This slice of Nob Hill is bound to give your inner-most self—from bookworm to chef to modern day flapper—some much sought after delight!

Ground central for shopping Portland’s Nob Hill might be the cool boutiques and national home furnishing chains on N.W. 23rd Ave., but there are enough picks on this secondary street to merit a nine-block walk in the shadow of Good Sam. Just watch out for the aliens!  

Mixed-media artist Bonnie Meltzer likes to joke that she was born to create works of art from disparate materials. "I like to say that I came out of the womb with a purple crayon in one hand and a crochet hook in the other," she says. 

What ceramic artist Claudia Hollister likes about working with porcelain clay is the uncertainty of the material. "It feels so nice, but it can also give you a lot of headaches creatively," she says. "It’s one of those materials where the piece designs at least 20 percent of itself."

For metal artist Jeff Whitaker, his profession is a perfect match for his personality. "I’m an adrenaline junkie, who thrives on intense experiences," he says. "Metalworking fascinates me because I’m actually melting metal using extreme temperatures. I’m able to coax around a liquid using intense heat, and there’s a lot going on when that happens, so I never get bored. I love to weld.”  

Painter Kevin Noonan’s interest in art began in childhood. "My grandfather is a gifted folk-art painter, so I grew up around painting," says the Connecticut native, who has a degree in Buddhist Studies from Antioch College in Ohio. "I got the chance to study in India and Burma, where I did meditation, but when I was there I also studied Buddhist iconography and modern Burmese painting. I even visited the state art school in Rangoon and talked to artists there." 

Rawhide bones on the foyer floor. Underpants and jean piles in your boy’s room. Been thinking about getting better about living without so much clutter? You’re not the only one! Oregon Home asked professional clutter-busters and designers for easy-to-adopt strategies that can help you turn your Stuff Palace into a place of order that functions well for your family. 

Whether you're on the lookout for a unique wallet and handbag combo, an elegant claw-foot tub, or brand name sheets at non-designer prices, the Hollywood District is your new home away from home.