By Shawn Williams

Andee Hess on treating interior design as installation art.

Under the visionary leadership of interior designer Andee Hess, OSMOSE brings together an eclectic blend of era-defining trends and bold design choices in a Portland home that redefines the art of living.

Photographed by The Morrisons

family room with woman and dog, yellow togo sofas, yellow rug, wood medallion ceiling design as installation art

The sunroom of the JM House designed by Osmose.

designer in blue dress standing in front of countertop slab — Andee Hess.

For some designers, wild color and shape combos on client work can be a challenge to bring to fruition. For others who exude a sense of fearless playfulness married with sophisticated luxury, it’s an asset.

OSMOSE, a creative studio led by designer Andee Hess, has projects sprinkled across Portland from commercial spaces — such as Salt & Straw, Oaks Park, and Q Restaurant & Bar — to office spaces, retail spaces, and a bounty of residential projects all dripping with a style uniquely their own.

The JM House is a perfect example. Located in Portland’s West Hills, OSMOSE reimagined this 1920s Tutor-style home for a family of four. It’s a mashup of modern and era-defining trends that somehow all work together throughout its 6,000 square feet, five bedrooms, and four bathrooms. While the exact style is nearly impossible to pin down, the overall vibe is unapologetically cool.

Here’s a recent conversation I had with Hess about the house:

How did this project come about?

Osmose originally worked on this home eight years ago. When our previous clients sold the house, most of the design work and custom furnishings were included in the sale. We were curious about the new owners and what they would do with the house, so when they contacted me to say they wanted to “keep going and complete the design,” I was floored and excited. Immediately after our first meeting, we all agreed that no matter the project's direction, we were meant to be friends. Quite the bold statement for a first meeting!

Tell us more about the homeowners’ personality.

They are a vibrant family of four. They are full of adventure, humor, and an artful approach to life. Their passion for the arts extends to the ever-evolving ‘installation’ that is their home, hence their willingness to make bold moves.

The Eichler-inspired sunroom of this house is stunning. What’s the story behind it?

The wood-paneled sunroom grew from a desire to embrace the surrounding landscape and capture as much of those precious Pacific Northwest sun rays as possible. We threw in big windows and glass sliding doors so they could be wrapped in all four seasons. It looks really incredible in there right after a snowstorm! This room serves as the home theater as well, with a screen hidden behind sliding panels.

The purple disco bathroom is a fun surprise. How’d the conversation go when presenting the design brief for this space?

It was meant to be surprising. The color evolved from a photograph of smoke the clients brought to an early design meeting, with the mirrored vanity floating and reflecting its environment. Treating design in the house as installation art, the goal was to have surprising experiences in unexpected corners that the whole family could enjoy and live amongst. One of my favorite moments is the disco mirror tile niche- it is disorienting and exciting and just beautiful.

This house is filled with unexpected details. What’s your favorite?

Every aspect of this project has been a delight. There’s nothing like coming to a design meeting full of excitement about detailing and materiality and having your clients as a real part of the team pushing ideas and direction even further. Of course, having a wonderful build team and all of the artisans willing to do challenging work cannot be understated.