Tour Portland Like Local Designer Holly Freres

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Tour Portland Like Local Designer Holly Freres

Tour Portland Like Local Designer Holly Freres

Tour Portland Like Local Designer Holly Freres

Tour Portland Like Local Designer Holly Freres

Holly Freres

Owner and Principle Designer, JHL Design

Holly Freres took the helm at the family-owned JHL Design in 2003 and has since created a studio reflecting the modern Portland design aesthetic with a sustainable ethos. Freres has infused her efficient and luxurious approach into a wide range of commercial developments and countless warm and bright residential projects often incorporating natural wood as her signature element. She recently completed a modern beach house in Arch Cape, Oregon, and is in the midst of designing luxury penthouse units in Portland’s Cosmopolitan on the Park high-rise building. Here, Freres takes us on a tour across the city’s four bustling quadrants because “for better or for worse, there is no ‘shopping district,’” she says. With great boutiques peppered throughout the area, the designer provides a locals’ road map to Portland’s dynamic neighborhoods.

9 a.m. Start with breakfast at Headwaters in the historic Heathman Hotel and order the Dungeness crab omelette with Gruyere cheese and spinach.

10 a.m. Check out a few of the west-side shops such as Bedford Brown, Canoe, Frances May, Mercantile and Woonwinkel before stopping at one of Portland’s greatest attractions, Powell’s Books. Along the way, grab a coffee from Stumptown.

12 p.m. For lunch, go to Masu and order the serrano calamari, any sushi roll and–if you’re so inclined–the Love Bites cocktail made with Cazadores Reposado. Snag a seat near a window for ideal people-watching along the bustling 13th Avenue.

1 p.m. Walk around The Pearl, Portland’s old warehouse district that now houses some of my favorite art galleries including Elizabeth Leach Gallery. It also features fantastic showrooms such as Ann Sacks and Lapchi— eye candy for the home.

2 p.m. Head to the east side for more fun shopping: Spartan Shop, Una and Nationale.

4 p.m. North Portland boasts the Beam & Anchor showroom, and if you’re in the mood for a little R&R before a night out, treat yourself to a steam and foot soak at Loyly. There is nothing more rejuvenating.

6 p.m. Indulge in pre-dinner sweets on Mississippi Avenue–maybe ice cream at Ruby Jewel or chocolate from The Meadow.

7 p.m. Cap off the day with cocktails at Expatriate and dinner across the street at Beast–if you can get a reservation!