Oregon Home | 35 PEOPLE WHO LIVE in glass houses—well, maybe people should live in glass houses. At least that’s what designer Alana Spears learned after importing a glass-room structure from France through a Portland company and installing it in her backyard. “Spending time outdoors is essential for our mental wellbeing,” Spears says. “It grounds us, soothes our minds and brings a quiet kind of joy.” Most of the time, Spears’ design work focuses on bringing the sunshine inside through windows, material choices and a restrained use of color. But for her own home, a 1947 Tudor in the Montavilla neighborhood that couldn’t easily accommodate a more modern covered outdoor space, Spears saw an opportunity to try something really different, with a historic appeal. “I envisioned slow mornings with coffee and journaling, mid-afternoon naps, hosting friends and family, projector movie nights, and maybe even a little stargazing,” Spears says. Deciding where to put the glass house in the family’s backyard was easy. She chose a sunny spot with east-to-west exposure near her home’s back door, positioned to allow for easy access from the house. “I loved the idea of walking directly into it,” Spears says. “I wanted it to feel like a seamless extension.”
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