About Us

Gracewood Design is a collaboration between Gwenith Grace Jones and Kenneth Wood Forcier. Collectively, we have decades of stenciling and stencil design experience. Ken is the son of Polly Forcier, a well known researcher of Early American stencil design. For 30 years, Polly has been amassing a collection of over 450 authentic wall and floor stencils from the Early American period, circa 1740-1840. These stencils can be purchased from Polly’s company, MB Historic Decor. Gracewood Design uses many of these stencils in the work found in our Early American Floorcloth Collection. We also create our own stencils.

Gracewood Design formed in 2004, initially as part of MB Historic Decor. In early 2005 we created this separate company due to the expansion of our design focus to new influences such as Art Deco, Arts & Crafts and others.

We are constantly challenging ourselves to improve the artistry of our work and we are ever evolving the process of how we make our products, be they floorcloths or custom floors, to ensure maximum durability.

Press

Portland Monthly Magazine, “Period Perfect - A Southeast couple revives the Queen Anne lifestyle” May, 2012
Click here to go to the online article in which one of our floorcloths is pictured. The print version includes us as a source with additional information.
Studios Magazine, “Take a Big Step on Stenciled Floors” Spring, 2012
Click here to go to Studios Magazine’s website.
Northwest Renovation, “Period Floor Coverings: Floorcloths Then and Now” June/July, 2011
-Click here to download PDF.
Arts & Crafts Homes, “Kitchen & Pantry” Summer, 2011
-Click here to download PDF.
Oregon Home, “Doing White Right!” Feb-Mar, 2011
-Click here to download PDF.
Old-House Interiors, “Furnishings” February, 2009
-Click here to download PDF.
Homes+Gardens Northwest, “Couple puts lost art of canvas rugs at your feet” January, 2009
-Click here to go to article.
American Bungalow, “New & Noteworthy” Winter, 2008
Old-House Interiors, “A Personal Journey to Portland” June, 2008
-Click here to download PDF.
The Oregonian, “Walk-on role” November, 2007
San Francisco Chronicle, “Floorcloths Making a Comeback” December, 2005
-Click here to go to article.
Creative Homeowner, “Design Ideas for Flooring” Joseph R. Provey, October, 2006
Available at Amazon. See page 182 for three custom floorcloths by Gracewood Design.
-Click here to download PDF.
The Crafts Report, “Craft Insight: Decorative Fiber” August, 2006
-Click here to download PDF.
Quilter’s Home, “New Stuff” August, 2006
-Click here to download PDF.
Financial Times, Weekend Edition “Stepping out for art under foot” May 27, 2006
-Click here to download PDF.
Early American Life, “Masterpieces that Warm Your Feet” April, 2006
Old-House Interiors, Early Homes Edition, “For the Early Home” Spring, 2006
-Click here to download PDF.
Old-House Interiors, “Concrete Potential” February/March, 2006
-Click here to download PDF.
Fine Furnishings International, Editor’s Picks, January/February, 2006
Furniture Style, “For All Seasons” January, 2006
-Click here to download PDF.
Pacific Sun, “Trends Underfoot” December, 2005
-Click here to download PDF.

TV

Bob Vila’s Home Again Show, “Modern Colonial Project” 2003
Interior Craftwork Episode and Interior Design Project Continued.
Wall stenciling and Rufus Porter style mural by Ken Forcier and Polly Forcier.

EVENTS

Salem Art Fair & Festival

Portland Open Studios
October 13 - 14 & 20 - 21, 2012
Saturday & Sunday, 10am - 5pm both weekends
Visit the studios of 100 artists throughout the Portland, Oregon metro area. These artists in a myriad of disciplines will show you their work, their processes, their spaces, and a little of what it means to be an artist in this great city. We will have a large selection of floorcloths on display in a variety of sizes and styles and will be demonstrating floorcloth making.