Birds gone wild

A few years ago, Clarence House fabrics came out with this crazy bird textile named Polly. I fell in love with it. I knew one day that I was going to use it in draperies or bedding. Some how this fabric had to be in somebody's  home. This summer, a long time client of mine sold her forty acre horse ranch in Oregon and flew to Palm Desert for a vacation. Before she knew it she, three days later she bought a condo. She immediately had me fly down pick out paint colours and then she selected fabrics for her new home.

I thought of Polly from Clarence House. This beautiful hand screened linen was the perfect fabric for her bed skirt in the master bedroom.

I posted on my Facebook page about a month ago and the likes went Cuckoo for the birds.

I found the designer fabric in a Seattle showroom. It is to the design trade only. So you will have to go through me to get this or any of the wonderful fabrics that they have to offer.

The details of the bed skirt are all about the impeccable pattern matching sewn by my seamstress.

if you would like to see more of the design projects I have done visit my website www.johnthompsondesigner.com

be sure to like my Facebook page john thompson designer

www.clarencehouse.com

One man's treasures are treasured by all

Hearst Castle

 

 

 

A few years ago, I had the pleasure exploring the best of California with my partner, Gary Newton. On our trip back north from Palm Springs, we drove to Hearst Castle. I had seen documentaries on TV and heard about it periodically during my life. I never thought I would ever go there. When I did I had no idea of the fabulous treasures that I would find.www.hearstcastle.com

"Let's Make Something Beautiful Together"

 Today, August 5th John Thompson designer's website celebrates two years on the web..

www.johnthompsondesigner.com

The right sofa

When you're thinking about a new sofa, you'll want to check our sofa buying tips. While it is important to get a sofa in just the right color, it is just as important to get one that will last. Inexpensive furniture can break, pop springs, and look out of shape within a year of constant use. Quality construction will offer years of enjoyment and has enough good "bones" to allow you to recover it periodically.

Choose the Style of Cushions for Your New Sofa

First decide if you prefer the look of loose back cushions or attached. Loose cushions give you the option of turning the pillows as needed, while attached backs won't need fluffing or rearranging. Be sure to sit in the sofa you are considering. Is it comfortable? Are the arms the right height for taking a nap or reading a book?

How Many Cushions Do You Like on a Sofa?

How many seat cushions would you like? One cushion offers a clean modern look while two or three are traditional. When you sit on the cushions, do they stay in place or do the corners flare up? Are they attached to the frame with a clip to hold them down?

What Style of Sofa Arm Do You Like?

Choose an arm style for your new sofa. You can choose from armless, traditional rolled arm, curved English arm, or a straight Parsons style. The rolled arm has a flat front panel and is often outlined in cording. English style is rounded at the front, with fabric formed into sunburst-type pleats. Straight arm sofas are most often seen in contemporary settings.

A Skirted Sofa or One With Bare Legs?

Do you want a skirted sofa or one with the visible legs? Choose from leg styles that vary from heavy square chunks and wide bun feet to more delicate tapered legs or carved and curved formal versions. Legs are usually available in a number of finishes as well.

Understand Frame Construction for Upholstered Furniture

Ask about the construction of a sofa under consideration. The best are made from kiln-dried hardwoods (oak, maple, poplar, etc.), while inexpensive furniture is made from softer pine lumber. Interior construction is important as well. Cheap furniture is stapled together and has haphazardly constructed corner bracing. Better frames are securely screwed together.

Understand Sofa Seat Construction

Find out how the seat support system is made. Often a furniture store will have a cutaway model of the interior of upholstered pieces. Does it have quality 8-way tied springs or cheaper wire coils?

Choosing the Cushion and Pillow Filling for Your Sofa

The cushion and pillow filling are important to the feel of a sofa. Upholstery foam is inexpensive and comes in several thicknesses and weights, however the best cushions have down fillings. All-down cushions must be fluffed daily, though another option uses down pads wrapped around a core of foam. Understand these options for the sofa you want and which might be best for you. Are the cushions standard or special order, foam or down?

Choose the Fabric for You New Sofa's Final Cover

Choose a fabric for your sofa. Chenille is soft and durable while Leather is long-lasting and attractive. Velvets and other fabrics look lovely but may wear out with heavy use over the years. Finally consider options for trimmings. Dress up a sofa with fringed pillows or double welted seams. While these options add to the cost, they also give your piece a one-of-a-kind look. Many furniture manufacturers also offer the option of custom-made slipcovers to give you a seasonal change.

 

www.johnthompsondesigner.com

JOHN THOMPSON DESIGNER "best of houzz 2013"

John Thompson Designer of Portland Receives

Houzz’s 2013 ‘Best Of Houzz’ Award

 

Annual Survey and Analysis of 11 Million Monthly Users

 Reveals Top-Rated U.S. Professionals

 

[Portland, Oregon]  --  January 21, 2013 – john thompson designer of Portland, Oregon  has been awarded  “Best Of Houzz” 2013 by Houzz, the leading online platform for residential remodeling and design.  The 12 year old interior design firm chosen by the more than 11 million monthly users that comprise the Houzz community.

 

The Houzz “Best of Houzz” award for 2013 is given in two categories: Customer Satisfaction and Design. Customer Satisfaction award winners are based on homeowner members who rated their experience working with remodeling professionals in 12 categories ranging from architects, and interior designers to contractors and other residential remodeling professionals.  Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the community of 11 million monthly users, also known as “Houzzers,” who saved more than 124 million professional images of home interiors and exteriors to their personal ideabooks via the Houzz site, iPad/iPhone app and Android app.

 

“I believe that your home should be a welcoming place that inspires you to be passionate about your life. Let’s Make Something Beautiful Together”


“Houzz provides homeowners with an in-depth, 360-degree view of building, remodeling and design professionals through images of their work, reviews and an opportunity to interact with them directly in the Houzz community,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of community. “We’re delighted to recognize John A. Thompson among our “Best Of” professionals for exceptional customer service as judged by our community of homeowners and design enthusiasts who are actively remodeling and decorating their homes.”

 

With Houzz, homeowners can identify not only the top-rated professionals like John A. Thompson, but also those whose work matches their own aspirations for their home. Homeowners can also evaluate professionals by contacting them directly on the Houzz platform, asking questions about their work and evaluating their responses to questions from others in the Houzz community.

 

 

About John A. Thompson

   After studying with industry leaders, Wayne Martin and Don Berger, John’s many accomplishments begins with his zeal and quest for great design. Transforming your home into the home of your dreams. Remembering that all design should be beautiful. He has been a mercer of fine textiles and a quality home furnishing for over two decades.John is also an instructor to students at a local design school in Portland, Oregon. He believes that mentoring future interior designers only strengthens his role in the design community.

About Houzz

Houzz (www.houzz.com) is a leading online platform for home remodeling, providing inspiration, information, ‘advice and support for homeowners and home improvement professionals through its website and mobile applications. Houzz features the largest residential design database in the world, articles written by design experts, product recommendations, a vibrant community powered by social tools, and information on more than 1.5 million remodeling and design professionals worldwide who can help turn ideas into reality. @houzz_inc

Rooms to Live for

Bold confident choices blended  with the elements of colour, pattern and  texture  bring each room to life. Various lifestyle demand that each room be unique quality pieces of livable art.

 John Thompson Designer, the innovative creator of each of these rooms is progressive design firm located in Portland , Oregon.

Escaping from their rather neutral boxes, each room took shape. The house became the home that greets each client. A masterpiece for their refined but eclectic tastes. The proper mix of colour and visual texture unfolds the layers. The use of sophisticated textiles blends with the

 accessories, art work and beloved family heirlooms. These rooms  express the personality of each homeowner. 

 In this living room the deep peacock teal blue become the backdrop for a very eclectic home furnished with ethnic,modern or antique pieces. the wunderkammer on the wall organizes the various finds of visual and textural eye candy. The textile on the sofa is from wholesale fabric house.www.pollackassociates.com

Recreating her life after years of having nothing, This client used her limited to purchase a custom sofa built for her specific needs of comfort and her small space. The mix of various shades of grey are tried together by the beautiful area rugs by www.lapchi.com it is a wonderful blend of silk and wool that are woven to create the luxury in this simple apartment.

The strong colours of this unusual area rug become the foundation for the vivid spring colours for this lively home for  empty Nester couple. The various textiles of cotton teal velvet, striped silks, rich Jacquard tapestries from www.clarencehouse.com  take on the adventure of the shocking colours that lift the casual upholstery to a new level. The white walls and furniture become a back drop for the couples collection of artwork from Henk Pander, a local NW artist featured at www.laurarusso.com

High in the mountains in Truckee, California, Becomes the modern vacation  lodge for a multi generational family. The attention to detail in all the finishes from the Cypress planks on the ceiling to the custom pieces fromwww.donghia.com and from Portland, Oregon based furniture company, www.thejoinery.com create the warmth that greets the family each time that travel from the city to relax in the mountain retreat. For more on this lodge, refer to my earlier blog,residential design project from inception to move in , date January 15, 2012.

Green became the new neutral as this dark space comes alive, The pale celedon chairs from www.hbf.com loved by the homeowner started the design process. The elegant custom sofa covered in white wool sateen brought the much needed life into this space. the wool sheers fromwww.clarencehouse.com soften the stronger contemporary windows in  this modern condo in the Pearl in downtown Portland, Oregon.

This client took the average house and turned into an Aspen inspired bachelor's home. The sofa is covered in www.robertallendesign.com and the occasional chairs were covered in a soft chenille velvet fromwww.brentanofabrics.com. Big leaf maple was chosen for the custom hand chisled fireplace mantel from www.endurawood.com.

The elements of our lifestyles help make the selections for each of these home for people on the move to clients seeking solitude with their meditation. Each are bold choices for design. You can see more of these homes and others like them at the new website  www.johnthompsondesigner.com or Call for an appointment today.
sincerely,
John