Jul 123 min read

Project Reveal: Laurelhurst Park Colonial Revival

Updated: Sep 19

We are very excited to introduce our Laurelhurst Park Colonial Revival home! Our firm along with Sasquatch Architecture, and Clarkbuilt (now Owen Gabbert) were tasked with the renovation of a 1918 house in the historic Laurelhurst Park neighborhood of Portland Oregon. What started as a light renovation of the historic home, soon turned into a major down-to-the-studs whole house renovation, due to extensive fire damage exposed during demolition. The project entailed a comprehensive renovation of all four floors, including the addition of an outdoor area with a covered patio, pool, sauna, cold plunge and an outdoor shower.

The design approach aimed to strike a balance between our clients’ desire for an open concept house and the original Colonial Revival architecture. The floor plan was redesigned to connect adjoining spaces on the main level. Thickened walls with cased openings were designed to create separation between spaces, while maintaining visibility and a sense of openness. In the living room, this translated into new floor to ceiling bookshelves flanking the opening between the living room and den. Beautiful carpets from Kush Rugs were featured in the living room, dining and entry. In the foyer, two custom entry cabinets were added as clever storage solutions for shoes and coats. New hutch style cabinets in the dining room were designed to display stemware and collections from our client’s travels.

The original kitchen was dark and closed off to the rest of the house as well as the backyard. The rear facade was opened up with a series of sliding kitchen windows and patio doors increasing site lines to the back yard/pool. In contrast to the home’s architecture, the backyard incorporates modern materials including concrete, steel, and vertical cedar siding. The kitchen serves as the physical and aesthetic transition point between the contemporary exterior and the historic interior. The openings on the rear facade infused a modern spin on the traditional gridded Colonial profile. The kitchen’s sleek windows and doors, with a black finish and minimal mullions, compliment the modern exterior while paying homage to the original character of the home.

Another area of the home that fuses together the charm of the colonial revival home with contemporary touches is the main floor powder bath. Paneling was added to feel cohesive with the other period appropriate casework throughout the home and fun modern lighting adds contrast to the more traditional details.

Upstairs, the primary suite was reconfigured to increase the circulation between the office as well as create a new walk-in closet and luxurious primary bath with patterned tile from Cle. For the bedroom, we selected the beautiful Pavlova wallpaper from Thatcher Studio for a bit of subtle pattern. Gorgeous neutral window coverings from The Shade Store highlight the paned windows & backyard view.

In the kids' bedrooms, new custom closet systems were added and gorgeous historic patterned mosaic floors from Heritage Tile were added in each of the three remaining bathrooms.

Upstairs in the 4th floor of the home, a dreamy playroom gives the children space to let their imagination run wild. Wallpaper in a historic Arts & Crafts pattern by C.F.A. Voysey adds a fun touch of period appropriate fun to the space!

Venturing out to the totally reconfigured backyard, the design embraces an easy flow from inside to the outside. The large window in the kitchen is designed to fully slide open to easily serve drinks to guests lounging on the covered patio. Kris Celtnieks of Sasquatch Architecture did a fantastic job of seamlessly integrating the architecture of the Colonial Revival home with the contemporary elements of the new sauna space and covered patio. Blueprint Earth created a beautiful yardscape that brings all of the elements of the yard; the pool, sauna, cold plunge, outdoor shower and lounge areas together in a very clever way that gorgeously highlights the natural beauty of the pacific northwest.