designer spotlight: jessica helgerson

I’m really excited about this new feature on Fresh  Home Blog: the Designer Spotlight. I’ll be featuring the best and brightest new designers across the country and the ingenious houses they’re working on.

First up, Jessica Helgerson Interior Design. I met Jessica when I lived in Portland, Oregon. I was initially drawn to her work since she focuses on eco-friendly design: She uses natural materials, like reclaimed and sustainably harvested wood, bamboo, naturally pigmented plasters, antiques, vintage furniture and organic textiles. Plus, she only uses non-toxic paints and finishes. She is the living and breathing proof that sustainable style is gorgeous and luxurious. (I bolded that on purpose.)

I got the pleasure of touring the following two homes Jessica and her team recently completed. The first is a remodel of a turn-of-the-century four-square owned by a yoga instructor and the guitar player of the Dandy Warhols. Jessica gutted the kitchen, pantry and mud room to create a beautifully large farmhouse-esque kitchen:

They then added box beams in the dining room and stained all the woodwork and floors on the first floor a dark ebony:

They kept the upstairs bright and airy, but used extra bedrooms for functional purposes, like a music room and a guest bedroom/yoga studio:

I adore the Moroccan light in the master bedroom:

As well as the added beadboard and wood ceiling in the bathroom:

Beautiful, right?

This second Jessica Helgerson-designed home is a mid-century split level ranch home, also in Portland. Jessica and her team completely remodeled the house, removing the existing kitchen to create this amazing great room, which is filled with all vintage furniture:

On the opposite side of the great room is the open kitchen, which creates a huge open space on the first level, perfect for entertaining and family get-togethers:

I love the entryway’s dark ebonized wood floors and dark wall, mixed with white woodwork:

This home has one of the most striking bathrooms I’ve seen, and it totally shows that, when done smartly, you can use patterned wallpaper and a black ceiling (!)  in a tiny space:

And check out this adorable kids’ room:

For more of Jessica Helgerson’s portfolio and contact info (don’t you want her to design your house??), visit her website.

If you have designers you think should be in the Designer Spotlight, email me at editors at freshhomeblog dot com.

(images by Lincoln Barbour and courtesy of Jessica Helgerson Interior Design)