A Small Portland Rental Masterfully Mixes Patterns and Prints
Name: Lara Kalis, husband, Ziyad, and dog, Fawaz
Location: Portland, Oregon
Type of home: Apartment
Size: 800 square feet
Years lived in: 4 years, renting
Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: My husband and I share this two-bedroom apartment with our dog, Fawaz. It is located in an old building in Portland, Oregon, and overlooks a courtyard. It is mostly covered in windows, which bring in a lot of green into the house during the spring and summer seasons!
The bay windows in our “sun room” are the best part of the house because they make it seem so bright. I converted our guest bedroom into a studio space for my lampshades that I sell on Etsy. My husband loves collecting records, so we have a good selection in this IKEA cabinet that is a few years old and honestly so reliable.
I love color and all the moods it evokes in your home. I love mixing patterns and prints especially when it comes to textiles. We have this amazing Kilim fabric that was gifted to us for our wedding with no real space to put, so we created the feel of an entrance into the house by hanging it. You can see it as soon as you enter.
Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Eclectic, bohemian, and colorful
The posters hanging on the walls are a collection of all the concerts we have seen, and we keep adding to them, so I love the memories they evoke as well as all the crazy graphics that they all include. The collection of art and music is reflected throughout our home, and it is exactly what we represent as adults!
What is your favorite room and why? My favorite room is the sun room, which we converted into our dining room and bar. It isn’t a large room, but it connects the far side of the apartment with the rest of the place, and it is what you see as soon as you walk into our place. The windows that surround it definitely made the place colder in the winter, but they let in so much light it makes up for it!
What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? The last piece of furniture I bought was this coffee table from Zara Home. I was very particular about replacing our previous basic coffee table and wanted something that matches the vibe of our home but also is practical and not too bulky. When I found this fantastic shape and wood tone, I thought it would be the perfect fit for our living room. It has a matching smaller table that I will probably be adding in the near future!
Any advice for creating a home you love? For me it’s all about collecting pieces slowly and filling up your home with things that represent you and your personality. The important pieces I have — such as the chartreuse armchair from Anthropologie that I bought as a floor model while I was working there as a visual merchandiser — is by far one of my favorite statement pieces of the house. I also add items as my style evolves and don’t really like to limit myself to trends.
This submission’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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