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Posts from the ‘Creative Spaces’ Category

Adventures in Remodeling, Part 3: The Kitchen

If you imagine your ideal kitchen, do you dream of a spacious room connected to the outdoors through a sunny breezeway that provides lots of storage?

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In this 3rd chapter about our 1920 bungalow project, Arciform’s lead carpenters Jamie Whittaker & Eric Delph share stories about the kitchen addition, with all of its special touches.

Jamie tell us that this kitchen is the hub & heart of the home, a space for living & creating. It’s full of ideas from the whole team that became reality, but not without challenges.

Some of his favorite features: the two beautiful dutch doors, one leading to the new covered back porch & the other to the the side yard.

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The custom kitchen table, which provides space for eating or lounging while watching a TV that can be concealed behind a drop-down panel in the wall.

Another favorite piece is the fridge. It started as a big, modern appliance & we “dressed it up” like a vintage cooler you might see in an old general store.

The spacious salvaged island provides plenty of room for family time, & the built-in storage has a pressed tin door panel to resemble a pie safe.

Eric lists the 1929 Magic Chef range as a gem. Our client bought it online from some distant state & had the seller store it while we remodeled. When our client called for delivery, he learned that the seller had passed away & the range could not be found! Our client had to fly someone down to find it & bring it home.

He also lists the large vintage sink as a favorite element, with its built-in double drainboards and legs.

We turned the original kitchen into a little walk-through library

Jamie installing the cabinetry in the breezeway

& PM Adam enjoying a hard day at work

Arciform & Versatile Wood Products Teams on this project included:

  • Brad Horne, senior drafter, responsible for documentation & working with the city of Lake Oswego. We could not have done this without him.
  • Marty Hegg did all the fixture & finish specifications.
  • Principal Designer Anne De Wolf worked closely with the creative clients.
  • PM Adam Schoeffel led the construction team, helped with detail development & found treasures like the kitchen island.
  • Devin Morrow assisted with project logistics.
  • Dave Thomas managed deconstruction, salvaged material organization & labeling, which was crucial.
  • Eric Delph was our primary site lead! Among many contributions he personally co-designed (with the client) & constructed the garage storage & its icebox doors, & kept the crew on track.
  • Jamie Whittaker was our co-site lead, chief of special projects & master of craftsmanship.
  • David Gamble built the cabinetry, walnut kitchen table & worked on the salvaged table & fridge panels.
  • Dan Brindusesc & Eric Voss built the exterior doors & did sash work on the stained glass windows.
  • Rene Flannigan & Brent Dickey did all specialty finishes on the salvaged table, wine cellar door & panels in the garage.

Thanks to our wonderful, creative & inspiring clients, we were all able to do what we love to do!

If you missed part 1 or 2 of this series, check them out here.

Professional photos by Photo Art Portraits & Blankeye.

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Designing an Adventure-Ready Home

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The weather is perfect for getting out of the house to explore the beauty of our fair state. Its also a great time to consider how your home can better support your family’s active and adventurous spirit.

Here are a few of our favorite active family design solutions:

MilliganUsher_1926_Basement_Entry_A_P_Pro (1)

Designed by Arciform Senior Designer Kristyn Bester. Photo by Photo Art Portraits.

Biking may be a year-round sport in Portland, but with 8 months of rain it’s important to consider how to keep the bike dry and safe when you are not riding it. For this Portland client, we integrated bike storage into a basement mudroom to give the whole family a place to prep for the ride in comfort.

Hardison_1902_Mudrm_A_2_P_Pro

Designed by Arciform Principal Designer Anne De Wolf. Photo by Photo Art Portraits.

The transition from home-time to adventure-time is more fun when everything you need is organized and ready to hand. A great mudroom keeps all of your outdoor gear right where you need it (and NOT on the kitchen table or in a pile in the corner of the basement).

Hardison_1902_Exterior_A_3_P_Pro

Designed by Arciform Principal Designer Anne De Wolf. Photo by Photo Art Portraits.

A bit of whimsy can make even the chore of loading out gear more of an adventure. This hidden door offers direct pass-through access to the mudroom for sports equipment, bikes, and other outdoor gear. It’s also spectacular for hide and seek with the new kids on the street.

MilliganUsher_1926_Basement_Entry_A_P_Pro (4)Designed by Arciform Senior Designer Kristyn Bester. Photo by Photo Art Portraits.

Another great option for stashing gear is to add lockers in your mudroom space. These were integrated into the space under the stairwell, making clever use of an otherwise wasted space in the home.

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Designed by Arciform Principal Designer Anne De Wolf. Photo by Photo Art Portraits.

Even in the glorious summer months, there will be rainy days that require at-home activity and adventure. Some activity-friendly finishes can turn your basement bonus room into a place for dancing, yoga, or even  an indoor soccer arena. The wraparound metal trim in this basement family room allows the kids to roll back the rug and push back the furniture for a little rainy day footie match when needed.

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Designed by Arciform Principal Designer Anne De Wolf. Photo by Photo Art Portraits.

All that adventure can really work up a muddy mess of sweat, and you probably don’t want your master bath to bear the brunt of the clean up. For this we recommend a wet room in your basement or adjacent to your mudroom that minimizes the distance your family has to travel to wash up after a day’s hike in Forest Park.

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Designed by Arciform Senior Designer Kristyn Bester. Photo by Photo Art Portraits.

Wet rooms are designed with floor-to-ceiling water safe finishes that are designed for maximum mess with minimal clean up. This basement wet room (above and below) takes a narrow space and gives it style and practicality with floor-to-ceiling subway tile and polished concrete floors.

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Designed by Arciform Senior Designer Kristyn Bester. Photo by Photo Art Portraits.

Last but not least, a weekend full of adventure often leads to a week full of laundry. Taking the time to design a thoughtful and convenient laundry space in your basement, mudroom or even upstairs like this family (below) can make preparing for your next adventure more pleasant.

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Designed by Arciform Principal Designer Anne De Wolf. Photo by Photo Art Portraits.

And then, when all the tromping and stomping and climbing and rolling and cleaning is complete, isn’t it time for a nice, relaxing soak in your outdoor spa? This family (below) tucked an elegant spa area in a wooded corner of their yard, creating a peaceful post-adventure oasis in the heart of their home.

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Designed by Arciform Principal Designer Anne De Wolf. Photo by Photo Art Portraits.

How can we help you make your home more adventure-ready? Explore our design galleries and get inspired for your next project here.

Explore the Arciform Project Galleries | About Arciform | Schedule a Design Consultation

An Adventurous Kitchen and Bath Renovation

Hardison_1902_Bathrm2_A_1_PDesign by Anne De Wolf. Photo by Photo Art Portraits.

This Sellwood family wanted every room of their home to spark their family’s imagination and sense of adventure. Every corner contains a new discovery… and every room is designed to be lived in by a family who likes to work hard and play hard.

Take a look at some of the design solutions that helped keep this adventurous renovation feeling cohesive and welcoming.

Hardison_1902_Bathrm2_A_2_PDesign by Anne De Wolf. Photo by Photo Art Portraits.

In the bathroom, a calming color palette of greys and whites includes pops of unexpected drama in the lacquered black door and the dark distressed drawer fronts.

Hardison_1902_Bathrm2_A_8_PDesign by Anne De Wolf. Photo by Photo Art Portraits.

Salvaged wood in the drawer fronts creates a sense of mystery… and history. What other lives has this wood already had? What secrets did it bear witness to?

Hardison_1902_Bathrm2_A_6_PDesign by Anne De Wolf. Photo by Photo Art Portraits.

A generous tub with a black lacquered tub surround and a glass-walled shower give the whole family a place to wash the day’s adventures away. Pale grey penny tile makes a slip resistant surface for kids on the go.

Hardison_1902_Hallway_A_1_P_byAnne (4)Design by Anne De Wolf. Photo by Photo Art Portraits.

Outside in the hallway, a secret door leads to the kids’ bedrooms while a ship’s ladder leads to…

Hardison_1902_Loft_A_2_PDesign by Anne De Wolf. Photo by Photo Art Portraits.

A Jules Verne inspired reading loft, complete with salvaged windows and a railing shaped like a pirate ship.

Hardison_1902_Loft_A_1_PDesign by Anne De Wolf. Photo by Photo Art Portraits.

Let’s not forget the custom made boat hatch leading to a rooftop deck with a view of downtown Portland:

Hardison_1902_Loft_A_4_PDesign by Anne De Wolf. Photo by Photo Art Portraits.

Downstairs, the kitchen mixes the exotic with the traditional, juxtaposing contemporary finishes with vintage stained glass…

Hardison_1902_Kitchen_A_2_PDesign by Anne De Wolf. Photo by Photo Art Portraits.

The result is a vibrant expression of the family’s penchant for inventiveness and joy…

Hardison_1902_Kitchen_A_4_PDesign by Anne De Wolf. Photo by Photo Art Portraits.

A custom gothic-arched casement window from Versatile Wood Products adds imaginative drama while the handmade marquee sign from marqueeletterlights is a glowing reminder of the family motto.

Hardison_1902_Kitchen_A_6_PDesign by Anne De Wolf. Photo by Photo Art Portraits.

A custom island adds work and storage space while keeping the kitchen open to the dining and living rooms so the family can stay and play together.

Hardison_1902_Kitchen_A_8_PDesign by Anne De Wolf. Photo by Photo Art Portraits.

A vintage map detailing the traditional territories of Native American tribal groups acts as window shade and homework inspiration.

Hardison_1902_Kitchen_Pantry_A_1_PDesign by Anne De Wolf. Photo by Photo Art Portraits.

Open shelves with custom strapping add storage and display options. Custom divided lite windows above the fridge and behind the shelving separate the pantry space from the display area, inspired by the feeling of small town grocery shop storefronts.

Hardison_1902_Kitchen_Pantry_A_6_PDesign by Anne De Wolf. Photo by Photo Art Portraits.

Custom pantry shelving continues the metal strapping theme from upstairs, making the whole house look like its ready for a sea voyage!

Hardison_1902_SittingArea_A_1_P_byAnneDesign by Anne De Wolf. Photo by Photo Art Portraits.

In the living room, vintage furnishings mix with architectural columns and simple burlap curtains to create a fresh and appealing space to call home.

Want to see more of this adventurous home? Check out our previous posts featuring their mudroom, roof deck, and very cool basement guest suite.

Explore the Arciform Photo Galleries | About Arciform | Schedule a Design Consultation

You’re Invited: Arciform Client Joins First Thursday

We’re delighted to share that Arciform client Judy Jacobson is about to launch her new Pearl District gallery, HAP, this November. We helped Judy prep her gallery for opening, so we’ll be there on first Thursday to toast her success. The exhibit looks totally fascinating and features an artist with a who worked with Laika Studios on the movie Coraline. Take a look:

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Will you join us in helping her celebrate the opening of her new gallery?

Here’s the details:

Bartek Prusiewicz

New work

Under the Moon

When: First Thursday, November 7, 6:00pm-9:00pm

Where: 916 NW Flanders Street

 ABOUT THE ARTIST

Bartek Prusiewicz collects tin wind-up toys, vintage comics, science fiction posters, and 19th century ephemera. His work, crafted of ceramics and wood, re-imagines the forms of early and mid-century science fiction, embodying a sense of futuristic nostalgia.

He has a honed sense of dark and naturalistic whimsy, having worked on stop-motion animations for the films ParaNorman, Coraline, A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas and Creature Comforts America.