arc lamp: vintage
  • Black floor lamp: Schoolhouse Electric
  • Wall clock: Schoolhouse Electric
  • Vertical bookcase: Sapien from Design Within Reach
  • Patterned quilt: Mary Keasler
  • Nude painting: Teil Duncan
  • Teapot and Persimmon: Wild Craft Studio
  • Palm landscape: Sean Spellman
  • Snake watercolor: Jordon Dumont
  • Horsey 74: Grant Barnhardt
  • Black and white line drawing: Anthony Parrish
  • Couple hugging: found in a market in Quito, Ecuador
  • Flag screen print: vintage
  • Black and white photos: family
(Image credit: Ellie Arciaga Lillstrom)

DINING ROOM/OFFICE

  • Table: West Elm
  • Chairs: vintage Bertoia
  • Chairs: Charles Pollack chair from Knoll
  • Dresser: vintage
  • Storage cabinet: vintage
(Image credit: Ellie Arciaga Lillstrom)

KITCHEN

  • Cowhide: Cowhide International
(Image credit: Ellie Arciaga Lillstrom)

BEDROOM

  • Bed: Tretiak Works
  • Side table: vintage
  • Saarinen side table: Design Within Reach
  • Rugs: vintage
  • Sconces: Schoolhouse Electric
(Image credit: Ellie Arciaga Lillstrom)

BATHROOM

  • Bar cart: vintage
  • Lighting: Schoolhouse Electric
A view of the living room from the office area (Image credit: Ellie Arciaga Lillstrom)
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Thanks, Casey!