Five Iconic Female Interior Designers in Portland, Oregon and Beyond

LIKE

1

LEAVE COMMENT 0

8 min read

From Portland to Bend and beyond, Oregon’s design community brings together a wide range of creative voices and approaches. It blends local architectural heritage, material richness, and daily livability in ways that feel distinct from other regions of the country. Within that community, women lead firms that span boutique residential studios, multidisciplinary practices, and narrative-driven design firms. Some focus on whole-home interiors, others integrate architecture and environment, but all bring thoughtful intention to spaces that are meant to be lived in, loved, and experienced over time. Below are five female interior designers and women-led firms in Oregon whose work is shaping how homes feel, function, and connect to place. Each design style is different, but they all draw from the Northwest. We hope their work resonates with you!

Five Interior Designers Portland Oregon Has Blessed Us With

Jessica Helgerson

Jessica Helgerson Interior Design | Portland, OR

Founded in 2000 and operating for nearly 26 years, Jessica Helgerson Interior Design is one of Oregon’s most established design studios. Based in Portland with an additional office in Paris, the firm is known for interiors that balance historical architecture with the brightness and playfulness of modern design. The work feels thoughtful and layered; their interior design services are clearly grounded in craftsmanship rather than executed based on trends.

The studio works across residential renovations, new construction, and commercial interiors. Projects are approached holistically, beginning with spatial planning and interior architecture and extending through finishes, furnishings, lighting, art, and final installation. Jessica Helgerson remains closely involved throughout the process to ensure continuity from concept through completion.

Helgerson’s perspective is shaped by her upbringing between Southern California and France, influences that continue to inform the studio’s aesthetic. That dual sensibility became even more pronounced with the opening of the firm’s Paris office. Both studios excel and operate fluidly between European tradition and West Coast sensibilities.

Today, JHID functions as a collaborative studio with a multidisciplinary team and a network of architects, builders, artists, and artisans developed over more than two decades. Whether working locally or internationally, the firm’s focus is to create spaces that feel personal, well crafted, and built to endure.

Light & Dwell

Light & Dwell | Portland, OR

Founded in 2015, Light and Dwell is an Oregon-based interior design studio known for warm, refined spaces influenced by West Coast landscapes and old-world European interiors. Founded by Aymee Kuhlman, the firm was named a New American Voice by Architectural Digest and has built a reputation for homes that feel elevated without losing their sense of comfort or personality. Per DesignMilk, there was also some creative collaboration with designer Molly Kidd.

Now led by founder and CEO Kuhlman, the studio prioritizes quality over quantity, favoring thoughtful layouts, layered materials, and enduring finishes. Featured in Vogue, DesignMilk, and other important shelter magazines, Light and Dwell interiors often pair vintage European references with clean architectural lines.

Sustainability also plays a central role in the firm’s work. Designs regularly incorporate reclaimed materials, well-loved vintage pieces, and custom furnishings crafted by artisans. This approach allows each project to feel personal while supporting longevity over trend-driven choices.

In 2024, the design house expanded its design vision with the opening of the Light and Dwell Shop, featuring a proprietary furniture collection handmade in Oregon. Crafted from sustainably harvested white oak sourced from fallen trees, the collection reflects the studio’s emphasis on craftsmanship, proportion, and long-term use. You can learn more about the project in this recent feature.

With design principal Katherine “Katie” Cunningham overseeing client projects, Light and Dwell continues to shape homes throughout Oregon and the West Coast that feel grounded, livable, and quietly expressive.

Fuel your creative fire & be a part of a supportive community that values how you love to live.

subscribe to our newsletter

_{*please check your Spam folder for the latest DesignDash Magazine issue immediately after subscription}

Subscribe

Molly Kidd

Molly Kidd Studios | Oregon

Founded in 2024, Molly Kidd Studios is a full-service residential and commercial interior design firm based in Oregon. Led by designer Molly Kidd, the studio is known for interiors that balance refinement and functionality through close attention to detail. They often combine vintage influence, global sourcing, and strong architectural foundations in their work. Spaces feel layered and expressive without drifting into excess; they are atmospheric, tactile, and material-focused.

Molly began her design career in 2016 and built early visibility through her work as a florist and lifestyle blogger before transitioning fully into interiors. That background continues to inform her approach to interior design. Her spaces emphasize composition, patina, and storytelling; in doing so, they often marry historic elements with contemporary construction. These spaces are rich, gorgeous, layered, moody, and tactile, which we absolutely love.

The studio’s aesthetic is deeply informed by the Pacific Northwest. Natural light, weathered materials, and a muted palette drawn from regional landscapes appear consistently across projects. Kidd frequently incorporates vintage furnishings and locally sourced pieces, often ensuring that a significant portion of each project is composed of pre-owned or antique items. This practice supports sustainability while reinforcing a sense of place.

Molly Kidd Studios operates with a predominantly female-led leadership team. Brittney Young serves as the firm’s Chief of Operations; in this role, she brings extensive experience in project management and construction coordination. Ali Primrose leads brand strategy and visual direction to ensure cohesion across the studio’s interiors, retail offerings, and editorial presence. The broader team includes designers, procurement specialists, and marketing leadership who support projects from concept through installation.

In addition to residential work, Molly contributes regularly to design media. She is an Editor-at-Large for Homes & Gardens, where she writes about materiality, vintage sourcing, and the influence of regional landscape on interiors. Her work has been featured in publications including Architectural Digest, Domino, Rue Magazine, MyDomaine, and House Beautiful, and she was named one of HGTV’s Designers to Watch in 2023.

Across all scales, the studio’s work prioritizes longevity over trend-chasing. Interiors are designed to feel collected rather than decorated; they are shaped by craft, memory, and the belief that homes should deepen with time rather than reset every few years.

Guggenheim Architecture + Design Studio

Guggenheim Architecture + Design Studio | Portland, OR and Beyond

Founded in 2009, Guggenheim Architecture and Design Studio is a full-service architecture and interior design firm based in Portland. Led by Jenny and Jeff Guggenheim, the studio is known for projects that integrate architecture and interiors as a single, cohesive discipline rather than separate phases of work. All spaces featured in this article are from the firm’s Portland, Oregon House on April Hill.

Guggenheim’s portfolio spans new residential construction, extensive renovations, and boutique commercial projects across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Their residential work is especially grounded in context. Homes are shaped by landscape, climate, and “real life”, whether located in rural Oregon, along the coast, or in urban settings. The firm approaches each project as a custom response, with careful attention paid to proportion, circulation, and long-term livability.

Interior environments are layered and tactile, built through thoughtful finish selection, detailed lighting plans, and custom furnishings. Rather than relying on trend-driven gestures, the studio emphasizes craftsmanship and material integrity. Much of their work features bespoke millwork, custom furniture, and architectural detailing developed specifically for each home.

The studio also maintains a strong commercial practice, as they design hospitality spaces, retail environments, wellness facilities, and boutique medical projects throughout the region. Across typologies, their approach remains consistent: architecture and interiors developed together, with clarity and restraint.

Guggenheim Architecture and Design Studio has been recognized in the Architectural Digest Pro Directory and has received coverage from publications including California Home + Design. Licensed to practice architecture in Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, and Massachusetts, the firm continues to work nationally on projects that prioritize place, craft, and thoughtful execution.

Casework Interiors

Casework Interiors | Portland, OR

Founded in 2015 by interior designer Casey Keasler, Casework Interiors is a Portland-based studio known for thoughtful, highly personal environments that balance narrative, function, and longevity. The firm approaches design as a collaborative process, working closely with clients to translate personality, lifestyle, and values into spaces that feel purposeful rather than prescriptive.

Casework’s interiors are defined by cheerful color, streamlined cabinetry, and subtle references to the past. Vintage influences appear alongside contemporary detailing, allowing architectural challenges to become opportunities for inventive, custom solutions. The studio places strong emphasis on research and responsibility by blending innovation with archival inspiration to create homes that feel grounded and lasting.

Rather than filling rooms with decorative excess, Casework focuses on meaning. Each project is developed to tell a specific story through material choices, layout, and proportion. Quality over quantity guides the studio’s work, with careful attention given to craftsmanship, durability, and doing things correctly the first time.

Led by Keasler, who brings more than twenty years of experience in interior architecture and design, the firm supports clients through the full design process with transparency and structure. Casework’s team-driven approach extends to long-term client relationships as well as close collaboration with builders, trades, and vendors.

Based in Portland, the studio works throughout Oregon, Washington, California, New York, and Idaho, where they create approachable, livable interiors that evolve with the people who inhabit them.

Why We Highlight Female Designers at DesignDash

Oregon boasts a rich, layered, and nature-inspired design landscape (no pun intended), and the designers featured here represent a wide range of perspectives, methodologies, and scales of work. Some lead multidisciplinary studios that integrate architecture and interiors. Others focus on boutique residential work or expressive creative practice. Yet all share a seriousness about the way people live and use space, and a commitment to design that honors both form and function.

At DesignDash, celebrating women in the design industry means acknowledging not only aesthetic achievement but also leadership, collaboration, and the everyday work of shaping environments people inhabit. These designers influence how homes are built, renovated, and furnished across Oregon, and they continue to expand what thoughtful residential design can look like in the Pacific Northwest.

If you’d like to join DesignDash in spotlighting interior designers, we encourage you to submit project features or participate in our Women, In Their Own Words series. Not a designer? You can nominate a colleague or friend whose work deserves recognition.

Written by the DesignDash Editorial Team
Our contributors include experienced designers, firm owners, design writers, and other industry professionals. If you’re interested in submitting your work or collaborating, please reach out to our Editor-in-Chief at editor@designdash.com.