No Screens Allowed

Designer Emily Henderson turns a backyard barn into an artsy neighborhood enclave to encourage wonder without Wi-Fi.

- 

The Setting A 21/2-acre treelined farmette in Southwest Portland. (See more of the property at country living.​com/emily.) The Structure A partially converted barn that serves as both a clubhouse and a creative studio.

With a summer full of free time ahead of them, Oregon-based designer Emily Henderson (stylebyemilyhenderson.com) wanted to give her kids, Charlie (11) and Elliot (9), and their friends a place to step away from devices and explore creative pursuits. The front half of an underutilized barn behind their home offered the perfect canvas (the back half houses their pet alpacas and pigs).