Urban Nest Design Tip of the Week: MetroPaint

Where to Find Affordable and Environmentally Conscious Latex Paint in PDX

In this series, we share simple DIY solutions for maximum design impact, brought to you by our very own Agent Andy Barlow.

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This week I wanted to share a tip about paint. We all know that paint can be the biggest, most cost effective way to completely change the feel and look of a space. But what you might not know is that there is an even more affordable way to paint your spaces in Portland - MetroPaint! 

You may know Metro as the place where you take all your hazardous wastes, but one thing that many don’t know is that they collect all the latex paint that people dump and recycle it into new paint that comes in a variety of colors. MetroPaint is useable for both indoor and outdoor, and comes with a five-year warranty. 

The best part? Besides keeping chemicals out of landfills, this paint is only $13 per gallon!! Yes, you heard that right - $13!!! 

Learn more about MetroPaint, how it’s made, and where to buy by clicking here. Now go paint some walls!  

Photos courtesy of MetroPaint. 

Urban Nest's Design Tip of the Week is written by our own Agent Andy Barlow. He divides his time between real estate and interior design, meaning that he can help you buy a house and decorate it too. Ready to take the leap into a more comfortable space for you and your family? Get in touch with Andy here.

Crusher Court Neighbor Spotlight: Project Object

Visiting Our Neighbors at Project Object

In this series, Urban Nest sits down with neighboring business owners in the new Crusher Court commercial building to talk shop about what makes their store or business fit so well with Portland. 

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Female-First Lifestyle Accessories on a Mission

For those who haven't visited Urban Nest's new office location in the Crusher Court commercial building, read about our new space in this brand new renovated building from Guerrilla Development. The perks of our new office space don't stop at the innovative design, we're also blessed to have an incredible assortment of neighboring businesses, all of which (including Urban Nest) are owned by women. To celebrate this community, we'll be visiting and spotlighting each of our neighboring businesses here on our blog.

This week, we'll be visiting Project Object, a retail shop that stocks handmade goods from local makers in PDX, with a focus on supporting social justice causes for women, minorities, and the LGBTQ community. Read on for our interview with owner T.  

UN: What do you love most about being a part of the Crusher Court business community?

It feels like home here.  Everyone here is amazingly nice and kind. We’re all small businesses so it seems like we have an understanding that in order to thrive we must support one another. So whether it’s helping to answer questions to grow as a business, trouble shoot or even borrowing a can opener everyone has been great!

UN: How has being surrounded by women-owned businesses impacted your company culture or daily operations?

Our shop is based on supporting women, lgbtq, poc, artist and designers so just being surrounded by women-owned businesses has been very empowering and a great support system for us as well.

UN: What makes the customer experience unique at Project Object?

We have a fun shop that focuses on products made by amazingly talented and passionate people and we are passionate about them.  Every piecewe carry has a story behind the artist or designer and we make sure that customers get to know them through their work.  We make sure to create a relaxed and inviting environment with even sometimes offering sweet treats on gloomy days to those who need a pick me up or a refreshing la croix on a scorching hot day.

UN: What is your favorite thing about Portland?

The people and our community. We are not able to do what we love unless we have the support from the people around us. We love everyone here!

UN: What do you think makes your business a great fit for Portland?

We do our best to share work for artists and designers that support love, compassion, humor and a little bit of weird which I think Portland is as a city.

UN: Which part of town do you live in, and what do you love about it most?

I live in Roseway - NE Portland.  I love our neighbors and the businesses around us because they actually care about everyone.  We also have a beautiful greenway in front of our home that runs for blocks and it’s always well kept only because it’s everyones home.  Plus it’s a great place to meet cute dogs!

 

URBAN NEST PDX: WE KNOW PORTLAND!

Click here to learn more about working with us to find the PDX home of your dreams today.

Learn more about Project Object on their website.

Urban Nest Design Tip of the Week: Open Shelving Made Easy

Stylish Open Shelving Made Easy (With a Little Help From IKEA!)

In this series, we share simple DIY solutions for maximum design impact, brought to you by our very own Agent Andy Barlow.

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Have you ever looked at pictures of open shelving on Pinterest or in a design magazine and knew that you wanted some, but didn’t know how to start or how much it might cost you? Well, if so, then here is an easy way to have your own for just $20 per shelf! (and yes, this means you’re heading to IKEA!)

The mix-and-match shelves at IKEA are seriously the easiest and cheapest way to get open shelves in your own home, and if your budget is really tight, you could find even cheaper options there than the $20 ones I got. (Not in love with the brackets and want something a bit more unique? Spray paint the brackets gold or any other color to create a pop of fun). 

The next step is making sure they are secure on the wall, so head to the nearest hardware store (take a bracket with you) and find some anchors and screws that will fit. This shouldn't cost you more than a few dollars. 

Once you get the shelves up, the fun part begins - decorating! You can put open shelves in literally any room. Not only do they add depth to the wall, they add style and storage, which is especially useful for smaller spaces. See below for some different room ideas. 

Living room or bedroom: Add your favorite books, plants, photos, and tchotchkes. Feel free to hang small pieces of art within the shelves to add even more dimension. 

Kitchen or dining room: Add your plates, glasses, mugs and more! Open shelving gives you the chance to curate and display your dishes instead of just hiding them away.

OR, use the open shelves to create a bar space!

Any room: Turn them into an indoor garden! This is especially useful for cat owners who feel they can’t have plants because the cat always eats them… though I’ll never put it past a determined cat to find a way to anything. 

Take a look at the IKEA options here. 

Urban Nest's Design Tip of the Week is written by our own Agent Andy Barlow. He divides his time between real estate and interior design, meaning that he can help you buy a house and decorate it too. Ready to take the leap into a more comfortable space for you and your family? Get in touch with Andy here. 

Agent Andy's House of the Week: 3144 N Kilpatrick

Cape Cod Charm in North Portland

In this series, Urban Nest's very own Agent Andy Barlow shares his favorite Portland home of the week. See stunning properties from all across town and pick up valuable insight from one of Portland's most discerning real estate professionals. 

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This week my favorite listing takes us up to the northern neighborhood of Kenton.  If you’ve been paying attention to trends in the Portland real estate market, you’ve probably caught on that Kenton is becoming a very desirable place to be, and it makes sense. There is a real community feel in this hood, as well as a park and small bustling downtown scene packed with local businesses. So, if you’ve been waiting to get into Kenton, this could be your chance! 

Walking up to the Cape Cod home at 3144 N. Kilpatrick, I immediately notice how charming this house is, and how lush the landscaping is. Inside, the main level features a bedroom, living room, full bathroom, and a very, very stylish (and updated) kitchen and dining space. The kitchen and dining room are open to each other, and both are flooded with natural light from the massive bay window around the dining room table. 

Heading out the door at the end of the kitchen, I journeyed into the backyard, which was even more lush than the front. This home has an oversized lot, and most of that is out here. There is plenty of space to entertain under the covered patio, garden in the multiple raised beds, and just explore the array of different types of foliage that make the whole yard feel like a tropical escape. 

Back inside there are two more bedrooms and a half bath upstairs (plus another living space and bedroom in the basement). The upstairs is quaint and original with wood paneling, built-in features, and beamed and vaulted ceilings. There is also the perfect potential for some sweat equity up here if the buyer wanted to expand the bathroom and add a tub or shower.

If you’re not sold yet (you should be!) then you can rest easy knowing the roof, furnace, plumbing, and siding have all been recently replaced! Oh, and property taxes are under $3,000 per year! 

My favorite part? That kitchen and dining room. When I first saw the listing online, it was the kitchen alone that pulled me to tour the home, and I’m so glad I did. If you’d like to tour it yourself, give me a call - I’d gladly go back in an instant.

Take a look at the full listing here.

Click here to learn more about working with us to find the PDX home of your dreams today.

Urban Nest Design Tip of the Week: Mugs from Mantel

Elevating Your Kitchen's Style with Mugs from Mantel

In this series, we share simple DIY solutions for maximum design impact, brought to you by our very own Agent Andy Barlow.

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Sometimes good design is all about the small things. It’s easy to get caught up in all the large objects going into a space, but it’s important to remember to take time on every detail, no matter how small. This week’s design tip is coffee mugs. Choosing the right mug will not only make your shelving look perfectly curated, it will make you enjoy your coffee more, and maybe even enjoy doing the dishes more. If you’re like me, a mug is the first thing you grab in the morning - so, think of choosing a nice mug as an investment into your daily routine. The mugs seen here are all available to purchase at Kenton’s hottest boutique: Mantel. And the best part, these are all made here on the west coast (and all but one is made in Portland!).

Tumbler style and Espresso mug options by Candy Relics (Portland), Pawena (Los Angeles), Wolf Ceramics (Portland), Tamara Bryan (Portland) 

(Bonus design tip: these non-handle mugs also make for very cute small planters, perfect for succulents!) 

Urban Nest's Design Tip of the Week is written by our own Agent Andy Barlow. He divides his time between real estate and interior design, meaning that he can help you buy a house and decorate it too. Ready to take the leap into a more comfortable space for you and your family? Get in touch with Andy here.