attend / at-tend / ə-ˈtend
To direct one’s mind or energies, to take care of, to pay attention, to stretch one’s mind toward something
Attend is a Portland-based design studio founded in 2023, led by Emily Knudsen and Chelsie Lee, long-time friends and collaborators. They work on buildings and spaces of all kinds, but have a particular interest in and experience renovating historic homes. With each project, they form a narrative unique to the site, the building, and the people who inhabit the spaces that guides their decisions.
They meet their clients and projects with curiosity and openness. In response, they create beautiful, approachable spaces that reflect the lives and personalities of the people who use them. They excel in their ability to sift through the many forces that shape a project and respond with creativity and intention.
They navigate the inherent challenges of a construction project with originative design thinking and patient project management.
Their services vary by project scope, but include: concept design & space planning, construction and consultant team assembly, finish & fixture selection, design documentation, and construction administration. They complete projects with furnishings, manage procurement, and guide the process to the final installation.
Our ideal clients share our love of craft and thoughtfulness, and trust us through the sometimes nonlinear design process. We enjoy solving the practical parts of a project while finding opportunities for playfulness and beauty.
EMILY KNUDSEN
A Native Oregonian, Emily graduated from the University of Oregon win honors, holding a degree in Interior Architecture and minors in Architecture & Architectural Art History. She has worked for Jessica Helgerson Interior Design as a senior designer & project manager and as an associate with Hacker Architects.
Her experience spans award-winning multi-family, civic, and hospitality projects, with a primary focus on residential design. She has a knack for clever space planning, delights in the early concept development stages, and is equally dedicated to resolving details during construction.
CHELSIE LEE
Chelsie grew up in Ohio and studied Interior Design at the top-ranked interior design program at the University of Cincinnati's College of DAAP. While in school, she studied abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark, where she developed a deep love for Scandinavian design and craft that still guides her today.
After graduating, she made her way to Portland and a senior designer role at Jessica Helgerson Interior Design. For a decade, she designed and managed many award-winning custom residential projects across the country and built a robust network of collaborators, artists, and craftspeople along the way. The parts of this job that give her the most energy are forming relationships with the clients and project teams and expressing her playful spirit through the use of color, textiles, and furniture.