5 Questions For: Jessica Helgerson, Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

Name: Jessica Helgerson

Title: Founder, interior designer

Company: Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

Location: Portland

Which of your designs or projects are you most excited about right now?

We have a lot of exciting work happening right now. We’re working on a hotel just around the corner from our office, as well as a gorgeous limestone (like a brownstone but fancier) in Brooklyn’s Park Slope neighborhood, a pizza place in San Francisco, a thorough renovation of a beautiful and historic Tudor house in Portland, and a beach house in the Hamptons. I love variety in our work, both in terms of geography and typology, so I’m happiest when we have diversity in the office, which we have in spades right now.  

I’m also very excited about two projects we have in the works:

We are creating a gallery in the front of our new office, called Front of House, which will be a space for one artist at a time to create site-specific installations. I’ve been inspired for many years by Suyama Space in Seattle and am excited to create something similar in Portland.  

We’re also putting together a proposal for a book that will be an in-depth look at JHID’s work process and our collaborations with artists and artisans.

Tell us three words that embody your design philosophy.

Thoughtful. Playful. Beautiful.

What's your favorite place in the Pacific Northwest? Why?

Wild Goose Farm on Sauvie Island! My husband and I fell in love with Sauvie Island just months after moving to Portland. The small scale of the agriculture there reminded me of the countryside in France where I spent all of my childhood summers. We started looking for a place to buy nearly a decade ago, and after a few years found a five-acre parcel with two decrepit houses, two barns, lots of gorgeous old oak trees, and a million projects. My son Max came up with the name Wild Goose Farm, and it stuck.  

We first fixed up one of the little houses, and our family of four lived in that tiny, 540-square foot house for four years. Over the last two years we’ve been building a larger farmhouse where we now live. During all of these years we have been working the fields, getting the soil healthier, planting fruit trees, flowers, berries, and lots of vegetables. It has been a huge undertaking, but it finally feels close to ‘done’. It is a beautiful, happy place where friends are always welcome. I love, love, love to be home.

Tiny House on Sauvie Island. Image by Lincoln Barbour.

Who or what are you inspired by right now?

I really love British designer Ilse Crawford. She can do no wrong in my book. I’m also continuously inspired by the designers in my office. They have wonderful ideas, and do beautiful work. We work together in a positive, symbiotic, inspiring way. JHID is a lot more than Jessica Helgerson!

What do you think of the color gray?

I love it! I love dark green-grays, pale beige-grays, soft blue-grays, warm yellow-grays. What’s not to love? The color gray is subtle, intriguing, beautiful. I even love gray weather! 

Image Courtesy of Parker Fitzgerald.

Meet the Team: Rachel Gallaher

Ever wonder who's behind GRAY magazine? Well, we want you to get to know us a little better. That's why we're starting the Meet the Team series. Every week we will be posting a Q&A with one of our fabulous team members so you can get a peek at their inspirations, experience at the magazine, and how they got involved in the design industry. And if you have anymore questions, don't hesitate to leave a comment.

Photo: Catleah Cunanan

Name: Rachel Gallaher

Position at GRAY: Editor

What is your favorite part of working for GRAY?

All of the amazing people I get to meet. I’m incredibly social and I love conversing with thinkers, craftspeople, designers, and innovators. Our region is such a hotbed of creativity. At least two to three times a week someone will ask me if I heard of this artist or that architect, or so-and-so the fashion designer, and about 70 percent of the time they are someone new, or a fabulous up-and-comer. Many of the people I’ve interviewed or interacted with for GRAY have become very dear friends.

How would you describe the Pacific Northwest design and architecture scene? How is it different from other parts of the country?

There are no rules! I think that there is a huge amount of freedom in the Pacific Northwest because we aren’t tied to hundreds of years of certain architectural styles and buildings, which isn’t a negative thing by any means. This region seems to attract thinkers, innovators, and creative types across all fields who aren’t afraid to take risks or dive into collaboration with other designers.

How did you get into the design industry?

Like several people at GRAY, I started out at Seattle Homes & Lifestyles. I was just out of college and it was my first internship. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, but I knew that I wanted to write. I had always wanted to be a writer. Once I started dipping my toes in the world of design I was hooked. So when I got the call from Shawn asking if I was interested in being involved in this “idea to start a new magazine,” I said yes without hesitation and jumped in with both feet.

What is your favorite design era or style? Why?

I love midcentury modern. I think it has something to do with the defined lines and clean minimalism (I hate clutter and am constantly paring down everything in my apartment except my books—those just keep mysteriously multiplying … ). Despite originating from a specific era, I find the furniture to be timeless and easy to incorporate into many styles of décor. The colors are also to die for. Do I secretly want an avocado-green Smeg refrigerator? Um, who doesn’t?

Do you have any favorite GRAY memories?

Anything involving a studio shoot with our style director Stacy Kendall.  Whenever we get into the studio and start settings things up or moving them around, it always seems like the concept grows and changes—almost to the point where we’re asking ourselves, “Can we really pull this off?” And somehow we always do. Plus, she’s pretty much one of the funniest people I know.

What is your favorite section of the magazine? Why?

That’s tough, but I think it would have to be the fashion section. I love finding out about all the amazing talent coming out of the Pacific Northwest. Plus, I’ve gotten to play dress-up in more than a few designers’ studios.

What is your favorite space in your home? 

My living room. I spend a lot of time in there, and it’s the place where my friends and I just hang out, drink wine, and spend hours talking. Most of the items in there are from the Goodwill, but I’m known to have good luck there. I’ve gotten an industrial cart on wheels that I use as a coffee table, an early 1900s steamer trunk, two Italian brass-and-leather midcentury chairs, and an old record player. One of my favorite things to do is hunt for old records—I love to just put on some Led Zeppelin and sprawl out on the couch at the end of the day. You have to feel comfortable in your own space. 

Meet the Team: Debra Prinzing

Ever wonder who's behind GRAY magazine? Well, we want you to get to know us a little better. That's why we're starting the Meet the Team series. Every week we will be posting a Q&A with one of our fabulous team members so you can get a peek at their inspirations, experience at the magazine, and how they got involved in the design industry. And if you have anymore questions, don't hesitate to leave a comment.

(c) Mary Grace Long photography

photographed at Jello Mold Farm in Skagit Valley

Name: Debra Prinzing

Position at GRAY: Landscape and Culture Editor

What is your favorite part of working for GRAY?

Being able to tell design stories that excite me in the pages of a beautifully-designed, professionally produced publication. I also love collaborating with a team of super creative storytellers to produce the best design publication in our region.


How would you describe the Pacific Northwest design and architecture scene? How is it different from other parts of the country?

People in the Pacific Northwest have a particular relationship to place. We have an emotional connection to our surroundings; we both possess and are possessed by the homes, the rooms, the furnishings, the artwork, and the plant-filled landscapes that we 
create for ourselves.

How did you get into the design industry?

My undergraduate degree is in textiles and for a few years I worked in the fashion industry. My first job out of college was as a junior writer on the staff of Seventeen Magazine in New York. After I returned to Seattle in the early 1990s, I gravitated to business writing at Puget Sound Business Journal. Because of my design background I ended up covering all the creative beats: retail, hospitality, media, marketing, architecture, and graphic design. That experience rooted me as a design journalist. In the past 16 years I have been an independent writer covering residential architecture, interiors, landscaping and floral design, including as a design columnist at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and a regular contributor to the Los Angeles Times.

What is your favorite design era or style? Why?

I have always loved Arts & Crafts for its strong connection to nature, its earthy palette and the celebration of organic materials used. In 1998, my husband and I worked with Robin Abrahams of Abrahams Architects to create an old-new Craftsman style home that totally reflected our love of this style. Then we suddenly moved to Los Angeles in 2006 and we had to sell that home. I swore I would NEVER live in a California ranch house, but guess what? We ended up living in a 1980's stucco and red-tile-roofed ranch. While living in Southern California for four years, I truly began to appreciate that architectural style, as well as its earlier iteration, the Midcentury modern home. Both architectural styles embrace the indoor-outdoor vibe, which speaks to me no matter what the climate.


Do you have any favorite GRAY memories?

It was so much fun to spend an afternoon last  summer enjoying a GRAY team lunch at managing editor Lindsey Roberts' parents home overlooking Puget Sound near Shelton. We rarely stop long enough to do something just to nurture friendships. So to me, it was a very special day, thanks to Lindsey and her mother Christy Rowe.

What is your favorite space in your home?

My office. It is painted Leaf green and I'm surrounded by a huge library of horticulture and design books - ceiling to floor, as well as my collection of vintage American vases. The room has three huge windows facing east. I rarely feel like it's work when I'm inside this space.


What has been one of the highlights of the past year for you?

Launching the "Slow Flowers Podcast with Debra Prinzing," a free weekly podcast about American flowers and the people who grow and design with them. It's available free on iTunes and to date, more than 6,000 episodes have been downloaded by listeners.

Meet the Team: Kim Schmidt

Ever wonder who's behind GRAY magazine? Well, we want you to get to know us a little better. That's why we're starting the Meet the Team series. Every week we will be posting a Q&A with one of our fabulous team members so you can get a peek at their inspirations, experience at the magazine, and how they got involved in the design industry. And if you have anymore questions, don't hesitate to leave a comment.

Account Executive Kim Schmidt with her dog Charlie. 

Name: Kim Schmidt

Position at GRAY: Account Executive 

What is your favorite part of working for GRAY?

I love being immersed in the local design scene. Connecting with my clients and forming friendships over time is gratifying. It is exciting to start at GRAY's inception and watch it take off.

How would you describe the Pacific Northwest design and architecture scene? How is it different from other parts of the country?

I grew up in the Northeast, so I was surrounded by older architecture and a more formal design style. Here in the Pacific Northwest, people are very interested to know where materials and pieces come from, how they are made and by whom. This makes for a perfect alliance with the many small workshops and creators that live and work here.  I feel like design here has a more organic quality.

How did you get into the design industry?

My first job in the design industry was with a small residential interior design firm as the design assistant and office manager. After working there for about two years, I heard about a new publication starting called Seattle Homes & Lifestyles. I thought it would be a great way to experience the design industry and was hired by the magazine just as it launched its first issue.

What is your favorite design era or style? Why? 

I enjoy a mix of styles. I inherited some antiques from my grandparents and I mix them with Craigslist and estate sale finds as well as Ikea finds. One of my favorite things to do is hunt for interesting vintage and second-hand accessories to add character to my house. I'm appreciating mid-century designs more and a modern, clean look in general.

What is your favorite section of the magazine? Why? 

I like the home features—getting a glimpse of how others live and choose to decorate their homes is intrigues me. Also, the Raves section and finding out what is new and hot now.

What is your favorite thing about the Pacific Northwest region?

Not the rain and gray—sorry! I do love the natural beauty of the water and mountains plus gorgeous sunsets.  

What is your favorite space in your home? 

My dining room, which is my work pace, where my kids do homework, and a hangout spot with friends. It is sunny and the bright-pistachio green walls make me happy!

Meet the Team: Stacy Kendall

Ever wonder who's behind GRAY magazine? Well, we want you to get to know us a little better. That's why we're starting the Meet the Team series. Every week we will be posting a Q&A with one of our fabulous team members so you can get a peek at their inspirations, experience at the magazine, and how they got involved in the design industry. And if you have anymore questions, don't hesitate to leave a comment.

Name: Stacy Kendall

Position at GRAY: Style Director

What is your favorite part of working for GRAY?

Knowing that we are doing this for absolutely the right reasons—the love of the Pacific Northwest design industry, design in general, and this magazine.

How would you describe the Pacific Northwest design and architecture scene? How is it different from other parts of the country?

I love that design here can be unexpected. There are certainly Northwest design clichés, but I still feel that you can't pin us down completely. Other regions of the country have long histories and design standards that can seem almost mandated by the state or something. I like that we value individuality.

How did you get into the design industry?

I was working at an antique and interiors shop in Seattle during college, and we advertised in Seattle Homes & Lifestyles magazine. I have always loved magazines and interior design and architecture, so I inquired about an internship—which they had never even had before! Two years and many opportunities to flex my writing and editorial muscles later, I became the assistant market editor and then the market editor. 

Do you have any favorite GRAY memories?

I will never forget when we were on Whidbey Island shooting a home feature. I came back from picking up lunch, and clearly Shawn Williams (our publisher and creative director) and Alex Hayden (our photographer) had been plotting while I was away because she turned to me and just said, "Ok, don't say no ..." Which always means it's going to be good. They decided that to add some interest to the shot of the water and the dock, that someone should be standing at the end ... in a bathing suit. Conveniently, the homeowner had a vintage bathing suit collection. Everything in my being protested to giving in, but I really will do anything for GRAY. She promised that I would be barely recognizable and really far in the background. Thank goodness! The shot ended up being the cover, so I joke that I've graced the cover of a magazine in a bathing suit.

What is your favorite section of the magazine? Why?

As a former market editor, I have to say any shopping or style story. Nicole Munson (associate style editor) has such an amazing eye (follow her on Pinterest, you won't be disappointed), and in every issue I'm amazed at what she finds. I like that for the first year and a half of the magazine we played with the idea of horoscopes on the back page with the Zodiac section. It was just a silly idea that we had at the beginning, and I love that we could do it just because! It's really Nicole's great eye that makes me love that page. 

What is your favorite space in your home?

Probably the dining room. I love entertaining, and sometimes my favorite part of that is just setting the table and putting the drinks and glasses out on the buffet. I love a festive atmosphere. This year I got a pair of lamps that are white lacquer, in the shape of a horse head, which I put on each end of the buffet. They always make me smile! And I put up a print from my friend, and very talented artist, Dylan Neuwirth, that says "PUNK" on the wall. I always try to maintain a sense of humor and unexpectedness in my house. 

Meet the Team: Hillary Rielly

Ever wonder who's behind GRAY magazine? Well, we want you to get to know us a little better. That's why we're starting the Meet the Team series. Every week we will be posting a Q&A with one of our fabulous team members so you can get a peek at their inspirations, experience at the magazine, and how they got involved in the design industry. And if you have anymore questions, don't hesitate to leave a comment.

Name: Hillary Rielly           

Position at GRAY: Writer

What is your favorite part of working for GRAY?

Being surrounded by so many talented women. The dudes are talented too, but I am all about women!

How would you describe the Pacific Northwest design and architecture scene? How is it different from other parts of the country?

It’s definitely coming into its own and embracing its own sense of natural, comfortable Modernism. I love that we are finding our voice and sense of self. I think ultimately it comes down to the materials—they mimic our surroundings and don’t try to be something else. I like that.

How did you get into the design industry?

I got my degree in interior design from Bellevue College and after a two-year stint working in restaurants, I got my first job in the industry at Inform Interiors.

What is your favorite design era or style? Why?

I really love the ‘70s. The colors, the materials, but I’m more about the hippier side of it and less the super glam.  Though, I’ll throw some gold into the mix any day of the week!

What is your favorite section of the magazine? Why?

It’s not a section but I love the graphics of the entire magazine. It is so polished and professional—I pinch myself that I get to write for such a high-caliber mag.

What is your favorite space in your home? 

If I had to narrow it down, it would be my dining area. We had our table custom built and I love it. I love that it’s long and fits up to 12 and that we’ve had a zillion dinner parties around it with a zillion great friends. I love that I do most of my writing at that table, and art projects, and wrapping presents, and it’s where my son will eat solid foods and we’ll talk about our days. That space embodies family, friends, good food, and love.

What has been one of the highlights of the past year for you?

Having my baby son. Wow, what an experience, what a journey. And it really brought me so much closer to my husband and reinforced me doing what I love. And now I’ve got this little guy in my life that is so much more fun than I thought was possible for a five-month old. 

Meet the Team: Lindsey M. Roberts

Ever wonder who's behind GRAY magazine? Well, we want you to get to know us a little better. That's why we're starting the Meet the Team series. Every week we will be posting a Q&A with one of our fabulous team members so you can get a peek at their inspirations, experience at the magazine, and how they got involved in the design industry. And if you have anymore questions, don't hesitate to leave a comment.

Name: Lindsey M. Roberts

Position at GRAY: Managing Editor




What is your favorite part of working for GRAY?

As GRAY’s managing editor, I confess that my favorite part of my job is proofing the issue before it goes to print. It’s so satisfying to sit with a glass of wine and a red pen and see the fruit of the team’s hard work on paper. (The red pen is just to make sure that the work we feature is represented as best as it can be.)


How would you describe the Pacific Northwest design and architecture scene? How is it different from other parts of the country?

In the Northwest, I would say that it’s more likely that homeowners invest time and energy into their house and landscaping so that it’s not a cookie-cutter home but one that reflects their individual personalities. They're not satisfied with rooms created in catalogue spreads; maybe they’ll start there, but in the end, they want something truly unique.


How did you get into the design industry?

Although I grew up in a 1901 Craftsman in West Seattle that my parents spent 32 years painstakingly updating, I really didn’t know what I had. It wasn’t until I was hired as assistant editor at the former Seattle Homes & Lifestyles that I started learning about all the innovative design that our part of the country has to offer. I’ll never forget going to bookshop owner Peter Miller and begging him to catch me up to speed. He handed me a glass of white wine (in a very short, round, flat-bottomed glass that I’ve since bought a set of) and A Field Guide to American Houses by Virginia Savage McAlester and Lee McAlester. There was no turning back.


What is your favorite design era or style? Why?

My husband is from the Mid-Atlantic so I have really enjoyed mixing a midcentury Mid-Atlantic style with my quirky-modern tastes. I’ve inherited a fabulous gold sunburst mirror, wooden bar, and a floor lamp with a velum shade from his side of the family. We’ve put that all against a gray palette to make it fresh: light gray living room walls, a dark-gray kitchen table (painted one of interior designer Graciela Rutkowski’s favorite grays), medium-gray kitchen cabinets, a dark-gray basement. My friends make fun of how much I actually love the color gray. To that we add orange, navy, and nautical accessories. It sounds like a mess, but it’s my own west-meets-east style and I love it.


What is your favorite thing about the Pacific Northwest region?

How can I choose between the design scene, the nature surroundings, and the food? When people come to visit here, I take them shopping, hiking or boating, and to restaurants and farmers markets. Sometimes it really feels like the life we live in our corner of the country is a wonderful secret.


What is your favorite space in your home?
My son Seth’s nursery was the first room that we finished in our townhouse that we bought over Christmas. It’s a tiny room, so I decided not to try to pretend like it was bigger, but to emphasize its coziness by painting it a dark twilight-blue. How we furnished the room is a testimony to how much our friends and family loved us during a difficult pregnancy. My parents gave us the white IKEA crib we wanted, and my Nana gave me a blue-pinstripe glider with blue piping. I found a modern, two-tone dresser on Craigslist and a friend gave me a very tall blackout curtain with a sweet blue toile print that she made. To that blue-and-white palette, I’ve added pops of multicolor such as polka-dot boxes to store toys in the white IKEA Expedit bookcase, a rag quilt that my mom made, and orange sheets with a white alphabet print. For a bit of whimsy, there’s a giant plush monkey in the corner and a Jonathan Adler lion nightlight from Click! Design that Fits. I really wanted the space to envelope me when I was up with my baby at night but to also be a cheerful place during the day.


What has been one of the highlights of the past year for you?

Of course, the highlight of my life is now when my first child was born in April. There was a moment during the pregnancy when we thought we would lose him, but now he’s happy and healthy and so every day that I get to kiss him is a gift. I’ll just wait for him to get a little older before I train him how to copyedit.