Bring in the Noise
A family finds peace and quirky comfort in their Alberta farmhouse by surrounding themselves with art made by their neighbors.
By Anna Hirsh
THE WALLS OF OUR HOMES are meant to separate us from the rest of the world: the elements, the neighbors, the noise. But in 2004, when Jim and Andrea Frost bought their first house in Portland, next to the Alibi, a tiki-themed karaoke den on N Interstate Avenue, walls didn’t prove entirely effective. One too many nights, they found themselves caught in yelling matches with drunk, baby-waking, rock-star wannabes. But two years later, the Frosts bought a tiny farmhouse in the Alberta Arts District and discovered that bringing in a bit of the outside world helped make their home.
After ripping out the carpet to expose the original honey-colored hardwoods, the Frosts painted the walls in vibrant shades of green and gold, and hung attention-grabbing light fixtures. But when they needed to bridge the gap between their newly modern interior and their funky thrift furniture (“Not worth replacing when you have children,” says Jim), they simply took to the streets.
On almost every wall, the Frosts have hung found objects and quirky pieces culled from Alberta’s Last Thursday art walks. The eclectic collection displays a uniquely Portland aesthetic that’s both old and new, political and silly, deeply personal and a reflection of their community. “We wouldn’t have any coherent sense of décor in our house if it wasn’t for Alberta’s artists,” Jim says.
These days, when the weather’s right, they leave the doors to their back patio open, inviting in the warm breeze, the neighbors, and sometimes, when there’s music in the air, even a little noise.
A Slatted Wall Creates an Entry Nook
The previous owners tore down walls to give the downstairs a studiolike feel, but the Frosts felt the front rooms were too airy. At the front door, they installed a slatted wall made of old flooring cordons, creating a cozy entry nook they outfitted with a coatrack and bench. Guests are greeted by an ever-changing assortment of artwork, an inspired mishmash of pictures by professional artists and masterpieces by the kids. |
Locally Made Light Fixtures
Proving that practical objects can shine as showpieces, the Frosts have filled their home with*locally made light fixtures* like this lamp Jim brought home from Alberta’s HiiH Gallery ($350 for two hiihgallery.com), made by paper shade artist Lám Quáng. “The shades are weird and modern, but the bases look vintage,” Jim says. “They combine all the styles we have going on.” |
Rooster on an Old Wooden Drawer
“My chicken is the one piece of art I’d save if the house was burning down,” Andrea says. A fan of art that’s constructed from found objects, she paid $100 for this acrylic rendering of a rooster on an old wooden drawer during one of the family’s visits to Last Thursday. |
Soda-Club Fountain Jet home seltzer maker
A seltzer maker for $99.99 (sodaclubusa.com) may seem like a splurge, but the Frosts think it’s a necessity. “We used to go through cases of Crystal Geyser,” Jim says. Now they can turn tap water into their favorite bubbly beverage in thirty seconds. The family next door inspired the penny-saving purchase—another reason to know your neighbors. |
Acrylic Painting
Andrea hung this acrylic painting, one of her own pieces, above the living room couch because the warm colors helped tie the room together. The image was inspired by her great-uncle, modernist painter Yun Gee (yungee.com). “I stuck the ketchup bottle in there because sometimes when you’re alone, mundane objects can loom disproportionately in your thoughts and become more real than anything else,” she says. |
Published: January 2009