Inspired by Family Home Tour

Holly Cullom • Sep 27, 2018

If you enjoy walking down Portland’s tree-lined streets to admire lovely old houses, join us on Saturday, October 20th, to tour some of our favorite Irvington, Alameda, and Beaumont-Wilshire homes on ARCIFORM’S Inspired by Family Home Tour.

The Old Church Concert Hall
1422 SW 11th Avenue

©Evrim Icoz Photography

The Old Church Concert Hall was designed by Warren H. Williams in the Carpenter Gothic style, which reinterprets Gothic style in wood rather than stone. Built in 1882, The Old Church is on the National Register of Historic Places. The interior is simple but striking with its architectural details. In the auditorium, cast iron Corinthian columns support a vaulted ceiling with plaster ribs. Over time, the space has been updated: a stage, ramp, and elevator have been added, and the bathrooms have been upgraded. ARCIFORM remodeled the office, designed and installed a weathervane, restored the ceiling, portico, and ramp, and is now renovating the box office.

1937 Neo-Georgian Villa – Beaumont-Wilshire

ARCIFORM designer Anne De Wolf diligently worked through every detail of this updated home with the clients. ARCIFORM is in the final stages of remodeling a kitchen and basement that were tailored to the clients’ lifestyle and addressed their wish to incorporate architectural details from the rest of the house. This couple enjoys cooking and entertaining, and they share the home with a wonderful standard poodle. In the new kitchen, everything but the floors and windows has been replaced. 


Versatile Wood Products’ cabinetry provides plenty of storage. Beautiful, reflective finishes (like Luce di Luna quartzite counters from Pental and handmade tile by Tempest Tile) bring a subtle, sophisticated shine to the space. In the basement, ARCIFORM renovated the bathroom — adding radiant-heated tile floors, fresh paint, and a new vanity, shower, and other features — remodeled the laundry room, and refreshed the family room.

1916 Colonial Revival – Irvington

The owners of this historic Ellis Lawrence mansion chose a phased remodel. She’s a master gardener, he runs his own company, and they have a busy family life with children and big dogs. ARCIFORM began with the master bath, continued the project with the kitchen, nook and mudroom, and completed the attic bath last. They utilized the historic review process with the City of Portland to maintain the home’s historical importance. The newly remodeled kitchen, sunroom and mudroom are warm and welcoming spaces for the whole family. In the sunroom, a new custom built-in bench under the windows provides ample seating with plush cushions. Here, the homeowners can enjoy eating, working, or reading while the birds chirp away in the garden.


The new mudroom has radiant heated floors under Pental’s porcelain tile to warm chilled feet after being out in the weather. The stunning copper hood and a custom self-closing gate to keep the dogs corralled are worth a visit alone. Windows and new cabinets are by Versatile Wood Products, made to closely match the originals, with hardware by House of Antique Hardware, Rejuvenation, and Van Dyke’s Restorers. The tile in the bathroom was sourced through Heritage Tile.

1911 Colonial with Transitional Elements – Irvington

1911 Colonial with Transitional Elements – Irvington

This 1911 Colonial is home to long-time Portlanders with close-knit, large families on both sides. They have two children, with a third one on the way, and a dog named Cole, adopted from the Humane Society eight years ago. With this remodel, designer Anne De Wolf aimed to create better flow and light throughout the space and provide more room for family gatherings. ARCIFORM built a large addition on the back of the house with a covered porch, expanded kitchen, sunroom, breezeway, and a WC. Outside, there will be an area for barbecuing and a decorative balcony. On the second floor, ARCIFORM converted the existing nursery into a bath and remodeled the master bath. New cabinetry is by Versatile Wood Products. Tile is sourced through Tempest TileworksHeritage TileDal Tile and Fire Clay.

1929 Tudor Cottage – Alameda

1929 Tudor Cottage – Alameda

Inside this home resides a busy family with three teenagers and a golden-doodle named Truman. ARCIFORM has completed two phases of remodeling here and is currently in design mode on the third phase. The remodeled kitchen retained its period charm and prioritized the family’s practical needs. The counters are Carrara, the backsplash is gray marble, cabinets are painted white, and the floors are original oak. With three children, the compact space needed to offer flexibility and efficiency. One solution for dietary restrictions was a built-in fridge with freezer and a separate two-drawer refrigerator. Close by, a butcher block pullout counter expands workspace for larger kitchen projects, especially collaborative baking with the kids. The homeowners commented that “ARCIFORM and Anne [De Wolf] really impressed us with how much she honored the original integrity and character of our kitchen and adjacent rooms. The kitchen design carefully balanced making the most use of the existing footprint without compromising the original features of our home.”

1939 Garrison Colonial Revival – Alameda

1939 Garrison Colonial Revival – Alameda

Built by architect Frank Read in 1939, this charming home belongs to a couple who love to entertain friends and family. ARCIFORM remodeled and expanded their kitchen, the heart of their home, adding beautiful finishes and more space for entertaining. A roof balcony and mudroom were part of the addition as well, and a new concrete patio was created off the addition to give better access to the library. The new spaces are a testament to charm, character and luxury with Oceanside glass tile backsplash from Ann Sacks and leaded glass in the cabinet doors sparkling in the sunlight.

Portland's Architecture
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
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.
The Harlow Hotel
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
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
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.
The Harlow Hotel
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.
By Sarah Crouse 03 May, 2023
Measuring a home is more than sizing and locating walls, windows, and doors. There are many more complex parts of a home that need to be captured in order to set our design team up for success during the design process. With remodeling comes moving openings, walls and fixtures, which inevitably means moving systems. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems are typically hidden within walls and between floors, requiring a bit of know-how and experience to properly document, which is crucial for helping our design team to determine the feasibility and cost implications of our choices. Mechanical Systems:
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!
By Snow Blackwood 09 Jul, 2022
As I walk to the door of Gretchen Newmark and Jim Gerber’s 1910 Craftsman Bungalow, painted in a pale yellow with cream and periwinkle trim, I notice I’m feeling a little nervous, but I’m not sure why. Jim is a nutritionist who spent 40 years as a professor, teaching nutrition and supervising interns. Gretchen was a dietitian in private practice, collaborating with other health professionals to help people recover from eating disorders. Now she focuses on her passion—spiritual direction. They’ve spent many years helping people find healthy paths in life. I decide my nervousness is just an artifact of this long pandemic as I notice their garden, full of vivid blooms that settle my nerves. My photographer Christine and I mask up as I knock on their door. When Gretchen opens the door, she immediately puts us at ease. “No masks, unless you prefer; we’re fully vaccinated,” she says. We are, too, so we gratefully remove the cloths. I remark on the lovely garden, and how nicely it complements their home.
By Marty Hegg & Sarah Crouse 09 Jul, 2022
Quiz time: which ARCIFORM employee was raised in Detroit, Michigan, has held jobs as a fine woodworker, a stay-at-home-Dad and sailing instructor before his current job at ARCIFORM?  The one and only dependable, often-goofy and incredibly patient Joe Hoffman! As one of two Joes and one of two Hoffmans at ARCIFORM, Joe definitely knows how to set himself apart and make a lasting impression on staff and clients alike.
By ARCIFORM 09 Jul, 2022
Building Trusting Relationships by Design Arciform has been a premier design-build renovation and remodeling company for older buildings and homes in the greater Portland Metro area since 1997. From the very beginning, we set out to be the designers and craftspeople you could trust to achieve your vision. We aim to create a smooth, transparent process that involves you from start to end, and to deliver zero surprises – except the delighted surprise you feel when you see your finished project. For decades we’ve partnered with hundreds of people in the Pacific Northwest to bring their dreams to life. We believe that it is the relationships we build in the process of designing for you that are the real foundation of our success. Over time we’ve found that our relationships with our clients are similar to successful relationships we have with partners, good friends and family. They rest on trust engendered by the integrity of open communication, doing what you say, following up, and quickly making good if anything goes awry. So we thought we’d write a little about the ingredients that we think go into creating great relationships that, like our designs and work, endure. 
Fried Durkheimer House
By Holly Cullom 09 Jul, 2022
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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