West Haven-Sylvan
New Build Design
ARCHITECTURE | Contemporary Northwest
LOCATION | West Haven-Sylvan, Portland
This home was purchased as a completed new build, which meant the homeowners moved into a space that was finished but boring.
The homeowners, a family with young children, wanted to add personality, warmth, and softness. While we added some light touches throughout the house, we focused on full designs in two rooms - the family media room and the primary bedroom suite.
DESIGN & STYLING: WENDY COMBS STUDIO
PHOTOGRAPHY: GENNY MOLLER
before
THE MEDIA ROOM
The media room was designed to be fun, flexible, and a little unexpected. The homeowners wanted a space that worked for family movie nights, but could also shift easily into an adult setting for entertaining or an Oscars night at home.
A custom 17’ sectional anchors the room and provides generous seating. We painted the ceiling black to ground the space and add depth, and wrapped the television wall in wood veneer paneling to give it a naturally concealing home. Two walls of wall-to-wall theater drapery add softness, improve acoustics, and give the room a moody feel. The colors and materials were chosen to feel playful but still grown up, allowing the space to evolve naturally as the kids get older.
THE PRIMARY BEDROOM
The homeowners wanted the primary bedroom to feel like a retreat, drawing inspiration from the calm and comfort of a hotel room.
Texture plays a leading role here, from the wallpaper to the layered bedding and soft upholstery. A painted ceiling helps create a more enveloping feel and adds warmth without darkening the space. The overall effect is relaxed and soothing, with enough visual interest to feel layered but nothing that feels distracting.
We extended that same sense of warmth and softness into the bathroom, which started cold and sterile. A few strategic updates, including new hardware, paint, drapery, and carefully chosen decor, helped transform the space into something more inviting and cohesive with the bedroom.

