Multi-Faceted Remodeling for Your Multi-Generational Family

Rebecca Driscoll • Nov 11, 2015
Thayer_1926_Exterior_A_P_ (2)

Design by Kristyn Bester.

Historically, there has always been a visible connection between socioeconomic trends and architectural trends. One such example is the current boom we are seeing in multi-generational living.

With an aging population and sky-rocketing property values, more and more families are opting to live together under the same roof.

Perhaps you have an elderly family member who wants to age in place, or young children who need a play space. Maybe your adult child has moved back home and needs an apartment-style living space. It may even be that all of these things are true!
It can certainly be a challenge. You want to stay in the home you know and love, but it needs to evolve with the changing needs of your family.

Here are some remodel ideas that will allow kids, parents and grandparents to enjoy the benefits of living together, while still maintaining privacy and independence.

Design by Kristyn Bester.

Design by Kristyn Bester.

A master bedroom suite can provide a private sanctuary from the rest of the world. Here, we used a soft, neutral color palette and maximized daylight access, enhancing the feel of calm and serenity.

Design by Anne De Wolf.

With the right design, your basement can be converted to an inviting play space for the kids, or serve as an additional informal family room. Here, we used full-height built-ins to maximize storage for toys and games, allowing for a spacious play area. The stainless steel wainscoting enhances the aesthetic of a modern industrial loft, while doubling as a wall protector when the family wants to play indoor soccer!

When people of different ages and abilities are living together, it is very important to have adaptable design features that can enhance the safety and comfort of everyone in the house.

Design by Anne De Wolf.

This bathroom shows that you do not have to compromise style in order to have a functional, adaptable space. A European-style curbless shower is a great solution for an elderly family member or any person who has balance or mobility challenges. The teak fold-down seat and adjustable hand-held shower head are elegant and stylish, while allowing for maximum end-user control.

Grab bars are also a great safety feature for shower and wet areas.

Design by Kristyn Bester.

When more people are living in a space, finishes often need to be cleaned and maintained more frequently, due to heavy use. There are many wonderful finish options that are as beautiful as they are durable.

Tired of scrubbing and sealing the tile and grout in your bathroom? Corian (seen in the shower surround above) is a durable solid surface material that provides a contemporary, easy-to-clean finish for your shower surround or countertop.

Design by Anne De Wolf.

When it comes to quality of life, it’s the little things that count. When you are starting to think about a remodel, be sure to consider all of the various activities that you and your family engage in. How can your home support your unique hobbies and pastimes?

In this basement conversion, we created a large, versatile room in which the client could enjoy a sewing and crafting area without dominating the space. The built-in bench doubles as storage for crafting supplies to be neatly stowed away when not in use.

Design by Anne De Wolf.

Design by Anne De Wolf.

Your basement can also be a great opportunity for a private guest suite or “mother-in-law” suite. In this hip, loft-style basement conversion, we utilized the existing structural posts and beams to create perceived spatial allocations for sleeping, cooking, dining and lounging/entertainment. Multiple lighting layers allow the spaces to feel light and bright or soft and cozy. With this type of autonomous living space, your guest or adult family member can enjoy the privacy of apartment-style living, or you could even rent it out as an ADU or Airbnb unit!

Ready to start planning your phased multi-generational living remodel? Schedule a design consultation to begin planning your next project here.

Portland's Architecture

A Century of Style: Portland’s Architecture from the 1850s to Today

By Anne De Wolf • 15 Sep, 2023
Since the easiest way to know the different styles is to understand the art, fashion, science, and industry of the times when they were built, you’ll also understand how Portland’s diverse architecture has told, and continues to tell, our collective story. History deepens experience. You’ll never see Portland through the same eyes again!
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The Walter: A Labor of Love

By Marty Hegg • 01 Sep, 2023
The next time you’re in the Mt Tabor neighborhood, hiking in the park , picking up plants at Portland Nursery , or ordering take out from Ya Hala , make a detour and drive up SE Belmont Street between 55 th Avenue and 58 th . Better yet, park the car and take a stroll. In the middle of the long block proudly sits the Jacob H. and Etna M. Cook House , built in 1892-93 and looking as handsome as ever. This historic home has journeyed through thick and thin, and current owner Lyrin Murphy is the reason it’s so beautiful today. Originally built as a Victorian in 1892 for Alexander and Maria Warner, it was one of several Victorians with small farms and orchards at the base of Mt. Tabor. They sold the home in 1904 to Jacob H. Cook, a local businessman and lumberman, and his wife, Etna. In 1909, the Cooks completed a major renovation of the home, transforming it into the Neoclassical style we see today. This was a trend amongst socially elite Portlanders, drawn to less-fussy, more open Colonial Revival, Neoclassical, and Craftsman designs, perhaps inspired by travels and exhibits at the 1905 World’s Fair in Portland . They often entertained in their home, hosting dance parties, luncheons, club events, and out-of-town guests. Their large-scale remodel helped push the area into upper-class status in Portland. Some prominent exterior changes were adding the main façade’s massive portico with Tuscan columns, a full-width porch and 2 nd floor balcony, and a smaller balcony at the 3 rd floor.
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The Harlow Hotel: From High Hopes to Hard Times to a New Heyday

By Marty Hegg and Peter Herring • 05 May, 2023
The Italianate brick building – NW Portland’s second oldest remaining commercial structure – has had its share of ups and downs. Captain John Harlow, a Maine sea captain and co-founder of the City of Troutdale, built it as the Grand Hotel in 1882, hoping to cash in on the coming transcontinental railroad station, just blocks away. High hopes were soon lowered, as Grand Central Station (now Union Station) was delayed for fourteen years.
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Portland's Architecture

A Century of Style: Portland’s Architecture from the 1850s to Today

By Anne De Wolf • 15 Sep, 2023
Since the easiest way to know the different styles is to understand the art, fashion, science, and industry of the times when they were built, you’ll also understand how Portland’s diverse architecture has told, and continues to tell, our collective story. History deepens experience. You’ll never see Portland through the same eyes again!
The Walter

The Walter: A Labor of Love

By Marty Hegg • 01 Sep, 2023
The next time you’re in the Mt Tabor neighborhood, hiking in the park , picking up plants at Portland Nursery , or ordering take out from Ya Hala , make a detour and drive up SE Belmont Street between 55 th Avenue and 58 th . Better yet, park the car and take a stroll. In the middle of the long block proudly sits the Jacob H. and Etna M. Cook House , built in 1892-93 and looking as handsome as ever. This historic home has journeyed through thick and thin, and current owner Lyrin Murphy is the reason it’s so beautiful today. Originally built as a Victorian in 1892 for Alexander and Maria Warner, it was one of several Victorians with small farms and orchards at the base of Mt. Tabor. They sold the home in 1904 to Jacob H. Cook, a local businessman and lumberman, and his wife, Etna. In 1909, the Cooks completed a major renovation of the home, transforming it into the Neoclassical style we see today. This was a trend amongst socially elite Portlanders, drawn to less-fussy, more open Colonial Revival, Neoclassical, and Craftsman designs, perhaps inspired by travels and exhibits at the 1905 World’s Fair in Portland . They often entertained in their home, hosting dance parties, luncheons, club events, and out-of-town guests. Their large-scale remodel helped push the area into upper-class status in Portland. Some prominent exterior changes were adding the main façade’s massive portico with Tuscan columns, a full-width porch and 2 nd floor balcony, and a smaller balcony at the 3 rd floor.
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By Marty Hegg and Peter Herring • 05 May, 2023
The Italianate brick building – NW Portland’s second oldest remaining commercial structure – has had its share of ups and downs. Captain John Harlow, a Maine sea captain and co-founder of the City of Troutdale, built it as the Grand Hotel in 1882, hoping to cash in on the coming transcontinental railroad station, just blocks away. High hopes were soon lowered, as Grand Central Station (now Union Station) was delayed for fourteen years.

Site Measures – Part 2: Documenting Home Systems: Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing

By Sarah Crouse • 03 May, 2023
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Site Measures - part 1

By Sarah Crouse • 04 Oct, 2022
Remodeling is an art that requires many talents – of course craftsmanship and technical knowledge – but also creativity AND organizational skills. No other step in the process taps into all of those trades quite like as-built documentation. When we pull out a tape measure, we do not only document distances, but how pieces are put together. Knowing why a post is in a particular location, or noting that a duct bisects a space helps the team document the as-built properly and makes communication during all phases of construction clearer and more concise. While measuring a house might sound simple and straightforward, it takes a seasoned crew to be efficient! Our team has a well-vetted checklist of things to measure and note, in addition to an order of operations that helps ensure nothing is missed and our client’s time is well-spent. Here is a peek into how we go about collecting this data: HOT TIP: Make sure to take breaks and have plenty of snacks and drinks on hand. Making mistakes during site measures can waste a lot of time, so making sure everyone is energized is key!

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By Marty Hegg & Sarah Crouse • 09 Jul, 2022
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Building Trusting Relationships by Design

By ARCIFORM • 09 Jul, 2022
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The ARCIFORM team has been hard at work restoring the historic Fried-Durkheimer House , also known locally as the first Morris Marks House, and the extensive renovations are nearing completion. Recently, we were able to take a look at the progress and talk to project manager Joe McAlester and the ARCIFORM crew about this impressive Italianate structure.
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