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An extensive $3 million interior design renovation will soon help the River’s Edge Hotel, near Portland’s South Waterfront District, better reflect its name and location overlooking the Willamette River.

Lisa Zangerle, a principal with SERA Architects, said her firm’s redesign will be the most intensive effort for the hotel since it opened. SERA’s interior design team is working with its client, HRI Properties, to transform the hotel through floor-to-ceiling room updates and a lobby overhaul that 鈥渁dds function and clarity to the hotel’s many amenities.鈥�

Because the hotel stands along the river, Zangerle said, the goal is to provide a more nautical resort-like feel 鈥� unlike many interior designs in Portland.

鈥淭he clients thought it was a great idea and weren’t interested in the dark, moody route that Portland tends to go with,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t’s on the water, so why not embrace that and open things up and make it fresher with a nod to the water without patronizing it.鈥�

That meant leaning toward a nautical theme, but still being contemporary and approachable, she said, including the colors that were chosen.

鈥淲e are using blue steel that is reminiscent of a ship, geometric patterns and rattan, a finish of former classic urban resorts,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e will scale it up and use it as some of the main patterns, like a classic urban resort with a contemporary spin.鈥�

Zangerle said the design 鈥減lays with a Scandinavian aesthetic鈥� with clean, simple and bright themes in the furniture, textiles and decor.

Other improvements are strictly functional, she said.

鈥淭he fireplace is in an awkward location by the 2陆-story windows but cuts them off from view,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e will move (the fireplace) against the wall and open up the sight lines,鈥� she said.

River’s Edge offers guests amenities such as a 24-hour gym and full service spa, which she said are drivers in the resort-themed approach.

Also, a new market for local products will replace a 300-square-foot board room. Hotel officials plan to expand food service and start a happy hour by adding seating in both the market and the adjoining lobby.

鈥淚t will be a communal gather space, and when we have happy hour when we’ll serve local beers,鈥� Zangerle said.

Adding a public amenity is new for the hotel, Zangerle said, but the goal is to bring more locals in.

鈥淲e want them to come to a place that’s comfortable and have an option to be on the water,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t’s great for the community and great for guests, right on the walkway that connects downtown to the South Waterfront area.鈥�

The new design will also mean expanding the hotel and spa entrances.

The hotel’s restaurant and bar will go through a rebranding with the help of New York-based food and beverage consultant APICII. The restaurant will be redesigned and the menu will be updated, she said.

All guest rooms will be upgraded, Zangerle said, and two new ones will be created to bring the hotel’s total to 101. All rooms will gain new furniture, floor finishes, wall finishes, lighting and artwork, she said. Items will subtly extend the nautical theme.

Another theme for the redesign, Zangerle said, is biophilia 鈥� the instinctive bond between human beings and other living systems.

鈥淧lants will be real plants and colors will be appropriate to natural colors and natural patterns,鈥� she said. 鈥淣othing will be industrial and guests will have the beautifully comforting overlay of biophilia.鈥�