Project Description

A Natural Fit

PROJECT: Studio Penthouse
DESIGNER: JHL Design Inc.
BUILDER: Hammer & Hand
PLUMBER: D & F Plumbing
PHOTOGRAPHY: Haris Kenjar

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Located in downtown Portland, local design firm JHL Design Inc.’s Studio Penthouse is a historic loft-turned-tech office space, complete with natural wood interiors, exposed concrete walls, and no-frills hardware to match.

After collaborating with Chown on several residential projectsincluding her own Portland homeJHL Design’s principal, Holly Freres, presented our team with a new design task: installing timeless, detail-oriented hardware for Studio Penthouse, a high-end office space with moody interiors. With decades of experience under our belts and an extensive selection of commercial-grade products, we were more than up to the challenge.  

Working with Chown on this commercial project was seamless and easy,” says Freres. “They have a commercial division that has expertise in all areas of need for commercial spaces. They are knowledgeable in all needs for ADA, commercially rated finishes and more.” 

Inspired by the natural textures and materials found in Japanese design, Studio Penthouse paired Alaskan Cedar accents with exposed original concrete walls, achieving a dramatic, industrial aesthetic. Working in tandem with Chown’s showroom specialists, Joel Chown and Tara Dyer, JHL specified Watermark faucets in a brushed brass finish to echo the office’s organic design in the open kitchenette and bar.

“We knew the materials and aesthetic we wanted: natural materials, dark finishes, and items that echoed a Japanese sensibility,” says Freres. “We wanted good quality fixtures that would stand the test of time and changing trends.”   

Office bathrooms are often an afterthought in the design process, but Studio Penthouse carefully continued the office’s design aesthetic with dark teal tiles, textured concrete walls, and matching bathroom appliances, including slate-colored Stone Forest wall sinks and brass plumbing, which complement the kitchen and bar faucets. Toto toilets and washlets were also installed to correlate with the dark interiors, creating a consistent, thoughtful space. 

While this project’s attention to detail was a unique challenge for our team, we were proud to support JHL and be included in Studio Penthouse. “We know Chown provides high-level materials and are a great partner in assisting with the specification and selection process,” says Freres. “Their knowledge of how to get to the best solutions is why we keep coming back.”  

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