Experimental Vintage x Zena Forest Products
I did a thing last year that I’m really proud of. With the help of beloved family and friends, I installed gorgeous, sustainable, wood flooring into the Experimental Vintage studio (aka my second home). When I moved my business over to this light filled space at 819 N Russell, I was not only feeling so grateful to have a space for my small business to land when we were given notice at our previous location- but for it to be THIS space… truly a dream.
Maybe a little back story on this for some context: 819 N Russell has had many iterations- formally the home of J&S Signs, Lowell Gallery, the painting studio of Kyler Martz, it was even a dry cleaners way back in the 1950s. Actress Michelle Williams even filmed parts of the indie movie Showing Up here. There was a time I stepped into this space back when it was Lowell Gallery when I first moved to Portland in 2014. I can’t quite explain it, but this space called to me as soon as I entered it, even way back then. There was something about it that made me reflect, and I literally said to myself “wow, if my business someday had a home in a space like this, I will know that I’ve “made it””. Fast forward years later and through many twists and turns and lucky connections, here we are-in the very space that had called to me more than 10 years ago. Other businesses have come and gone since that day, and when Experimental Vintage was literally on the verge of not having a home in the summer of 2024 after receiving notice from our then-landlord, *here* we landed…
When I first moved Experimental Vintage over to Russell Street, the floors were painted plywood. It also had a mix of custom painted ”tiles” from the sign painters and lots of paint splatters from it being an art studio. In one respect, it was truly perfect just the way it was. If I was in the business of selling small vintage treasures I would have likely left it. Unfortunately, the dark green painted plywood floors just weren’t working for the needs of my business. Trying to photograph a vintage rug against a dark green background just wasn’t accurately depicting the colors or giving you all an idea of what it might actually look like in your home. And, special vintage and antique rugs should be photographed on top of special wood floors, in my humble opinion.
So what was I do to? Luckily a friend of mine got me in touch with local timber company Zena Forest Products who custom makes the Edge Grain wood tiles we ended up using. Edge Grain flooring was originally created for the major remodel at PDX airport! With the airport remodel, PDX opted to reach out to many different local and sustainable companies to fulfill this huge overhaul in as eco-friendly of a way as possible. Zena got to work, and thru time, troubleshooting, and some serious technology, they developed Edge Grain flooring. A few things happened in the development of Edge Grain flooring- it became a way to utilize small off-cuts from their original wide plank floors, pieces so small that they would have otherwise gone to waste. And Zena gained the ability to harvest and use wood from smaller tree varieties not typically used in flooring, like the Larch we ended up choosing. Zena also stewards and manages the forest that they harvest much of the wood they make their flooring from, and Edge Grain is ultimately is helping to lessen their environmental impact. Our first step in doing this project with Zena was to go directly to the source, in the heart of the Williamette Valley…
We learned so much from Ben, of Zena, while visiting. Not only does he have a wealth of knowledge on sustainable forestry, but he is absolutely committed to creating a beautiful product. Whether it be the classic wide plank flooring that they are known for, or this newly developed more sustainable product. Edge Grain flooring comes in a small tile shape- think parquet flooring. But not the parquet floors of the 1980s you may remember from your childhood, think of something much more luxurious and crafted. In fact, parquet flooring was actually developed in the late 1600’s in France. Once a status symbol of the elite, the incredibly ornate antique parquet floors from the past are truly works of art.
Edge Grain tiles can be installed all consistently in a single direction like you will see at PDX, chevron striped or even herringbone! We installed the tiles in a checkerboard pattern, which I love so much for the space. It was quite the undertaking, but with a lot of help, elbow grease, and long days- the entire look and feel of the studio was warmly transformed from the old dark green painted plywood floors to what you see today.
The project took about 18 days from start to finish- including the 5 day curing time for the top coats of sealant to cure, and it was absolutely worth it. My mom and dad even drove up from California to help out, and spending quality time working with them was the icing on the cake. Anyways, I’m proud that we DIY’d the install even though it was outside of my comfort zone! It turned out amazing, and I feel there’s something really symbolic about putting love and time and special attention into the ground that is literally the foundation of my business.
We absolutely loved working with the entire Zena team, and would 100% recommend them. If you want to check out even more beautful spaces with Edge Grain flooring check them out here.
xo,
Anna