A Timeless Revamp
Written by Jennifer Fernandez | Photographed by Lincoln Barbour
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Designer Jessica Helgerson updates a 1920s English Tudor for a modern family.
Some 10 years ago, when green living wasn’t always synonymous with style, Jessica Helgerson pioneered an eco- conscious aesthetic that left plenty of room for the art of design. Fast-forward a decade: sustainability is no longer just a buzzword, materials like reclaimed wood have become emblems of good taste, and Helgerson’s lush, nature-driven sensibility has put her at the forefront of a wave of West Coast talent. “We still use long-lasting materials, but our approach is more about making sure that whatever we put into a house feels livable and appropriate,” says the Portland, Oregon–based Helgerson. “I wouldn’t put recycled-glass countertops in a turn-of-the-century house.” Instead, she relies on an open flow and timeless pieces that are influenced by the structure of a home and how it will wear over the years. In other words, Helgerson designs for the long haul rather than simply finding a stylish short-term solution.
Nowhere is that more apparent than in her most recent project, a modern yet approachable revamp of a 1920s English Tudor in the city’s Mount Tabor neighborhood. “I felt like we were erasing the muck,” she says of the once-convoluted layout, which featured closets within closets and other eccentric design elements. “There was a better layout beneath.” So Helgerson eliminated walls and homed in on a scheme that allowed light to penetrate interior rooms, installing built-in cabinetry and classic lighting that combine beauty, functionality, and sensitivity to the environment.
“We wanted to honor the soul of the house but also bring it into the 21st century,” says owner Heidi Lowell, who stumbled upon her future home on a walk through Mount Tabor Park. “Even in its tired state, you could tell it was extraordinary.” She and husband Alisdair Maden entrusted Helgerson and project manager Chelsie Lee to bring their vision to life without compromising the structure’s quirky personality. The design team began by expanding the kitchen, adding a multifunctional island topped in generously grained Carrara marble and a family-friendly breakfast nook accented with plaid throw pillows (a nod to the couple’s return from a two-year assignment in London). To create what the Lowell-Maden clan refers to as the snug room—a narrow passage off the kitchen that leads to the outdoor patio—Helgerson removed two awkward closets. The extra space now accommodates a built-in banquette of tufted velvet, which sits opposite a television hidden behind folded panels and a pair of silver deer antlers. The second floor also required a considerable amount of reshuffling. In the primary bedroom, an impractical cluster of closets was eliminated to create one large storage space, as well as a much-needed laundry room and linen closet and a vanity with dual sinks in the adjacent primary bathroom, Lowell’s favorite room in the house. “The lighting in the room is exquisite,” she says. “It creates shadows on the ceiling that are an art form in themselves. The tile is delicate yet has texture and depth.”
In fact, the home’s lighting—sourced from local artists and artisans and featuring hand-blown glass fixtures—is a distinctive design element throughout, from the brass-and-glass chandelier in the dining room to the oil-rubbed bronze sconces in the kitchen hall. The combination of those pieces, Helgerson’s custom furniture, and well-chosen antiques speak to a design that feels quietly groundbreaking, much like Helgerson herself. “Every room complements another as if they are all one painting,” says Lowell. “Before we hired her we did our homework, and everyone we talked to about Jessica said the same thing: ‘She’s the best.’ And she was.”
After repainting the existing concrete flooring, Helgerson and Lee highlighted the greenhouse-like atmosphere of the sunroom with an abundance of plants, antique furnishings, and an oversize painting from Bloomsbury Antiques & Curiosities. The revamped space feels ornate yet fresh.
Built-in shelving for cookbooks and other accessories serves as the demarcation between the kitchen and the “snug room,” a compact passage that leads to the patio. Helgerson removed two awkward closets to make room for the built-in banquette in tufted velvet, which has become a popular gathering spot thanks to the television hidden behind a panel graced by a pair of silver antlers.
A farmhouse sink, oil-rubbed-bronze hardware, Carrara marble countertops, and bright-white subway tile from Ken Mason add up to a timeless look. For the light-filled breakfast area, the designers created a pedestal table and throw pillows lined in Pendleton plaid.
Helgerson knocked down a wall to increase the kitchen's footprint, which then allowed for the inclusion of multipurpose storage options and a central island.
Continuing the home's tufted theme, the bed in the primary bedroom (dressed with gray linens by Matteo) is by Cisco Home; the velvet armchair opposite is vintage. A pair of polished nickel sconces from Rejuvenation encourage late-night reading sessions.
The primary bathroom has "a nice underwater feeling," says Helgerson, thanks to a flush-mount light fixture above the vanity that casts delicate shadows against the original coved ceilings.
We wanted to honor the soul of the house but also bring it into the 21st century. Even in its tired state, you could tell it was extraordinary.