Get a Taste of Farm Life at a Cheery Guesthouse Outside Portland
For the past five years, Vail Fletcher and Greg Stamp have been creating the Croft Farm on their once-barren, five-acre plot. The property, where they reside full time, is a fully functioning farm with "U-pick" blueberry bushes.
"When we envisioned building a farm from scratch, we imagined having lots of places to slumber in a corner tucked away, ideally with a cup of local coffee or tea," says Fletcher. "Or read a book under a warm, wool blanket. So, we designed each space to feel small, but live large."
Read on for a tour of their beautiful barn and new, rentable guest quarters, called Tu Casa.
The Barn
The 1,800-square-foot barn and workshop was designed by architect friend Yianni Doulis. The exterior employs untreated cedar in a reverse board-and-batten style.
"The barn is a multi-use space, and it is our ground zero for all farm projects," says Fletcher. "It is where we harvest our honey, build our bird and bat houses, keep harvested produce and fruit, press cider—and it is the home of our seasonal produce stand."
!["We basically asked [Doulis] to help us create a space that could help contain all our current farm needs and hobbies while also imagining what might lie ahead for our farm," says Fletcher.](https://images2.dwell.com/photos/6272473203005894656/6474437271084249088/original.jpg?auto=format&q=35&w=160)
"We basically asked [Doulis] to help us create a space that could help contain all our current farm needs and hobbies while also imagining what might lie ahead for our farm," says Fletcher.
The couple hosts food swaps and other small community happenings in the barn, with the intention of using the building for future endeavors as well. They included "spaces for Greg's pottery wheel and a teeny space for my brass candle sticks that await a cozy farm dinner by the wood-burning fireplace," says Fletcher. "Mostly, the barn is literally and metaphorically a space that gives birth to our many dreams of creating and being with each other, others, and the land."
Shop the Look
Shiplap pine walls, primed white, complement unfinished concrete floors and a wood stove by Jotul.
Tu Casa
Seen here, Tu Casa is decked out in stylish, second-hand finds, bright pink pillows from Collectivo, and lighting from Schoolhouse Electric, including the Isaac and Satellite Sconces.
The guest quarters are in a separate, 325-square-foot building. "The guest space in particular is supposed to feel like a hug: tight but so comforting," says Fletcher. "I adore natural textures and contours, so that is also a big part of our design ideals."
A small kitchenette allows guests to brew a cup of coffee or tea, or prepare a light meal. The brilliant blue, high-gloss cabinets are IKEA, similar to the KALLARP line, adorned with Schoolhouse Electric's Edgecliff Pulls. An oak wood countertop completes the picture.
The guest suite includes a small patio accessed via the large glass doors, so guests can relax outside and take in the farm sights.
"We really wanted to showcase the changing landscape," says Fletcher. "Migrating birds; seasonal crops; hay fields; pastures full of sheep, goats, and horses—all can be viewed from the bed in our guest space."
A petite dining table is surrounded by sky blue chairs that sync with the nearby kitchen cabinets. The pendant is the Factory Light No. 9 Pendant from Schoolhouse Electric.
Book your stay at Tu Casa on Sauvie Island. Rates are $102 per night.
Project Credits:
Architect: Yianni Doulis / @yiannidoulis
Builder: The Croft Farm / @thecroftfarm
Structural Engineering: Miller Consulting Engineering
Landscape Design: The Croft Farm
Lighting Design: Schoolhouse Electric
Interior Design: Collectivo
Cabinetry Design: Ikea
Photography: Ellie Lillstrom / @ellie.lillstrom
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