As of June 2016, Gracewood Design is now under the sole proprietorship of Ken Forcier.  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. Ken also creates his own stencils.

Gracewood Design formed in 2004 in San Francisco and relocated to Portland, Oregon in 2007.  The company has produced over 1000 floorcloths.

Press

• Arts & Crafts Homes, “Gracewood Design” Spring, 2016 -This article is about us and our ever expanding portfolio of Arts & Crafts floorcloths.
• Michegan Home and Lifestyle, “Floor Cloths: A Forgotton Accessory” Spring, 2016 -This article is about floorcloths and uses images supplied by us.
• Arts & Crafts Homes, “Art & Craft” Summer, 2015 -Click here to download PDF.
• Orange County Register, “Bringing Back Floorcloths”, December, 2013 This article describes how to make your own floorcloth and references Gracewood Design as a source for custom floorcloths.
• 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.

Links

Here is a listing of links to sites with relevance to Gracewood Design:

• Preservation Artisans Guild : Professional period revival artisans serving the Portland, Oregon area since 2013.
• Artistic License :Professional period revival artisans serving the San Francisco Bay Area since 1982.
• MB Historic Decor : Early American wall and floor stencils.
• Architectural Heritage Center :The Architectural Heritage Center is a non-profit resource center for historic preservation, located in Portland, Oregon.
• Portland Open Studios :Annually, during the second and third weekend in October, 100 juried artists in the Portland area open up their studios to the public.
• Bellacor :Bellacor is the world’s leading source for lighting and home furnishings on the web. They carry a selection of our floorcloths.
• Northwest Renovation :A Home Improvement Magazine.
• HomePortfolio.com :Interior design resources.
• Stuart/Jackson LLC :Specializing in the research, renovation, restoration & recreation of historic flooring materials.
• Old House Interiors :Monthly magazine focusing on interior design for classic homes.
• 1890 Bryant Street Studios :A vibrant center for fine art and craft in San Francisco, and our former studio location.
• Surface Design :Association devoted to textile design.
• The Restored Homestead :Finds, purchases, restores and sells historic homesteads in the New England Area.
• Dick Blick Art Materials :High quality art materials.
• Andrew Galli :Site Logo and graphic design.
• Aldosoft :Site Catalog and commerce programming.