emerge
out of the
ordinary Written by Hillary Rielly : Portrait by david papazian
When summing up Andee Hess, the Portland interior designer behind Osmose, you can say a lot of things. She’s humorous, energetic, vibrant, and smart as a whip. With a bottomless well of ideas and a healthy sense of exploration, she’s rightfully registering on many a design radar. Hess got her start 10 years ago at Portland’s Skylab Architecture, where she was the interiors director. Six years ago, she decided to open her own practice. The move has paid off and then some. Her work continually puts her out on a limb, but the results never come off as trying too hard or being outlandish just for the sake of it. “I’ve got some pretty crazy ideas but have also executed a wide range of work from minimalist restraint to boisterous modernism, so I know where the right balance is,” Hess explains. Concept, research, and client input all support the end results. She enjoys creating custom pieces for each space, and this leads to even better results. Her custom lighting creations are often standouts in her designs. “An environment dies without the right lighting—it’s such a crucial aspect of finalizing effect and mood,” Hess says. “Fixture pricing can often be a budget issue, so I always jump at the chance to design an affordable custom piece that is project specific.” And if you’re wondering just how unique Hess’ ideas are, here are the details about one of her upcoming projects: “Right now I am working on a den environment for an office here in Portland. It’s going to be a bright, cave-like war room that will exist as a space within a space and functionally allow them to conference and hold working sessions.” Definitely not ordinary.