Featured on Dwell

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When our clients bought their 1960s home in SW Portland, there was a lot to love:  original midcentury architecture plus incredible views from their living room's wall of windows. However, there was also a falling apart kitchen, white carpeting and dated wallpaper. After undergoing a first phase renovation with Fieldwork Design & Architecture, Wise Design was called in to finish the remaining areas as well as key styling and furnishings.  The kitchen and master bathroom were completely remodeled with the goal of ensuring any changes remained consistent with what had already been done.

 

Our design objective was to give this busy, modern family a minimalist design without sacrificing their maximalist lifestyle. The essential element to this was thoughtfully designed storage to conceal and tuck away the clutter of everyday life. Removing a soffit allowed the kitchen cabinetry to be brought up to the ceiling. Adding in drawers means there’s no dusty, unused space at the back of cabinets. Most importantly, the process started with documentation of the clients’ items, so the new system would have a place for everything. The cabinet next to the eat-in bar now has a charging station and spots for mail and papers to avoid stacks on the counter.

 

The biggest issue with the master bathroom was its size and layout. It was bisected into a dressing room and the bathroom, all covered in wallpaper. The wall between the two was removed and now a skylight fills the space with natural light. Large-format floor tile from Ann Sacks anchors the room while the rear wall of the bathroom and entire shower is wrapped in a beautiful, subtle plaster. A floating vanity made of rift-sawn white oak with horizontal grain match and custom-routed channel pulls is now a storage powerhouse, corralling everything from toilet paper and towels to hair dryers and curling irons. The goal was to get everything off the counter, so the inset medicine cabinet is also wired for charging razors and electric toothbrushes. A walk-in closet was created by carving space from the hallway and was outfitted from top-to-bottom with functional storage. A pocket door hides the interior when needed.

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-photos by Meagan Larsen

-copy by Melissa Dalton