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

Arts & Crafts Homes, “Putting it Back” Winter, 2013
This article describes a kitchen restoration in a 1909 Foursquare in Portland’s Ladd’s Addition neighborhood. It features two Gracewood Design floorcloths which were based on a linoleum scrap found in a dumbwaiter during the renovation.
Old House Interiors, “Authentic Turn of the Century Kitchen” February, 2013
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.
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
July 19 - 21, 2013
For the fourth year, we will be exhibiting at this show, which features 200 juried artists, local musicians, craft beer and Oregon wines. It takes place in the lovely Bush Pasture Park. This is the only show we plan to do this year.