Home Refresh 2025: NE PDX.
We had the lovely opportunity to refresh a home in NE recently: Great bones, all that was needed were slight format changes and a lot of TLC. New wiring throughout, chimney removal, new roof—take away a wall here, add a wall there—all in a days work!
Good outcomes need a good roadmap.
Lots of great classic Portland vibes to work with on this 1924 home: we pitched the homeowner on a rugged NW palate and they went all in! Our touchstones skewed heavily toward National Parks color schemes, milkglass, and antique brass hardware.
Give a wall, take a wall
We love a good built-in, but in this case, it was going to be more work to salvage than it was to remove. On top of that, we added a wall to separate the living room from a third bedroom, so it was only natural to remove a wall and open space in another direction. The kitchen was previously extremely narrow and closed off—we proposed punching through the built-in and opening up the kitchen to the dining and living areas. The resulting space is much more conducive to entertaining and the cook being part of the action. Counter space was a real problem in the previous configuration—the new counters flanking the range, as well as the new bartop, essentially doubled what the previous layout had to offer. All we had to do was remove a 3-storey chimney!
Bathroom: Before and After
This bathroom was in major need of some updates. There was no storage, and the bathtub, while unique, was floating un-tethered in the space. We decided to work with the tub, since the exterior was getting painted green, and build up the bath wall to allow for storage. New tile floor and surround, and wainscotting in keeping with the era.
Kitchen: Center of the party
Let’s face it: the kitchen is the modern day gathering place. If you like to entertain, this represents a positive change—since you can now be host and be part of the party at the same time. We located the oven and range right in front of the new bar top, so the host can look out into the dining and living area. Daylight now enters the common areas, unimpeded, from three sides, a fortunate byproduct. The addition of the 64” bartop and the counters flanking the range nearly tripled the counter/worktop space. We also added an exhaust system and better lighting. Salud!
