Three months ago, when children's book artist Makenzie McCarthy moved into her one-bedroom Portland apartment, she described it as "very cold and white," "sterile," and "lacking character and warmth.

Artist Beverley Rouwen and her partner, ceramicist Douglas Reeve, work from their Victorian brick barn in the picturesque ...

When children's book author Makenzie McCarthy moved into this one-bedroom rental in Portland, she described it as "very cold and white" and "lacking character and warmth." Credit: Makenzie ...