Design Challenge
Now what’s wrong with having a little fun?
There’s a lot that happens behind the scenes to get any new business up and running, and a lot of it is a bit tedious. So why not have some fun whenever possible? We saw no reason not to.
In keeping with our belief that local products and resources should be used whenever possible—from wine, to art and beyond—we recruited four local design teams to help us give each of the Flats their own unique vibe. Then we enlisted local videographer Melissa Schroepfer to capture the process for us, and turn it all into a single episode that we call, “Third Street Flats Design Challenge.”
The teams of designers each were given basic design parameters, a timeline and a budget, and then were turned loose to create their dream apartment. The results are amazing, and the process, well—you’ll see for yourself! Scroll to the bottom of this page to watch the video and see how it all came together, and then VOTE for your favorite Flat.
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Meet the teams:
Team La Bella Casa—The 1st Flat, Pied-a'-Terre
Andrea, Rhonda & Jennifer Feero are from La Bella Casa in Historic Downtown McMinnville on the corner of 3rd & Davis. At La Bella Casa they take great care in selecting “Treasures for You and Your Home” so that you have a unique shopping experience for everyone on your list and every occasion on your schedule. La Bella Casa is a family owned business that has had the honor of being a part of the McMinnville community for over 10 years.
While La Bella Casa is what they do for their day job, Rhonda has a degree in Interior Design that drives the vision for La Bella Casa, and gives their design team an extra edge. And although Jennifer and Andrea do not have a Design degree, their passions lie in remodeling old homes that need lots of TLC with the help of Rhonda, family and friends!
The Feero girl’s vision for both La Bella Casa and their Pied-a'-Terre inspired flat is that they each bring their own sense of style and skills to the table. One of them likes things organized and lined up neatly, while the other enjoys the spontaneity of organized chaos and the third brings them all together in the middle. Their goal is to provide a comfortable environment to relax and enjoy the beautiful Yamhill Valley with things they love, things that inspire them and even things that just make them laugh. So hopefully that is how you feel when you come and stay in their version of a Pied-a'-Terre at 3rd Street Flats.
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Team Kluster—The 2nd Flat, Olio e Aceto
Team Kluster? Yes! Named after their small Yamhill County property - Kluster Farm - Team Kluster features the duo of Bradley Speer and Krista McCallum. Bradley, a ceramic artist and physical therapist, and Krista, marketing partner of Pantry Marketing + Design, moved to Oregon's wine country in 2005 following an inspiring trip to Italy. Since then they have been living a wine country lifestyle, one that includes their three beloved dogs, their sometimes loved cats, gardening, building and many, many wine tastings.
As design enthusiasts, Bradley and Krista consider themselves the "wild card" team of this competition but are excited by the challenge. (Especially since they've seen more than their fair share of HGTV shows!). Their design for the 2nd Flat, or Olio e Aceto (Oil & Vinegar) is what they like to call "Modern Farm". It will be comfortable and modern with rustic influences and refurbished accents. The color palette was inspired by the late winter vistas found in the Yamhill County countryside and the décor will encourage relaxation after long days of experiencing the Yamhill Valley.
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Team Bittle – The 3rd Flat, The Pearl
Rene’ and Mike Bittle have a flare for design. Prior to beginning their current careers, Mike and Rene' worked in the retail clothing business. Now they are both employed at local McMinnville based businesses, Mike in the graphic design and print industry, and Rene’ in banking. The Bittle’s have a passion for art, design and a sense of style that leans toward timeless modern. They have a strong affinity towards mid-century architecture and designed and built a home in McMinnville inspired by the 1920's designs of Frank Lloyd Wright with modern influence.
In their free time, Mike and Rene' love to spend time with friends and family, drink Willamette Valley Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, eat at great local restaurants, cook and are always on the lookout for new home decor and kitchen gear. While they have no kids, they have a Lhasa Apso dog named Bernard who is a year and a half old. Mike and Rene' will have been married for 24 years in September 2010 and look forward to spending their 25th wedding anniversary travelling in Europe.
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Team Morris & Childress Design—The 4th Flat, The Retreat
Kim Morris and Terri Childress are two interior designers with shared vision for transforming the 4th Flat into a retreat you won't want to leave. Kim is a life long McMinnville resident and long time co-owner of Morris Carpeting Cleaning of Oregon with her husband Mike. While helping her daughter Katie explore college options, she decided to go back to school, pursuing a life long passion for decorating, and earning her degree in Interior Design. She has experience in both commercial and residential applications, from color consultations to complete renovations. As the proprietor of Morris Design, her emphasis is on Style, Function, Beauty and she and Terri are definitely putting a lot of all three into the 4th Flat.
For Terri it all began with a sewing machine when she was eleven years old; colors, textiles, and putting pieces together. Today, a smidge past eleven, she is an Interior Designer residing in Lake Oswego. Her love of design has brought experiences from her native Texas homes on the range to the Pacific Northwest green design. Whether it's here or there, traditional or modern, putting a home or office together is great fun for Terri.
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Check out the video of the Third Street Flats Design Challenge (posted below), decide which team you think did the best job transforming their flat, and then VOTE. The winning team get more then just glory—they also get two weeks at Third Street Flats, which they can use or exchange on www.homeexchange.com for a place to stay anywhere in the world. So make your voice heard—vote today!
Photography by Doreen Wynja of Eye of the Lady.