Adventures in Remodeling, Part 3: The Kitchen

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?

In this 3 rd 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.

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.

See More Stories

By Anne De Wolf August 4, 2026
Need more space but don't want to leave the neighborhood you love? Learn how to plan an addition that complements your Portland home and supports the way you live.
By Anne De Wolf July 29, 2026
Arciform participates in Portland's FIR Program, giving your remodel a single City inspector and a smoother path through permitting.
By Anne De Wolf July 16, 2026
That unfinished basement could become your favorite spaces in the house. Learn what to consider before remodeling a basement in one of Portland's older homes.
By Anne De Wolf July 15, 2026
Your attic may offer more potential than you think. Discover the key design and construction considerations that can turn an underused space into a comfortable, functional part of your home.
By Anne De Wolf May 29, 2026
A whole house remodel doesn’t have to happen all at once. Learn how thoughtful phased planning keeps each step connected, from first priorities to final details.
Mid-Century kit
By Anne De Wolf March 3, 2026
Open shelving adds character to a vintage kitchen, but it’s not for everyone. We cover the real tradeoffs, design options, and how to make it work in Portland’s historic homes.
SEE MORE STORIES