A wild, welcoming entry: Remodeling tips for the holidays – OregonLive.com

Portland interior designer Angela Todd is a believer in bold colors and entrancing patterns, even in a historic building that just happens to be her home.

Here, she transformed an easy-to-ignore foyer into a captivating jewel-box environment with blue and fuchsia hues, aged stained and painted new wood, and a mix of statement-making textiles all while honoring the 1916 Foursquares classic character.

Like many homeowners, Todd had aspirations to improve an underwhelming space, in this case it was her entry.

But four years after she moved in, all she had accomplished with the project was to splash ho-hum yellow paint on the lathe and plaster, which already held layers of wallpaper. This temporary fix only made the potentially dramatic oak floor and the other woodworks time-earned patina fade into the background.

Then, she spontaneously accepted Better Homes & Gardens Fall One Room Challenge in which she and close to 300 other tastemakers across the country were invited to make over a space in six weeks.

The clock was ticking and the public was watching.

If you have ordered custom furniture or worked with a designer in the past, you might realize how crazy this timeline really is, Todd wrote in her informative blog.

In the end, she completed the transformation on time, posted before and after photos, and drew praise from design fans. Followers of @angelatoddstudios on Instagram ballooned.

Her personalized artistic expression, which is full of energy and zest, as she describes it, wraps bright floral Osborne & Little wallpaper from Manolo Walls around window frames made of old-growth timber.

A leopard-print wool runner from Classique Floors covers well-tread stair steps and a new brass chandelier with multicolored gems was inspired by the old brass switch plate and hardware of the wide front door.

Todd sees herself as a steward of her 103-year-old home and shes thankful that much of the labor-intensive and irreplaceable adornments have survived, despite different owners tastes, decades of shifting decorating trends and the desire for modern upgrades.

She accepts that her homes wood stain isnt currently in style, but she worked hard to preserve its distinctive raised grain.

Please think long and hard before you paint stained woodwork, replace wood windows or remove original fixtures and fittings, Todd wrote in her blog. She says older, well-made pieces were built to last and can be repaired and reconditioned for less than the cost of inferior replacements.

She advises her clients who dont like an existing element to consider this: Almost anything can be made fresh and beautiful by changing what surrounds it.

Trends will come and go, but great craftsmanship and quality are timeless, says Todd, who recommends The Old House Guy website as a resource.

Here are interior designer Angela Todds tips to dressing up an entry before holiday guests arrive:

An entry gives guests an instant impression and expectation of their visit. Think first about function, then how to add comfort and establish a mood. The goal is to anticipate guests needs.

--Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072

jeastman@oregonian.com | @janeteastman

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A wild, welcoming entry: Remodeling tips for the holidays - OregonLive.com