Historic Site, Modern Meeting Place for Furnishings, Art, and Community
by Danielle Vigueria
When Sustain Home opened its doors this past July, the brand—previously known for the highest quality home hard goods—took a huge step in establishing themselves as a one-stop shop for any home interior need. As what could be called the “softer side” of Sustain Interiors, this new thoughtfully curated showroom, at the corner of First and State Streets in the Historic Sheppard’s Building, displays a unique mix of custom upholstery, furniture, lighting, bedding, art, and accessories—all the soft goods one could want to create a beautiful interior.
“The community has been really intrigued by this building forever,” says Lisa Yank, Marketing and Creative Director for Sustain Interiors. “It is so loved and we want to continue to find ways to invite people to explore and enjoy it. We have taken care to preserve and restore a lot of the original features like the door hardware and the floors. And we tried to keep the integrity of the building’s exterior as well. I think there is a renewed energy that draws people in. We want to use the space to showcase great design and bring people together to celebrate some of the exceptional artists in our community.”
Sustain Home features contemporary and modern home furnishings and accents that could be considered “functional art.” This includes items like handmade pillows from local weaver and textile designer Kristie Strasen from Little Weaving Co; an outrageous handblown glass chandelier by Esque Studio and Justin Parker Glass; and a lazy susan that was a collaboration between Sustain and the artist Kristine Van Raden from Bean Pole Pottery, all exemplifying the combination of beauty and utility that is at the heart of their offerings.
“The store will definitely keep evolving. We will go on mixing good materials, high-quality products, and talented people. We want to be the place in the Gorge for all things home.”
–Lisa Yank, Marketing & Creative Director, Sustain Interiors
The furniture pieces that Sustain displays are sourced from across the country, but to keep things sustainable and the designs unique, they also collaborate with a local furniture maker and upholsterer. Together, they have produced some stand-out pieces, including their “Heather Canyon” bed and “HRM” chair—both named after the beloved Mt. Hood Meadows local ski area.
And with their own interior design services that can be customized to serve any client’s needs, the furniture in the showroom is just a glimpse of what is possible. Clients don’t have to travel to a major city to find great pieces and aren’t destined to order items that look just like what they have seen in all of their neighbors’ homes. Sustain provides a range of services for Gorge-area homeowners. Local shoppers or visitors who are just passing by can stop in and pick up a set of luxurious bed linens or clients looking for comprehensive furniture styling can spend thoughtful time working with the design team to create a custom-made bedroom.
Sustain has turned this revitalized historic building into a multi-function space. The back of the building is now an in-house custom cabinet shop where a team of highly skilled craftspeople create cabinets, furniture, and other items for Sustain designers and clients. Whether custom-designed, curated from a well-known line, or now made in-house, Sustain’s cabinet game is hard to beat. And drawing on the company’s expertise in plaster, the woodshop will surely be producing some innovative creations in the future.
With an undeniable artistic vibe, Sustain Home is more than just a retail boutique that showcases furniture and cabinetry. The store has been drawing the community together since its opening. With an annual holiday pop-up shop and First Friday events like artist chats and free vintage root beer floats, Sustain Home has become a place for local creators and residents to mingle and take in the historic setting.
With a focus on natural fabrics and textures plus the Oregon artists and makers they represent, Sustain Home plans to continue to celebrate local culture and great design for many years to come. They have partnered with White Salmon Arts Council and 301 Gallery to foster the growth of the arts in the Hood River area. They envision the showroom truly becoming a multi-use space, providing a venue (between its hand-troweled interior plaster walls) for creative exchange in many forms. In the near future, Sustain plans to host more interactive artist events, pop-up shops, and of course bring some artistic spirit to this year’s holiday shopping.
“The store will definitely keep evolving,” says Lisa. “We will go on mixing good materials, high-quality products, and talented people. We want to be the place in the Gorge for all things home.”
