Portraits add a personal touch to a home’s interior, just ask Sergey Gostev, builder of this year’s Cherith Brook home. This charming portrait of Sergey and his family was taken by Sellwood-based photographers Kim Campbell and Francisco Salgado, owners of the boutique Campbell Salgado Studio.

 
You may recall that Campbell Salgado Studio created the breathtaking three tier photo wall featured in last year’s Providence House. We’re happy to report that they’ve returned to the Street of Dreams again this year with creative new ideas for displaying portrait photography decoratively. Come check out their latest installation at Cherith Brook. You will not be disappointed!

I haven’t had a chance to blog since the show opened. It is crazy up here, and a lot of fun! I love getting a chance to watch everyone enjoy the homes and it has been a pleasure getting to know some of you. FYI, Artist Night is this Thursday and Singles Night is on Friday. It is a fun week and I hope to see you there!

I haven’t figured out how to use flicker yet, so I am just going to post a few new photos of the homes in this blog…

Check out our Tour of Homes page on streetofdreamspdx.com for more amazing photos of these beautiful homes.

Keep dreaming big!

K

You never really think about all the work that goes into designing and creating signs until you are the one getting it done. Thanks to the amazing crew at our ad agency Magneto and the awesome work and patience of Geoff and his team at Image Media, we have signs for the 2008 Street of Dreams! Both Magneto and Image Media did an incredible job of capturing the look and feel of the show this year and created timeless signs that are inspiring on their own.

Now that the signs are finished I am even more excited for the start of the first and most inspirational home show in the country!

Preview of “Ready to be inspired?” sign:

Keep dreaming big! Show opens this Saturday!

K

Experience a Night of Magic and Romance!

Live out your fantasies and experience the magic at the 25^th Anniversary of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the 2008 NW Natural Street of Dreams. This night of passion and romance celebrates the opening of first and most inspirational home show in the country. Share in the excitement and enjoy a magnificent feast, champagne, wine, live jazz music, breathtaking views, six beautiful homes and an evening you will never forget.

When:  Friday, August 15th

Where:  2008 NW Natural Street of Dreams | Mt. Scott, Portland

Time:  6:30 - 10:30PM

Attire:  Black tie

Over the last 25 years, this opening night celebration for NW Natural’s Street of Dreams has raised more than $1.2 million for 72 charities.  Enjoy live jazz performed by Mary Kadderly, hosted beer and wine, a cash liquor bar and delicious food.  Come celebrate the opening of the 2008 NW Natural Street of Dreams and be one of the first to see the six beautiful Street of Dreams homes!

Visit our website to purchase tickets or contact Jennifer Wessling at jenniferw@hbapdx.org or 503.684.1880.

Earlier tonight I was talking with a friend and they questioned whether or not the Street of Dreams helped or hurt a community. Because I work for the organization that helps put on the show and more importantly because I am someone who believes in helping create events that bring people together, I was a little defensive. But the conversation got me thinking, what does the Street of Dreams really accomplish? Is it just a luxury home show, or is there more beneath these dream homes?

I took those questions home with me and thought about what I believe the Street of Dreams represents, and this is what I came up with: Everyday I hear about our poor economy, raising gas prices, sub-prime lending, bankruptcies, foreclosures, and I often feel disheartened and worried about the future. But no matter how difficult things get, I am constantly inspired by the world and community I’m living in. I thrive on ideas, creativity and sharing my passions with others. The Street of Dreams encompasses all of those things and more. It is a show designed to inspire people. Each home tells a unique story of ingenuity, passion, inspiration, innovation, perseverance and of people coming together to achieve common goals.

Whether you have come to the Street for 15 years, or you are new to the show, there is passion and inspiration to be found within the interiors and exteriors of each of the six homes. I work in events because I love the outcome of bringing groups of people together to share in experiences that they may not have had otherwise. The Street of Dreams brings the community together and represents the fact that no matter what challenges we face, we are always allowed to dream and to make our dreams reality.

K

Phew!  I have to take a deep breath and process everything that is happening and still needs to happen in order to be ready for the show NEXT WEEK!  I’m nervous, excited and just ready for the show to begin.  I hadn’t been up the the Street for 2 weeks, so yesterday I went up and braved the heat to check out the progress.  A side note:  when it is 90+ degrees down in the city, it is actually pleasant at the show site.  Because of the elevation there seems to be a constant breeze making the heat not so brutal.  Anyway, when I arrive at the Street I couldn’t believe how much has changed in such a short time.  I know I say that in almost every blog, but I honestly had no idea that these beautifully designed, large, fully landscaped homes could be finished so quickly.

What the Street of Dreams builders and crew accomplish in a short time is incredibly inspirational, and I want to say thank you to everyone who is up there now working in the 100 degree temps making sure the homes are ready to go by next Saturday.

Here are some updated photos I took yesterday.  I want to mention that the Bank of America Entertainment Deck has been built and it is absolutely beautiful and looks out on the most amazing view of Portland I have ever seen.  I cannot wait for the Street to open - you are truly going to be inspired.  Don’t forget to bring your camera!

Ticket Trailer.  More work (like landscaping) will be done this week.

Bank of America Entertainment Deck.  Beautiful!  How would you like to have this view?

Genesis Home Technologies hard at work at the “Pure Innova” (home #6 on the map)

Furniture!  Sneak peak of “Sonoma” furnishings (home #4).  The interior of Sonoma is stunning, clean and very open thanks to the work of Interior Designer Ronda Divers and her great team (Ronda Divers Interiors Inc).

Home #3 “Cherith Brook.”  Home is finished and ready to be shown.  Words cannot do this 11,000 sq. ft. dream home justice.  You are going to love the traditional interior and magnificent fountains.

It’s Friday afternoon and I finally have some down time after a CRAZY week!  Because I am new to the Street of Dreams this year, I didn’t realize how much work it takes to get the Street ready…and I’m not even building the homes.

Before I left for the weekend I wanted to give you some updates on what is happening this week and next at the Street:

1)  Ticket trailer has been installed!  (I’ll post pics of our awesome ticket office next week)

2)  Bank of America Entertainment Deck is being built as we speak…or read.  I am going up early next week to check it out - I heard it looks amazing and hangs out over the hillside!  You will get some of the best views of Portland from here.

3)  Bulk tickets and discounts will be available very soon.  We are in the process of getting information on streetofdreamspdx.com/tickets.  Check it out next week to learn about great deals on Street tickets.

4)  Chris Issak concert is Tuesday, July 28th at the Edgefield.  You still have a chance to win VIP passes!  Purchase your Street of Dreams tickets online by tonight and you will be entered to win two (2) VIP passes to the concert!

5)  The 2008 Street of Dreams map is available online at streetofdreamspdx.com/showinfo.  Download your pdf to better navigate the show.

I’ll have some updated pictures for you next week.  You will not believe the immense amount of progress that has been made on this years homes!

Enjoy your weekend and keep dreaming big!

K

Portland is such a beautiful city and this year to celebrate the NW Natural Street of Dreams return to Portland, we would like you to submit your favorite Portland photos!  Share memories of the Waterfront, good times at a Portland Beavers game, your ride in the Portland Aerial Tram, you name it we want to see it!

Send photos to kelseyk@hbapdx.org.

Keep dreaming big!

K

I have been to the Street over the past month probably six or seven times, and each time before I get in my car to drive up to Altamont I always make sure I have:

1)  My camera

2)  Batteries for camera

Lately I have been taking our gigantic professional looking camera from the office and slinging it over my shoulder as I go from house to house snapping photos of the homes and documenting the mass amount of progress that takes place over a short amount of time.  I always feel like a tourist as I stand in the unfinished homes taking pictures of every detail I can manage to find.  I take the pictures not only so I can remember what kitchen paint scheme and bathroom tiles I like, but also to show others these amazing and inspirational ideas.  Walking through the homes, I actually feel like I am standing in the pages of a home design magazine and I want to be able to capture and share as much of that as I can with my own camera.

I came home last Friday and showed my family the photos I had recently taken and rambled on and on about not only the insane views, but also the creative design elements and features within each of the homes.  As someone who is young and just starting out, I know that owning a Street of Dreams home is probably not going to happen in the near future…or ever maybe.  But that doesn’t mean I can’t recreate the unique features that designers and builders have placed in their homes to inspire each of us.

So bring your camera when you come to the Street.  You are going to want to capture the innovative and inspirational features that each of the 2008 NW Natural Street of Dreams homes have to offer and incorporate those features into your own home.

Front entry way of “Suede” by Lisac Brothers Construction.  Stunning front door that matches the home’s interior theme.  Love the small windows that frame the door.

I already want to create a similar bar in my own future home.  Just one of the many unique, fun, entertaining features you will see at “Pure Innova”, the home created by Haggart luxury Homes & Renovations.  There will be windows in the corner that can actually be opened, creating an “outdoor bar” feel.  Very cool!

Archways and views.  These two elements can be found throughout the KDC Custom Homes LLC charity house.

As you can see crews are hard at work finishing the 2008 Street of Dreams homes.  I’ll keep bringing my camera the show site to give you a behind the scenes look at what is going on over the next few weeks.

Keep dreaming big!

K

As I have mentioned in some of my other blogs, we are proud and excited to announce the addition of “Cherith Brook” the sixth home to be added to the 2008 Street of Dreams.  Originally the builder had opted out of putting the 11,000 square foot home in the show even though this is the first home you see when walking into the Street.  But after many discussions, the builder decided it was in everyone’s best interest to include Cherith Brook in the show.

This is the first time G & B Northwest Construction has had a home in the Street of Dreams.  Builder Sergey Gostev describes his 5 bedroom, 6 bathroom home as an “inviting and refreshing oasis”.  I experienced Sergey’s “oasis” last week when I got a chance to tour the finished home, and I felt so relaxed and comfortable laying on the back deck listening to the patio fountain that I didn’t want to leave.

The home feels very inviting from the moment you walk in the door with its warm and rich colors and large windows looking out on expansive views.  The most impressive feature to me was the incredible indoor pool and Jacuzzi.  With the floor to ceiling windows that bring in natural light, you can swim indoors year-round while still feeling like you are outside.

There is so much to see and be inspired by at Cherith Brook that you will need to bring your camera! I was in the home for about 45 minutes and that was not nearly enough time to take in the home’s innovative design elements and unique features.

Exterior home rendering of Cherith Brook

View from the side yard

Inviting oasis.  Beautiful view of Mt. Hood from back patio