Winter 2022-23
Years ago, we bought our dining room table at Sustain Interiors in Hood River. This falls into the category of full disclosure, I suppose, because we have a story about the interior design and furnishings company in this issue. But when our writer Don Campbell turned in the piece, it particularly resonated with me. We bought the table after looking endlessly and fruitlessly, far and wide (though we always prefer to buy locally). We’d recently remodeled our small home and wanted a table that would be practical and timeless, hardy enough to hold up to our two young kids but sophisticated enough for dinner parties. Our open concept kitchen elevated our dining area to a central part of our main living space, so any table would figure prominently in our day-to-day living.
We’d nearly given up finding the perfect table. Then one day, on an unrelated mission seeking backsplash tile, we found ourselves at Sustain. And there it was, sitting among tile samples and kitchen counter mock-ups. We learned it was made by a regional artisan with fir salvaged from the Columbia River. We loved it immediately. Not only was it the perfect table, but we could support a local business and it had a meaningful story behind it.
Now, nearly a decade later, all of the family meals, holiday gatherings, school projects and game nights that have taken place on and around it have made that table a beloved part of our home. Our table is, in microcosm, what Sustain’s mission is all about. “My philosophy is if you build or create something beautiful, people want to sustain that and take care of it,” said the company’s founder, Heith England. You can read more about his vision for sustainable, lasting design beginning on page 10. The company recently expanded with the opening of its Sustain Home showroom — the perfect complement to the space it occupies the former Sheppard’s building, which the company tastefully updated while maintaining its historic essence. We’ll not ever need another dining room table, but I love to pop in now and then just to browse. Come to think of it, we are in the market for the perfect lamp.
Just because winter is upon us doesn’t mean you have to hunker down. We turned to some local experts for tips on how to go stand-up paddling during the cold months (page 40). And check out our Staycation feature for some great ideas on creating your own winter vacation right here in the Gorge (page 32). If you’ve never been to the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Museum — or if it’s been a while — go! It’s a fascinating place to while away a winter’s day and you’re guaranteed to come away with newfound knowledge about our amazing Gorge. However you spend the winter, enjoy, and thanks for reading.
— Janet Cook, Editor
