Harper

Author: Harper

Minor Kitchen Remodel, Major Results

Before Washburne Kitchen

The Design

This Minor Kitchen Remodel, in a North Portland bungalow, was done to address years of wear and tear and unfortunate material choices. The original cabinets had been replaced long ago with “modern” plywood frames and plywood slab drawers and doors. The design was out-of-place with the original style of the home, but the kitchen layout was a functional triangle, with a small island that floated in the middle. The flooring was extremely worn, to our good fortune, because that allowed us to see the impression of the original fir floors telegraphing through.

The Plan 

We wanted to honor the original design of this great old home in an economical manner so we decided to reface the existing cabinets with  paint grade shaker style doors and matching plain panel drawer fronts for a better period match. We used an overlay door style which provides the finish carpenter with more forgiveness and better adjustment with less time. The island, more of an obstacle to traffic flow than a functional workspace, would be removed. The resilient flooring would be removed to evaluate the condition of the underlying floors. The laminate counters would be replaced with a neutral laminate and a wood self edge, and a tile backsplash would be added. Retrofit windows would be installed in the existing window frames.

The  Results 

We chose to paint the cabinet frames and doors with a more current color that added a splash of fun to the old dreary space. We also added some colorful tile from Pratt & Larson for the backsplash. The tile has a handmade, old pottery quality. The largest effort was given to the original fir floors. Once exposed the floors had to be patched in a couple of places by lacing in new wood, and then it was all sanded and refinished. The floor more than any other aspect really respects the era of the home. It also blends seamlessly with the connected hallway and dining room. Finally, white higher-end, used appliances helped keep things looking bright and clean while staying in budget.  The finished product was well worth the effort and why I think we had Major Results!

 

Typical Characteristics of Minor Kitchen Remodel. 

  • Replacement Cabinet Doors and Drawer Fronts
  • New Cabinet Hardware
  • Pull & Replace Laminate Counters
  • Pull and Replace Resilient Floors
  • New Appliances
  • New Paint for Wall Surfaces.
  • Price Range of $18,000-$20,000

This remodel went above and beyond a typical minor remodel with the floor, the tile backsplash, and replacement window sashes but made up for that expense by using higher end, used appliances.

Skylights Bring in Space as Well as Light

Double Kitchen Skylight 2
Skylights are such a blessing in the Northwest were we are hungry for the sun on so many winter days. We added several to our own home, and we all really benefit from the light.

The client that requested the windows pictured here spends a lot of time in sunny Bend and grew up in California so she really misses the sun. When we were done she had lots of sun and an added sense of space in her kitchen. With no room to go out, going up through the attic with the skylight shaft adds the feel of additional square footage.

There is some interesting geometry contained in the walls of the skylight shafts of the kitchen and stairwell lights because the ceiling openings were made larger than the windows to allow for added light entry. The alternative would have been to make the ceiling opening a polygon without square corners, but because of the proximity of the cabinets in the kitchen and the walls in the stairwell, square lines provided a better design.

The kitchen skylights had the added benefit of being operable so the kitchen can be easily vented on those occasional hot days or when that accidental pot overheats. We have done many projects for this client over the years and she says the skylights were by far the best investment!

 

Alameda Pergola

Alameda Pergola
Pergolas and other outdoor structures are a great addition to any home.  These additions can be a way of expanding your living space to include the outdoors. This Pergola was built in Alameda for our client who wanted to ground her home to her backyard. Her existing patio provided a place for outdoor gatherings but the house loomed large overhead and dwarfed the backyard. She had several pictures that provided a starting point. We then walked her yard and looked at the architectural features of the home so we could incorporate the existing design. We discussed the connection to the house and the window that provided a challenge. How best could we provide the height to fit the scale of the house and not make the overlap look forced?

3-D Drawing of Pergola

Then after defining her budget we developed a plan with the structure that fit her sense of design built with materials that met her financial goals. By creating a three-dimensional drawing she was able to see clearly how the Pergola would intercept the existing window and how the scale would fit with the house.