GLOBAL ECO-FARE

Organic and sustainable sofas, chairs, beds and accessories fill the 3,500-square-foot ECLECTIC HOME (2259 N.W. Raleigh St., 503-224-0551), where proprietor Dennis Rose, who spent 25 years in the health and fitness industry, sets about bringing health to the home.

We liked this two-toned La Hoya bamboo bed and organic mattresses ($2,795 for a queen) that an upholsterer in Bend, Ore., makes. "Eco-furniture can be bland and brown," says Rose, "but I’m trying to show a selection that's innovative and beautiful—and has the added value of being sustainable."

A MAJOR ILLUMINATION STATION 

Prepare to leave GLOBE LIGHTING (1919 N.W. 19th Ave., 503-972-516) with a great light and a crick in your neck from oogling all of the illuminations dangling from the ceiling of this lighting emporium. Here you’ll find Hightech spotlights ($48 each), fluted glass pendants ($93), chandeliers and a back corner filled with more than 25 ceiling fans ranging from sleek to Southern, like the Concentra with rattan woven blades ($355).

Before you leave, check out the Outlet Center, where refurbished, one-of-a-kind, and light fixtures with minor defects sell at a discounted price. Our favorite find? A desktop Happy Lite sunshine simulator lamp ($160) to give to the grumpiest guy we know.

Rest your size 9s for 20 minutes at one of two good refueling stations on Thurman St.: THE DRAGONFLY COFFEE HOUSE (2387 N.W. Thurman St., 503-224-7888) and the ST. HONORÉ BOULANGERIE (2335 N.W. Thurman St., 503-445-4342). We sat back in an upholstered chair to swig our green tea and munch on a chocolate-chip cookie at The Dragonfly, then—much later!—admired the beautiful butter-yellow marble countertop at St. Honoré when we ordered an apple turnover, a.k.a. a chausson aux, in this stone-floored, chandelier-lit bakery.

On the way out, we bought an assortment of artisan dinner rolls (Auvergnat, Tabatière and Fendu) worthy of being served in the best bistro in town. Love, in a bag!

GOOD LINES LIVE HERE 

Designers Bryce Amato and Pamela Johnson specialize in striking interiors where casual comfort rules, and their showroom, AMATO JOHNSON DESIGN (2600 N.W. Vaughn St., 503-297-4615) is similarly as Zen as it is beautiful.

We liked this elongated pendant that reminded us of a fabulous ruffled sleeve or a refreshing seascape of whitewater rolling in (gotta turn your head sideways for that). The shop also had a nice assortment of glasswork ($50 for a 10-by-10 ash tray) by Ellen Jackson, chrome-based table lamps ($220) and pieces of 19th century furniture on consignment such as a French armoire and a dining room table with six chairs ($3,400).

OH, SO HENRY 

We’ve loved the work of designer Henry Brown since doing a cover story on his West Hills mid-century modern home several years ago. Here at the store that bears a compilation of his name and that of his partner, Steve Bedford—BEDFORD BROWN (1825 N.W. Vaughn St., 503-227-7755)—you’ll find everything from beveled mirrors in chestnut frames ($395) to Lee Industries sofas, chairs and beds. Deb Adams, the store’s marketing and advertising manager, says Bedford Brown’s buyers shop from Bangkok to Paris to local markets to bring together this clean-lined mix.

Adams says the shop also features an accessorizing service to help you rearrange your existing furniture and accent it with new things from the store ($85 an hour), whether they be floorlamps, chairs or the perfect Old Lacquered Monk ($295 each). Don’t miss the store’s indoor greenhouse and outdoor stoneyard (right) filled with oversize containers for real or faux trees and plants (Bedford’s end of the business began as West Coast Plants and remains a big part of Bedford Brown.) 

WATER WONDERS

The latest fixtures around which to design your bathroom or kitchen are available for less than list price at the GEORGE MORLAN PLUMBING SUPPLY DESIGN CENTER (2222 N.W. Raleigh St., 503-274-4222), a 10,000-square-foot showroom filled with wares from such notable manufacturers as Porcher, Hansgrohe and Kallista, among many others. “And if you buy all of your toilets, sinks and faucets from us,” says an assistant manager, “you receive a ‘contractor’s discount.’ Your savings could end up being in the thousands of dollars.”

The free-standing Kallista tub ($9,500) is a popular seller although the center has also sold three solid granite tubs ($18,000 each) that require a reinforced floor to hold its sans water weight of 3,500 pounds. Homeowners are also installing three or four Body Spray watertiles (Left, $92 each) by Kohler, in addition to a shower head.

DREAM WORKS 

Looking for a Paul Bunyon-size bronze to fill your two-story-tall foyer? Head for SPRINGBOX GALLERY (2376 N.W. Thurman St., 503-228-1600) where a 13-foot, 6-inch-tall Kodiac bear ($265,000) awaits. “He’s hollow, all bronze,” says gallery co-owner Erin Leonard who runs the double-storefront space with her artist-husband, Eric. “We’re helping the Oregon Humane Society sell it, but he sure takes up a lot of space that we need!”

Springbox features the work of 20 emerging and established artists such as Sidonie Caron, Ivan McLean, Jeff Jenkins (his home was featured in our Nov.-Dec. 2007 issue) and Leo Wayman, who incorporates salvaged materials with his canvases (right). “Portland is the Field of Dreams for a lot of artists, so Eric and I feel good about showcasing their work,” says Erin.

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