My Houzz: Jet-Setting Style Lands Smoothly in Portland

Zoe Krislock's furniture pieces have an international pedigree. A vice president at Nike, Krislock has lived in Shanghai, Tokyo, Amsterdam, Southern California, Boston, New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C., and the pieces she has picked up along the way make a big impact in her home. "That, to me, really gives style to a home," says Krislock, who now lives in Portland, Oregon.

The leafy Hoyt Arboretum wraps around her flat-roofed modern house, influencing a minimalist interior vibe that mostly channels her time spent in Asian cities. Krislock's former jet-setting life seems to permeate every square inch, creating a style like that of a well-packed suitcase — everything carefully chosen and nothing that's not needed.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Zoe Krislock
Location: Arlington Heights neighborhood of Portland, Oregon
Size: 2,400 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms
Year built: 1994

Krislock's interior is kept sparse to let the wooded surroundings steal the show. She bought the handmade silk kimono shown here in a shop while living in Japan. "Japanese women have various kimonos for different parts of their wedding," she says. "The color and the type of print mean something to the family, and these particular flowers symbolize longevity and happiness. I like my house to be an extension of who I am. It's a showcase for where I've been, things that I've done and friends that I've made."

She brought back the living room rug from Amsterdam for its unique style and texture.

Sectional: Moda, Crate & Barrel


Custom maple wood shelving and floors paired with a gray accent wall create a sophisticated first impression for guests entering the home.

Armchair: Quinn, Room & Board


Krislock bought the handwoven dining room rug on a trip to Turkey.

Table: Paloma II, Crate & Barrel; chairs: Lowe Khaki, Crate & Barrel


The previous homeowners renovated the kitchen with tile and granite countertops. The ceramic art is from Spin Ceramics in Shanghai, and the branch is from a Shanghai riverbed and is mounted on a ceramic base. Its swoosh shape is what caught Krislock's eye. "As a Nike employee, everybody always loved this piece, but no one was willing to ship it," she says. "Because I lived there, I thought, 'I'm going to buy it.'" The branch has survived being shipped three times.


The main bedroom features large floor-to-ceiling windows that capture more views of the Arboretum.

Krislock found the 7-foot lamp with a 36-inch lampshade in Amsterdam. "When I travel or live somewhere else, I skip the little trinkets and I go for the big stuff," she says. She bought the Louis Vuitton trunk in Shanghai.


Krislock bought her custom bedding in Amsterdam from Mrs. Me. She worked with the founder and designer, Lianne Ernst, to create the set from French fabric. "Lianne thinks that all different textures should be mixed together," Krislock says. "Secondly, she believes that the end of the bed is the ugliest thing in the world. She created a bed throw to go over the edges and complete the look." The accent pillows are made of silk, horsehair, jute and sequins.

Bed: Room & Board


Slate tile and maple hardwood floors run throughout. Krislock bought the two koa wood paddles while visiting Maui, where she spends every Christmas with her family. She found the wooden bowl on the left while visiting Costa Rica with her dad.

Credenza: Paloma, Crate & Barrel


Krislock surfed while growing up in Newport Beach, California. The experience inspired her to decorate her home office with boards purchased in Orange County surf shops she used to frequent. One of the boards is signed by Dick Dale, a creator of surf music.

Chair: Folio Oyster Leather, Crate & Barrel


The previous owners remodeled the bathrooms with inset tiles and glass shower doors. "It was a nice surprise, because I thought I was going to move to Portland and have to do a fixer-upper," she says.


California Closets helped Krislock create her dream walk-in closet out of a small bedroom. Custom wood and hardware keep in line with the modern decor of the home. "There were too many years of traveling when things were in and out of boxes. I wanted everything in one place. It was an indulgence I afforded myself. The room was very small, and I didn't need it with the office space upstairs," explains Krislock.


The backyard balcony overlooks the Arboretum. The table and chairs are from Newport Beach and have been in Krislock's family for 30 years. "It sounds silly, but they're a piece of me," she says.

She plans to sand the wood deck and powder coat the metal railings in gray to get rid of the rust and moss that have accumulated from the rains. "I'm learning that living in Oregon is a whole new exercise in taking care of things," she says.


The previous owners added the curved accent metal siding. Future plans for the exterior include additional landscaping. "I love the idea of being in the trees, but I think the surrounding area could have more of an Asian feel to meld with the ambience and modern style of the house," Krislock says.


"Moving back to the States after being gone for five years has been an interesting experience," says Krislock, shown here. "This is a nice house that has made the transition easy. It is comfortable; it was created well and taken care of."

















Browse more homes by style:
Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Eclectic Homes | Modern Homes |Contemporary Homes
Midcentury Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Barn Homes
Townhouses | Apartments | Lofts | Vacation Homes

URL: My Houzz: Jet-Setting Style Lands Smoothly in Portland http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-18565.html