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A Gatsby-Inspired Estate with Vast Portland Views

Perched high in Portland's Southwest Hills, this multi-year renovation project pays homage to the home's elegant structure while adding playful, modern elements.

Design by JHL Design
Photography by Bittermann Photography / JBSA

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Family-owned and helmed by principal Holly Freres, JHL Design features an in-house, multidisciplinary team—interior designers, architects, procurement managers and construction administrators that create cohesive and artful spaces. Their focus is always on timeless, uncompromising quality - which is on full display in their most recent project: the Hemenway House.

This English-style estate, set on a 2-acre property, calls to mind imagery from The Great Gatsby. Over the course of four years, nearly every inch of the home was renovated, including new windows and doors, all-new finishes, and even a few small adjustments to the home’s footprint to correct scale and functionality.

JHL worked with a number of artisans and craftspeople to create custom finishes and furnishings. “It was important that we paid homage to the home’s elegant structure, while elevating the designs to have more style impact,” says Freres. These included custom furniture such as armoires, tables, and bathroom vanities; innovative custom light fixtures; elaborate inlaid floors; and metalwork, such as doorknobs and balusters, cast specifically for this project.

“The house is so vast, it felt important to make sure the primary bath has a substantial presence,” says Freres, who explains that the suite’s footprint was reworked, incorporating three other previous rooms during the home’s four-year transformation. A hand-carved marble soaking tub, marble floors, and his-and-her vanities, each with a separate toilet room, further enhance the sense of a luxurious retreat.

September 15, 2024

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