John Gorman: Goodwill Ambassador for Yakima

by Melissa Labberton on Jan 5, 2012

A beautiful day in Venice * Travel photos courtesy of John Gorman

The cool and breezy August evening didn’t stop Yakima’s John Gorman from playing the consummate host to a group of business associates he’d invited to his Yakima home for dinner last summer. Folks had traveled from Washington, D.C., Singapore, Malaysia and Katmandu just to enjoy his hospitality — which speaks volumes about the man.
As senior director of sales for John I. Haas Co., Gorman, 69, has spent his entire career working in the brewing and hop industry — and traveling around the world. Haas is a sister company of the Barth Hass Group, the largest supplier of hops and hop products in the brewing industry.
But he loves his hometown so much that when he’s on business trips he takes on the unofficial role of goodwill ambassador, making sure to show photos of the Yakima Valley and extolling the virtues of Eastern Washington.
Gorman’s the guy you see chatting with friends at the local coffee shop one day, and the next he’s on an international flight to almost anywhere in North America, Europe or Southeast Asia.  His territory is global, giving him a chance to make friends in the farthest reaches of the world.
His trips are also filled with adventure.
In Katmandu, Nepal, where Gorman does business with Mount Everest Brewery, he has endured rolling electrical blackouts, wild jungle animals and 105 degree temperatures — all part of the Katmandu experience. During his first trip, in March 2008, he quickly learned the pitfalls of picking a hotel off the Internet, finding himself in less than one-star accommodations. Today he stays at Nepal’s Yak and Yeti Hotel, and although that might conjure visions of Raiders of the Lost Ark, the property was a favorite of the famous explorer Sir Edmund Hilary.
On that first visit to Katmandu, Gorman also met Shrestha Shanta, managing director of Mount Everest Brewery, when Shanta picked him up for the 18-minute flight (that’s six hours by car) to the brewery. Shanta’s first words: “I must treat you like a god. That’s my duty.” Overwhelmed by his client’s declaration, Gorman has attempted to return the favor ever since.
“I love the business, and along the way customers have become friends.” he said.
“I try to learn everything about a culture before I go there,” Gorman explained. That might be a lesson learned from a trip to Singapore, when Gorman handed out travel alarm clocks as gifts. After the presentation, the organization’s supervisor thanked Gorman, but said in his culture, “When you give a clock, you’re waiting for their death.”

John Gorman at his home. He's standing in front of some of the many items he has collected travelling around the world selling hops as Senior Director of Sales for John I. Haas Company. • Photo by Andy Sawyer

A 1964 graduate of Boston College with a B.A. in English and History, Gorman’s no stranger to the beer business. His father worked as sales manager for the Schaefer Brewing Co. in Brooklyn, N.Y. After a bit of gallivanting after college, Gorman followed in his dad’s footsteps, apprenticing to become a brewmaster.
Working in the field, he learned the industry inside and out. His gift for gab, along with a knack for making friends, helped him realize that sales was his talent. But with sales comes travel, and Gorman explained, “I was putting 1,500 miles a week traveling around five states and living in hotels. I was so regimented that on Monday I’d leave and not come back until Friday.”
Although his schedule was taxing, Gorman loved every minute, since it allowed him to meet new people all over the Northeast. “The brewery industry … people were wonderful.” Because of his many contacts, Gorman eventually met the owners of Western Hop Co. of Yakima, and they offered him a job in 1983. He quickly flew his family to Yakima and it was love at first sight. After a few years, he moved his family to Wisconsin to take the position of vice president of sales for the Schreier Malting Co., now Cargill Malt.
“But I never stopped dreaming about Yakima,” Gorman admitted.
Fortunately in 1988 a job with Haas brought Gorman, his wife and his two children to the Yakima Valley for good.
Because of his frequent travels, Gorman treasures the time spent at his Yakima home with his wife, Patsy. In fact, he loves it so much that he turned even an unfortunate event into a positive: When his house was burglarized 22 years ago, instead of ranting, he quickly joined the Yakima Police Department as a reserve officer. He has patrolled the Yakima streets during his free time since then, recently retiring as a lieutenant. It’s hard to imagine anyone doing that difficult job after jetting around the world all week, but John Gorman makes it look easy.

Gorman at home with his West Highland Terrier, Winston. • Photo by Andy Sawyer

A French Cottage Christmas

by Melissa Labberton on Nov 9, 2011

Milford’s family and dining rooms are decked out for the holidays with her “rustic romantic” style. Photos by Andy Sawyer and Chad Bremerman

When Jane Milford first stepped through the door of a charming 1914 French cottage located on a quiet midtown Yakima street, she knew instantly that “God had answered every prayer I’d had for such a house.”

Milford, who owned a home décor store called Found Collections in Seattle, moved to Yakima four years ago. She now creates the displays in Yakima’s Garden Dance/raindance. When Milford moved here, she wanted to find an older home so that she could decorate it with the antiques, vintage furniture and curiosities she had collected over the years.

Back-to-the-Future Remodel

by Melissa Labberton on Sep 8, 2011

Karen and Jim Gilbert raised the ceilings on their new kitchen, installed skylights, and replaced dark cabinets with white cabinets, brightening a formally dark room. (by Sara Gettys/Yakima Herald-Republic)

By Melissa S. Labberton

How do you transform a 1970s house, complete with a rabbit warren of dark paneled rooms, in order to suit a 21^st century lifestyle? That was the question that confronted Karen and Jim Gilbert in 2008 when their Realtor showed them just that in Terrace Heights. The home, while dated, was close to the Yakima Country Club, where Jim works as the golf pro.

Restoring a Classic Historic House

by Melissa Labberton on May 6, 2011

The entryway in the Olivares home.

By Melissa S. Labberton

Photography by Chad Bremmerman

The key to a successful home remodel is finding a builder who understands your vision and can work within your budget.  Four years ago, Barbara and Carlos Olivares decided to embark on a major remodel of their 1906 home, located on a charming, tree-lined street in the heart of Yakima’s historic district. But they knew they must first do their homework.

“We wanted a builder that knew something about old houses,” Barbara explained.  They sought out two of Yakima’s prominent and respected builders for advice, and both suggested Mike Fischer of M.D. Fischer Construction.

Fischer started building homes in the Yakima Valley with his father 40 years ago, and over time developed an eye for old houses. He’s cultivated a reputation for quality woodwork and attention to detail.  Fischer prefers to work alone, and the couple was pleased to learn he would be devoting all his time to their remodel.  Unfortunately, Fischer was so busy that they had to wait two years to start.

But the wait gave Barbara time to pore over hundreds of magazines, clipping out ideas and inspiration.  The rooms she envisioned could finally include her collection of antique furniture, stained glass and vintage light fixtures. She knew one day she would be able to incorporate these pieces into her home.

“My whole goal was to make the rooms look the same period of the house,” Barbara said.  “I didn’t want people to think it was old and new.”

As the project’s start loomed closer, Barbara and Carlos quickly realized they would have to vacate while demolition and construction took place. In the end, they were displaced for 18 months.

The kitchen is bright, airy - and used. The couple entertains frequently and Barbara enjoys cooking.

The couple initially wanted to add a much larger kitchen onto the house.  Fischer suggested building a second full bathroom where the old kitchen stood, then putting the new kitchen where an enclosed back porch had been built by prior owners.  That single decision avoided any additions that might take away from the original design.

The home’s old-fashioned parlor was transformed into a TV/family room without losing its period feel.  Fisher’s historically correct cabinetry and moldings match so perfectly with the original woodwork that it’s difficult to tell the old from new.

Anyone who has ever watched episodes of “This Old House” knows that embarking on a project of this size and scale can be fraught with problems and unexpected surprises. The Olivares house was no different.

Barbara explained that when Carlos bought the house, the basement had a dirt floor.  To make the basement livable, Fischer had to jack up the house and build a bearing wall, before pouring concrete for the floor. When demolition took the first floor walls down to the studs, they discovered evidence of several fires from the past that had been patched with cardboard.  And that was not all — also found were beehives and a leaky sewer line.

An old photo of the home's exterior, year unknown.

But not all was negative.  The rock-lined cold room originally used for storing canned goods in the basement had the perfect temperature for a wine cellar.  Fisher built a handsome wine rack on the south wall and — voila — the wine cellar became a reality.

Besides a new kitchen, sunroom and bathroom, the rest of the main floor, including the formal dining and living rooms, were refreshed with paint, wallpaper and refinished hardwood floors.  They hired local stained glass artist, Caroline Bowman, to replicate the pattern from the front door’s side lights for the new front door, to stunning effect.  Smaller antique stained glass pieces can be found in the kitchen, sunroom cabinetry and new bathroom.  Barbara also worked hard to find authentic and reproduction Revival light fixtures to fit the period of the house.

The home has four large bedrooms and a bath on the second floor.  Barbara’s grandmother’s bed, a 100-year-old rocker and an oak dresser make the blue guest room look like a cozy picture of the past.  The large master bedroom with its classic bay window affords a year-round view of the sunrise, and in the fall the autumn leaves of the century-old gingko trees outside turn the view to gold.

The couple made the decision to replace all of the windows with energy-efficient models.  The conversion is done so well that the change is hardly noticeable, but the reward in lower energy costs is great.

Barbara and Carlos love to entertain, and the new expanded kitchen and updated first floor living space can now accommodate a large crowd.  The old-fashioned wrap-around porch, which will get its own facelift in the future, and the new backyard gazebo and tile patio also come in handy for casual outdoor gatherings.

The Olivareses are definitely happy with the results of their two-year project — successfully making their period house feel like a home.

French Country with a Hollywood Twist

by Melissa Labberton on Jan 7, 2011

By Melissa S. Labberton

A top hat sits atop a bust in the living room in the Terrace Heights home of Stephanie and Mark Clevenger.

Photos by Gordon King

When Stephanie Clevenger bought her Terrace Heights home 20 years ago, she knew instantly it had potential. Custom built in the 1930s for the Chaney family, the house had only three previous owners. Its bones were good and no overzealous do-it-yourselfer had attempted to tear down original walls or make the garage into a rec room.

Stephanie and her husband, Mark, have labored with great success to enhance their home’s gracious French Country style.

“I worked for Social and Health Services for 37 years, and when I retired I wanted to be surrounded by beauty,” she explained. But anyone who knows Stephanie also understands that she likes a touch of Hollywood “glitz and glam.” She’s managed to tastefully incorporate exactly that by placing the odd chandelier or zebra rug amid her beautiful antique furnishings and classical statuary.

A “keeping room” welcomes visitors when they enter the house from the side door. In Colonial times, families kept a room adjacent to the kitchen warm, so household members could gather there. As time went on, the “keeping room” was used for multiple purposes.

Stephanie has remodeled the room with a long counter that features a deep-set, curved copper farm sink that can be used for anything from arranging flowers to setting up for a party. Her collection of creamy white antique serving platters set against the gold faux-finished walls lends a tone of elegance to this practical space that would be the envy of any serious hostess.

The overall home’s decor leans toward neutral colors; however, the couple decided to go for the gusto when it came to renovating their guest bath and kitchen. Not many homeowners are brave enough to use dark colors on their walls, but the Clevengers boldly painted the guest bath’s walls using tuxedo black paint. They accessorized with dramatic black and white floral photos, a crystal chandelier and a large gilded mirror, making the powder room ooze with 1920s elegance.

The black bathroom in the Terrace Heights home of Stephanie and Mark Clevenger.

Although Stephanie has a talent for home decor, she enlisted the help of Joe Simon, owner of the Shopkeeper, and Denise Van Horn, Standard Paint’s resident interior decorator, for guidance in remodeling her kitchen and front hallway four years ago. Van Horn helped find the elegant Italian travertine floor tile in shades of white and beige that is set in a checkerboard pattern from the kitchen to the front hall.

Simon had the more difficult task of designing the shape of the new kitchen countertop of black, honed granite. He lay on the floor to make a template for the countertop’s curving shape. “We wanted someone to be able to tuck into the corner of the kitchen,” he explained. The kitchen counter has become a favorite gathering place for friends to enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail.

In bold contrast with the black countertop, the kitchen’s cupboards and ceramic farm sink are a striking white. During the day, the leaded glass kitchen window facing south looks out on a classical knot garden guarded by cherub statues. Fleur-de-lis finials, in keeping with the French Country theme, top the white courtyard fence. A sparkling contemporary crystal chandelier over the window creates a dazzling mood light for nighttime entertaining.

Simon describes Stephanie’s decorating style as “Vintage Marlene Dietrich,” and the sunken living room certainly lives up to that description.

The large, welcoming room with its original hardwood floors, fireplace and built-in corner cupboards has become the perfect backdrop to display the Clevengers’ extensive

art collection. Just one wall features 19 prints that represent an industrial WPA take on the Lord’s Prayer, displayed in vintage frames. The couple especially loves the paintings by renowned local artist Leo Adams. Nine of his works grace the walls of the home. In fact, everywhere you look you see original art — with some of their favorites by Laurie Kanyer and Penn Shelton. A number of art pieces and antiques have also been acquired from John Gasperetti and Brad Patterson’s collection.

A tour of the Clevengers’ extensive seasonal gardens would convince any guest that the home is a sanctuary both inside and out. As a trained master gardener, Stephanie, with the help of her husband, has designed special garden areas perfect for solitude, reflection and entertaining. Avid collectors, Stephanie and Mark have traveled extensively through Europe and have been influenced by the classical gardens there. It’s obvious that Stephanie loves statuary, and her friend Michelle Wyles, owner of Garden Dance and Rain Dance clothing stores, has helped her acquire statues and urns that enhance each garden setting. The large backyard pool with its walk-through Pergola that sports a beautiful chandelier in summer makes dining alfresco especially wonderful at the Clevenger home.

The brass sink in the keeping room

Loving and nurturing a vintage house isn’t always easy. But with an eye on the past, without sacrificing modern convenience,  Stephanie and Mark Clevenger have created a livable home that celebrates art and beauty with style.