NE 23rd St., Portland, Oregon. Est. 1926.

The exterior was updated using a historical color, copper gutters, fresh low maintenance landscape and an innovative fence design that repurposed metal panels to obscure the neighboring home while not enclosing the narrow driveway. The backyard was graded, raising the back area four feet to create a tiered effect. The decision was made to use structural plantings with variegated leaves to add texture rather than flowers that would require maintenance.  Faux stone created a very usable space for the family as well as for entertaining.

All interior surfaces were stripped, repaired and restored to high quality standards. The kitchen was gutted. The room, formerly one long expanse, was made into two distinct spaces: one for food prep and cooking, one for eating. A built-in cupboard was added in the eating area to mimic the original one in the kitchen and to showcase the homeowner’s extensive collection of vintage dishes while still keeping the kitchen neat and uncluttered. The floors were replaced with repurposed wood.

Both bathrooms were remodeled. In the upstairs children’s bathroom, a leaking skylight was replaced by a dormer, the impractical wood floor removed and replaced with simple hexagon tile and a Greek key border; a new clawfoot bathtub and pedestal sinks were installed and built-ins designed under the sloping roof to add storage.

The main floor bathroom kept to the warm tones used throughout the house;  I designed a clean-lined transitional vanity with marble countertop, a glass shower enclosure and installed transitional-modern fixtures.