Green House Framing was founded in 2002 by artists Lisa Pratt and Lars Jorgensen, partners in life and work. We created this business to showcase our talents in design and woodworking while supporting our commitment to preserving the environment.
What is Green House Framing?
We are a one of a kind shop specializing in reclaimed wood picture frames, mirrors, jewelry, and home decor. All of our products are designed and hand built from locally sourced reclaimed woods. All of the materials and processes have been chosen for their low impact on the environment. To learn more, you can read about our mission and our materials.
Where?
We officially launched in 2002 in Baltimore, MD. In the fall of 2005, we relocated to Portland, OR. All of our products are made in our Portland home studio from wood that is salvaged in the Pacific Northwest.
Why?
The green house in our name is a tribute to our Baltimore row home where we designed our first line of frames. It is also a reference to the “green” business we were starting at the time. If we had known how overused and misleading this word would become, we may have chosen a different one for our company. Now we must redefine what it means to truly be “green."
How?
We source our lumber locally from a few trusted deconstruction companies. Most of the wood we use is native Douglas Fir that is pulled out of old homes and buildings. We also acquire other species such as Oak from spent wine vats and Cedar from old fences. We finish the wood with a natural stain. To learn more, visit our materials page.
Since 2002, every product has been made from reclaimed wood. We will never use virgin wood. We firmly believe in deconstruction over tree replanting, using what is available rather than taking what is unnecessary. We are reusing valuable materials that would otherwise be dumped in a landfill. Not only good for the environment, this gives each frame we make a unique history and identity.
Lisa Pratt is a self-trained artist who spent her formative years writing fiction, drawing comics, and designing jewelry. She is the creative force behind most of Green House's product and web design. Lisa stains each frame by hand and provides customer support for online orders. In her free time, you will likely find Lisa in the kitchen chopping veggies or absorbed in a treasured cookbook. Her passion for healthy organic food and a chemical free home ensures that Green House Framing will continue to push the envelope in sustainability.
At the age of 14, Lars Jorgensen snapped his first photo and a passion was born. In the days before Green House Framing, Lars worked as a merchandiser for a photo lab where he learned the value of a good picture frame. He honed his woodworking skills restoring pipe organs. That is when he became fascinated with the history and properties of aged materials. To say Lars has a passion for old wood would be an understatement. He thrives on the hunt for unique sources and the process of transforming it with his own hands. Lars does all of the woodworking, framing, and is the webmaster for Green House Framing.
