A Silverton artist lets her  imagination soar in the building of her home.

SHARRON MILLS-GREEN
Correspondent
December 25, 2002

  Once upon a time there was a lady named Shirley Sartell. Nicknamed SK, who moved to Silverton, Oregon, to build her dream home…. And future bed and breakfast.  So her storybook home was built using SK’s myriad  of talents.      

  Gazing at the home from the street you feel you’ve stepped back in time and place to a country village in 19th century France or England or maybe even Italy. Fantasy begins at the curb and continues as you walk across the bridge to the front door, the gentle sound of running water lulls as you pull the chain attached to a bell inside. The unique doorbell is just another indication that imagination, fantasy and fun have had full reign as this home was built. The doorbell rings inside the home and as the door is opened, we are greeted by homeowner Shirley (SK) Sartell.

          
  SK’s diminutive stature makes you think she’d be more comfortable sitting in a turret serving tea or curds and whey. But don’t let her small size fool you. As you survey this innovative, charming and fanciful home you’ll be surveying the talents of an artist whose energy is boundless.

  For instance, the front door is absolutely charming with its curved top and antique finish. SK couldn’t find the perfect front door for her home so she built the door herself. And that’s just the beginning.

  As we enter the whimsical home on in this magical, Victorian town we wonder if we have left the land of "ordinary" and entered the land of make-believe where all the charming ideas you ever dreamed of in a home were made possible. Architectural pieces were purchased and stored for years before finding their perfect place in the home. Antique Doric wood columns (stored for 15 years) define living and dining space. Copper that was hand-pounded into an embossed design came from France and was stored eight years. The 12-inch squares came from a former interior decorating job and were made into the countertop backsplash in the kitchen. The kitchen boasts French country cabinetry. The varying heights of the cabinets, antique glass fronts and antique finish give you the impression they were shipped over from a farmhouse in Provence. But SK designed and her and her husband, Ron, built all the cabinets themselves. Counter tops are made of concrete and acid stained to give an older appearance. Copper sheeting is placed over the island top and hand pounded to fit curved edges. The kitchen farm sink was custom poured of concrete by SK. The island sink is tiled with bits of broken plates that match SK’s favorite dinner set. All designed and hand-done by SK.

A glass door at the pantry is sand blasted and features a bouquet of massive sunflowers through which you can peek into the interior of the pantry. Again, designed and done by SK.

As a practical interior designer SK has designed age into her home, making it look well loved and well used.

The large oak leaf painted on the floor of the stair landing brings the white oak tree ambiance into the home. This motif is used several times throughout the home’s decorating. The master bedroom headboard is created from young tree saplings pulled into shape while green and then left to dry for an open, country feel.

  During one visit to the home several old upholstered chairs were seen in the large and spacious master bath. Shirley said someone had been going to throw the furniture away. Upon the next visit these old castaways had been turned into upscale, newly upholstered chairs worthy of gracing the finest sitting room. SK had taken the old upholstery material off piece by piece making a pattern as she went. Then using the pattern to cut into new material, she reupholstered the old pieces, creating new furniture.


  The home is built with concrete-filled Styrofoam blocks which make the walls 12 inches thick and provide an insulation rating of R-50. This method of construction allows for deep windowsills.


  Instead of sheetrock on interior walls, hand-slurried stucco covers the walls, creating an old-world ambiance. SK painted and antiqued the walls, giving them a warm glow. The master bedroom walls were painted with a flat paint a lovely sage color. Stripes were then painted on the walls using the same color paint only with a gloss finish. The effect is very subtle and lovely.


  In her daughter’s bath, SK’s imagination worked overtime. To fill an ordinary bathtub with water you turn a faucet and the water comes out a spout. Not so in this fanciful tub. Turn the faucet and the water comes down a waterfall from the opposite side of the tub. SK created the waterfall from stones called Montana Rainbow. The sink cabinet and storage cabinet are all custom furniture-style cabinets.


  Off an upstairs balcony a roof garden is being created. The exterior stucco walls of the home have been frescoed to depict an olive grove with rolling hills in the background. Upon preparing the roof with pond liner, grass will be planted with wild flowers and creeping Jenny thrown in for effect.


  SK’s talents are innumerable and she isn’t afraid to tackle a new media. One media in which she is very successful is rug sculpting. SK is a Master Carpet Carver. The rugs are created by Shirley drawing the design and then hand-sculpting varying colors and textures of carpets together. The original handmade carpets are sold for several thousand dollars apiece. The carpets range in size from a few feet to room size. Her largest carpet graces a home in Central Oregon and depicts the central Oregon mountains. All of these exquisite works of art are one-of-a-kind, copy-righted,  Signature works. SK works with clients nationally.


  Recently she showcased her painting talents during the tree lighting ceremony in downtown Silverton. While standing in the window of Olde Towne Flower Shoppe, she painted a winter scene of forest and snow.


  Some of the gardens and the studio at her home are a work in progress. No doubt the finished product will be as enchanting as the home. SK’s husband Ron Sartell is a general contractor and works right alongside SK helping make her ideas reality. SK is an interior designer, Master Carpet Carver and color consultant for design projects. She has had her own business for 25 years and her website is www.sksartell.com. Or she would love to hear from you at sksartell@sksartell.com or you can call her at 503-873-1474.

 
  Back at the entry, over the front door and high above your head is painted the homily, "Enter as friends, depart as family." And indeed, your impression as you leave is, you’ve met a supercharged artist whose talent not only created the ambiance of a fairytale cottage, but you’ve entered that charming fairytale land and become part of the family that lives there. You’ll want to come back over and over again.

News Articles
Harris Publication Magazine articles featuring SK
SK's Home to be featured in national magazines
Return to Current Projects
White Oaks Bed & Breakfast
Return to SK's Home Page