Holly Freres is the President of JHL Design in Portland, Oregon, a woman-owned and run business in architecture, interior design, procurement and construction administration. Freres and her husband David Horning, who leads the building designand architecture side of JHL, combined their companies in 2020 to offer a seamless and comprehensive design process for clients. Freres’ extensive travel background has influenced her modern aesthetic and she is known for her attention to detail in creating functional and beautiful spaces for clients. She leads a team of talented artisans and has a passion for mindful execution. Learn more about Holly Freres in today’s Designer Friday.
Natural light floods this coastal modern living room, a perfect space for stories and conversation centered around the vibrant painting titled “Leaving Madagascar” by Paton Miller.
Andrew Joseph: What is something you hope to see trending in design in the future?
Holly Freres: I would really like to see a pivot from fast furniture back to quality pieces. This has been on an upward trend for years but exponentially grew during the pandemic. Purchasing something that only lasts a few years and is then disposed of has a huge impact on our environment. Getting back to collecting pieces that are well-made and used for generations is so much more meaningful. We love sourcing antiques, mixing in heirloom pieces that clients already have, and working with local artisans to create one-of-a-kind pieces.
AJ: If you could live in any home in a movie or television series, what would it be?
HF: Yellowstone! I love that show and the classic Montana lodge setting. We live in a very modern house in the city so the idea of acres of horse country and a post-and-beam house sounds like a dreamy experience.
A sharp contrast is created in this living space with dark wooden flooring next to white walls, while textural furniture and rugs lend the space a more soft, organic feel. A Mahjong Roche Bobois sofa set in charcoal is truly luxury comfort seating around an original Noguchi coffee table.
AJ: Are you a good cook? If so, what’s your specialty?
HF: I love to cook and entertain. My husband would say that my speciality is making something out of nothing. We have four children and a very busy household so oftentimes we do Top Chef and make soup or sauces out of the most random ingredients. My husband and I have always loved making Mexican food so it’s been a delight that our nanny, from Oaxaca, and all the kids make homemade tortillas and birria together. Pair this dinner with a spicy margarita and some homemade guacamole and the entire family is happy.
AJ: What’s the best thing that happened to you this month?
HF: I had the privilege of traveling to India with my mom, the founder of JHL Design. It was an amazing trip both culturally and from a design perspective. I was so impressed with the kindness of the people and their desire to live in a way that truly betters their community. We shopped the streets of Jodhpur, New Delhi and Jaipur and discovered many textiles and furniture pieces to bring home.
This Portland Penthouse is not your typical office space. Concrete pillars and textured walls make for a moody feel, but the angled walls, Alaskan yellow cedar, and central open space gives a sense of drama to the room.
AJ: What’s something you always travel with?
HF: Noise-canceling headphones and a good sense of humor. I’ve found that travel isn’t what it used to be and that going with the flow is a necessary way of being. When we travel as a family there’s often five or more of us. It’s an adventure getting from one place to another and never without a surprise change of plans, flights being delayed or canceled.
About the Designer | As president of JHL Design Holly Freres proudly leads a woman-owned and -run business originally founded by her mother, Jane Freres, in 1999. Holly took the lead as Principal in 2003, and today leads a 12-person team of collaborative, dynamic design visionaries. Freres’ husband, David Horning, is also part of her professional world. Horning leads the building design and architecture side of JHL. The couple are both Oregon natives whose background includes a mix of residential and commercial projects, including restaurant and hospitality clients; high-end, single-family residences; retail and industrial designs.
Freres’ extensive travel background—which has included living in France and New Zealand as well as visiting much of Europe, Mexico, Southeast Asia, and Africa—also helped shape her modern aesthetic. Freres relishes the juxtaposition of textures and colors she encounters during her travels, such as vibrant, hand-dyed ikats she found in Indonesia or the rich visual culture revealed in hand-made artifacts from Africa.
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