Inside Arciform

Is Open Shelving Right for Your Kitchen?

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 23:05:22 GMT

Kitchen design trends tend to circle back around, and open shelving is a good example. Once a defining feature of early, unfitted kitchens, open shelves fell out of favor when wall‑to‑wall cabinetry became standard in the early 20th century. In recent years, they’ve returned in a big way—appearing in kitchens that range from sleek and modern to traditional, cottage‑style, and everything in between.

But popularity alone doesn’t make a design choice right for every home. Open shelving can be beautiful and functional, but it also changes how you use and maintain your kitchen day to day. In this guide, we’ll walk through the honest pros and cons of open kitchen shelving, so you can decide whether it supports the way you live and whether it belongs in your next kitchen remodel .

A Brief History of Open Shelving

Before fitted cabinetry became the norm, kitchens were made up of freestanding furniture and open storage. Shelves, cupboards, and worktables worked together to support cooking and household tasks. As kitchens evolved to be more compact, efficient, and hygienic, built‑in upper cabinets replaced open shelves almost entirely.

As kitchens have once again become social spaces—places for gathering, entertaining, and spending time—open shelving has re-emerged as a way to visually open up the room and soften the look of built-in cabinetry. For Portland homeowners living in Craftsman bungalows, Victorians, and early Colonial Revival homes, open shelves can feel especially natural—they echo the unfitted, freestanding kitchens these homes originally had.

The Practical Appeal: Convenience and Everyday Use of Open Shelving

One of the most straightforward advantages of open shelving is convenience. Items you use every day—plates, bowls, glasses, or canisters—are right where you need them. There’s no opening and closing cabinet doors, and everything is easy to see and reach.

For many homeowners, this visibility encourages thoughtful organization and reinforces daily routines. When shelves are well planned, they can make cooking and cleanup feel more intuitive.

Making a Kitchen Feel Open and Airy

Aesthetic reasons are often what draw people to open shelving in the first place. Removing 12" deep upper cabinets can dramatically change how a kitchen feels. Instead of a wall of doors closing in the space, the full height of the wall becomes part of the design.

Open shelves help kitchens feel lighter, less formal, and more connected to adjacent rooms, especially in older Portland homes where natural light and original architectural details are worth preserving.

Creating a Beautiful Backdrop

Open shelving allows the wall behind it to shine. Extending tile backsplashes all the way up, introducing paneling or beadboard, or even using wallpaper can add depth and personality that might otherwise be hidden.

Rather than acting as a purely functional surface, the wall becomes a backdrop that contributes to the overall character of the kitchen.

Displaying What You Love

With open shelving, storage becomes part of the visual story. Instead of hiding dishes and glassware, you have the opportunity to curate collections you genuinely enjoy using and seeing every day. In our work on Emily Henderson’s Portland farmhouse , the pantry shelves became a destination for serving pieces, cookbooks, and decorative items—functional and personal at the same time.

Shelves don’t have to be limited to utilitarian items. A vase of flowers, a favorite platter, artwork, plants, or even a small lamp or candlestick can help the kitchen feel more like a living space and less like a purely functional workspace.

What Materials and Brackets Work Best for Open Kitchen Shelves?

The shelves themselves can add architectural interest. Wood, glass, stone, and even exposed-edge plywood each bring a distinct look and feel. Shelf thickness, edge profiles, and proportions all contribute to the design. In our Portland woodshop, we build custom shelving tailored to each project—whether that’s rustic reclaimed fir for a 1920s bungalow or sleek walnut for a mid-century modern home. Our kitchen remodel page has more on how we approach custom cabinetry and shelving.

Brackets offer another layer of expression. Ornate brass brackets can lean traditional or Victorian, while rugged iron supports feel rustic and grounded. For a more contemporary look, floating shelves with concealed supports create clean, uninterrupted lines.

Creative Ways to Style and Light Open Kitchen Shelves

There are many ways to interpret open shelving beyond simple wood planks on a wall. French bistro‑style shelving, often made of brass tubing and glass, adds a classic European touch. Glass shelves placed in front of windows allow light to pass through while showcasing translucent objects.

Integrated undershelf lighting is another thoughtful detail. It provides soft task lighting, highlights displayed items, and adds warmth and depth to the kitchen, especially in the evening.

Does Open Shelving Get Dusty? What to Expect Day to Day

While open shelving has many advantages, it’s important to consider what daily life with it actually looks like.

Dust is the most common concern. Open shelves require regular upkeep to keep dishes and objects clean and ready for use. Items stored behind cabinet doors are naturally protected.

Open shelving also asks for a certain level of discipline. Everything on display contributes to the overall look of the kitchen. Too many items, mismatched dishes, or clutter can quickly undermine the sense of openness that shelves are meant to create.

Storage capacity is another consideration. Open shelves don’t offer the same volume as standard 12‑inch‑deep upper cabinets, which means being selective about what lives there. Because of this, open shelving tends to work best when it’s paired with additional concealed storage, such as a built-in pantry , a butler’s pantry, or generous lower cabinetry.

Is Open Shelving Right for Your Kitchen?

Deciding whether to include open shelving starts with understanding your priorities. Do you value maximum storage, or does an open, airy feel matter more? Are the items you’d want on display things you use often and enjoy seeing every day?

Thoughtful planning is the difference between shelves that delight you for years and shelves that frustrate you within months. When designed with intention and balanced with the right mix of cabinetry and pantry storage , open shelving can be both practical and beautiful.

Working with a kitchen designer who understands older homes, and who is comfortable designing both fitted and unfitted elements , can help you evaluate how open shelving fits your space and your lifestyle. A well-planned kitchen—like a thoughtfully designed kitchen island or a kitchen fireplace —is one that feels good to work in and brings daily enjoyment to the people who use it..

Ready to Design a Kitchen with Open Shevling that Actually Works?

At Arciform, we design kitchens for Portland’s historic and vintage homes—spaces where open shelving, custom cabinetry, and concealed storage all work together. Since 1997, we’ve helped homeowners across the city create kitchens that honor their home’s character while making daily life easier and more enjoyable.

Our complimentary kitchen design consultation is a chance to talk through your kitchen’s potential with a designer who knows older homes inside and out. Whether you’re drawn to open shelving, leaning toward closed cabinetry, or want a blend of both—we’ll help you find the right approach for your home and your life.

Maximize Livability in Your Home with a Sleeping Porch Conversion

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 22:00:33 GMT

Anyone who has lived in an early 20th-century home knows the familiar morning shuffle: multiple people heading for the same second-floor bathroom, and endless loads of laundry traveling up and down the stairs. It’s part of the charm of a vintage home—but also one of its most persistent challenges.

Fortunately, many of these homes were built with sleeping porches—breezy rooms designed for warm summer nights before air conditioning was common. Today, these spaces are often underused or unconditioned, yet they offer one of the most practical opportunities to improve comfort and function without altering the home’s footprint. With thoughtful planning, a sleeping porch can become a much-needed second bathroom, a convenient upstairs laundry room, or, in some cases, both.

Identifying the Right Use for Your Sleeping Porch

The first step in any sleeping porch conversion is to look carefully at the overall layout of the second floor and think honestly about how your household functions day to day. For some homes, adding a primary bathroom, while desirable, simply isn’t feasible. In those cases, a well-designed second hall bath created in a sleeping porch can still make mornings far easier.

In other homes, carving out even a compact laundry closet on the sleeping porch may provide more daily relief than a larger bathroom renovation. When a porch is generous in size, it may be able to support more than one function. The goal is always to balance practicality with preservation—choosing a use that genuinely solves household challenges while remaining true to the home’s original architecture.

For this Irvington Historic District home, Arciform transformed the former sleeping porch, which was most recently used as a nursery, into a spacious children's bath.

Turning a Sleeping Porch into a Primary or Shared Bath

When a sleeping porch is located adjacent to a primary bedroom, it can offer a rare opportunity to create a true primary bath—something many historic homes simply don’t have. Because sleeping porches are often larger than a typical hall bathroom, they can comfortably accommodate features that are otherwise difficult to achieve, such as a separate tub and shower, dual vanities, or generous circulation space.

In some layouts, the porch can even be thoughtfully divided to create a Jack-and-Jill bath, providing shared access from two bedrooms or a hall while maintaining privacy and function. Large windows, a hallmark of sleeping porches, bring in abundant natural light and can transform a bathroom into one of the most pleasant rooms in the house when paired with well-planned privacy solutions. With careful design, a sleeping porch bathroom can feel both gracious and grounded—fully modern in function while still connected to the home’s original character.

Why Sleeping Porches Also Make Excellent Laundry Rooms

For many homeowners, converting a sleeping porch into an upstairs laundry room delivers one of the most immediate improvements to daily life. Moving laundry closer to bedrooms eliminates constant trips to the basement and makes routine tasks feel far more manageable.

These porches often lend themselves well to efficient, multi-purpose layouts, with space for a folding counter, built-in hampers, or even a small area for sewing, crafts, or gift wrapping. Thoughtfully designed under-window cabinetry or open shelving can take advantage of the porch’s large window openings without blocking light, providing storage for supplies while keeping the room bright and functional. With careful planning, a sleeping porch laundry can become more than a utility space—it can be a calm, organized workroom that quietly supports the rhythm of everyday living.

Structural and Comfort Considerations for Sleeping Porch Conversions

As ideas move into planning, one of the first practical considerations is the structure itself. Sleeping porches were intentionally built lighter than interior rooms, which means updates to framing, insulation, and flooring are often required as part of a conversion.

Temperature control is equally important. These rooms were once open to the elements, so proper heating, cooling, and moisture protection are essential to making the new space comfortable year-round. Done well, these upgrades can dramatically improve performance while still respecting the home’s historic character.

Navigating Historic Design Review

For homeowners in historic districts, understanding the review process early is essential. In many cases, a sleeping porch can be converted without triggering a formal Historic Resource Review—particularly if existing window openings and the exterior appearance remain intact.

Once changes extend to window configurations, siding, or rooflines, review and approval are typically required. Knowing where that threshold lies helps you plan realistically and avoid surprises. A clear, well-prepared submission with drawings and material details not only streamlines the process but also keeps the home’s historic qualities front and center.

Successful Sleeping Porch Conversions Preserve Original Architectural Details While Adding Modern Convenience

A sensitive conversion preserves the elements that made the sleeping porch special in the first place. Original features such as exterior siding, tongue-and-groove ceilings, and generous window openings can often be retained or thoughtfully adapted.

Large windows, in particular, tend to become the focal point of a new bathroom or laundry room. Restoring or rebuilding them to match historic proportions allows the space to retain its charm while delivering modern performance.

Privacy Solutions that Respect Historic Character

Privacy is often a concern in these generously glazed spaces, but it can be addressed in subtle, historically appropriate ways. Opaque or lightly frosted film on lower panes maintains daylight while limiting visibility. Café curtains or simple roller shades offer flexible privacy without overwhelming the architecture.

In some cases, a mirror can even be mounted directly in front of a window—positioned just far enough forward to allow window coverings behind it. These small design decisions help the porch retain its airy quality while fully supporting its new role.

Material Choices that Create Continuity

Material selection plays an important role in making a converted sleeping porch feel intentional rather than added on. Tile, cabinetry, and fixtures that reflect the era of the home create continuity with surrounding historic spaces. Details such as wood trim profiles, door styles, and hardware finishes reinforce that connection—even when the room serves a completely new purpose.

When to Combine a Sleeping Porch Conversion with Other Remodeling Projects

A sleeping porch conversion is often most efficient when it’s planned alongside other renovations—but the real advantage is thinking ahead. If you’re remodeling a kitchen directly below the porch or updating an adjacent second-floor bathroom, it’s important to consider not only today’s project, but what you may want to tackle in the future.

For example, remodeling a kitchen without accounting for a future sleeping porch conversion above it can create unnecessary challenges later. Plumbing, electrical, or ventilation routes may end up buried behind finished ceilings or newly installed cabinetry, requiring parts of the completed kitchen to be opened up or altered down the road. With early planning, future needs can often be anticipated—by roughing in plumbing, planning electrical capacity, or reserving chases—so later improvements can be completed with far less disruption.

Coordinating projects also allows trades to work more efficiently, walls to be opened once instead of multiple times, and systems to be designed as part of a cohesive whole. Even if the sleeping porch conversion isn’t part of the current scope, acknowledging it early can save time, cost, and frustration while giving you a home that evolves more gracefully over time.

Budget Planning and Phased Remodeling

This kind of advance planning also creates more flexibility around budget and timing. When future improvements are identified early, remodeling can be approached in thoughtful phases rather than as isolated projects. Budgets can prioritize what delivers the most immediate benefit, while still preparing for what comes next.

In historic homes especially, phased remodeling allows needs to evolve without undoing recent work. Investing in infrastructure—such as plumbing capacity, electrical service, or framing adjustments—during an initial project can make later phases more predictable and far less disruptive, even if the finished spaces come years apart. With a clear long-term plan, each phase can feel complete on its own while still contributing to a cohesive, well-considered home.

A Small Space with a Big Impact

For many homeowners, transforming a sleeping porch is a chance to solve long-standing functional challenges while adding comfort and value. With thoughtful design, a clear plan for structural and mechanical improvements, and an understanding of how historic review applies, these small spaces can play a surprisingly big role in supporting the way we live today.

Sleeping Porch Remodeling FAQs

Thinking About Converting Your Sleeping Porch?

Sleeping porch conversions require a careful balance of structure, comfort, and historic preservation. At Arciform, we help homeowners understand what’s possible—and how to do it thoughtfully.

If you’re considering a bathroom, laundry room, or other second-floor improvement in a historic home, we’re here to help you explore options and plan with clarity.

Yes, Your 100-Year-Old Portland House Can Have the Perfect Kitchen Island

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 23:03:54 GMT

The kitchen has always been the heart of the home. Many vintage kitchens included a table where food was prepared, dinner was served, and laundry was folded. The coziness of a warm stove, the smell of food, and the economy of space made the kitchen table a family favorite.

With the evolution of built-in cabinetry, the kitchen table was gradually replaced by the kitchen island. The raised counter and flexibility of purpose of a kitchen island make it one of the most common features of kitchens today.

At Arciform, we specialize in a period-appropriate approach to design. We look closely at the original architecture of the home we are remodeling. For historic kitchen remodels, we draw inspiration from built-in cabinetry, furniture, and general design trends of the decade in which the home was built.

The custom kitchen island can be a wonderful opportunity to add a bit of whimsy, as it can be modeled after furniture rather than built-ins. The finishes of a custom island can complement, rather than match, the rest of the kitchen. An island can echo the spirit of a cozy kitchen table while also hiding a dishwasher, refrigeration, and generous storage.

Why Modern Families Choose Islands Over Yesterday's Worktables

The kitchen has always been the hardest-working space in the home. Changes driven by technology and by how we live are particularly evident in kitchen design. Then and now, we need a space to cook, clean, and store. How we achieve that has evolved.

Modern appliances make our lives easier and free us up to do more socializing and experimenting. Kitchen islands and kitchen tables both create space for friends and family to participate while also directing circulation patterns. When choosing between a kitchen island and a kitchen table, it helps to understand the advantages of an island.

A kitchen table typically has a wood top set 28–30 inches above the floor, allowing you to pull up a chair. The disadvantage is that, to use it well, you need enough space for chairs on all four sides, plus circulation room behind them. If you want to work at the table while standing, you have to bend forward, which can be uncomfortable. Adequate legroom beneath the tabletop is also required, reducing opportunities for easily accessible storage.

Wood tabletops are also not ideal for food preparation or cleaning, as they are prone to staining.

The advantages of a kitchen island over a kitchen table are many. Kitchen islands come in all shapes and sizes. In a small vintage kitchen, an island might be a simple counter-height surface that provides additional workspace. At the other end of the spectrum, it can include a sink, refrigeration, cooking, storage, and seating—sometimes functioning as nearly a full kitchen on its own. Many islands fall somewhere in between.

Island Designs that Belong in Portland's Favorite Old-Home Styles

Architectural styles in Portland during the first half of the last century shifted roughly every 10 years. There was overlap, along with transitional styles and substyles, but the main eras included Victorian homes through about 1910; Craftsman homes through roughly 1920; Colonial Revival homes from about 1915 through 1930; Tudor Revival homes from 1925 through 1945; and Midcentury Modern homes from 1945 through 1960. While these styles continue to cycle in and out of popularity, these dates provide a useful framework.

While facades and formal spaces in these homes often featured distinct architectural detailing, kitchens—typically located at the back of the house—were more basic and utilitarian. Interestingly, what was once relegated to the back of the home for its simplicity and focus on function has experienced a revival in the 21st century for its classic beauty.

When Arciform designs an island for one of these homes, we consider typical kitchen layouts from each era, as well as the hardware used throughout the house, popular stone choices for fireplace surrounds, roofing metals that might inform counter material options, stained woods used in staircases or paneling, and any other relevant inspiration. The kitchen island can help pull front-of-house details into the simpler architecture of a vintage kitchen.

Victorian kitchens relied on furniture pieces for storage and counter space. A leggy sink and a wood-burning cast iron stove were often artfully designed, with decorative ornamentation. The kitchen table performed the role we now associate with a kitchen island. The palette in these spaces leaned toward moody colors and deep stains.

Craftsman and Colonial Revival kitchens were quite similar. Built-in cabinetry became common, and cabinets were often painted white as the discovery of germs put cleanliness front of mind. The primary differences between the two styles showed up in hardware and lighting. Kitchens were generally small and tucked into the backs of homes, with many doors leading in and out. It was rare to see a Craftsman kitchen island. A Colonial Revival kitchen island, when present, might have served as a baking counter or grain storage. Tudor homes of the 1930s often featured eating nooks with small round tables and chairs rather than a Tudor kitchen island.

By the mid-1940s, kitchens were no longer considered isolated spaces. Homeowners recognized that the kitchen was where everyone gathered, and kitchens began opening to the rest of the home. Midcentury Modern peninsula islands grew increasingly popular during this time.

Making an Island Work in Small or Narrow Historic Kitchens

When creating a kitchen island for the cozy kitchens of Portland’s vintage homes, prioritization is key. The trick to designing a successful small kitchen island is understanding clearances. At Arciform, we determine appropriate scale by checking clearances to adjacent counters, walls, and appliances. As a general rule, a minimum of 36 inches is needed between counters, and 42 inches in front of appliances.

Standard island counter depth is about 27 inches at minimum. This accommodates off-the-shelf cabinets and undercounter appliances, which are typically 24 inches deep. In Arciform’s custom woodshop, we can build island depths that suit your specific space, without being limited by standard dimensions.

When adding stools at a kitchen island, we allow for a counter overhang of at least 9 inches for legroom. We also account for people pushing stools back while maintaining comfortable circulation. Doors and drawers opening into the space can create pinch points that need to be carefully considered.

While recommended minimum dimensions are a helpful starting point, sometimes the added function of an island outweighs the inconvenience of a tight spot. We also look at how many people cook in the kitchen, whether cleanup is a shared activity, and how the space is typically used. Does a narrow kitchen island provide valuable counter space, or does it become an obstacle?

A kitchen island is almost always possible. Even a small rolling island can offer essential counter and storage space and can be moved out of the way when additional elbow room is needed. Narrow kitchen islands can also help direct circulation and create work zones, even in compact kitchens.

Materials and Finishes that Look Like They've Always Been There

For a Victorian kitchen island, we may choose mixed-grain fir. This was the most readily available timber in Portland at the time and was commonly used for cabinetry and millwork. It was often stained dark to mimic more exotic imported woods found in grander homes.

For Victorian kitchen island hardware, ornate options with exotic motifs can add a touch of whimsy. Bin pulls and decorative knobs were often cast in intricate forms, lending elegance and personality.

Colorful marble counters can add drama, while turned legs and claw feet enhance a furniture-like appearance. Wrought iron was widely used in Portland at the turn of the century, and an iron frame can be an excellent base for a Victorian kitchen island, blending form and function.

For a Craftsman-style kitchen island, Stickley furniture offers timeless inspiration. Oak cabinetry with square legs and subtle curved brackets fits naturally into a Craftsman kitchen.

Colonial Revival style is lighter and more delicate than Victorian or Craftsman design. Built-in cabinets typically featured full inset doors with full inset or half-overlay drawers, paired with nickel bin pulls and knobs. Details were softer and more curved, finishes lighter, and windows larger. Painted wood cabinetry works well for Colonial kitchen islands, with a turned leg adding refinement. A butcher block counter can introduce warmth.

By the 1930s, trends shifted toward pastel paint and tile colors, along with Art Deco hardware motifs. Solid panel half-overlay doors paired with half-overlay drawers changed the look of built-in cabinetry. Because these kitchens are often small, Arciform typically selects and matches Tudor kitchen island finishes to the surrounding details for cohesion.

In the mid to late 1940s, home-building philosophies evolved. Architecture became more straightforward, practical, flexible, and family-friendly, with an emphasis on casual entertaining. Kitchens were often open to adjacent spaces, with stained wood millwork and earth-toned finishes. The Midcentury Modern peninsula island frequently served as a transition between kitchen and dining room. Simple cabinetry focused on function, satin brass hardware, and muted counters reflect the style well.

Repurposing Vintage Case Goods as a Kitchen Island

Another approach we sometimes explore is repurposing a vintage or antique piece of furniture as a kitchen island. Large store counters, baker’s tables, or other substantial case goods can bring incredible character, history, and patina into a kitchen. There’s also something deeply satisfying about giving an old piece new life—reusing materials is inherently sustainable and aligns well with the values of many homeowners restoring older homes.

That said, vintage pieces come with both opportunities and limitations. They were not designed to house modern appliances, plumbing, or the kind of storage today’s kitchens demand. Making a vintage piece work often requires thoughtful updates, such as adding a new custom top sized for overhang and seating, integrating a prep sink, or modifying drawers with modern glides to improve functionality. Electrical and plumbing considerations need to be carefully planned so the piece still feels authentic rather than awkwardly retrofitted. When Arciform worked with Emily Henderson on the design of her farmhouse kitchen, we navigated this exact process, balancing inspiration with the practical challenges involved—an experience she documented on her blog ( Kitchen Island Ideas ; Making Our Farmhouse Vintage Island Functional ).

There’s also a balance to strike visually. A vintage piece can feel perfectly at home—or it can feel out of place if its scale, proportions, or detailing don’t relate to the surrounding kitchen. When it works, however, the result is a one-of-a-kind island that anchors the space and tells a story. Done thoughtfully, a repurposed vintage island can bridge past and present in a way that feels intentional, functional, and deeply personal.

Why Some Families Still Choose a Center Table

Even with all the advantages of a kitchen island, some families intentionally choose a center table instead. This decision is often driven as much by feeling as by function. A center table has a distinctly old-school presence that feels true to the way historic kitchens once worked, especially in homes where preserving a sense of time and place matters.

Because a table is visually lighter than an island, it can make a small kitchen feel more open and airy. With space all around, it invites movement, conversation, and participation. Sitting together at a centered table in a cozy kitchen feels communal and grounded, whether it’s for casual meals, baking projects, or craft activities that benefit from chairs on all sides.

A kitchen table is also inherently flexible. It can be moved, repurposed, or removed entirely as needs change over time. Its lower height can be a genuine advantage as well, making food prep and everyday tasks more comfortable for shorter cooks and children. For families who value adaptability, togetherness, and a strong connection to historic precedent, a center table isn’t a compromise—it’s a deliberate design choice.

Your House Has Been Waiting a Hundred Years for This Island

When planning your vintage kitchen remodel, the next step is simple: book a complimentary consultation with the Arciform team. We come to your home, listen to how you cook and live, and begin developing options that fit both your house and your life.

With the help of our talented designers, carpenters, and the flexibility of our custom workshop, we can create a period-appropriate kitchen island that works beautifully in your space. We draw inspiration from the past while incorporating innovative solutions to meet modern needs.

Your vintage home deserves a kitchen that feels original and works for real life. Let’s get started!

Custom Pantry Ideas for Historic Homes: 4 Solutions for Portland Kitchens

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 20:45:03 GMT

Here's the long and short of it: pantries are a great asset in any kitchen, and if we can create a pantry as part of a kitchen remodel, it helps us add to the flexibility, function and aesthetic of the space.

We all love a place for everything and everything in its place, and what better way to achieve this than with a pantry. No matter the shape a pantry takes - from an old-fashioned butler’s pantry to a vintage cabinet in a corner - it does heavy lifting. It provides flexible storage and keeps clutter off counters.

The pantry can be at the bottom of the basement stairs within a closet or on open shelves, within custom built in cabinets or a vintage cabinet that we can refurbish. We can restore an original butler’s pantry or take over an original cold storage space off the back porch.

Arciform has remodeled many of Portland’s historic homes with small kitchens that have limited options for long stretches of continuous counters and banks of cabinetry. If we are able to create a pantry, we can delegate one part of the space to storage and leave the rest to preparing food and cleaning dishes.

Another benefit of a pantry is that it can add charm as storage can come in many shapes and forms – we can have an open pantry embracing the esthetic of packaging, bins and cookbooks; or we can have a hidden space by concealing shelving behind pretty doors, hidden doors or even curtains. Let us explore some ideas.

Butler’s Pantry Ideas: Design, Layout & Storage Solutions

Butler Pantry Ideas for Historic Homes

The Arciform team is thrilled when we find a butler’s pantry in a historic home we are remodeling. For a while, trends encouraged homeowners to remove butler’s pantries to achieve open floor plans between kitchens and dining rooms. But that trend was short-lived—for good reasons.

Butler’s pantries originated in the 19th century and were a standard feature in larger houses that served wealthy families. Even in medium-sized homes, spaces were christened “butler’s pantry” that didn’t quite meet all the grand expectations of the original rooms—especially excluding the butler—because, let’s face it, a butler is more of a commitment than opening the door for guests and serving dinner.

Butler’s pantries serve as a dedicated space to store china, silver, glassware, and linens, and they function as a transition between the kitchen and dining room, providing a discreet area for plating dishes and preventing kitchen noise and smells from reaching diners. The additional wall space creates more opportunities for counters, cabinetry, and for screening messy prep areas from view.

Butler Pantry Cabinets: Storage and Style

What defines butler’s pantries in Portland’s vintage homes is that they often have beautiful built-in cabinets that tend to still be in great shape. Full-inset glass-paneled upper cabinet doors display glassware and pretty china, and full-inset or half-overlay drawer fronts provide cover for drawers that store silver, linens, bowls, and other serving accoutrements.

What can make the spaces striking—and add more storage—are upper butler’s pantry cabinets that go all the way to the ceiling, sometimes divided by double-high sets of doors.

If the client prefers to have some items stored behind solid doors, we balance those with glass doors. Rarely would we use all solid doors, as glass doors add depth and texture and provide the opportunity to display beautiful things.

For modern convenience, and if the space allows, we like to add a dishwasher and a sink in the butler’s pantry, as this frees up the main kitchen to be used exclusively for cooking and prep. This also allows for a great division of labor—the cook can cook undisturbed while the rest of the family does the set-up to enjoy the meal.

The china room (or butler's pantry) in the Isam White House connects the kitchen and the dining room. A second food storage pantry across the kitchen meant this space could be dedicated to dishes and serving pieces. When restoring the home the current owners added the soapstone sink counter and matching cabinets with a dishwasher. In the original bank of cabinets they added a useful freezer drawer. The green and gold boxing hares wallpaper adds a fun and vibrant touch inside the upper cabinets.

Small Butler's Pantry Design Ideas

In Portland homes, a small butler’s pantry is more common than a larger one. In a small butler’s pantry, we often dedicate the area to a special purpose. Cocktail bars are popular—so are toaster and coffee bars. It’s a fun twist and frees up kitchen counters. We also encourage the finish palette in the small butler’s pantry to stray from adjacent spaces so we can add an element of drama. Adding wallpaper in the back of an upper butler’s pantry cabinet or on the adjacent walls, using a mirrored tile backsplash, or just having fun with paint can create a stunning little jewel box of a space.

Butler Pantry Layout: Planning Your Space

In some cases, kitchens in older homes have been remodeled during the last 100 years and the spaces have been added onto and opened up to adjacent rooms. Our clients come to Arciform for our expertise in returning the home to its original character and charm. In many cases, our clients want us to add a butler’s pantry to their kitchen, so we sharpen our pencils and consider the pros and cons of different butler’s pantry layouts.

The nature of the butler’s pantry dictates an entry from the kitchen and an exit into the dining room. So, at a minimum, we want one wall for upper and lower cabinets with a counter. If the space allows, creating an L-shaped butler’s pantry layout or even having butler’s pantry cabinetry and counters on both sides is a plus. Unlike a kitchen, you do not need to worry about a work triangle, but because a lot of traffic is directed through the space, you want to be sure you can circumnavigate open drawers or doors swinging into the space.

Any features—like a dishwasher, a prep sink, under-counter refrigeration, lighting within the upper cabinets to display beautiful things, or under-cabinet lighting to brighten the countertop; proper placement of outlets; and maybe even a library ladder to reach the top of your upper pantry cabinets—are fun and functional additions.

The beauty of a butler’s pantry is its versatility. During a party, you can set up a mini bar or a buffet in the space. While it may create a bottleneck, it keeps guests out of the way of the cook. Likewise, for everyday purposes, we’ve freed up kitchens by moving instant-hot makers and coffee makers into the butler’s pantry and creating tea and coffee bars that display beautiful tea containers, coffee tins, collections of teapots, cups, mugs, and the like. Or, for toast lovers, having a toaster bar with a mini fridge for jam and butter can create a great little snack area. It can also simply be the dish zone for your family, with a dishwasher and storage for daily dishes and silverware.

Butler’s Pantry vs Walk-In Pantry: Which Is Right for You?

Now you may be wondering what the difference is between a butler’s pantry and a walk-in pantry. There are quite a few.

Butler’s pantry cabinetry is always beautiful, with the goal to display. It is second only to the adjacent dining-room buffet cabinet when it comes to the detailing that can enhance built-in cabinetry. It is also visible to diners when doors open and close, so it needs to be aesthetically pleasing. The items stored in a butler’s pantry are serving accoutrements—whereas a regular walk-in pantry is more often the home for food storage, cleaning supplies, small appliances, extra pots and pans, and other utilitarian necessities. Walk-in pantries do not double as a hallway between the dining room and the kitchen but are tucked away to the side and out of sight. For storage, open shelving and hooks may suffice.

Built-in Pantry Cabinets : Seamless Integration for Historic Kitchens

Pantry Cabinets that Match Your Home's Era

Arciform specializes in the period-appropriate remodel of vintage kitchens. In our custom workshop, we build kitchen cabinets that match the original cabinetry in the home. We can squeeze a lot of storage into a small footprint because we custom-tailor cabinetry for both style and function.

Custom built-in pantry cabinetry allows us to design the most effective storage hidden behind charming vintage cabinet doors.

When we design a custom built-in kitchen pantry, we have to be creative with contemporary hardware and details, because old-world hardware didn’t allow for heavy pull-out pantry organization inserts to be attached to doors, and full-inset doors and drawers of pantry cabinets can start misaligning when heavy loads are attached to the panels.

Thanks to Arciform’s talented product designers and craftspeople, we work through all the details that make for great kitchen pantry storage, so our clients can enjoy both the vintage aesthetic and the best pantry organization.

At Arciform, when we consider finishes and details for custom pantry cabinets, we look at practices that were popular many decades ago. We consider cutouts in doors or curtains to allow ventilation for hidden foodstuffs. We look at paint colors that tie into the period kitchen, cabinets that are open to the floor so they can be swept clean, shallow open shelving for easy access, and decorative features like lighting fixtures, hardware, and counter and backsplash options

Custom-Built Pantry Storage Solutions

The sky is the limit when it comes to custom built-in pantries. We can create multiple pantries, each designated for a different purpose:

We can locate the microwave or coffee maker within a custom pantry that hides all the necessary accoutrements behind pantry doors, and we can feature a pull-out counter to help during prep.
We can have a pantry cabinet dedicated to food, with holiday-specific ingredients on the top shelves (used once or twice a year), commonly used provisions on pull-out shelves in the center, and snacks and treats on lower shelves, easily reachable by smaller family members.
Or we can have a pantry cabinet that is home to cleaning supplies, with an outlet and hook for a vacuum cleaner, space for a broom, shelves for soaps and rags, and storage for paper towels.

Of course, one well-designed custom kitchen pantry can accommodate most, if not all, of the above.

Maximizing Small Kitchen Pantry Spaces

When we remodel vintage kitchens, we almost always create custom built-in pantry solutions to provide convenient pantry storage. We advise arranging your storage so that commonly used items stay in the kitchen and less commonly used items live in the basement or garage—each square inch in the kitchen is valuable.

At Arciform, when we consider how to best make use of each nook and cranny, we focus on access. For example, when we design a tall, deep built-in pantry cabinet that fits next to the refrigerator, we add pull-out shelves so we can reach what’s stored in the back.

When utilizing cabinets above a refrigerator, we install a lazy Susan that swivels cereal boxes and bags from back to front.

If there’s only a narrow space for a small pantry, we use it for brooms, cookie sheets, and cutting boards that can be tucked into the space without getting lost.

Converting Small Spaces: Turning Closets and Nooks into Functional Pantries

Small Pantry Ideas for Historic Homes

In many historic Portland homes, kitchens are on the small side, tucked in the back or side of the house. Storage comes at a premium. At Arciform, we consider whether we can create small pantry solutions by carving out space elsewhere in the home.

Since many vintage Portland homes have basement stairs leading right into the kitchen, we often designate a space at the bottom of the basement stairs as a flexible pantry. We might create a 3′ × 3′ pantry closet with L-shaped shelving or a bank of pantry shelves along a wall to do the trick beautifully.

Sometimes there is a triangular cavity beneath a staircase that can be tricky to utilize efficiently. We can add pantry storage in an awkward space like that by incorporating pull-out shelves to improve access to hard-to-reach areas.

How to Convert a Closet to a Pantry

Often, we can find a spot within an entryway to add a beautiful little pantry closet or carve out a section of an existing closet for cleaning supplies, the vacuum, and the broom.

The shallow closets of older homes make great pantries because they allow for reasonably deep shelves that are viewed straight on, without navigating narrow openings or deep cavities.

Another wonderful pantry idea is converting an original recessed ironing board—often found in kitchens of the 1920s and 1930s—into a small niche for herbs, oils, and vinegars.

During a whole house remodel of this 1913 Colonial Revival, Arciform absorbed the former breakfast room into the newly expansive kitchen. In doing so, they removed shelving to reveal an original window and transformed a little-used closet into a stylish vintage pantry.

Arciform utilized the space between the studs to create a sweet little cupboard and used a French door to bring light into the pantry, revealing the well-organized contents within.

Pantry Closet Considerations

You get the idea: pantry storage comes in many shapes and sizes. What constitutes a good pantry design is not so much the size but how well we can reach and organize what’s being stored. Shallow shelves show off boxes and cans well; deep shelves are ideal for larger pots, bins, and paper towels. Pull-out shelves help access the backs of cabinets. Attaching shelving to doors makes great small-item storage; hooks are always helpful. At Arciform, we consider who is using the pantry and for what purpose. We’ve designed snack pantries where lower shelves are stocked with treats for children and upper shelves allow adult supervision.

We like to light small pantries with motion-activated lights so the light doesn’t stay on indefinitely if it’s forgotten. We also often provide outlets in pantries to charge small or large vacuum cleaners or to plug in a small appliance.

A vintage-inspired design element for pantry closets is a glass-panel door that allows an obscured view into the pantry closet, or a clerestory window above to evoke a vintage pantry-closet feel.

Converting an existing closet, or any existing space, into a pantry is a very cost-effective way to create specific storage. It’s important to weigh the loss of clothes storage against the gain of pantry storage.

And looking at the details of the original built-ins, millwork, or shelving designs that were typical when your home was built helps create a period-appropriate and timeless aesthetic.

Refreshing Original Pantries: Modern Function Meets Vintage Charm

Pantry Renovation Ideas: Coffee Bars and Beverage Stations

When you’re the lucky owner of a pantry that was designed not just for storage but also to be aesthetically pleasing, Arciform helps reinvigorate tired hardware, refresh finishes, and update functionality.

The type of cabinetry popular in the first half of the last century was constructed differently than most cabinetry today. Vintage pantry cabinetry was often built in place. The doors and drawers were fitted and featured decorative hinges that can be tricky to adjust. Leaded glass cabinet doors sparkled in the often-dark spaces. These details can be hard to replicate and alter during a pantry renovation. Arciform’s custom woodshop and craftspeople specialize in those challenges—historic pantry restorations are what we love to do.

Depending on the era of your home, a vintage pantry can be a craftsman masterpiece, a colonial china room, or a midcentury-modern entertainment hub. If you’d like to keep original pantry cabinets as much as possible, there are simple remodels that add a modern twist. Arciform can create a coffee-bar pantry by adding as little as one outlet. If we want to up the game, we can add a prep sink and faucet—and another fun addition would be a small fridge. The same goes for a toaster pantry or a beverage station.

In some midcentury homes, pantries included fold-down counters that open the pantry to the outside so food, drinks, and serving accoutrements can move directly from where they’re stored to the entertainment area. The only items Arciform typically adds when we find such a treasure are refrigeration or a dishwasher, which we hide behind custom appliance panels to avoid aesthetic impact.

Vintage Pantry Updates for Modern Living

The wood glides of vintage pantry drawers and the ball-tip hinges of vintage pantry doors are charming—but they can be temperamental compared with the soft-closing hinges and modern drawer glides of today. At Arciform, we tune up vintage pantry cabinetry to keep up with its younger cousins.

We also look at how to improve pantry counters. Often, we find original wood counters that have seen many years of use or counters replaced with materials that don’t suit the period of the home. We love adding a bit of drama when replacing counters during pantry renovations. This holds true for backsplash choices as well. We choose materials that were available when the home was built—like mirrored glass for the backsplash, or copper, soapstone, or colorful marble for counters.

Another approach to bringing a vintage pantry into the 21st century is to reference the more casual finishes of the previous century—v-groove paneling for a backsplash, or, if cabinet doors no longer want to stay on their hinges, creating open shelving with metal shelf rails or curtains instead of doors.

Often the vintage pantry is a dark corner of the home, so it’s fun to add LED cabinet lighting strips hidden behind moldings. This illuminates upper cabinets and their contents, and it also lightens the whole pantry space. While we’re on the subject of electrical work, we often install outlet strips below upper cabinets to provide more flexibility for plugging in whatever appliance might fit.

Pantry Remodel: Preserving Character While Adding Function

When starting a pantry renovation, we consider how the space can lighten the load of the main kitchen. A fun way to look at a vintage pantry whose function was storage is to consider it as a space that can house some kitchen activities as well.

If we group items that are used together with the activities they support, we reduce circulation zig-zagging through the kitchen.

In larger vintage pantries, we often find lower marble counters for rolling out dough. If you’re a baker, adding a small oven in the pantry can create a convenient, out-of-the-way baking zone.

In a historic pantry designed to store china, cutlery, serving utensils, platters, and linens, adding a dishwasher and a large sink can move cleaning chores out of the cook’s way.

Adding a wine or beverage fridge, a bar sink, and an ice maker during a pantry remodel can convert a beautiful vintage pantry into a stunning bar where glassware, collected liquors, and local wines can be on display.

Which Pantry Solution is Right for Your Historic Home?

When creating a pantry design for our clients, Arciform starts with the “must-haves, the want-to-haves, and the would-be-nice-to-haves” brainstorm.

We also consider what you want at your fingertips in the kitchen versus what can live in an adjacent space.

And we consider how far away that space may be for the sake of convenience. As we all know, "out of sight" can mean "out of mind," and we’ll pile up more rather than look for what we already have.

We then weigh that feedback against the spaces available in the vintage home. If there’s an existing pantry, how can we make the best use of it? If not, can we find a corner that can be converted into a pantry?

Pantry Design: Budget and Timeline Expectations

Your Arciform team works closely with you to manage the cost implications of the pantry ideas we generate and to make sure you know how much time we’ll spend in your home when carpenters begin the project.

Budgeting for a pantry restoration, a closet-to-pantry conversion, or even a pantry addition varies greatly. Adding a little storage space at the bottom of basement stairs can keep costs low. Converting a bedroom into a large pantry that splits kitchen tasks in half will be at the higher end. The same goes for the time frame—the larger the scope, the longer we’ll be working in your home.

Working with a Design-Build Team for Your Custom Pantry

When you work with Arciform’s design and build teams, you gain the benefit of our experience with space planning and creating solutions that embrace the original architecture of the home.

During the design process, our designers check ideas with our project managers, the product designer from our custom woodshop, and our craftspeople to make sure concepts are realistic. We weigh your investment goals against the condition of your vintage pantry, the trade-offs of a closet-to-pantry conversion, or whether the features of a new custom-built pantry cabinet are executable.

We sharpen our pencils before we start so we eliminate surprises and harness our experience to create the most functional and beautiful pantry storage solutions for you.

In Conclusion

Restoring your original pantry and adding a few features not only preserves a beautiful piece of your home’s history—it’s also cost effective. At Arciform we lean into the beauty of that space when we remodel the adjacent kitchen.

Adding a built-in pantry cabinet within the kitchen brings storage right to your fingertips and can make great use of under-utilized areas.

When the vintage kitchen does not have space to add pantry storage within its footprint, finding spaces for pantry conversions elsewhere in the house can free up space in the kitchen. We’ll weigh this option against the loss of functionality of the space we’re converting.

Arciform's Experience in Portland's Historic Homes

Arciform has specialized in the restoration of homes built prior to the 1970s since 1997. We love what defines Portland’s architectural heritage, and our goal is to give each large and small architectural feature a chance to be around for the next 100 years or more.

At Arciform we learn from the centuries-old traditions that went into creating Portland’s vintage homes and we strive to create new elements of vintage spaces accordingly.

Emphasizing Craftsmanship, Period accuracy, and Modern Functionality

When working on vintage homes and focusing on pantry storage options, at Arciform we surround ourselves with talented craftspeople and creative designers who learn from each other and the homes around us. We are proud of the beautiful craftsmanship, period-appropriate results, and creative ways modern functionality is integrated into Arciform’s remodels.

Kitchen Pantry FAQs

We can’t wait to show you what’s possible in your space. Bring us your pantry dreams (and your tricky corners), and we’ll design something that works perfectly with your historic home.

Why a Fireplace in Your Kitchen Creates the Perfect Gathering Space for Family and Friends

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 15:09:11 GMT

Beyond Cooking: How Kitchen Fireplaces Ignite Warmth, Connection, and Conversation

There's something undeniably magical about a fireplace in the kitchen. It's the perfect spot to gather around on chilly mornings with a warm cup of coffee or to enjoy breakfast as the fire crackles. Whether you're hosting a dinner party or sharing a quiet moment with family, the fireplace becomes the heart of the kitchen, offering both warmth and ambiance. It draws people in, making the kitchen not just a place to cook, but a space to connect, relax, and enjoy each other's company.

That was exactly our goal with this 1913 Colonial mansion perched atop a hill in Southwest Portland. From the moment we stepped into the kitchen and adjacent breakfast room, we saw an opportunity to improve the space. While it functioned well for our clients, the two rooms felt disconnected. A single doorway and a fireplace—facing only the breakfast room—kept the spaces separate. The result? A breakfast room that was seldom used because everyone naturally gathered in the kitchen.

Our solution was to make the fireplace the true heart of the space, connecting the two rooms in a way that felt both seamless and intentional. We removed the dividing wall, relocated the range to the perimeter, and designed a double-sided fireplace that could be enjoyed from either side. This approach not only unified the rooms but also created a striking focal point that felt as though it had always belonged.

How to Incorporate Historic Design Elements into Your Modern Kitchen Fireplace

Inspired by traditional German and Scandinavian porcelain tile stoves (Kacheloffen), we wanted the fireplace to evoke the same timeless elegance while staying true to the home's original character. These historic stoves are known for their impressive craftsmanship, decorative tilework, and ability to radiate warmth efficiently. We brought that same sense of artistry into our design by collaborating with Tempest Tileworks to create custom tiles that mimicked the home's original millwork.

Every detail was carefully considered—from measuring and profiling the existing trim to accounting for kiln shrinkage, ensuring each tile fit perfectly once fired. Our design team created hand-drawn elevations to guide the tile setters, ensuring a result that felt authentic and intentional.

For functionality, we opted for a gas fireplace insert for its ease of use and positioned it at a height that worked beautifully for both the island and breakfast nook seating. We also improved the overall flow of the space by adjusting the exterior doors in the nook to swing outward, allowing for a larger dining table. Relocating refrigeration and small appliance storage to a wall of full-height cabinetry maximized the tall ceilings and abundant natural light.

The result? A kitchen and breakfast room that are no longer just functional spaces—they're a warm and welcoming destination where friends and family naturally gather, day or night. The fireplace not only ties the rooms together but also creates an atmosphere that's both cozy and grand, a perfect balance for this historic home.

Wood-Burning, Gas, or Electric: Choosing the Right Type of Fireplace for Your Kitchen Design

Considering adding a hearth to your cooking space? Here's what to keep in mind:

Wood-burning fireplaces are ideal if you want to cook over an open flame, but they require a chimney and regular maintenance.

Gas fireplaces provide a real flame and ample heat, making them well-suited for larger kitchens. They do require venting but offer convenience and ambiance.

Electric fireplaces are the most efficient and don't require venting. While the flame is simulated, they allow you to enjoy the glow without the heat, making them flexible for all seasons.

The Perfect Location for Your Kitchen Fireplace Depends on Sight Lines and Seating

Venting needs will dictate placement. A wood-burning fireplace requires a masonry chimney, while a gas fireplace can be vented through a small duct in an exterior wall or roof. Electric models offer the most flexibility since they don't require venting.

Consider sightlines—position the fireplace where it can be enjoyed without overheating nearby seating or prep areas. Wood-burning fireplaces generate the most heat and should be placed at least 4 feet away from work zones, while gas fireplaces can be 3 feet away.

The height of the fireplace also matters. We recommend placing the firebox 12 to 30 inches off the floor, depending on seating arrangements and how the fire will be viewed while standing or sitting.

Maintenance Requirements for Different Types of Kitchen Fireplaces: What You Need to Know

Wood-burning fireplaces require regular ash cleanup and professional chimney sweeping to ensure safe operation.

Gas fireplaces need annual inspections to check gas lines and vents.

Electric fireplaces are virtually maintenance-free but benefit from occasional dusting to keep them in top shape.

A Double-Sided Fireplace Can Seamlessly Connect Your Kitchen to Adjacent Living Spaces

Adding a fireplace to a kitchen isn't just about warmth—it's about creating an inviting gathering place, defining spaces while maintaining connection. This project is a perfect example of how a well-placed double-sided fireplace can do just that. Positioned within a custom-tiled feature wall, it serves as a beautiful architectural element while seamlessly tying the kitchen and breakfast nook together.

If you're considering a kitchen renovation, a fireplace might just be the feature that makes the space truly special .

Frequently Asked Questions About Kitchen Fireplaces

Ready to Add a Fireplace to Your Kitchen?

Our design team is available to discuss your specific space and answer any questions. Contact us today to schedule a consultation!

Is Your Home a Historic Place? Understanding Portland’s Historic Designations

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 16:38:00 GMT

If you own, or are considering buying, a home in one of Portland’s special neighborhoods, you may already know that these areas carry historic or conservation designations. But what does it mean for your home, and how could it impact remodeling, maintenance, or renovation plans?

In this article, we’ll break down the three main types of historic designation in Portland—National Register of Historic Places, nationally designated Historic Districts, and local Conservation Districts—each of which comes with its own specific requirements, benefits, and guidelines. Understanding these distinctions is key to planning any exterior renovation or addition.

At Arciform, we help homeowners navigate these processes every day. Working thoughtfully within historic guidelines allows you to preserve the character of your home while creating functional, modern spaces. As Portland’s trusted historic remodeling experts , we specialize in guiding clients through the city’s review and permitting processes for both Historic and Conservation Districts .

To check if your property is in a historic district or has a specific designation, visit Portland Maps and look under the “Zoning and Districts” tab.

The Isam White House in the National Register Alphabet Historic District is also individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Arciform painstakingly restored the exterior and updated the interior following an extensive historic design review process.

National Register of Historic Places

The National Register of Historic Places is a federal list maintained by the National Park Service, recognizing buildings, structures, and districts of historic significance. Listing is honorary and does not automatically restrict changes to your property.

Benefits of National Historic Places Registration

Properties may be eligible for federal and state historic tax incentives, typically for income-producing properties.
Certain federal and state grants may be available to help offset restoration or preservation costs.
Some code exceptions may apply for rehabilitation projects when following federal standards.

Considerations for Renovation

Listing alone does not prevent demolition or alterations. Local historic review may apply only if funding from grants is used.
Projects using historic tax incentives or grant funding must follow federal rehabilitation standards, which prioritize retaining original materials and architectural details.
Even if your home is listed, your city may regulate changes if local preservation ordinances apply.

Resources for National Register Projects

National Historic Districts (Also Portland City Designation)

Portland’s Historic Districts are locally designated areas where architectural and cultural significance is preserved. All Portland Historic Districts are also listed on the National Register. ( portland.gov )

Benefits of Living in a National Historic District

Neighborhood character and architectural integrity are protected, helping maintain and potentially increase property values over time.
Development that does not respect district character (e.g., large infill projects) is prevented.
Thoughtful design in these areas contributes to a unique, vibrant streetscape

Considerations for Exterior Renovations and Additions

Any exterior alteration visible from the street or neighbors typically requires Historic Resource Review. This includes doors, windows, roofs, and other character-defining elements.
The process requires formal plans, documentation, and fees. Timelines may vary depending on the scope and city requirements.
Not all parts of a property are treated equally; rear or non-character-defining additions often allow greater flexibility.

Neighborhood Expertise in Irvington, Laurelhurst, Eastmoreland, and Ladd’s Addition

At Arciform, we specialize in historic homes in Eastside neighborhoods such Irvington , Laurelhurst , Eastmoreland , and Ladd’s Addition , as well as Westside areas like the Alphabet District, Portland Heights, and Dunthorpe. Our experience in these neighborhoods gives us a deep understanding of their unique architectural styles, design expectations, and Historic Resource Review requirements. Whether you’re planning an addition, a remodel, or restoring original details, we know how to navigate the review process efficiently and successfully. We are recognized as trusted historic district contractors and remodelers in Portland.

Portland's Local Conservation Districts

Conservation Districts are locally designated areas recognized for their historic significance, with rules aimed at protecting neighborhood character while offering slightly more flexibility than full Historic Districts. Portland currently has six Conservation Districts in North and Northeast Portland: Eliot, Kenton, Mississippi, Piedmont, Russell, and Woodlawn.

Benefits of Conservation District Designation

Similar protections as Historic Districts against large-scale redevelopment that could alter neighborhood character.
Encourages renovation projects that respect the overall scale, massing, and style of the neighborhood.
Often allows more flexibility for solar integration, certain additions, or demolition compared with Historic Districts.
Working with an experienced historic remodeling contractor ensures that projects meet all city requirements efficiently.

Considerations for Remodeling

Contributing properties must still go through review for exterior changes.
Non-contributing properties or less visible parts of a structure generally have more flexible rules.
Rules are designed to balance preservation with practical use and modernization.

Why Work with Experienced Historic Remodelers in Portland?

Living in a historic or conservation district in Portland gives you a builtin sense of neighborhood character and history. With the right expertise, you can preserve the story of your home, enhance its function, and work within the guidelines with confidence. At Arciform, we guide you through every step—from design and permitting to construction—so that your home’s character is honored and your vision comes to life. As Portland’s trusted historic remodeling experts, we ensure your project enhances your home while respecting the unique character of your neighborhood.

Resources and Further Reading:

5 Things You Need to Know About the Historic Review Process
City of Portland – Historic, Conservation, and National Register Districts
Portland Historic Resource Inventory
National Register of Historic Places
Oregon State Historic Preservation Office
Arciform Historic Remodeling Services: Learn more

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

5 Things You Need to Know About the Historic Review Process

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 17:41:00 GMT

If you own a home in one of Portland’s Historic or Conservation Districts —like Laurelhurst, Irvington, Ladd’s Addition, or the Alphabet District—you’ve probably heard that exterior changes are subject to the Historic Resource Review process. It’s designed to protect neighborhood character while allowing thoughtful updates and additions that reflect modern living.

The review process can feel complex at first, but it’s manageable with the right team. We’ve guided many clients through it—designing projects that meet both the city’s requirements and the homeowner’s goals. Here are five things that might surprise you about how the process works—and how we help you navigate it.

A Quick Note About District Types

Historic vs. Conservation Districts

A Historic District is typically listed on the National Register of Historic Places , with review standards aligned with federal preservation guidelines.

A Conservation District , on the other hand, is a City of Portland designation that focuses more on maintaining the neighborhood’s overall scale and rhythm rather than preserving exact historic details for each building. Understanding which applies to your home is the first step in planning any project.

Check your home’s district designation using Portland Maps (see the Zoning & Districts tab).

1. Not All Buildings in a Historic District are Created Equal

When a neighborhood becomes a Historic or Conservation District, each structure is classified as either “contributing” or “non-contributing.”

A contributing home adds to the area’s historic character because of its age, integrity, or style.
A non-contributing home was built later or changed significantly over time.

Our Take:

We help determine your home’s classification and whether your project might qualify for an exemption—for example, if it’s small (under 150 square feet) and on a non-street-facing wall. These small wins can save time and fees early on.

If your house is non-contributing, you’ll have more design flexibility. The project will still need to complement the neighborhood, but the review is often simpler.

2. Not All Sides of Your Home are Treated Equally

Even on a contributing structure, the city focuses most on what can be seen from a street or public right-of-way. That means the front façade receives more scrutiny than the side or rear of your home. Additions tucked behind the main structure—like a dormer, deck, or mudroom—usually go through a lighter review.

Portions of a house added after the period of significance (for example, a mid-century rear addition) can often be modified with fewer restrictions.

Our Take:

We design with visibility in mind. Strategic placement can make the process easier and give you more freedom to customize the look and layout while still referencing your home’s original proportions and materials.

3. Preserving Original Materials Matters as Much as Design

Historic Resource Review values both form and fabric. That means repairing and retaining original windows, siding, or trim whenever possible. Restoration is almost always preferred to full replacement. For example, a porch with some rot may be partially repaired rather than completely rebuilt. The same applies to windows: restoration and the addition of storm windows are often encouraged over full replacement, provided the wood is sound.

Our Take:

We evaluate which materials can be repaired and which truly need replacement. When replacements are required, we match size, profile, and character so the new blends seamlessly with the old. You preserve the soul of your home while gaining long-term durability.

4. New Additions Shouldn't Copy the Old Exactly

It may sound counterintuitive, but the city’s design standards specify that new additions shouldn’t exactly mimic the existing historic architecture. The goal is to create something compatible but distinguishable— respecting the scale, massing, materials, and rooflines of the original structure, without pretending it’s original. You should be able to tell which parts are original and which are new, while the overall composition still feels harmonious.

For example, a rear addition might use siding and proportions that complement the existing house but be detailed more simply, or a dormer might align with the existing roofline without duplicating every molding profile.

Our Take:

We design additions that feel right beside the historic home, not identical to it. Subtle shifts in detailing or material expression help preserve the authenticity of both the old and the new - exactly what the review board looks for in your project.

5. The Community Plays a Role

Historic Resource Review is as much about community character as architecture. When a project is submitted, the neighborhood association and nearby property owners are notified and can provide comments or testimony. Their feedback can influence the review outcome, particularly if the project is visible from neighboring properties or public spaces.

Early conversations often lead to smoother approvals and more supportive neighbors.

Our Take:

We encourage you to connect with your neighbors early—and we can help you prepare visuals or talking points for those conversations. Sharing plans and listening to their feedback before submitting for review can smooth the process and help build support. Many neighborhood associations offer informal guidance before the formal submission, to help avoid issues that may trigger revisions.

A collaborative approach builds goodwill and can make the entire process faster and more positive.

What it All Means

Designing within a Historic or Conservation District doesn’t mean limiting creativity—it means designing with context, care, and respect .

Our role is to help you balance what makes your home special with the updates that make it work for your life today.

With thoughtful planning and design-build team experienced in Historic Resource Review, your project can both respect the past and create a future you’ll love living in.

FAQ: Historic Resource Review at a Glance

Additional Resources:

For more detailed guidance on the process, check out our companion article: Arciform: Your Resource for Historic Review Expertise .

Arciform is Your Resource for Historic Review Expertise

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 16:55:00 GMT

Why Historic Review Expertise Matters

Preserving Portland's Historic Neighborhoods

Portland’s historic districts are among the city’s most cherished neighborhoods, and preserving their character is vital as the city evolves. If you own a home in one of these districts—or are thinking of buying in one—you need a design and construction partner who understands both your home’s unique architecture and the requirements of the Historic Resource Review process. That’s where we come in.

The Importance of Working with Experienced Designers

At Arciform, we specialize in designing for Historic and Conservation Districts, such as Irvington, Laurelhurst, and Eastmoreland. We know how to create thoughtful additions and remodels that respect your home’s historic character while meeting modern needs. We also know how to prepare, present, and navigate the permitting process so your project moves smoothly from concept to approval.

Our Approach to Historic and Conservation Districts

Thoughtful Additions and Remodels

Whether you’re adding a dormer, updating windows and doors, or creating a new outdoor space, we ensure your design aligns with the city’s standards for balance, proportion, materials, and architectural details.

Navigating the Historic Review Process

Because we’ve worked on many Historic Review projects across Portland, we can set realistic expectations for budget, timeline, and outcomes before you start. Our expertise helps clients avoid costly mistakes and ensures projects meet city requirements from the beginning.

Setting Realistic Expectations for Your Project

Budget, Timeline, and Design Outcomes

Understanding the Historic Review process allows us to provide clients with accurate guidance on costs, schedules, and design feasibility. This upfront clarity helps homeowners feel confident as their project moves forward.

Aligning with City Standards: Balance, Proportion, Materials, and Details

Every detail matters in historic remodeling. From window profiles and roof pitches to materials and millwork, we make sure your project respects the integrity of your home while providing the function and beauty you want.

Supporting Your Project Beyond Design

Historical Preservation Financial Benefits for Owners of Historic Properties

If you are considering remodeling an income producing building (not your personal, private residence) in a Historic or Conservation District, Arciform can provide guidance on available tax incentives and other financial considerations to make your project more feasible.

A major remodel in a Portland Historic or Conservation District can save you thousands in property taxes through Oregon’s Special Assessment for Historic Properties program.

Learn more about unlocking historic property tax savings here .

Materials, Design, and Long-Term Value

We also help clients select materials and design strategies that preserve the intrinsic value of their home and neighborhood, ensuring that the final result is both beautiful and historically appropriate.

Historic Review with Arciform

Resources & Next Steps

Portland Historic, Conservation, and National Register Historic Districts

Official City of Portland resource with maps, guidelines, and full district documentation.
Explore all districts

5 Things You Need to Know About the Historic Review Process

earn how Historic Resource Review works, what to expect, and how to plan a successful remodel.
Read the guide

Work with Arciform on Your Historic District Project

We specialize in designing, permitting, and building remodels that honor your home’s historic character while meeting your modern needs. Let us help you navigate the Historic Review process and bring your vision to life.

Schedule your consultation here

Fitted vs. Unfitted Kitchen Design: Finding Your Perfect Storage Style

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 19:29:29 GMT

By Anne De Wolf

Arciform co-owner and principal designer

When planning your kitchen remodel, one of the most important decisions you'll make is choosing between fitted and unfitted kitchen design.

This choice affects everything from your daily cooking workflow to your home's resale value. Fitted kitchens feature built-in cabinetry and integrated appliances that maximize storage efficiency, while unfitted kitchens embrace freestanding pieces and open storage that showcase personality and flexibility.

At Arciform, we've helped homeowners navigate this decision for decades. Through our experience with historic home renovations and custom kitchen designs, we've learned that the right choice depends entirely on how you live, cook, and find joy in your space.

What style and function for kitchen storage do you prefer?

Do you like to organize out in the open or behind closed doors?
How do you like to decorate—with curated arrangements, whimsical displays, or clean and empty?
How does color affect you? Do bright colors and patterns make you happy or do you prefer a simple and quiet palette?
Do you like pristine or patinaed surfaces?

These are some of the questions to consider when you think about how you want to build out your kitchen storage. In our case studies, we show you how some of our clients prefer to have Arciform’s custom woodshop build cabinetry specifically designed to fit their space and the intended purpose of each section, versus clients who choose a mix of open, antique, and existing storage pieces, often supplemented with a few custom-built elements.

Understanding Kitchen Design History Helps You Choose Between Traditional Unfitted Charm and Modern Fitted Efficiency

Before the 20th century, kitchens were collections of individual, freestanding elements - worktables, dressers, washstands, and separate pieces for food storage and preparation. There was no notion of continuous countertops or wall-to-wall cabinets. Each function—washing, storing, prepping, cooking—had its own designated item or space. This changed in the early 20th century with the rise of fitted kitchens, which introduced built-in cabinetry, integrated appliances, and more efficient, compact layouts. The shift not only improved hygiene and organization but also transformed kitchens into streamlined, cohesive spaces. Today’s kitchen designs often reference or blend these two approaches: the fitted and the freestanding.

When we custom design the kitchen cabinets, we brainstorm with the client how they like to cook, prep, clean, and store. We also consider best practices to ensure the space functions as effectively as possible.

Thoughtful Fitted Designs Create Streamlined Spaces that Hide Clutter While Maintaining Easy Acccess to Essentials

Pam and Chris's Kitchen - A Fresh Take on Fitted Design for a Historic Portland Heights Home

This kitchen, in a large Colonial home, has the luxury of space. In addition, the existing Butler’s pantry does some of the heavy lifting. We were able to use the original cabinets to store china and glassware and built custom cabinetry for pantry items.

Custom built-in cabinetry adapts perfectly to your space constraints and specific storage requirements.

Since we didn’t need additional storage in the main kitchen, we decided to omit upper cabinets, which gives the room a very airy feeling. Pam and Chris like the curated look that empty counters and integrated appliances allow. We hid the dishwashers behind cabinet panels, built a hutch-style cabinet that hides the refrigerator and freezer, and added a third matching cabinet section for the microwave and small appliances.

Integrated appliances create seamless kitchen designs that prioritize clean lines over visible equipment.

The custom island provides storage for cookware and prepping utensils, located conveniently near the range, a large sink, and the dishwasher. The change in countertop material on the island offers a beautiful, subtle contrast within their otherwise understated palette.

Being able to fit a custom hood over the range without adjacent cabinetry above or beside it gives the space a quiet and elegant aesthetic. To define different functions and give the chef room to work, we created a secondary cabinet grouping with another large sink and integrated dishwasher in the adjacent breakfast room. Off this space, we converted an original utility closet into a food pantry, flanked by a small custom cabinet and topped with a transom window—adding architectural charm and character. This zone is perfect for hosting and day-to-day use, especially when their grandchildren visit.

See more pictures of Pam and Chris's whole house remodel in our portfolio here and in the latest issues of ICONIC magazine and Portrait magazine.

Classic Fitted Kitchens Blend Open Shelving with Closed Storage for Both Display and Practical Organization

Tracy and Leo's Kitchen - Classic and Contemporary for a Laurelhurst Craftsman

This second example of a fitted kitchen shows how we can blend open shelving with solid and glass-front upper cabinets. This not only adds beauty and interest, but also gives flexibility—some things are meant to be displayed, while others are best tucked away.

Open shelving displays beautiful dishes while closed cabinets hide everyday clutter and cleaning supplies.

While much of this kitchen is composed of custom, built-in cabinetry, Tracy and Leo also embraced a furniture-like feel. Arciform designed and built a custom island that adds contrast and personality to the more classic framework of the surrounding cabinets. Narrow pull-out storage beside the refrigerator and smart corner cabinet inserts show how we optimize every inch for convenience.

Upper cabinets flanking the hood offer generous storage right where it’s needed. Throughout the kitchen, Arciform followed period-appropriate detailing to help this Craftsman home’s new kitchen feel like it had always belonged. Tracy and Loe also brought their own flair into the space—choosing colorful tile, open shelves, and contemporary appliances that reflect their style and make the space joyful.

Free-Spirited Unfitted Kitchens Let You Showcase Treasured Collections and Create Personality-Filled Cooking Spaces

Keri's Kitchen - A Sellwood Bungalow with a Free-Spirited, Collected Look

When clients love to display treasured items—handmade mugs, enamel cookware, patterned dishes—we lean into a more free-form design approach. This kind of layout treats the storage itself as part of the design. It’s perfect for clients who collect, arrange, and enjoy a little visual play.

Antique and vintage pieces add character to unfitted kitchens while serving practical storage functions.

The decision-making process often centers on: “Do I love this? Do I use it? Does it make me smile when I see it?” Even food packaging becomes part of the experience. We often suggest using surrounding surfaces as opportunities for creative expression too—walls, backsplashes, open cabinets, you name it.

In this case study, our client Kerri travels the world and brings back pieces with stories and personality. Her kitchen features wallpaper by an Australian designer and blue-tinted plaster inspired by southern climates. She entertains often, and each element in her space—whether a vintage light fixture or her leggy sink—adds to the casual, story-filled vibe she loves. Aqua, turquoise, and blue echo throughout as her signature palette.

See our online portfolio for more images of this unique kitchen and Keri's whole house remodel project.

Unfitted Kitchen Designs Work Beautifully When You Have Additional Storage Spaces Like Pantries and China Rooms

Anne and Richard's Kitchen - Our Own Unfitted Space in a Historic Colonial

And finally, here’s a look at our own kitchen. While Richard and I own Arciform—where our talented team creates custom cabinetry in our 10,000-square-foot woodshop—we opted for a more open, unfitted plan in our home.

Flexible unfitted layouts adapt easily when your cooking style or family needs change over time.

We’re different than many of our clients in that we’ve always been willing to do without a gadget or tool if it meant needing more storage for it. In our current home, the Isam White House built in 1904, we’re fortunate to have a China room and a separate food pantry, so the main kitchen doesn’t have to carry all the load.

This flexibility allowed us to design around the vintage Aga range and a large cast iron sink. We broke a few “rules”—there’s no counter next to the stove, just a comfortable chair. We placed an antique sideboard under a window, topped it with French-style display shelving, and let the natural light filter through.

For appliances, we integrated our refrigerator, dishwasher, and freezer into custom cabinetry that matches the room's vintage character while maintaining modern functionality.

This arrangement may not maximize every square foot for storage, but it brings us joy. It’s an eclectic blend of elements, and we love how it feels.

For the full story on this one-of-a-kind period kitchen, visit our online portfolio here .

In Anne and Richard's 1904 Colonial Revival, a marble top island centers the large unfitted space. The green tile wainscot and grey hex tile floor are original. The vintage green Aga provides a strong focal point, as well a s a source of heat. In the adjacent china room, freezer drawer was integrated into custom cabinets matching the originals. A one-of-a-kind refrigerator was built into the former ice-box on the service porch.

The Right Kitchen Style Choice Depends on Your Cooking Habits, Storage Needs, and What Brings You Daily Joy.

The choice between fitted and unfitted kitchen design ultimately comes down to how you live, cook, and find joy in your space. Fitted kitchens offer maximum efficiency and a cohesive, streamlined look that many homeowners love. Unfitted kitchens provide flexibility, personality, and the chance to showcase treasured pieces.

Professional design consultation helps you evaluate your lifestyle to determine which approach serves you best.

At Arciform, we work with you to understand your lifestyle, storage needs, and aesthetic preferences. Whether you choose the clean lines of fitted cabinetry or the collected charm of an unfitted approach, we'll help you create a kitchen that reflects your unique story and supports how you live.

For more kitchen remodel advice and inspiration don't miss our handy guide: The Essential Guide to Kitchen Design for Vintage Homes.

In a traditional fitted kitchen cabinets and built-in appliances wrap the perimeter of the room, while in an old-school unfitted kitchen, independent and often movable cupboards, furniture, and shelving are arranged throughout the space.

Ready to move beyond Pinterest boards to actual plans? Contact Arciform to schedule your complimentary design consultation and discover which approach makes sense for the way you live.

Kitchen Design: Open vs. Closed - Design to Suit the Way You Live

Sat, 08 Nov 2025 00:40:19 GMT

This 1960 Mt. Tabor ranch illustrates the dramatic benefit of opening the kitchen to the main living space.

What’s considered an open kitchen? That’s a good question. Is it open and airy because it has few, if any, upper cabinets and lots of windows? Or is it open to other spaces? For the sake of this conversation, we’ll look at it from a space-planning perspective, how the kitchen connects to adjacent areas like a dining room, pantry, or garden.

Having a separate kitchen was a privilege enjoyed only by the wealthy until the end of the 19th century. With the advent of indoor plumbing and electricity, home design began to change.

We’ll focus on kitchens in homes built when Portland became prosperous at the turn of the last century.

Formal spaces for entertaining added a sense of sophistication, so most vintage kitchens were tucked into the back corners of the home, shielded from view with walls and doors. The cook would prepare meals and manage cleanup and storage in isolation. While these vintage kitchens often had charming built-ins, pretty tile, and sweet light fixtures, they were closed off and designed primarily for putting food on the table.

While not entirely open, the kitchens of Portland’s Tudor and Colonial homes began to open up a bit around 1925. By the 1930s, small eating nooks were becoming a common feature—these alcoves, accessed through arched openings, provided easy serving of simple meals and a social aspect.

As appliances evolved to manage cold storage, dishwashing, cooking, and venting, it became popular in the 1960s to open this workspace to the social areas of the home. Mid-century kitchen designs often had fewer walls, and so did the dining and living rooms. This shift reflected lifestyle changes as well as new building techniques being explored. Open floor plans became a common option for mid-century homes.

So when today’s homeowners look at remodeling their older kitchens, opening up the space for better socializing is often at the top of their list.

Expanding a Bungalow kitchen by creating larger doorways, adding pass-throughs, or removing walls entirely are all popular considerations. The degree to which we visually connect a Colonial kitchen to an outdoor sitting area, a pretty pantry, or a dining room can greatly affect the period-appropriate aesthetic of the space.

Open Kitchens Bring Light and Flow to Dark Vintage Homes

Creating a more open kitchen in a vintage home can transform formal, dark rooms into casual, light-filled spaces. Often, vintage homes are built close together, so even large bay windows in dining rooms can be shaded by neighboring structures. Opening a wall between a Craftsman kitchen and dining room, or a Colonial kitchen and the garden, can bring light back into the center of the home.

Removing even a section of wall can create a sense of spaciousness without actually increasing the footprint. And perhaps most importantly, creating an opening allows people in different spaces to visit with each other.

In many vintage Portland homes, basement stairs block views and accessibility to the backyard. In today’s world of barbecues and backyard gatherings, reducing the visual impact of those stairs—or even relocating them—can have a surprisingly positive effect.

When removing part or all of a wall in a vintage home, there are several details to consider beyond the usual suspects like plumbing lines, electrical wires, ducts, and structural function. We also need to think about how the architectural details will adapt to the new space:

Do we want the formal dining room, with its wainscoted walls and box-beamed ceilings, to be entirely open to the Craftsman or Colonial kitchen, or do we prefer a smaller, framed opening?
How should we apply millwork to tie these spaces together?
If arches are a feature in a Portland Tudor, should the new opening echo that curve?
How will the hood surround, refrigerator, or cabinetry look when viewed from the dining room?
How do we integrate the basement stairs if their surrounding walls are removed?
Should we remove the original buffet—the focal point of many Tudor dining rooms—if it shares the wall with the kitchen we’d like to open?

In essence, what do we want our line of sight to be?

What is Considered an Open Kitchen?

An open kitchen is one with few or no walls separating it from an adjacent living area such as a dining room, family room, or living room.

Often, a central island provides visual separation.

In more compact homes, a U-shaped kitchen can be opened to adjacent spaces by treating one section of the counter as a peninsula.

Sometimes there may be a step or a half wall between spaces, but the kitchen remains part of the main living area, encouraging better interaction with friends and family.

What are the Disadvantages of an Open Kitchen?

Creating a more open kitchen in a vintage home can have disadvantages. Fewer walls in a Bungalow kitchen that’s already small may reduce valuable space for cabinetry and appliances. Vintage kitchens often have multiple doors—leading to the basement, the back hall, the driveway, and the dining room—so removing more wall space further limits storage and counter options.

Many older kitchens are too compact to replace lost counter or cabinet space with an island.

Also, many older homes have one dining room, unlike today’s homes that have family rooms and casual dining areas in addition to a formal dining room. If we open the dining room to the kitchen, we can lose the option of hosting more formal dinners. And looking at the pile of dirty dishes after each meal may not be attractive to some of us

Without walls and doors, cooking smells travel throughout the home, no matter how effective the vent hood is. If you’re sensitive to scents, that’s something to consider.

Finally, removing too many walls can take away some of the essence that makes a Victorian home feel Victorian. Adding a doorway with a half wall can improve flow and sociability, but it may not look original to the home no matter how carefully we integrate the millwork. The need for modern functionality, the scale of today’s appliances, and current code requirements all influence the design options.

Closed Kitchens Preserve Historic Character and Function

Traditional kitchens from the late 19th through mid-20th centuries were designed as separate spaces for preparing and storing food. Easy access to grocery delivery and waste disposal was provided via the back or side porch or basement stairs, with direct connection to the dining room.

Larger homes often included separate breakfast rooms, pantries, and china rooms for storage and casual meals. Servant’s stairs frequently led directly from modest sleeping quarters into the kitchen and back of the house.

This division of space maximized wall surfaces for cabinetry and appliances and kept food smells contained. A messy kitchen could be tended to after the meal without being an eyesore.

The formality of a meal—its preparation hidden by a double-acting door—added sophistication and showcased the beautiful details found in Portland’s Victorian, Craftsman, Colonial, and Tudor dining rooms.

Arciform has designed traditional closed kitchens for homes throughout Portland, including this 1910 Mt. Tabor mansion, a NW Portland Colonial Revival, a Laurelhurst Craftsman, and a Portland Heights Tudor. In each of these projects Arciform took design cues from cabinetry, millwork, and other architectural features original to each home.

What is the Purpose of an Open Kitchen?

The main purpose of an open kitchen is to allow the cook to socialize with friends and family while preparing a meal. It also encourages teamwork—others can help with prep or cleanup. And, since the kitchen is at the heart of activity, children are more likely to participate and learn the art of cooking from an early age.

Architecturally, open kitchens allow more light to travel between spaces, and fewer walls create the illusion of more room.

Let Your Home's Architecture Guide Layout Decisions

When considering the design of your vintage kitchen remodel the original architecture of the home can help with creating appropriate layout changes. At Arciform we ask questions like - why do you like the style of your Bungalow? What attracted you to your Victorian farmhouse? And then we pull the aspects that made you fall in love with your home in the first place into the remodeled spaces

We approach the design of a Craftsman kitchen by focusing on the essence of the style, so we can carry that character into every remodel decision. A larger Colonial kitchen often featured a separate pantry, servant’s stairs, and access to a back porch. Can we reinterpret those features even if the colonial home is smaller in scale?

A small galley kitchen in a shotgun Victorian may benefit from adding a large set of French doors to the backyard or dining room. These might not have been part of the original kitchen design, but they were common in other rooms of Victorian homes.

If there’s a chimney between the breakfast room and the kitchen, do we want to make that fireplace a shared feature in both spaces when we open up the walls?

Structural Challenges in Vintage Kitchen Layout Changes

When we remove a wall, we have to consider not only its structural role but also what may be hidden inside—plumbing, electrical, or HVAC systems.

We often need to reroute ductwork or plumbing lines. If the wall is load-bearing, it must be replaced with a beam, and the beam’s load transfer points must be supported by posts and footings poured in the basement or crawl space.

In many vintage homes, central chimneys vented water heaters, furnaces, or wood-burning stoves. These chimneys often take up a corner of the kitchen. Removing them can create more space but also requires patching the roof and floor, addressing the impact on upper levels, and removing the chimney base in the basement.

Smart Compromise Solutions for Historic Kitchens

There are many creative ways to open up a historic kitchen without losing its charm—or the character of adjacent spaces.

When opening a kitchen to the backyard, the home’s architecture can actually be enhanced. Larger windows, French doors, or covered dining areas add beauty and flexibility.

Here are a few ideas to connect your vintage kitchen with adjoining rooms while maintaining architectural integrity:

In small Bungalows or cottages, the living and dining rooms are simple, open spaces that double as circulation areas. These lend themselves well to a more open kitchen plan due to their casual character. Creating a doorway that mirrors adjacent openings and adding a small island or half wall for more counter and cabinet space can feel natural. When building a half wall, careful attention to millwork and proportions is key.
In vintage dining rooms, the built-in buffet often serves as a beautiful focal point. Using that as inspiration, an opening between the kitchen and dining room can be framed with cabinetry and a counter. Proportions matter so the new cabinetry feels integrated, not transplanted.
Simply widening the doorway between the kitchen and dining room—or adding glass-paneled French doors—can strengthen the connection without sacrificing formality.
A movable panel can create a playful connection between rooms without changing much of the closed-kitchen layout.
Interior operable windows can provide the flexibility of an open or closed kitchen, depending on the day.

Sometimes, we shift spaces entirely—absorbing a dining room into the kitchen to make a Victorian townhouse feel more like a farmhouse, or combining a pantry and servant’s stairs in a Colonial to create one larger kitchen that incorporates seating. These changes can improve function without compromising the home’s integrity.

In Conclusion

There are many ways to open a vintage kitchen to adjacent spaces. If done without regard for the home’s original style, these changes can alter its character significantly.

If your goal is to maintain the home’s historic charm while adapting to a more interactive lifestyle, the design process becomes a balancing act between form and function.

How many formal aspects of your home are you willing to give up?

How much storage can you sacrifice?

What do you want in your line of sight?

And how can we blend modern lifestyle goals with the home’s original charm?

At Arciform, we specialize in exactly these challenges—so common to Portland’s vintage kitchens. As kitchen designers and experienced carpenters, we carefully consider both the obvious and the hidden treasures of every home, from the humble Victorian farmhouse to the grand Colonial mansion, ensuring each kitchen suits the way you live today. For more kitchen remodel advice and inspiration don't miss our handy guide - The Essential Guide to Kitchen Design for Vintage Homes.

Ready to create a kitchen that feels both period-perfect and perfectly functional? Our Portland vintage home specialists will show you layout options that work with (not against) your home's original bones.

The Essential Guide to Kitchen Design for Vintage Homes

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 22:36:13 GMT

W hich Space and Layout Options Work Best for Additions ?

At Arciform we’ve been restoring and remodeling vintage kitchens within the Portland Metro area since 1997. In the beginning, Richard and Anne De Wolf, the founders of Arciform, were taking every job they could get to establish a reputation for their young company, and while they were building custom kitchen cabinets in their basement to fit a dishwasher into a 1910's original kitchen, adding dormers to 1920's attics, and scrubbing grout in 1930's bathrooms, they found their passion for the vintage and historic buildings of Portland. They also found that vintage kitchens faced three main challenges that persist today: limited period-appropriate resources, space limitations, and appliance integration challenges.

Finding Period-Appropriate Materials: Then vs. Now

Back then, in the ‘90s, kitchen design trends leaned heavily towards full overlay cherry cabinets with either green or black granite counters, often with a dark backsplash. Stainless steel appliances were starting to lead the race and oil rubbed bronze hardware was a popular choice. But working with Portland's vintage homes presented very different challenges than following contemporary trends. At the time, the resources for period-appropriate kitchen remodels were very limited. Rejuvenation created reproduction light fixtures and hardware and Chown sourced the few manufacturers that were creating reproduction plumbing fixtures, but finding tile and cabinet options was a challenge, especially without the internet’s help.

Over the following 10 to 15 years that all changed, and now we have a wonderful array of resources that allow us to create period-appropriate aesthetics while adding current conveniences to vintage spaces – one of them being Arciform’s custom woodshop, where we create cabinetry that matches the special details of each 20 ^th century decade.

Spatial and Functional Challenges Every Kitchen Faces

With the hunt for resources being one challenge, another one is that Portland’s vintage kitchens tend to be relatively small. Not until the second half of the 20 ^th century were kitchens and cooking considered part of the gathering spaces for family and friends, and kitchens took over more square footage of a home.

Kitchens were isolated from formal dining and living spaces and were often circulation centers, with a door leading into the dining room, the back hallway and the backyard and to the basement stairs, a pantry and/or eating nook. This limited counter and cabinet space, and caused many disruptions during food prep and clean up.

As appliances evolved, vintage kitchens faced additional integration challenges:

Counter appliances were too tall to fit below the upper cabinets, which were often only 12” to 15” above the counter
Counters were not deep enough and/or not far enough above the floor to fit a dishwasher in. This caused a domino effect that often triggered the remodel of at least the kitchen’s sink wall when the homeowner wanted to add a dishwasher.
Refrigerators became much larger before they were scaled back down in the early 21 ^st century, often taking up the only large wall space.
Modern cooking appliances required proper ventilation which affected not only the kitchen and exterior wall, but sometimes adjacent spaces as well.

Luckily, both Richard and Anne De Wolf had lived on boats for years and knew how to make small spaces work better. While studying the styles of each period, they worked with their clients, who loved the character of their older homes, to create solutions for vintage kitchen challenges that honored the architectural integrity of the spaces while adding functionality and modern conveniences. Today, Arciform’s teams are leading experts in Portland’s vintage kitchen designs.

What Makes Portland's Vintage Kitchens Unique?

In the early 20th century, trends in Portland tended to change slowly, as resources were limited.

The Victorian Era took its cue for its sub-styles from the ornate style of the British Empire that is defined by asymmetry and vertical proportions.
The Craftsman Style was a counter movement to the industrial revolution and the applied ornamentation of the Victorian style. Its focus was on form-follows-function and craftsmanship. Its low-slung and comfortable.
The Colonial Style is heavily inspired by ancient classical architecture, emphasizing symmetry and the use of columns and pediments to create harmony. The spaces are defined by large windows and easy formality.
The Tudor Style brought cozy proportions, textures and a storied style of medieval England to Portland.
And the 1940’s and ‘50s started introducing techniques developed during the Second World War and made homeownership more affordable by simplifying details.

These style elements influenced kitchens of these decades less than other rooms. Kitchens were function-forward. Exotic wood species and ornate millwork were used in the front of the homes, where you might host guests. Fir, linoleum and simple hex tile floors as well as painted cabinetry were common for the more private spaces: kitchens, back halls, bedrooms and bathrooms.

These three kitchens - one in Oregon City, one NW Portland, and one in Alameda - were uniquely styled to suit the original period character of each home.

Kitchen Evolution Through the Decades

During the early 20 ^th century, ornate cast iron woodburning stoves gave way to gas and later to electric ranges. Large, enameled console or wall-mounted sinks changed to sinks that were built into counters with the evolution from freestanding storage to built-in cabinetry and integrated counters. Indoor plumbing and the advent of electricity changed kitchens forever and allowed women to develop the spaces we’re used to today.

How Do You Balance Historic Charm & Modern Function?

The key detail that often gets lost when designing a space today is charm. Charm is a magical ingredient that the spaces of the past seemed to have in spades, and that’s what attracts the homeowner who decides to tackle the work inherent in owning an old Portland home.

The craftsmanship and attention to detail that characterize homes that have survived the last 100 years or more intact is what Arciform thrives to preserve. We try to add special details no matter the budget which add that little something that makes the kitchen a special space for our clients.

There are some very easy ways to add charm to the hardest working space in your home and accommodate modern functionality. Here are some examples.

For a 1904 Colonial Revival in Portland's Alphabet District, Arciform artfully integrated modern appliances into the restored period kitchen. A freezer drawer is tucked into the pantry and a former icebox was converted into a custom refrigerator.

Design Philosophy for Vintage Kitchens

Let the design focus on function and proportions over symmetry. Symmetry is predictable, where changing the type of upper cabinet door, counter material or backsplash a little to define an area, or adding a wood cabinet section to an otherwise painted kitchen can bring elements of interest and character while also increasing options for functional elements.

Let pretty pantry items or colorful China peek through glass doors or sit on open shelves. This adds texture. A lot of thought goes into packaging design, and pretty glasses, plates and bowls can add personal touches that enhance the space’s character.

Architectural Integration Techniques

Often details like subtle brackets or extensions between upper and lower cabinets make cabinets appear built-in and furniture-like.

Soffits can hide the large ducts required for contemporary hoods while also introducing a period element that was popular from the 1930’s through the ‘80s.

The charm of kitchens after the 1930’s was delivered more in the fixture and finish choices rather than architectural elements, which tended to be simpler after the war. White paint and tile glazes gave way to bright colors. Classic designs veered to art deco designs and, in the late ‘50s, boomerang shapes and designs inspired by space exploration became popular. Kitchen walls were covered with graphic wallpaper and floors and counters featured patterned sheet goods. So, there are many fun and simple ways to add personality to your space.

Playing with Fixtures and Finishes to Add Period Charm

When it comes to finishes and fixtures, it is not just the style but also the placement that distinguishes the charm of a vintage kitchen. Arciform is an expert at placing these elements to add charm and increase functionality. Here are some tricks of our trade:

Use multiple counter materials to add interest and diversity of functions, like a wood counter on the kitchen island, a white solid slab that mimics vintage baking counters, and a dark counter in the rest of the space.
Design a custom hood cover that draws inspiration from the architecture of the home, be it a plaster curved surround inspired by a 1930’s fireplace or a paneled box echoing the dining room wainscoting.
Install tile not only as a backsplash but all the way to the ceiling. This adds period flair, and the reflective nature of the tile adds brightness within the space.
Place a vintage style pendant fixture over the sink and vintage style ceiling lights in the rest of the space, adding small sconces to sides of cabinets. If these lights don’t provide enough illumination to meet today’s standards, they can be supplemented with hidden under cabinet lighting or lights within glass-fronted cabinets.
Combine stain grade and paint grade cabinetry to evoke a furniture-like aesthetic.
Include metal register covers and electrical cover plates for small period touches.

And last but not least we need to consider the space itself. The challenge of many doors in a small-footprint vintage kitchen can be met by eliminating one or two doors, which adds the possibility of more storage and continuous counters space. It could also create a circulation-free area which makes food prep more enjoyable and can make a “one butt” kitchen into a “two butt” kitchen by creating work zones.

Before and After views of Arciform's remodel of a Mt. Tabor mid-century ranch demonstrate the dramatic effect of removing a wall between the kitchen and living space.

Space Planning Solutions that Work

If socializing while preparing food or cleaning up is high on the priority list, then opening up between the kitchen and the dining room is often an option. At Arciform we design this opening to tie in architecturally with adjacent spaces by drawing inspiration from an existing cased or arched opening.

Which Materials and Elements Honor Your Home's Era?

One of the main visual features in a kitchen is the cabinetry. The style of the cabinets varied in subtle ways in the kitchens of the first 30 years of the 20 ^th century. They were mainly painted white and built in place.

From the 1940’s onward, cabinetry styles evolved more quickly as cabinetry was being built in factories rather than at the jobsite. Slab doors and drawer fronts of cabinetry in midcentury homes were initially painted in bright colors, followed by the trends of the ‘60s and ‘70s where earth and wood tones dominated.

At Arciform, we build kitchen cabinetry in our custom woodshop that is as functional as it is period-appropriate. We offer a full array of options that make this possible. Here are a handful:

Full inset cabinets with ball tip hinges
Half overlay doors with semi-concealed hinges
Sink cabinets with integrated vents for airflow
Painted and/or stained-in-place cabinets to achieve a built-in-place esthetic
Upper cabinets with one door above another that span above the kitchen sink’s window
Cabinet doors with wavy glass to show off glassware and China
Furniture-like kitchen islands
Integrating vintage finds with our custom-built cabinets
Adding subtle molding that mimics the original choices and adjacent spaces

Select Period-Appropriate Finishes and Fixtures Without Sacrificing Modern Performance.

At Arciform, we consider what materials and features were available when the home was built, not only what was originally installed — our philosophy is that if it could have been used then, it could be considered historically appropriate now. Or, if there’s a better material to capture that period feel, it’s fair game in our book.

For example, soapstone or slate were stones used for counters but are challenging as they require a lot of maintenance due to their porous nature. To create a similar look, we often chose black honed granite in the past, or today, a quartz.

Often, vintage kitchens had fir floors that either were used as subflooring for a linoleum sheet-good or left as wood flooring. Today, we use oak flooring, a much more durable choice which evokes the old-home feel.

While nickel hardware was most common in kitchens prior to the 1930’s when chrome (a more durable finish) became the predominant choice, brass and oil rubbed bronze were common hardware finish choices for lighting and door hardware in houses, so why not consider them as a period-appropriate choice.

Countertop and Surface Materials

New inventions like quartz slabs that are made to look like stone without the maintenance and array of subway and hex tile versions that are on the market provide us with nice options to introduce the designs that were popular in the early half of the 20 ^th century.

Apron-fronted sinks, console sinks, wall mounted faucets and bridge faucets make for a stylish look. For those looking to create hidden storage below the sink, the console sink has lost a bit of steam, but apron sinks are still commonly used and add easy vintage charm. So do vintage-style faucets, and there are many brands which offer separately-sold sprayers if the faucet you chose doesn’t come with one.

Color and Cleanliness Considerations

The blues, pinks and yellows of the 1930’s and ‘40s and the laminate counters that were common after the ‘50s are not as trendy right now, but there is always a manufacturer out there that provides a resource, as styles often have a revival. At Arciform we are inspired by the style of these decades and infuse them with current shapes and shades when remodeling period kitchens. We love being inspired by the trends of the past and bringing them into the 21 ^st century.

Another very common factor of vintage kitchens in those early 20 ^th century decades were white surfaces: white paint, enamel, tile glazes and light-hued stones. Germs had been discovered as a carrier of illness, and cleanliness was a key concern. White easily shows dirt, and once spotted, it could promptly be removed.

Fitted cabinetry in this 1914 Laurelhurst kitchen remodel integrates a french-door refrigerator with freezer drawer. The microwave is concealed in the cabinet to the left.

How Can You Integrate Modern Appliances Seamlessly?

We have so many more helpful appliances today than we did a hundred years ago. Some are space savers; some need a bit more elbow room.

Luckily recent trends support appliance designs that are inspired by the enameled and more whimsical styles of the past. This is especially true for range designs. Ranges now come in many colors and have analog options, not just digital displays.

Vintage-Inspired Appliance Options and Concealment Strategies

Refrigeration comes in retro designs, but what’s especially wonderful are fully-integrated designs that hide the refrigerator and dishwasher doors entirely within banks of cabinets, making period-appropriate kitchen design easier.

We often hide microwaves behind kitchen doors and create appliance garages within hutch-like cabinet details.

Code Compliance in Small Vintage Kitchens

The trickiest codes to meet in smaller vintage kitchens involve hood requirements. Gas ranges require significant CFMs (cubic feet per minute) of air removal, necessitating larger ducting from hood to exterior and replacement air systems to compensate for air loss. Gas range hoods should be wider than the range for better capture and must maintain regulated distances that can feel crowded in small spaces.

Induction Cooking Advantages

Induction cooktops offer more flexibility than gas in vintage spaces. They create less off-gassing, requiring fewer CFMs, so hoods needn't be wider than the cooktop and distance requirements are more flexible. Induction also produces less heat, allowing greater flexibility for adjacent elements - a significant advantage in constrained vintage kitchen layouts.

What are Portland Historic District Requirements?

When we work on structures that have a historic designation or are in a Portland Historic District the large majority of the time the requirements only apply when we do an addition or change the exterior of the building. If we are adding or changing a window or adding a new set of French doors to connect a kitchen to the back yard for example, we submit the applicable paperwork including elevations and specifications. At Arciform we understand the code requirements and design with that knowledge in mind. Our team guides our clients through the process and helps navigate the finer points that need to be addressed.

We also help navigate the information required for the review submittal and assist figuring out the fees and timelines. As members of Portland’s Field Issuance Remodel (FIR) Program , we’ve built close working relationships with inspectors, which helps streamline communication and prevent bottlenecks before they happen.

A great resource for homeowners to learn more about their homes is Portland Maps , which includes information on when and by whom the home was built, whether it's part of a historic district or an individually designated historic property, the home's architectural style, past permits and more.

How Much Should You Budget for Your Vintage Kitchen Remodel?

When remodeling a home that was built a hundred or more years ago, Arciform doesn’t only consider the space but the associated systems and structure – what’s the condition of the electrical and plumbing, windows, flooring, plaster, etc. How much settling has taken place? Often there’s an original service chimney in the corner of the kitchen that causes a bow in the floor. So, it’s often not just a kitchen remodel when we roll up our sleeves and get started. While this influences the cost of the project, the work is also an investment in the home that is beyond personal preferences.

There is a huge range when it comes to budgeting for a vintage kitchen remodel. At Arciform, the starting range has been around $80-100k in the last year. More often we see budgets at twice that amount. The clients purchase their appliances directly, as they are well warranted and the clients can save our markup, so we keep that cost outside of the budgets we quote.

This investment in Arciform’s services guarantees excellent customer service and quality. We pride ourselves in being considered a top vintage kitchen remodeler in Portland.

The kitchen in this 1913 Colonial Revival in SW Portland was opened up to connect the breakfast room and kitchen workspace, all centered on the freestanding fireplace.

In Conclusion

In conclusion, we want to highlight Arciform’s practice of beginning the project with a thoughtful design that considers the original architecture of your home and the architectural styles popular when the home was built, combined with the options available to us today. We marry your functional goals with the parameters set by the space and the budget and carefully remodel your vintage kitchen by also upgrading what is hidden behind the charming and period appropriate cabinets, counters, backsplash, flooring lighting and appliances.

Planning a vintage kitchen renovation? We bring 25+ years of historic restoration expertise to every project, creating functional spaces that celebrate your home's unique character.

5 Things You Need to Consider to Make Your New Bath a Reality

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 15:58:57 GMT

Many of our clients reach out to us with the wish of adding a bathroom to their home. The old homes we work on may only have one small bathroom that serves the family and dinner or weekend guests.

Not only is the bathroom undersized, rarely allowing more than one person to use the space at a time, but it can often be off the beaten path. Bathrooms in Victorians tend to be in former back porches or sleeping porches, as they were added after the home was built, when in-house plumbing became available. In some cases, the only bathroom can be accessed through one of the bedrooms.

When done well, adding a bathroom to your old Portland home is a value-increase not only to your everyday life, but also to the value of your home as you update it to meet 21 ^st century norms.

Arciform tackles a bathroom addition very carefully. We start with the following questions:

What do you need your new bathroom to do at a minimum, and what would you like your new space to do in the best-case scenario? This question helps us navigate space and budget parameters.
Do you have special needs that you would like us to consider? Are your eyes sensitive to Edison-style light bulbs? Would you like us to consider current or future mobility limitations? Would you like storage options for makeup and hair styling tools? We often consider adding a laundry closet if the new bathroom is a good place for this additional function.
Which finishes and fixtures make you most happy? Which details of your home may be translated into the new bathroom-addition, to tie the new in with the old? At Arciform, we like to draw inspiration and guidance from the style of your home - we check molding profiles to be matched, consider door panel and hardware styles, check detailing of built-ins in adjacent spaces, and look at the finishes used in the rest of the home, inside and out. We also draw inspiration from other venues, collecting and sorting through our ideas for a harmonious and beautiful design.
Where do we add a bathroom to your old home? Depending on your home’s layout, it could be incorporated into the attic, designed within a new dormer, expanded as a grade-level addition, enclosed in a former sleeping porch, or created in the basement. Each approach offers different opportunities to meet your needs while respecting the home’s character.
Do we want to add a WC on the main floor below the stairs? Do we remove secondary stairs, former linen rooms or sewing rooms to make space for a bathroom addition?
What are your investment goals? Which features would you like to add if the budget and space allow – a shower and a tub, two sinks, a private area for the toilet, linen storage, towel warmers, steam units in the shower, tile wainscoting, patterned tile floors, etc?

A seldom used sleeping porch in a grand 1913 Portland Heights colonial was transformed into a spa-like primary bath, complete with a brass soaking tub and brass console sinks.

Pending your goals, we check the parameters set by your property:

Arciform’s design team meets with Arciform’s Project Manager, our plumbing sub and an engineer. The plumbing sub and engineer help navigate structural changes we may have to make when we add a dormer or an addition. The plumber will help us figure out plumbing routes and tie-ins to the exiting drains and supplies and make sure the additional load can be supported by the existing system. These two elements are the most invasive to the rest of the house and we want to be sure we have all of our ducks in a row.
We check how a dormer or an addition will fit on your property to see if we have to apply for setback reductions, if we need to address rainwater management, or have to coordinate with historic review committees if your home is on the national register or in a historic neighborhood.
When we add a bathroom we check how the ceiling heights below sloped roofs or suspended ducts may affect the layout, and how we can create the best circulation path to the new space from bedrooms without compromising the utility of the adjacent spaces.
We also consider how the project affects the rest of your home during the remodel. We may have to section-off areas for access and staging areas, and we make sure to protect property. We take care so pets do not sneak into the jobsite and keep curious children of all ages from potentially dangerous tools.

In this Portland Heights sleeping porch turned primary bath, a walk-in shower with linen storage, and a double marble and brass console, are both practical and luxurious.

W hich Space and Layout Options Work Best for Additions ?

Now that we know the framework for your project, we start with a bit of a tug-of-war.

When it comes to additions, we not only look at the space we want to gain, but how the new volume and window style and size relate to the existing structure. This can involve a bit of a push-and-pull, as the large space we want to create by adding a dormer could overwhelm the exterior aesthetic of your home. We are careful to create a balance that is both functional and beautiful.

We also need to consider the plumber’s feedback with regard to the location of the plumbing fixtures, so we can tie them into the existing drainpipes. This is less challenging when adding-on at grade, but it is very important when adding above floor levels or within a basement. The distance of a new toilet to the sewer line below the basement floor can be limited. And figuring out how to get plumbing from upper floors through the floors below and tie into the existing stack and sewer can also be a puzzle and may limit our options.

We also look at the view out of the window we may be adding. Are you looking right into your neighbor’s bedroom? Old Portland homes can be situated close together, and we want to be mindful of sightlines.

Due to space, ceiling height and access limitations we have come up with many creative solutions for our clients:

A shower room separate from spaces for the toilet and vanity.
A Jack-and-Jill bath that allows for a shared shower between two bathrooms, each with a sink and toilet.
A sink in a couple of bedrooms with the toilet and shower down the hall.
A tub in the bedroom.
A wet room where the whole floor is a shower base.

How do Permits and Codes Affect Your Bathroom Addition?

When space planning a new bathroom - located in a new dormer addition, let’s say - we need to consider the ceiling heights that are required per code in relationship to the plumbing fixtures. There are minimums we need to meet that can shift and shimmy the design of a roof or dictate the location of a toilet.

The code dictates minimum distances between and in front of plumbing fixtures and minimum shower sizes. When we have plenty of room, this is no challenge at all, but when we are tucking a new bathroom below an existing roof in a Victorian attic or into a Bungalow’s sleeping porch, this can be a challenge.

When the home is on the Register of Historic Places, is in a historic neighborhood or has or is within an area that is otherwise under the design jurisdiction of associations or government departments, we carefully study the parameters set forth by said departments. The City of Portland provides a service that allows you to meet with a city official for 15 minutes, free of charge, to go over your project, and they will help you figure out what steps you need to take. Even with our heaps of experience, we make use of this service to be sure we are designing within the correct parameters.

Which Materials Make Sense for a New Bathroom Addition?

Which materials to choose, which faucet to pick, and how does it all tie together? Well, that is the million-dollar question - form over function or function over form? Every client is different.

Luckily, with the options that are available to us today, we rarely have to compromise form over function. Manmade counters do not stain and look almost identical to natural stone, some of which easily stain. Grout and tile options have come a long way in providing slip-resistance and need less maintenance. Most plumbing and lighting fixtures come in many metal finish options and put out a lot of light, and even grab bars come in pretty options now.

Also, many manufacturers have embraced period aesthetic. So, for your bungalow bathroom, there are beautiful and classic reproductions of hexagon tiles, sconces and shower assemblies on the market that help make the remodel feel timeless.

But there are still choices that come with a pro and a con:

Nickel and unlacquered brass are authentic and gorgeous but will stain.
A shower curtain is period appropriate, but not well-suited for the low curb of a shower as it may allow water to escape onto the adjacent floor.
A pedestal sink does not provide storage but looks beautiful within a small space (read our handy guide to
Traditional lighting may not shed the best light, so do we supplement with recessed lights or other contemporary lighting methods?
A clawfoot tub as the main bathing option is period-appropriate but not easy to get in and out of when limited mobility is an issue.

How Much Will Your Bathroom Addition Cost?

Budgeting for a bathroom addition is very much dependent on the scope and the access to the location of the project. But here is an example of how expenses add up:

Design, planning and permitting $20k - $25k
Framing, siding and roofing the dormer addition $50k - $60k
Windows, doors and glass shower surround $10k - $15k
Mechanical, electrical and plumbing rough in $20k - $25k
Insulation, sheetrock, tile, stonework and paint $35k – $40k
Cabinetry and millwork – $5k -$10k
Plumbing and lighting fixtures $15k – $25k
Mechanical, electrical and plumbing finish $10k
Management, deliveries, storage, administration $20k- $30k

In the attic of this Southwest Hills colonial Arciform added a bath for two teenage boys. The bathroom is designed as two separate spaces - one for the sink and toilet, the other across the hall, for the shower.

What Addition Timeline Challenges Should You Prepare For?

With the diligent prep work we do during the design and planning phase, we help prevent scope-creep, cost hikes and delays.

We purchase as many needed supplies as possible before we start construction, and store these in our large warehouse to help prevent delays caused by supply chain issues.

Our talented and experienced site crew are assigned to the job from beginning through the end for quality control and to move the process forward effectively.

In short, we’re as prepared as possible, though weather can play a part in potential delays when it comes to concrete pours or opening a roof for dormer additions. So do not get disheartened; while delays feel like ages when you are in the middle of a remodel, they are quickly forgotten when it is all done.

Sequencing is important in planning a bathroom addition as well, as we’re often limited by space, so we must juggle many trades doing their part, one after the other, which can mean a few days of nobody being at your house.

In a perfect world no issues arise, but we do not live in a perfect world. At Arciform, we pride ourselves on a team approach that invites all hands on deck and allows for a collaborative solution-based approach to tackling challenges if they materialize.

So please take this schedule outline with a grain of salt:

Design and estimating – 3-5 months
Purchasing and staffing – 1-2 months
Site prep, demo, and framing – 1-2 months
Sheathing, siding and roofing – 1 month
Rough-in plumbing, electrical and HVAC – during the previous month
Insulation, sheetrock and tile – 1 month
Finish millwork, plumbing and electrical – 1 month
Paint and final touch ups – 1-2 months

In Conclusion

The long and short of it is that many old homes need an additional bathroom, and there are many ways to achieve this. Be it a spa-like bathroom addition next to a basement gym or a sweet little space for a growing family tucked into an original sleeping porch, Arciform can help with design solutions, code compliance and a timely and quality-focused build.

We share our experiences so that you can make the best decisions for you, and we help make the construction process as uneventful and rewarding as possible, so that you can look back at the process with a smile while lounging in your new bathtub. If your new bathroom makes the existing bathroom in your vintage home pale by comparison, check out our remodeling guide on how Arciform tackles remodels of existing vintage bathrooms.

Your dream bathroom renovation is closer than you think. Let's start planning your project today.

For a 1950s daylight ranch in Southwest Portland Arciform transformed an unused bedroom into a dual primary bath and dressing room. Designed by the architect/owner, the cabinetry was built in Arciform's custom woodshop.

Many of our clients reach out to us with the wish of adding a bathroom to their home. The old homes we work on may only have one small bathroom that serves the family and dinner or weekend guests.

When done well, adding a bathroom to your old Portland home is a value-increase not only to your everyday life, but also to the value of your home as you update it to meet 21 ^st century norms.

Arciform tackles a bathroom addition very carefully. We start with the following questions:

What do you need your new bathroom to do at a minimum, and what would you like your new space to do in the best-case scenario? This question helps us navigate space and budget parameters.
Do you have special needs that you would like us to consider? Are your eyes sensitive to Edison-style light bulbs? Would you like us to consider current or future mobility limitations? Would you like storage options for makeup and hair styling tools? We often consider adding a laundry closet if the new bathroom is a good place for this additional function.
Which finishes and fixtures make you most happy? Which details of your home may be translated into the new bathroom-addition, to tie the new in with the old? At Arciform, we like to draw inspiration and guidance from the style of your home - we check molding profiles to be matched, consider door panel and hardware styles, check detailing of built-ins in adjacent spaces, and look at the finishes used in the rest of the home, inside and out. We also draw inspiration from other venues, collecting and sorting through our ideas for a harmonious and beautiful design.
Where do we add a bathroom to your old home? Depending on your home’s layout, it could be incorporated into the attic, designed within a new dormer, expanded as a grade-level addition, enclosed in a former sleeping porch, or created in the basement. Each approach offers different opportunities to meet your needs while respecting the home’s character.
Do we want to add a WC on the main floor below the stairs? Do we remove secondary stairs, former linen rooms or sewing rooms to make space for a bathroom addition?
What are your investment goals? Which features would you like to add if the budget and space allow – a shower and a tub, two sinks, a private area for the toilet, linen storage, towel warmers, steam units in the shower, tile wainscoting, patterned tile floors, etc?

A seldom used sleeping porch in a grand 1913 Portland Heights colonial was transformed into a spa-like primary bath, complete with a brass soaking tub and brass console sinks.

Pending your goals, we check the parameters set by your property:

Arciform’s design team meets with Arciform’s Project Manager, our plumbing sub and an engineer. The plumbing sub and engineer help navigate structural changes we may have to make when we add a dormer or an addition. The plumber will help us figure out plumbing routes and tie-ins to the exiting drains and supplies and make sure the additional load can be supported by the existing system. These two elements are the most invasive to the rest of the house and we want to be sure we have all of our ducks in a row.
We check how a dormer or an addition will fit on your property to see if we have to apply for setback reductions, if we need to address rainwater management, or have to coordinate with historic review committees if your home is on the national register or in a historic neighborhood.
When we add a bathroom we check how the ceiling heights below sloped roofs or suspended ducts may affect the layout, and how we can create the best circulation path to the new space from bedrooms without compromising the utility of the adjacent spaces.
We also consider how the project affects the rest of your home during the remodel. We may have to section-off areas for access and staging areas, and we make sure to protect property. We take care so pets do not sneak into the jobsite and keep curious children of all ages from potentially dangerous tools.

In this Portland Heights sleeping porch turned primary bath, a walk-in shower with linen storage, and a double marble and brass console, are both practical and luxurious.

W hich Space and Layout Options Work Best for Additions ?

Now that we know the framework for your project, we start with a bit of a tug-of-war.

Due to space, ceiling height and access limitations we have come up with many creative solutions for our clients:

A shower room separate from spaces for the toilet and vanity.
A Jack-and-Jill bath that allows for a shared shower between two bathrooms, each with a sink and toilet.
A sink in a couple of bedrooms with the toilet and shower down the hall.
A tub in the bedroom.
A wet room where the whole floor is a shower base.

How do Permits and Codes Affect Your Bathroom Addition?

Which Materials Make Sense for a New Bathroom Addition?

Which materials to choose, which faucet to pick, and how does it all tie together? Well, that is the million-dollar question - form over function or function over form? Every client is different.

But there are still choices that come with a pro and a con:

Nickel and unlacquered brass are authentic and gorgeous but will stain.
A shower curtain is period appropriate, but not well-suited for the low curb of a shower as it may allow water to escape onto the adjacent floor.
A pedestal sink does not provide storage but looks beautiful within a small space (read our handy guide to
Traditional lighting may not shed the best light, so do we supplement with recessed lights or other contemporary lighting methods?
A clawfoot tub as the main bathing option is period-appropriate but not easy to get in and out of when limited mobility is an issue.

How Much Will Your Bathroom Addition Cost?

Budgeting for a bathroom addition is very much dependent on the scope and the access to the location of the project. But here is an example of how expenses add up:

Design, planning and permitting $20k - $25k
Framing, siding and roofing the dormer addition $50k - $60k
Windows, doors and glass shower surround $10k - $15k
Mechanical, electrical and plumbing rough in $20k - $25k
Insulation, sheetrock, tile, stonework and paint $35k – $40k
Cabinetry and millwork – $5k -$10k
Plumbing and lighting fixtures $15k – $25k
Mechanical, electrical and plumbing finish $10k
Management, deliveries, storage, administration $20k- $30k

What Addition Timeline Challenges Should You Prepare For?

With the diligent prep work we do during the design and planning phase, we help prevent scope-creep, cost hikes and delays.

We purchase as many needed supplies as possible before we start construction, and store these in our large warehouse to help prevent delays caused by supply chain issues.

Our talented and experienced site crew are assigned to the job from beginning through the end for quality control and to move the process forward effectively.

So please take this schedule outline with a grain of salt:

Design and estimating – 3-5 months
Purchasing and staffing – 1-2 months
Site prep, demo, and framing – 1-2 months
Sheathing, siding and roofing – 1 month
Rough-in plumbing, electrical and HVAC – during the previous month
Insulation, sheetrock and tile – 1 month
Finish millwork, plumbing and electrical – 1 month
Paint and final touch ups – 1-2 months

In Conclusion

Your dream bathroom renovation is closer than you think. Let's start planning your project today.

Many of our clients reach out to us with the wish of adding a bathroom to their home. The old homes we work on may only have one small bathroom that serves the family and dinner or weekend guests.

When done well, adding a bathroom to your old Portland home is a value-increase not only to your everyday life, but also to the value of your home as you update it to meet 21 ^st century norms.

Arciform tackles a bathroom addition very carefully. We start with the following questions:

What do you need your new bathroom to do at a minimum, and what would you like your new space to do in the best-case scenario? This question helps us navigate space and budget parameters.
Do you have special needs that you would like us to consider? Are your eyes sensitive to Edison-style light bulbs? Would you like us to consider current or future mobility limitations? Would you like storage options for makeup and hair styling tools? We often consider adding a laundry closet if the new bathroom is a good place for this additional function.
Which finishes and fixtures make you most happy? Which details of your home may be translated into the new bathroom-addition, to tie the new in with the old? At Arciform, we like to draw inspiration and guidance from the style of your home - we check molding profiles to be matched, consider door panel and hardware styles, check detailing of built-ins in adjacent spaces, and look at the finishes used in the rest of the home, inside and out. We also draw inspiration from other venues, collecting and sorting through our ideas for a harmonious and beautiful design.
Where do we add a bathroom to your old home? Depending on your home’s layout, it could be incorporated into the attic, designed within a new dormer, expanded as a grade-level addition, enclosed in a former sleeping porch, or created in the basement. Each approach offers different opportunities to meet your needs while respecting the home’s character.
Do we want to add a WC on the main floor below the stairs? Do we remove secondary stairs, former linen rooms or sewing rooms to make space for a bathroom addition?
What are your investment goals? Which features would you like to add if the budget and space allow – a shower and a tub, two sinks, a private area for the toilet, linen storage, towel warmers, steam units in the shower, tile wainscoting, patterned tile floors, etc?

A seldom used sleeping porch in a grand 1913 Portland Heights colonial was transformed into a spa-like primary bath, complete with a brass soaking tub and brass console sinks.

Pending your goals, we check the parameters set by your property:

Arciform’s design team meets with Arciform’s Project Manager, our plumbing sub and an engineer. The plumbing sub and engineer help navigate structural changes we may have to make when we add a dormer or an addition. The plumber will help us figure out plumbing routes and tie-ins to the exiting drains and supplies and make sure the additional load can be supported by the existing system. These two elements are the most invasive to the rest of the house and we want to be sure we have all of our ducks in a row.
We check how a dormer or an addition will fit on your property to see if we have to apply for setback reductions, if we need to address rainwater management, or have to coordinate with historic review committees if your home is on the national register or in a historic neighborhood.
When we add a bathroom we check how the ceiling heights below sloped roofs or suspended ducts may affect the layout, and how we can create the best circulation path to the new space from bedrooms without compromising the utility of the adjacent spaces.
We also consider how the project affects the rest of your home during the remodel. We may have to section-off areas for access and staging areas, and we make sure to protect property. We take care so pets do not sneak into the jobsite and keep curious children of all ages from potentially dangerous tools.

In this Portland Heights sleeping porch turned primary bath, a walk-in shower with linen storage, and a double marble and brass console, are both practical and luxurious.

W hich Space and Layout Options Work Best for Additions ?

Now that we know the framework for your project, we start with a bit of a tug-of-war.

Due to space, ceiling height and access limitations we have come up with many creative solutions for our clients:

A shower room separate from spaces for the toilet and vanity.
A Jack-and-Jill bath that allows for a shared shower between two bathrooms, each with a sink and toilet.
A sink in a couple of bedrooms with the toilet and shower down the hall.
A tub in the bedroom.
A wet room where the whole floor is a shower base.

How do Permits and Codes Affect Your Bathroom Addition?

Which Materials Make Sense for a New Bathroom Addition?

Which materials to choose, which faucet to pick, and how does it all tie together? Well, that is the million-dollar question - form over function or function over form? Every client is different.

But there are still choices that come with a pro and a con:

Nickel and unlacquered brass are authentic and gorgeous but will stain.
A shower curtain is period appropriate, but not well-suited for the low curb of a shower as it may allow water to escape onto the adjacent floor.
A pedestal sink does not provide storage but looks beautiful within a small space (read our handy guide to
Traditional lighting may not shed the best light, so do we supplement with recessed lights or other contemporary lighting methods?
A clawfoot tub as the main bathing option is period-appropriate but not easy to get in and out of when limited mobility is an issue.

How Much Will Your Bathroom Addition Cost?

Budgeting for a bathroom addition is very much dependent on the scope and the access to the location of the project. But here is an example of how expenses add up:

Design, planning and permitting $20k - $25k
Framing, siding and roofing the dormer addition $50k - $60k
Windows, doors and glass shower surround $10k - $15k
Mechanical, electrical and plumbing rough in $20k - $25k
Insulation, sheetrock, tile, stonework and paint $35k – $40k
Cabinetry and millwork – $5k -$10k
Plumbing and lighting fixtures $15k – $25k
Mechanical, electrical and plumbing finish $10k
Management, deliveries, storage, administration $20k- $30k

What Addition Timeline Challenges Should You Prepare For?

With the diligent prep work we do during the design and planning phase, we help prevent scope-creep, cost hikes and delays.

We purchase as many needed supplies as possible before we start construction, and store these in our large warehouse to help prevent delays caused by supply chain issues.

Our talented and experienced site crew are assigned to the job from beginning through the end for quality control and to move the process forward effectively.

So please take this schedule outline with a grain of salt:

Design and estimating – 3-5 months
Purchasing and staffing – 1-2 months
Site prep, demo, and framing – 1-2 months
Sheathing, siding and roofing – 1 month
Rough-in plumbing, electrical and HVAC – during the previous month
Insulation, sheetrock and tile – 1 month
Finish millwork, plumbing and electrical – 1 month
Paint and final touch ups – 1-2 months

In Conclusion

Your dream bathroom renovation is closer than you think. Let's start planning your project today.

Everything You Need to Know When Remodeling an Existing Bathroom

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 22:40:02 GMT

For almost 30 years, Arciform has been involved in many bathroom remodels throughout the Portland Metro Area. When my husband Richard and I started Arciform in 1997 we quickly developed a passion for the whimsy and challenges that are part and parcel of bathrooms built prior to the 1980s.

Of course there are the obvious reasons why a 100 year old bathroom might need to be remodeled – the plaster ceiling has water marks and is peeling due to poor (or non-existent) ventilation, the space is freezing cold thanks to an undersized heating duct, enamel on the sink, tub and toilet is tinged a rusty brown because of corroding pipes, and the toilet uses so much water when you flush that your water bill is organizing a protest.

Then there are the eyesores as well: stained and cracked tile, peeling paint at the window sash, and at the sink, that tiny crack in the sconce’s shade that obscures just enough light to be irritating.

Last but not least, there are the personal needs and wishes of each homeowner. One prefers a shower instead of a clawfoot tub (which are hard to get in and out of, and have the annoying side effect of a cold, clingy shower curtain when the temperature imbalance creates a vacuum). Another would like a vanity in place of a pedestal sink. This one might want two sinks rather than one. That one would like more privacy for the toilet. Most would like the space to be heated, ventilated and properly lit, and almost everyone wants more storage.

Sometimes the space was updated by someone who didn’t quite know what they were doing, and now the plumbing is leaking inside the walls, switches do not turn the lights on, or the fan vents right into the attic instead of the outdoors, and low-quality fixtures and fittings are failing.

We’ve seen so many reasons why remodeling is the right next step for the homeowner to tackle, so we sit down and discuss what to expect.

To create this serene primary ensuite, an adjacent bedroom was subdivided into a bathroom and laundry.

At Arciform, we follow a simple format:

We assess conditions within the bathroom, in the walls, in the basement below and beyond – checking sewer lines and water meters, finding out about the client’s circumstances, weighing these against the client’s goals and creating a design that balances these elements in collaboration with our build team. We bill hourly for these services and track them carefully for the client.

Once we have the project outlined, we create thorough construction estimates and construction calendars, and build the project based on those parameters. We pride ourselves on keeping the job site as clean as possible, working efficiently without compromising quality and keeping the client informed throughout.

Every project is different, and we share our expertise with the clients from beginning to end so they can make informed decisions along the way.

What are the First Steps in Planning Your Bathroom Remodel?

When we start to think of how best to remodel an existing vintage bathroom, the best first step to renovating it is studying the conditions of everything we’d like to keep, be it plumbing fixtures, the medicine cabinet above the sink, or the drainpipes we want to tie into.

We take very thorough measurements and pictures of the existing bathroom and create detailed as-built plans. It makes for the best design process when your documentation of the existing conditions is correct and detailed.

We listen to the clients about their goals. During the first meetings we discuss ideas, brainstorm solutions and collect inspiration. We tread very lightly when it comes to developing details at this stage, as we want to consult with trade professionals about our options before we explore avenues that are too expensive to pursue.

We invite experts to the site once we have come up with preliminary ideas. As a team we investigate plumbing drains and supply line conditions and locations to figure out the best routes to tie into what exists, or if we need to replace parts. We look at how to rout and vent new shower drains, for example, how to duct for the required vent fans and how to heat the space properly, and so on. This initial meeting with the experts makes the design process much more efficient, and we can collect preliminary quotes to check how we are tracking the budget.

The next step is to collect inspiration for the bathroom remodel. Most of our clients want to respect the period of their Portland home while adding modern conveniences and a bit of flair to their vintage bathroom. We have conversations with the clients about what gets them excited - if the home is a 1930’s Tudor cottage, why not look further afield to 1930’s French hotel bathrooms? We can also look at what was there originally and draw inspiration from the adjacent rooms.

We used to spend hours reading and admiring print magazines and are now fully immersed in the wonderful resources provided by the internet. Why not peek into guests’ bathrooms on the Orient Express? Or check out the luxurious spaces of 1950’s Hollywood movie stars?

Also key inspiration sources: our go-to plumbing, lighting, tile and stone showrooms, as well as other public spaces around town. Lots of fun ideas can be found in Portland’s vibrant restaurant scene and can be incorporated in any remodeling project. Little details can make a big difference.

Our quick check list when we start a bathroom remodel:

What are the existing conditions? We make sure we measure thoroughly and document accurately.
Establishing the whole team so we can work together from beginning to end.
What is the location of the bathroom within the home, and how hard is it to tie in new plumbing? Do we need a crane to haul a tub to a third-floor Victorian’s bathroom?
What are your goals and circumstances? We want to be sure we’re designing a buildable project to create realistic parameters, considering budgets and timeframes.
What are your number one priorities for the remodel of your period bathroom? Once we meet those, we can focus on additional wishes, such as whether you prefer one or two sinks? A console, pedestal or vanity sink? A shower or tub or both?
What palette do you prefer – dark, light, classic, whimsical . . .
We then document the plan and specifications clearly, so we can create a fixed price for the construction phase, which makes for the best communication tool.

How do you Choose Fixtures and Materials for an Existing Space?

At Arciform we use the following guidelines when we tackle the detail-development for vintage bathroom renovations.

Look around - what does the original architecture of the home tell you? Look at the millwork, check out the tile that might be uncovered in demo stage, check out the design, shape and finishes on door hardware. Is there a lot of stain grade wood, or is it mostly painted?

Check out common finishes and fixtures for bathrooms during the decade the home was built, first in Portland, and then in the wider world.

What came before could also be considered. We don’t believe that everyone followed the latest, greatest trends of the day, so some styles of previous decades are also on the table.

At Arciform we do not necessarily go by-the-book when it comes to “period-appropriateness.” We like to be inspired by the period, respect the proportions and take liberties to help bring the vintage bathroom into the 21 ^st century. We do try not to stray too far, as it makes the design more seamless between the remodeled bathroom and the adjacent bedrooms and hallways, but adding personality and induvial touches can create wonderful transitional effects.

Parallel to narrowing down the style, we look at the functionality of each element. Do we want a tub or will a shower suffice? Which styles of each? Does the client have mobility issues? How do we light the space effectively? Does the client prefer a vanity, a console or a pedestal sink? If the latter, how do we provide additional storage? Check out our article about pros and cons of different types of bathroom sinks.

When it comes to remodeling vintage bathrooms, space is often at a premium, so we have to be very creative to get the most out of the limited space we have available. If an element can perform dual functions, it often wins the day. A tub/shower combo, a vanity with storage below, a medicine cabinet above the sink, a shower door handle that doubles as a towel bar, a toilet paper holder that also serves as a grab bar – these are some great space-saving options.

What Timeline Should You Expect for a Bathroom Update?

This is an important question, especially if the space we’re remodeling is the only bathroom in the home. We set up porta-potties during the project and often carve out temporary vanity stations at kitchen or utility sinks. Showering can be more challenging, and we suggest reaching out to neighbors or joining a gym. We make sure you know when the water is shut off and access to adjacent spaces is limited.

An average bathroom remodel takes about three-four months to complete, but there can be conditions and choices made that extend that timeframe by one or two months, easily.

We tell our clients they can have two out of the three elements that affect the experience of a project. They must compromise on one: quality, price, or speed.

At Arciform, our first focus is quality, as we feel that quality adds the most value to a project. We advocate for taking the time to make the right decisions and execute with excellence, so as not to compromise the final value. An extra month now will pay off tenfold in the future.

So, we plan thoroughly, educate our clients about their options and work through ideas before we demo to prevent scope-creep and cost hikes.

We also carefully secure the site to reduce dust escaping into areas that are not part of the project, as many of our clients live in their homes while we do the remodel for them.

We also purchase as much as possible before we swing the first hammer to help prevent supply delays.

Our team of talented and experienced carpenters are assigned to the job from beginning through the end for quality control and to move the process forward effectively.

Here are the steps with some general time ranges:

Design and estimating – 2 - 4 months
Purchasing and staffing – 1 month
Demo – 2 weeks
Rough-in plumbing, electrical and HVAC – 1 month
Insulation, sheetrock and tile – 1 month
Finish millwork, plumbing and electrical – 1 month
Paint and final touch ups – 2 weeks

What Should You Budget for Your Existing Bathroom Remodel?

What we can afford to do within the given budget is of course a loaded and most commonly-asked question. The long and short of it is that it depends on many things.

For a complete remodel of the many vintage bathrooms we take on, recent costs have started at about $80k and have reached $150 - $200k.

Here are some elements that affect pricing:

Keeping the plumbing fixtures in their existing locations is the number one cost-saver when you remodel your vintage bathroom. Shuffling plumbing around or adding fixtures creates a domino effect, as we have to find ways to run drainpipes downward and we have to vent them upward, often through levels above and below, and through the floor framing, which can only hide so much.

Plumbing fixtures costs vary greatly. We’ve had a $25k plumbing fixture quote and a $12k option for the same fixture quantity and type.

How many features to you like – heated floors, heated towel bars, steam showers, outlets within drawers and medicine cabinets, large tubs that require larger water heaters, exotic tile with whimsical patterns, many built-in storage cabinets – all of these can add quite significantly to the budget, as they do not just affect the space but can also impact electrical and plumbing loads and venting considerations.

It is surprising that tile vs a sheet good for flooring can be a wash when it comes to costs, especially in smaller spaces. Of course, all tile is not created equal and, on its own, poses a great range in cost consideration, but on the whole, tile is a great way to preserve the period character of your space.

What Common Challenges Arise in Older Bathrooms?

Let’s look at common challenges that we tackle when we remodel vintage bathrooms, by category:

Framing:

Often the framing in older homes is not straight - the floors settle, the walls are out of plumb. This can cause domino effects when it comes to aligning horizontal grout lines on tiled walls or orienting outlets to adjacent features, having window sash work properly or doors hinge effectively. The solution is to carefully determine the “happy medium” of the tolerances, as making one element perfect may draw attention to or magnify another element’s misalignment.

The depth of floor framing in older homes is often insufficient to hide drainpipes that need to be at a pitch – for example, when planning for a new tub far away from the main stack, we have to make sure we can fit the drain in without too many changes to the ceiling below.

Plumbing:

Updating existing plumbing vs replacing vs adding depends on conditions and goals. When it comes to old bathrooms, the sky is not the limit. We’ve got to be careful and smart to work within the clearance parameters required by codes. Access to the space – does the tub fit through the door or window, or up the stairs? Can we fit additional drainpipes within the floor framing? We do our best to make sure we can achieve goals with as little impact to the plumbing layout as possible to reduce costs.

Other items to keep an eye on are whether your main waterline brings in enough water for additional plumbing fixtures and if your water heater can support the large volume of warm water necessary for a new tub.

Electrical:

Electrical is often easily addressed as we have to open up walls to update plumbing and insulation anyway. Running new lines can be done pretty stealthily. One of the potential challenges may be that the additional power required for a vent fan, heated tile floors or towel bars may overload a small existing meter.

Windows:

When we add a new shower or tub near an existing window, we have to be sure the glass is tempered. We can often address this by adding tempering film.

Clearances:

Code dictates minimum clearances between and in front of plumbing fixtures. In the limited spaces provided by some vintage bathrooms, this can be almost impossible. Luckily, Arciform is in the FIR (Field Issuance Remodel) program with the City of Portland, which is a service the city provides to well-vetted remodeling firms. We work with the same inspectors, and they help us brainstorm solutions.

How Can You Make Your Remodel Eco-Friendly and Stylish?

We always try to reduce the impact a remodel project has on the environment.

Arciform focuses on the reduce, reuse, recycle approach, and we try to source as locally as possible. Inherently, the construction industry is wasteful, but we feel that by updating vintage bathrooms, we give not only the bath but the entire home a makeover for many years to come.

Less is more, not only when it comes to the environment. It is also kinder to the pocketbook and reduces the length the bathroom remodel takes to complete.

When the condition of the in-wall plumbing and electrical allows you to do an update rather than having to remove surfaces to gain access for repairs, fun updates to vintage bathrooms can be easily achieved. While new and beautiful designs of tile, plumbing and lighting fixtures are very tempting, sometimes cleaning up your 1980’s brass faucet, and the nickel hinges on your medicine cabinet can add charm when coupled with a quality paint job and inspiring wallpaper or a fun new light fixture.

In Conclusion

Portland’s historic bath remodels have brought Arciform much joy over the decades. The challenges that are inherent with remodeling a 100-year-old bathroom are fun to puzzle-over with the clients and the Arciform design and construction team, and the results are rewarding in their beauty and the clients’ enjoyment of the updated-yet-timeless vintage bathroom.

Your ideal bathroom is possible!

We work with Portland homeowners to create functional, beautiful spaces that honor their home's history.

We’ve seen so many reasons why remodeling is the right next step for the homeowner to tackle, so we sit down and discuss what to expect.

To create this serene primary ensuite, an adjacent bedroom was subdivided into a bathroom and laundry.

At Arciform, we follow a simple format:

Every project is different, and we share our expertise with the clients from beginning to end so they can make informed decisions along the way.

What are the First Steps in Planning Your Bathroom Remodel?

We take very thorough measurements and pictures of the existing bathroom and create detailed as-built plans. It makes for the best design process when your documentation of the existing conditions is correct and detailed.

We listen to the clients about their goals. During the first meetings we discuss ideas, brainstorm solutions and collect inspiration. We tread very lightly when it comes to developing details at this stage, as we want to consult with trade professionals about our options before we explore avenues that are too expensive to pursue.

We invite experts to the site once we have come up with preliminary ideas. As a team we investigate plumbing drains and supply line conditions and locations to figure out the best routes to tie into what exists, or if we need to replace parts. We look at how to rout and vent new shower drains, for example, how to duct for the required vent fans and how to heat the space properly, and so on. This initial meeting with the experts makes the design process much more efficient, and we can collect preliminary quotes to check how we are tracking the budget.

Our quick check list when we start a bathroom remodel:

What are the existing conditions? We make sure we measure thoroughly and document accurately.
Establishing the whole team so we can work together from beginning to end.
What is the location of the bathroom within the home, and how hard is it to tie in new plumbing? Do we need a crane to haul a tub to a third-floor Victorian’s bathroom?
What are your goals and circumstances? We want to be sure we’re designing a buildable project to create realistic parameters, considering budgets and timeframes.
What are your number one priorities for the remodel of your period bathroom? Once we meet those, we can focus on additional wishes, such as whether you prefer one or two sinks? A console, pedestal or vanity sink? A shower or tub or both?
What palette do you prefer – dark, light, classic, whimsical . . .
We then document the plan and specifications clearly, so we can create a fixed price for the construction phase, which makes for the best communication tool.

How do you Choose Fixtures and Materials for an Existing Space?

At Arciform we use the following guidelines when we tackle the detail-development for vintage bathroom renovations.

Look around - what does the original architecture of the home tell you? Look at the millwork, check out the tile that might be uncovered in demo stage, check out the design, shape and finishes on door hardware. Is there a lot of stain grade wood, or is it mostly painted?

Check out common finishes and fixtures for bathrooms during the decade the home was built, first in Portland, and then in the wider world.

What came before could also be considered. We don’t believe that everyone followed the latest, greatest trends of the day, so some styles of previous decades are also on the table.

At Arciform we do not necessarily go by-the-book when it comes to “period-appropriateness.” We like to be inspired by the period, respect the proportions and take liberties to help bring the vintage bathroom into the 21 ^st century. We do try not to stray too far, as it makes the design more seamless between the remodeled bathroom and the adjacent bedrooms and hallways, but adding personality and induvial touches can create wonderful transitional effects.

What Timeline Should You Expect for a Bathroom Update?

An average bathroom remodel takes about three-four months to complete, but there can be conditions and choices made that extend that timeframe by one or two months, easily.

We tell our clients they can have two out of the three elements that affect the experience of a project. They must compromise on one: quality, price, or speed.

So, we plan thoroughly, educate our clients about their options and work through ideas before we demo to prevent scope-creep and cost hikes.

We also carefully secure the site to reduce dust escaping into areas that are not part of the project, as many of our clients live in their homes while we do the remodel for them.

We also purchase as much as possible before we swing the first hammer to help prevent supply delays.

Our team of talented and experienced carpenters are assigned to the job from beginning through the end for quality control and to move the process forward effectively.

Here are the steps with some general time ranges:

Design and estimating – 2 - 4 months
Purchasing and staffing – 1 month
Demo – 2 weeks
Rough-in plumbing, electrical and HVAC – 1 month
Insulation, sheetrock and tile – 1 month
Finish millwork, plumbing and electrical – 1 month
Paint and final touch ups – 2 weeks

What Should You Budget for Your Existing Bathroom Remodel?

What we can afford to do within the given budget is of course a loaded and most commonly-asked question. The long and short of it is that it depends on many things.

For a complete remodel of the many vintage bathrooms we take on, recent costs have started at about $80k and have reached $150 - $200k.

Here are some elements that affect pricing:

Plumbing fixtures costs vary greatly. We’ve had a $25k plumbing fixture quote and a $12k option for the same fixture quantity and type.

What Common Challenges Arise in Older Bathrooms?

Let’s look at common challenges that we tackle when we remodel vintage bathrooms, by category:

Framing:

Plumbing:

Electrical:

Windows:

When we add a new shower or tub near an existing window, we have to be sure the glass is tempered. We can often address this by adding tempering film.

Clearances:

Code dictates minimum clearances between and in front of plumbing fixtures. In the limited spaces provided by some vintage bathrooms, this can be almost impossible. Luckily, Arciform is in the FIR ( Field Issuance Remode l) program with the City of Portland, which is a service the city provides to well-vetted remodeling firms. We work with the same inspectors, and they help us brainstorm solutions.

How Can You Make Your Remodel Eco-Friendly and Stylish?

We always try to reduce the impact a remodel project has on the environment.

Less is more, not only when it comes to the environment. It is also kinder to the pocketbook and reduces the length the bathroom remodel takes to complete.

In Conclusion

Your ideal bathroom is possible!

We work with Portland homeowners to create functional, beautiful spaces that honor their home's history.

Pros and Cons of Pedestal Sinks in Historic Bathrooms

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 22:34:17 GMT

To pedestal sink or not to pedestal sink - that is the question...

Our clients seem to divide into clear camps when it comes to the question of bathroom sinks:

There are the must-have-two-sinks vs those who like to share one.
There are those who must-have-vanity-storage vs clients who prefer a pedestal sink for its aesthetic (not concerned over potentially less counter and storage space)

These preferences translate into a few other related choices. This is a purely philosophical consideration and has not been backed up with data, but I feel that Team Pedestal also leans towards freestanding or clawfoot tubs where the Vanity Sinkers would compromise a tub for a shower.

But enough of these ponderings, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty: why we have a whole article dedicated to this question!

In Portland homes prior to the mid 1920’s, plumbing fixtures were situated away from porous surfaces like wood and lath and plaster due to their tendency to leak. Indoor plumbing was a relatively new luxury, so homeowners were worried about damage to their houses. Not only were the toilets, sinks and tubs freestanding, the supply lines and valves were also mounted to the surface of the walls for easy access when repairs became necessary.

Most plumbing fixtures were made of enameled cast iron. In Portland – considered distant shores at that time – style options were limited. Trains arrived with a few standard tubs, matching sinks and basic toilets, and that was what was installed in Bungalow bathrooms, in retrofitted back porches of Queen Anne Victorians and in Colonial Revival cottages in the early 1900s. Luckily for the homeowners, the designers of plumbing fixture casts were inspired by furniture styles and are still as popular today as ever. For example, clawfoot design of tub supports stem from the poplar furniture foot called the “claw and ball” from European designs of the 18 ^th century.

Storage for linens was often moved into the adjacent hallway to keep fabrics from collecting moisture, as vintage bathrooms were not vented except by windows, which would be left closed during the winter months for obvious reasons, and moisture could become trapped.

Another concern the owners of a bathroom in the first quarter of the 20 ^th century carried with them was worry over germs. With the discovery of the health risks germs pose, bathroom designs leaned towards the institutional – white tile on floors and walls, easy access to all nooks and crannies - so that the space could be kept very clean.

What Makes Pedestal Sinks Ideal for Small Historic Spaces?

In addition to the beauty and period-appropriateness of pedestal sinks, they make for a great space saver in your vintage bathroom. Bathrooms in many older homes are relatively small, and clearances between adjacent plumbing fixtures can be hard to achieve. Pedestal sinks take up little floor and visual space, so are a great option for small historic bathrooms.

Why do Pedestal Sinks Save Space and Enhance Vintage Charm?

In short, here are the pros of why pedestal sinks are a great choice for your vintage bathroom remodel:

Pedestal sinks are timeless – their designs have stood the test of time and continue to charm the next generation.
Pedestal sinks come in many sizes – they can be minute. If space in your vintage bathroom comes at a premium, these small fixtures can help make room for circulation.
The plumbing lines running to and from a pedestal sink are easily accessible for repair and the fixture is not damaged by potential water issues.
Most people purchase their vintage homes for love of their aesthetic, so continuing in the spirit in which the period the home was built makes the transition from the adjacent original space into a remodeled vintage bathroom more seamless.
Cast iron is very durable, so a pedestal sink withstands a lot of wear and tear. We often find a 100-year-old bathroom in pretty bad shape, but the sink just needs a bit of TLC to look almost new again.

What are the Drawbacks of Limited Storage with Pedestal Sinks?

Of course, there are some compromises to be made when choosing a pedestal sink for your vintage bathroom. Nowadays we don’t need to worry about trapped moisture damaging a wooden vanity. We want counter space near the sink for our many accoutrements: drawers for makeup, brushes and cotton balls. While these can pile up precariously on the edge of your pedestal sink, there are solutions that maintain the vintage bathroom aesthetic and provide storage.

What are Some Solutions to the Pedestal Sink Storage Issue?

We can install a medicine cabinet with an outlet that houses your electric toothbrush and face creams as well as your pill boxes.
We can add a shelf above the toilet for counter space (while maintaining access to the toilet tank).
If space allows, we can create a built-in linen cabinet or incorporate a vintage washstand for storage and counter space mindfully incorporating outlets for blow dryers and razors. In many 1920’s vintage bathrooms, a shallow bank of cabinets was built next to the pedestal sink along the window wall for counter space and hidden storage.
There are cool train racks that provide wall storage for linens and hanging space for towels.
Cute waste bins with lids can be tucked below the pedestal sink.
Glass shelves and wall mounted cup holders also provide storage options and charm.

How do Pedestal Sinks Compare to Vanities in Older Homes?

Is a Pedestal Sink Right for Your Historic Portland Bathroom?

While the pedestal sink was the way to go during the first few decades of indoor plumbing, vanities are more commonly used today. The beauty of vanities is that they are highly customizable.

In Arciform’s custom woodshop we can create beautiful, period-appropriate vanities that incorporate a full-inset or half-overlay door and drawer design of the period and make the vanity feel original to the home.

The vanity can house one or two sinks, can be configured for individual storage needs and can incorporate a makeup counter, if space allows.

When mobility is an issue, we can create space for a wheelchair and mount grab bars.

We can choose the counter materials that were popular for kitchens during that era or get inspired by the many stone counters that were used on Victorian washstands. We can install an undermounted sink for ease of cleaning or a vessel sink to mimic the bowl and pitcher of olden days.

We can install wall mounted faucets, and hide all the supply lines and valves as well as the drainpipes.

In short, we can be very creative with vanities.

In Conclusion

The battle between the sinks is, most of the time, a personal matter. When it comes to tiny spaces, the pedestal sink wins. But when you have space and can choose, we help you make the best decision for you and your home. For a more in depth look at what it takes to remodel your vintage bathroom, see our comprehensive guide Everything You Need to Know When Remodeling an Existing Bathroom.

Still weighing your options? Let's discuss what works best for your historic bathroom.

To pedestal sink or not to pedestal sink - that is the question...

Our clients seem to divide into clear camps when it comes to the question of bathroom sinks:

There are the must-have-two-sinks vs those who like to share one.
There are those who must-have-vanity-storage vs clients who prefer a pedestal sink for its aesthetic (not concerned over potentially less counter and storage space)

But enough of these ponderings, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty: why we have a whole article dedicated to this question!

What Makes Pedestal Sinks Ideal for Small Historic Spaces?

Why do Pedestal Sinks Save Space and Enhance Vintage Charm?

In short, here are the pros of why pedestal sinks are a great choice for your vintage bathroom remodel:

Pedestal sinks are timeless – their designs have stood the test of time and continue to charm the next generation.
Pedestal sinks come in many sizes – they can be minute. If space in your vintage bathroom comes at a premium, these small fixtures can help make room for circulation.
The plumbing lines running to and from a pedestal sink are easily accessible for repair and the fixture is not damaged by potential water issues.
Most people purchase their vintage homes for love of their aesthetic, so continuing in the spirit in which the period the home was built makes the transition from the adjacent original space into a remodeled vintage bathroom more seamless.
Cast iron is very durable, so a pedestal sink withstands a lot of wear and tear. We often find a 100-year-old bathroom in pretty bad shape, but the sink just needs a bit of TLC to look almost new again.

What are the Drawbacks of Limited Storage with Pedestal Sinks?

What are Some Solutions to the Pedestal Sink Storage Issue?

We can install a medicine cabinet with an outlet that houses your electric toothbrush and face creams as well as your pill boxes.
We can add a shelf above the toilet for counter space (while maintaining access to the toilet tank).
If space allows, we can create a built-in linen cabinet or incorporate a vintage washstand for storage and counter space mindfully incorporating outlets for blow dryers and razors. In many 1920’s vintage bathrooms, a shallow bank of cabinets was built next to the pedestal sink along the window wall for counter space and hidden storage.
There are cool train racks that provide wall storage for linens and hanging space for towels.
Cute waste bins with lids can be tucked below the pedestal sink.
Glass shelves and wall mounted cup holders also provide storage options and charm.

How do Pedestal Sinks Compare to Vanities in Older Homes?

Is a Pedestal Sink Right for Your Historic Portland Bathroom?

While the pedestal sink was the way to go during the first few decades of indoor plumbing, vanities are more commonly used today. The beauty of vanities is that they are highly customizable.

The vanity can house one or two sinks, can be configured for individual storage needs and can incorporate a makeup counter, if space allows.

When mobility is an issue, we can create space for a wheelchair and mount grab bars.

We can install wall mounted faucets, and hide all the supply lines and valves as well as the drainpipes.

In short, we can be very creative with vanities.

In Conclusion

Still weighing your options? Let's discuss what works best for your historic bathroom.

The Pros and Cons of Induction Cooking: Modernizing Your Kitchen in an Older Home

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 15:25:02 GMT

If you're living in a home with vintage charm but are finding that your old electric cooktop no longer fits your needs, it might be time to explore an upgrade to an induction range.

At Arciform, we’ve worked with many clients to blend modern technology into older homes, and one upgrade we often recommend is induction cooking. It's a simple yet effective way to bring your kitchen into the 21st century. So, what exactly is magnetic induction cooking, and why should you consider it for your vintage kitchen? Here's a breakdown based on our experience and what we’ve learned from trusted sources.

What is Induction Cooking?

Induction cooking is a method that uses electromagnetic energy to heat pots and pans directly, rather than heating the burner itself and the air around it. The result? A faster, well controlled, and more efficient cooking experience.

As Fine Cooking Magazine explains:

“An induction burner consists of a ceramic plate with an electromagnetic coil beneath it. When you turn on the burner, an electric current runs through the coil, generating a fluctuating magnetic field. Once you place a ferrous metal pan (such as cast iron or stainless steel) on the burner, the magnetic field induces electric currents within the pan. This process heats the pan directly, not the burner.”

This technology is a game-changer when it comes to efficiency. A pot of water will boil in nearly half the time it would on a standard gas stove, and the heat is evenly distributed, so no more worrying about hot spots that might burn your food. Plus, when you remove the pan, the cooktop cools down quickly, unlike a traditional electric burner.

The Key Benefits of Induction Cooking

We’ve seen firsthand how induction cooking can elevate the cooking experience for our clients, and here are the reasons we think it’s a great fit for Portland’s vintage and historic homes:

Faster Cooking: Induction cooktops heat 25-50% faster than traditional electric ranges. You’ll spend less time waiting for your food to cook, and more time enjoying it.
Precision and Control: One of the major advantages of induction cooking is its ability to deliver quick, precise temperature adjustments. Whether you're simmering a sauce at a very low heat or searing a steak, you'll have very flexible control over the burner temperature.
Safer Cooking: Because induction cooktops only heat the pan and not the burner, they are inherently safer. The cooktop itself doesn’t get hot to the touch, so the risk of burns is much lower - especially important for families with young children.
Easier to Clean: With induction cooking, spills don't bake onto the cooktop like they do on traditional electric stoves. The surface stays cooler since the heat is generated in the pan, making it much easier to wipe clean, an advantage over gas and electric coil burner cooktops.
Cooler Kitchen: Induction cooktops emit far less heat into the kitchen, keeping your space more comfortable. This can be especially welcome in the summer months when cooking can make your home feel warmer than you'd like.
Cleaner air: Gas cooktops can have emission issues. They release pollutants into the air that can be harmful especially for children or people with asthma.
Ventilation: Since there is less heat generated and less off gassing, the hood can be sized down and can be installed at a farther distance from the cooking surface. This can help especially in small vintage kitchens.
Energy source: If you do not have gas coming to your home but want the versatility and performance of a gas cooktop, induction is an excellent option. Over the long term, it is a very efficient and effective solution.
Ae sthetic: And last but not least, induction cooking really does open up many options for design and application that is a joy to explore.

Things to Consider Before You Commit to an Induction Stove

While induction cooking has a lot of advantages, there are a few things to keep in mind when deciding if it’s the right choice for your kitchen.

Cookware Compatibility: Induction cooking requires cookware made of ferromagnetic materials, like cast iron or stainless steel. If your pots and pans are made of copper, aluminum, or glass, you’ll need to replace them. You can test whether your current cookware will work by simply holding a magnet to the bottom - if it sticks, you're good to go.
Noise: Some users report hearing a slight buzzing or humming noise at higher settings, though this tends to be minimal with the right cookware. We’ve found that heavy, flat-bottomed pans help reduce vibrations and noise, so it’s worth investing in quality cookware for the best experience.
Initial Investment: Induction cooktops tend to be a bit pricier than traditional electric and gas ranges, but with energy savings and efficiency over time, it’s often a worthwhile investment.

Is Induction Cooking Right for Your Home?

At Arciform, we believe in the value of modern technology and how it can seamlessly enhance the beauty and functionality of older homes. Whether you're remodeling your kitchen or updating your appliances, induction cooking is one of many options that can modernize your home without compromising its historic charm.

We’ve worked with many homeowners who have successfully integrated induction cooktops into their kitchens, and for many, it’s been a game-changer. If you're ready to make a change, we’d love to help you explore the possibilities for your own space.

If you’d like to see induction cooking in action, many appliance suppliers host cooking presentations; or take a look at this video by celebrity chef Curtis Stone, who discusses the benefits of induction cooking in more detail: Watch Curtis Stone discuss induction cooking

Curious what it’s like to cook with an induction range day-to-day?

Emily Henderson shares her real-life experience with induction cooking in her SW Portland farmhouse — read her full review here.

Emily Henderson kitchen photos by Kaitlin Green

Looking for Ideas for Your Kitchen?

GET INSPIRED HERE

Looking for Ideas for Your Kitchen?

GET INSPIRED HERE

The Essential Guide to Garage Design, Remodeling, and Rebuilding for Portland’s Older Homes

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 21:15:23 GMT

Build a Garage that Fits Your Home's Character and Your Family's Needs

Garages in Portland’s vintage homes carry a special blend of character and complexity. Whether you aim to breathe new life into a weathered structure, enhance it for today’s needs, or craft a fresh addition that honors your home’s historic roots, the process demands imagination and care. At Arciform, we draw on years of hands-on experience to guide homeowners through every step—design and construction—delivering results that feel both personal and enduring. Whether your Portland home is a Craftsman bungalow, Tudor, Four Square, or another timeless style, we get the quirks of older properties and the pride you feel in their unique stories. Here is what you need to know to begin with confidence.

Prioritize Your Needs

Before diving into a garage project, take a moment to clarify your goals and pinpoint what matters most. Many older garages in Portland homes—think narrow spaces built for Model Ts rather than today’s SUVs—end up as catch-alls for storage instead of functional parking spots. If you envision parking your car inside, consider where extra storage might fit on your property to keep things practical. For those dreaming of a workshop, plan your shop space with power in mind—whether that means outlets for heavy-duty tools or wiring for a future electric vehicle charger. Some homeowners even look to maximize their lot with a rooftop garden or a cozy entertainment area above the garage, perfect for rainy-day gatherings. Knowing what you absolutely need versus what would be delightful to have guides the design and keeps your budget on track. At Arciform, we listen closely to bring your vision into focus, ensuring every detail reflects your life and your home’s story.

The old garage we replaced was on the verge of falling over and could only house one small car, so it was relegated to storage only. We used it’s shape and detailing as inspiration to create a brand new structure that meets contemporary standards, has room for lots of storage, and even has the height required for a future lift to store a fun sports car below the ceiling.

Understanding Code Compliance

Navigating zoning and permitting requirements is critical and should be addressed before any design work begins. The City of Portland offers a free permitting consultation to help homeowners understand what regulations apply to their specific lot. Arciform is a member of the City of Portland’s Field Issuance Remodel (FIR) program, allowing us to collaborate directly with assigned inspectors early in the process to prevent costly surprises later. Compliance with zoning laws dictates the minimum and maximum allowable garage size, setback requirements from the street, side lot lines, and the main house. Height restrictions and fire rating requirements influence material choices and glazing options. If the garage is attached to the house, additional structural and engineering considerations come into play, affecting the foundation and overall load distribution. With our experience, we guide you through these steps, ensuring your project meets both your goals and Portland’s standards.

For this 1920’s Bungalow in the Lake Oswego historic neighborhood we straddled the back of the home with a breezeway, connecting the new kitchen addition with the new garage for a beautiful grocery pass, which has pantry storage on the way and also provides mudroom functions. The clients love to incorporate salvage in their remodels, so we were able to use stained glass windows and salvaged ship lap. The clients found vintage refrigerator doors which we used as doors for the storage cabinets we built.

Historic Neighborhood Guidelines

For homes in Portland’s historic districts or conservation overlay zones, additional layers of regulation apply. Homeowners should begin by exploring comparable garages in their neighborhood to get a sense of historical precedents. Reaching out to the neighborhood association’s design review committee early offers helpful insights and smooths the path ahead. Winning neighbor support proves valuable too, reducing the chance of pushback during the review process. Material choices matter greatly, as many historic districts require new structures to reflect the area’s architectural character. The garage must also be sized thoughtfully in relation to the home, keeping it visually subordinate. Historic design review stands apart from standard permitting, but with Arciform’s seasoned expertise, we ensure your project meets every guideline while bringing your vision to life.

Utilities and Infrastructure

Before construction begins, a careful look at utility locations and requirements is vital. The City of Portland provides a “call before you dig” service to pinpoint underground utilities, helping avoid expensive or hazardous surprises. Electrical service might need tweaks—perhaps shifting the meter or boosting the panel to handle extra circuits for a workshop or electric vehicle charging, a smart move in eco-conscious Portland. Sewer and gas lines could require rerouting, and old underground oil tanks, common in older homes here, might raise environmental flags. If plumbing is part of the plan - say, for a sink, hose bib, or even a bathroom - those needs must be woven into the design early. With Arciform’s know-how, we guide you through these nuts and bolts, keeping your project on track.

Site Planning and Environmental Considerations

A well-planned garage project takes the entire site into account. Trees near the garage location may require removal or special permitting, and their root systems need protection to prevent damage. Larger garages and expanded driveways increase rainwater runoff, which must be managed within the city's stormwater guidelines. Existing in-ground sprinkler systems should be mapped to avoid disruption during construction. Grade changes between the house and the garage impact accessibility and may necessitate stairs or ramps. Driveway design should balance practicality and aesthetics, ensuring safe visibility when exiting onto the street. Material choices—whether concrete, pavers, or gravel—affect both drainage and durability. If the driveway serves as the main pathway to the home, it should be designed accordingly to accommodate foot traffic as well as vehicles.

The new structures not only enhance functionality but also add depth to the back of the house, creating a courtyard-style patio with both covered and open areas. Equipped with infrared heaters and a gas fire pit, the space is designed for comfort in any season. A key feature is the garage door leading to the covered walkway, ensuring a direct, protected path to the house.

Architectural Design and Aesthetic Considerations

The design phase is where function and beauty come together. A well-designed garage should enhance the home's curb appeal and feel like a natural extension of the property. The scale of the structure should be appropriate to the house, ensuring it doesn’t overpower the main residence. Thoughtful use of windows and garage door glazing can make the space feel lighter while maintaining privacy and security. Roof overhangs, setbacks, and material selection must be carefully considered to align with local building codes and historic guidelines. The connection between the garage and house is another key decision—whether it’s a fully attached structure, a breezeway, or a standalone building, the transition should feel seamless and intentional.

The proportions of the garage in context to the main house kept shifting and changing until we got it just right. Unlike elevations, which look at structures straight on, we took into consideration the angles the structures will actually be viewed from. In this case, the sloping driveway lessons the visual impact the garage has on the viewer, and only once inside does one experience the full scale of the structure.

Arciform is known for creating seamless transitions between existing and new structures. This is achieved by carefully integrating original details and materials while applying traditional craftsmanship. Here, the exterior finishes and proportions of the 1918 house were thoughtfully carried over onto the new facades, enhanced by the addition of a compact yet efficient side porch and mudroom.

In Conclusion

Building or renovating a garage calls for blending historical integrity with modern needs while staying in step with Portland’s regulations. Arciform brings decades of know-how in historic preservation, creative design, and top-notch craftsmanship to ensure your garage not only serves you well but also elevates your home’s unique charm. From our first chat to the final nail, we walk alongside you, delivering a space that is as practical as it is stunning—perfectly at home in Portland’s vintage neighborhoods.

Love Portland’s historic charm?

Contact Arciform to craft a garage that fits your home and your life - perfectly.

Designing the Perfect Mudroom: Top 10 Must-Have Features

Sat, 22 Feb 2025 00:11:42 GMT

Everything you need for a mudroom that blends functionality, organization, and style.

Loving the outdoors, having pets, and managing the constant flow of gear that comes with family life can make a mudroom a top priority for many homeowners. Historically, it served as the second point of entry and the hub of organized chaos, but in recent years, it’s become a multi-faceted zone that blends form, function, and style. At Arciform, we’ve designed countless mudrooms, always striving to create spaces that are not only practical but also integrate seamlessly into the overall design of the home. Whether you're designing a brand-new mudroom or upgrading an existing one, these ten essential features will help you create a space that works hard for your lifestyle while maintaining an inviting, organized feel.

1) Locate Your Mudroom Near Your Most Active Entry Point

Not every home has a dedicated mudroom, but that doesn’t mean you can’t create one. When working with clients, we often repurpose underused areas—like part of an entry, a laundry room, hallway, or enclosed porch—to create functional mudroom spaces. Mudrooms come in all shapes and sizes, so whether you have a small nook or a large entryway, there’s always a way to create a solution that works for you. If possible, position your mudroom near an entry point, such as a back or side door, for maximum efficiency. In one project, we enclosed half of a front porch to create a beautiful and practical mudroom entry, adding value to the home. For another client we designed a mudroom that doubles as a pantry, a workstation, and extra elbow room for family gatherings

In this new mudroom addition Arciform added to a 1914 Dutch Colonial in Laurelhurst, full inset cabinets flank a window seat, providing ample storage and room for everyone's shoes. Mirrored doors at one end add light and increase the sense of space, while a durable green tile floor is both cheery and practical. The Dutch door leads to a new porch that connects with the rebuilt garage.

2) Choose Durable, Easy-to-Clean Mudroom Flooring Like Tile or Stone

Mudrooms take a beating, so flooring should be durable, easy to clean, and resistant to water and dirt. Forgiving materials like natural stone and porcelain tiles help extend the lifespan of this hardworking space and provide slip resistance as the floor is often wet. We prefer earth-toned floors and lower cabinetry, as they handle daily wear better and help anchor the design

3) Include a Bench in Your Mudroom for Seating and Storage

A bench provides a convenient spot to sit while putting on or taking off shoes. We love integrating built-in benches with storage underneath to keep shoes and seasonal gear neatly tucked away. In smaller spaces, a simple wall-mounted bench paired with hooks can create an efficient mudroom setup. Unlike the photos this space will more often than not be chaotic, so we encourage you to have fun with finishes.

4) Use Both Cubbies and Cupboards: Cubbies for Easy Access, Cupboards to Hide Clutter

Some clients prefer open cubbies for quick access to everyday essentials, while others appreciate the clean look of closed cupboards. A combination of both is often the best solution—keeping some items accessible while hiding visual clutter behind doors. It is good practice to make a list of all the items you want to store and consider how often you use those items. Unless you have unlimited space, storage tends to be at a premium, so put things you use often in front and center. Have a junk drawer where you can put items that have no home anywhere else. Clients also like charging stations tucked away behind doors as this helps to keep cords out of sight and devices out of easy reach of children. In one project with high ceilings and double height cabinets, we even added a rolling library ladder to maximize vertical storage and create a unique design moment.

5) Maximize Mudroom Storage with Hooks for Easy Grab-and-Go Storage

You can never have too many hooks! Ideal for coats, bags, hats, and pet leashes, multi-prong hooks maximize storage in a small footprint (there are even hooks with integrated bowls for keys!). Placing them at varying heights ensures accessibility for all family members. In one of our custom designs, we incorporated a row of brass hooks against a wallpapered backdrop for both function and visual interest.

6) Yes! Open Shelving in a Mudroom is Practical for Flexible and Accessible Storage

Open shelving provides additional and very flexible storage that can add personality with colorful bins and baskets. We love incorporating custom shelf brackets that add a decorative touch, or if the client likes a simpler esthetic, floating shelves add a modern look. In one of our projects, we wallpapered the wall behind the shelving to add a personal touch and a pop of color.

7) Contain the Chaos with Bins and Baskets, Especially for Seasonal Items

Baskets and bins are a great way to organize seasonal gear, shoes, and miscellaneous items. Labeling them makes it even easier for family members to find what they need and put things away properly. We often design built-in shelving specifically to accommodate different-sized bins for a seamless, organized look. Have seasonal baskets that can switch places as the months progress to ensure the most frequently used items are always within easy reach.

8) Incorporate Bright Overhead and Task Lighting for a Functional and Inviting Mudroom

Good lighting is key to making your mudroom functional and inviting. Overhead lighting should be bright enough to illuminate the entire space, while task lighting, such as sconces or under-shelf lighting, adds warmth and style. We’ve installed everything from statement pendant lights to discreet recessed lighting, depending on the project’s aesthetic and functional needs. Mirrored surfaces are also practical and beautiful and will add light to a space.

9) Choose Hardware That Complements Your Home’s Style

From hooks to cabinet handles, hardware is an opportunity to inject personality into your mudroom. We often select finishes that match or complement the rest of the home. This is when salvage is an option. If a bit of whimsy is the goal, looking at artists that make fun hardware is a way to add joy. Library ladders, door knockers, fun doorbells, pretty mail slots, can all add to the experience. One of our favorite projects included perforated metal panels in the cabinet doors, adding both ventilation and a unique design detail.

10) Beyond the Basics: Wish List Features You'll Absolutely Love in Your Mudroom

If space allows, consider adding extra features that enhance the functionality of your mudroom:

Dog Wash Station – Perfect for pet owners, a built-in dog wash makes cleaning up not just muddy paws a breeze.

Utility Sink – Great for rinsing off boots, paintbrushes, or gardening tools.

Dutch Door – A charming way to let in fresh air while keeping pets or young children contained.

Laundry Integration – Having a washer and dryer nearby makes it easy to deal with dirty sports uniforms or wet outerwear.

For these clients we did an extensive reshuffling of spaces within an addition from the 50’s, as we wanted to create a multi functional modern mudroom that doubles as a household room. The must have was the mudroom cabinets with doors and bench for storage. Instead of a sink, we created a dog shower/ mop sink/ drip dry basin. . . We also added laundry which is really wonderful when coming home from sports or digging in your yard. The mudroom built-in storage solutions hide not only the usual suspects, but also cleaning supplies, doog food, a printer and other gooddies that help make life easier. Adding outlets within mudroom cabinets is a must, as in todays world everything wants to be charged. And the library ladded is a fun and functional feature.

Final Thoughts

A mudroom supports your family’s lifestyle, helping to keep the mess of daily life contained while adding value and charm to your home. At Arciform, we believe in creating beautiful and practical spaces that work just as hard as you do. By thoughtfully planning storage, materials, and functionality, you can create a mudroom that enhances your home for years to come.

The Storytelling Power of Pattern

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 21:46:53 GMT

Explore how patterns, from bold wallpapers to architectural details, can tell stories, evoke emotions, and transform any space with a touch of creativity

By Anne De Wolf

Arciform co-owner and principal designer

Have you ever encountered a space and instantly felt like the walls were telling you a story? That’s how I feel every time I experience a new pattern in the world around me. Whether it’s the charming folk paintings of a church interior or the vibrant murals of many Portland buildings, these visual elements are more than just decoration—they’re storytellers.

One of my favorite intersections in Portland is right at the base of the Burnside Bridge. The Fair-haired Dumbbell building (above) brings so much color and energy into an otherwise busy spot. It’s one of those rare moments where you can literally feel the city’s pulse through art and architecture. And, as you might expect, another favorite of mine is the Tree Farm building at SE 3rd and Morrison (below). These buildings hold such a personal significance—they aren’t just structures; they’re pieces of Portland’s story.

But it’s not only the buildings that intrigue me; it’s the patterns and emotions that they evoke. These elements reflect the developer’s willingness to invest in connections, through colorful façades and creative artistry that mirror our culture and individuality.

Patterns Stir Emotions

The emotions associated with patterns aren’t always positive, though. Patterns stimulate. They provoke thought, feelings, and even memories. Some patterns may make us feel calm, while others might invoke excitement or discomfort. This is what makes patterns so powerful—they connect us to the spaces and stories around us. As a designer, carefully identifying how different patterns—or the absence of them—affect people is key to creating spaces that truly resonate.

I’ll never forget walking into a folksy church in Norway. The moment I stepped inside, I felt as if I had walked into a fairytale. It was an experience that stayed with me long after I left. That sense of magic, that connection to something beyond the ordinary, has been with me ever since. It’s become a central part of my creative journey—finding ways to replicate that feeling through design.

A Collaboration with Lonesome Pictopia

This brings me to Melanie Nead. Melanie is an artist and designer whose work has captivated me for years. She’s known for her bold, intricate designs that blend storytelling with artistry in ways that are both unexpected and deeply emotional. When she ran Icon Tattoo on N. Russell Street, I would often find myself stopping in front of the shop to admire the stunning designs displayed in the window. They were more than tattoos; they were visual stories.

Later, when Melanie transitioned to opening Lonesome Pictopia, a creative studio here in Portland, I knew I had to find a way to collaborate with her. Lonesome Pictopia is a space dedicated to creating one-of-a-kind art for homes and businesses. From murals and fine art to smaller, bespoke pieces, Melanie and her team work to bring imaginative visions to life. Their work is deeply influenced by folklore, nature, and storytelling, and often incorporates a playful yet thoughtful approach.

Nowhere is Lonesome Pictopia’s ethos more evident than in their custom, hand-blocked wallpapers. Melanie’s creations are rooted in nostalgia, drawing inspiration from Victorian patterns, Art Deco lines, and the lush, untamed beauty of the Pacific Northwest. These wallpapers don’t just adorn a room—they weave together past and present, capturing the essence of nature and history in intricate, vibrant details. Whether it's the delicate silhouettes of ferns or the bold geometric shapes evoking the grandeur of early 20th-century design, each wallpaper invites you to step into a world of imagination and story. They offer a sense of place, a feeling of connection to the landscapes, art, and history that surround us, creating spaces that feel timeless yet fresh.

Four of Lonesome Pictorpia's delightful vintage inspired patterns: Chantrell, Lazy Sunday, Solomon's Seal, and Northwestlake (click images for details).

I was thrilled when my client hired Melanie to create a custom design for her fireplace surround. After brainstorming together, we landed on the idea of arranging the family’s birth flowers in an enchanting, meaningful design. Melanie’s final piece brought our vision to life in a way I never could have imagined, turning an ordinary fireplace into a stunning work of art.

Melanie and I are now exploring ideas for my own 120-year-old kitchen floor. This project is really exciting because it feels like a way to transform a simple, utilitarian space into a canvas of memory and meaning. Melanie and I are envisioning a design that will reflect the whimsical beauty of the Norwegian church that left such an impression on me. We’re talking about painted sections that could bring broken tiles and bare concrete back to life with playful, organic patterns. Think of it like a conversation between old and new, where each tile tells part of the larger story. Every step on that floor will be a reminder of the journey and history we’re weaving together. It's a blend of nostalgia and creativity, much like the church that sparked this idea—a space that makes you feel part of something greater, as though the floor itself is a living, breathing part of the design.

The Art of Wallpaper: Adding Character to Any Room

Wallpaper holds a special place in my heart. It’s more than just an aesthetic choice—it’s a way to infuse a room with character, emotion, and even a bit of magic. While many people think of wallpaper as an overwhelming design decision and commitment, it doesn’t have to be. Start with out of the way spaces or a single wall, and gradually unleash your creative spirit. Over the years, I’ve experimented with different ways of bringing patterns into homes, and I’d love to share a few of my favorite techniques.

Small Surprises with Big Impact

A timeless practice in design is using wallpaper within cabinetry. It’s a small yet transformative detail—adding a bold or subtle pattern behind shelves or inside drawers creates a surprising backdrop for your most treasured items. These hidden moments of beauty make every day feel a little more special, turning functional spaces into delightful surprises.

The laundry room is another unexpected spot where patterns can work their magic. Often overlooked, it’s the perfect place to inject some personality and cheer. A vibrant, funky pattern can lift the mood and make the seemingly endless task of folding laundry a little more fun. It’s a way to transform a mundane routine into something visually stimulating.

I’m also a big fan of wallpapering WCs and other tucked-away spaces. These areas offer the perfect chance to be bold and adventurous, where patterns can take center stage without overwhelming the rest of the room. Wallpaper can also bring charm to the most unexpected places—like beneath staircases or along narrow stairwells. These forgotten corners are ideal for small but impactful touches, adding a surprising burst of personality to spaces that would otherwise be easily overlooked.

Bringing Nature Inside: Wallpaper in My Home

I love the depth of the dark woodwork in the main rooms of my home, but I didn’t want to create a jarring contrast by introducing light colors. Instead, I opted for an Asian-inspired palette with metallic undertones. When I discovered the stunning Egrets design by Australian designer Florence Broadhurst , I knew it was the perfect fit. The delicate branches weaving through exotic birds bring a sense of nature into the formal space.

I only wallpapered small sections of the walls around windows, creating the effect of bringing the branches of the rhododendron and magnolias in my front yard inside. It’s a subtle but powerful way to create a connection between the indoors and outdoors, blending nature with design.

My search for the perfect wallpaper didn’t stop with the living room. Next, I turned my attention to the staircase. I was on a quest for something magical, something that would transport me to another time and place. That’s when I found the Paradis wallpaper by Fine & Dandy . It’s a romantic, whimsical design that brings an air of nostalgia to my home. Every time I walk up the stairs to my library, I feel like I’ve entered a different world—one filled with stories waiting to be discovered.

For the primary bedroom I opted for a bold and whimsical mural filled with even more birds! Covering the wall opposite the bed (and disguising the flush closet door), it creates a heavenly scene to wake up to each day.

Fine & Dandy's Pardis wallpaper in peacock lines the two-story stairwell.

Creating Joy Through Patterns

Every day, we look for ways to make our lives a little bit more joyful. It’s no surprise, then, that I encourage my clients to explore simple ways to create positive moments throughout their homes. Patterns are an easy way to do just that. These small, thoughtful additions can transform everyday spaces into places of delight, bringing stories, emotions, and even a touch of magic to our daily lives.

Photo Credit: all images, unless otherwise noted are by Chris Dibble.

Love & Logistics: Modernizing Your Older Home

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 20:58:16 GMT

Modernize Your Heritage Home Without Losing Its Charm

It’s an old story with a modern twist. You fall in love with a classic beauty. You can hardly see for the stars in your eyes. Hardly hear anything but your pounding heart. You can’t believe she’s all yours! And then you move in together. And the romance ends. Which is where this story begins.

We Portlanders love our heritage homes, and we should! They’re charming, well-built, exhibit fine craftsmanship, have lots of stories to tell, and they’re...old. Meaning that they often come with problems, and they don’t have many of the modern conveniences that we’ve come to expect. So how do you update your aging beauty without sacrificing its classic charm? As principal designer at Arciform (a design build firm specializing in vintage homes) for over 25 years, I’ve seen it all – the joys, occasional frustrations, and creative challenges of bringing an older home up to contemporary standards of comfort and efficiency.

The Domino Effect: Planning Connected Renovations

Although this article is divided into neat headings about electrical, plumbing, and other categories, your old house is proof positive that we live in an interconnected world. Remodeling can often be like a game of Whack-a -Mole, where upgrading one thing involves several other things in a chain reaction. Adding a dormer may first necessitate a new foundation or structural work. Installing new ceiling lighting and fans in your bath may reveal asbestos insulation (asbestos wasn’t banned until 1989) in the attic. Even adding that just-one-more electric appliance may demand a new electrical panel. The trick is to plan the proper succession of remodels (see: Whole House Remodels, Parts 1 - 3) and group projects together. For instance, if you’re going to open a wall to replace a window, that’s the time to modernize wiring, add outlets or lighting, insulate, and address plumbing issues.

From Knob and Tube to Modern Wiring: What to Expect

Back when many Portland homes were built, there simply weren’t as many gadgets to plug in. No blenders, Ninjas, coffee grinders, can openers and so on. Therefore, fuse boxes, and breaker panels, were smaller, and there weren’t as many outlets. If your home was built prior to 1950, you may still have knob and tube (K&T) wiring—you can recognize it in an unfinished basement by the telltale white ceramic knobs with protruding black, insulated wires. The rest of the K&T wiring is, alas, hidden behind walls, which may still be lath and plaster—beautiful, but messy and expensive to dismantle. For this reason, most people leave the wire in until the day a larger project calls for opening the wall. Seize that opportunity to install fans, lighting, outlets—any electrical items.

Additional outlets can be installed on the first floor by fishing an electric line up from an unfinished basement. Or on the top floor, by fishing a line down from the attic (again, asbestos insulation may be present). In both cases, however, the new line may not be able to tie into the existing circuit because it may overload it. You may need to add a new circuit, which in turn may necessitate a new panel.

Modernizing Vintage Lighting Without Losing Character

And while we are talking about electricity…If you are fortunate enough to have original period lighting, the simplest way to bring it into the present is with LED bulbs. While LED might bring to mind cold, blue lights more suited to a laboratory than a wainscot-lined dining room, new models are very similar in appearance to incandescent. The key is choosing warm-spectrum bulbs (2700K) with a “dim to warm” feature (rather than dimming to grey) and installing dimmer switches. Lower wattage bulbs puts less strain on the vintage wiring.

Navigating Plumbing Challenges in Heritage Homes

Two of the most popular rooms to remodel—kitchens and baths—revolve around water. In the third most popular room, the basement, people often want an additional bathroom, a wet bar or other water feature. Sooner rather than later, you will deal with pipes. And while it’s true that some homes built before 1985 (when using lead was banned in Oregon), may still have pipes with lead, there are myriad other issues that make plumbing complicated.

The first consideration when adding a bathroom should be: how are you going to drain it? In other words, how are you going to get your new pipes to connect to water sources and sewer pipes. You may want the new bath there. But your existing plumbing demands that it go here, by the wall that already accommodates plumbing.

Another issue to consider is galvanic corrosion. This occurs when two dissimilar metals are immersed in a conductive solution that electrically connects them. Water is a conductive solution. Put steel and copper, or stainless steel and aluminum, pipes in one system, add water, and they will corrode, causing leakage at the joints. The cure is to replace the entire system. We usually specify PEX, with copper pipes for more stability where it projects through walls. Clearly, walls need to be opened up to replace pipes, so this is the time to make any other behind-the-wall changes, such as blocking for grab bars or replacing water damaged members.

Want to swap a shower for a bathtub, or vice versa? Not so fast. Because the god of codes has a sense of humor, tub drains are an inch and a half in diameter. Shower drains are two inches. You’ll have to update that connection, which takes up space. Is there enough room to accommodate it? You may have to drill through joists, compromising their strength. Want to put a toilet on the second floor? That requires a large bend, so space and drainage limitations apply. Toilets in basements often prove that what flushes down must go up. If your basement is below the sewer line, you’ll need to add a sump pump.

Energy Efficiency Solutions for Historic Windows and Walls

Leaky, old, single pane windows, drafty doors, and lack of insulation are energy loss culprits. If money’s no object you can replace and insulate, of course (within the guidelines of historic district regulations). But, as always with older homes, there are caveats. And creative alternatives.

Many older houses have beautiful double hung or casement windows that are part of your home’s history.
Even if these windows are nonfunctional or in disrepair, they can generally be repaired and returned to their original functionality for less than the price of a replacement window. To keep out the winter cold, they can be augmented with storm windows (indoors or out - they likely had wood storms originally), or go the European route and install heavy, lined curtains.

In lieu of UV glass, in summer you can install solar film, which protects your furniture and artwork from fading. Higher tech shades will automatically close when it gets too bright. Or try an old tech workaround. Plant a deciduous tree that shades in summer and allows more light in winter or add exterior awnings.

Exterior doors in older homes were sturdy affairs, crafted from solid, old-growth timber. If a vintage original door is malfunctioning, in poor condition, or leaking like a sieve, the first plan of attack should be repair and restoration, rather than replacement. New weather stripping, especially the interlocking type installed by door professionals, works beautifully, although DIY adhesive applied bulb weatherstrip does the job just fine. Note that new weather stripping may make the door more difficult to close for a while, until it becomes adequately compressed.

Insulating under your main floor (in a crawl space or unfinished basement ceiling) and in your attic will make life more comfortable immediately. Walls present different considerations. If you are already opening an exterior wall for other work, of course insulate it, and add a vapor barrier. Another option is blown-in insulation, but it comes with potential pitfalls. It can actually pop the siding off of Victorians, which typically have no sheathing. Exterior walls in older homes were not built to be air-tight, and cavities between the studs would quickly dry out. Fill them with insulation and you’ve created a sponge to hold water.

Fun and effective alternatives to wall insulation include hanging rugs on walls and adding bookshelves. With the first, you get warmth and art, with the second, insulation and books! Fireplace flues should be closed when there’s no fire. With many people opting for gas inserts, glassing-in the fireplace is essential, since the flue is now always open. As one last, luxurious warming suggestion, if you’re redoing your bathroom floor, add radiant heating under that beautiful new tile.

Creative Storage and Space Solutions for Vintage Homes

Older homes were built for less cluttered lifestyles. We simply didn’t have as many electric gadgets, clothes, or toys back then, and we made do with less space. Rooms were generally walled-in, rather than open plan, and kitchens were often much smaller than current standards. Today, more spacious interiors are considered desirable, so it’s natural that we want to open things up, knock down walls, add dormers or a bay window, and create a multi-use basement.

Older homes sometimes put a damper on these plans. Walls you want gone are load bearing. That post in the basement, right where you want to put a pool table, may hold your house up. Even the largest older homes, with their beautifully appointed great rooms, make it difficult to carve out space for a powder room downstairs. A dinky loo under existing stairs may be the best option.

All this is not to say that heritage homes can’t be opened up or expanded. But structural integrity comes first, so choices must be made carefully. If you do remove walls, or add on to your house, a structural engineer who understands the building techniques used in older homes of all eras is essential.

Challenges foster creativity. A small kitchen can gain space by going vertical, employing cabinets to the ceiling or apothecary shelving across a window. In second floors with sloped ceilings, take advantage of the space behind the pony walls for built-in storage, bunks, or laundry units. Space between studs is ideal for shallow spice or medicine cabinets in the kitchen and bath.

Rooms can be made to feel larger with clever paint schemes or well-placed lighting. Add photos or paintings that pull you into the distance. Sometimes hiring a personal organizer to help arrange things—and get rid of things you don’t need—is money best spent. The less you have, the less you need to store. Or think outside of the house. Expand your living space with a deck or patio or build a little dining pavilion in your backyard that could be closed in the winter and open in the summer.

Why Homeowners Are Switching from Gas to Induction Cooking

A short time ago, there was a kind of mania for gas ranges—a macho quest for the highest BTUs. But these burners came with problems. They required huge, energy-sucking hoods to capture the exhaust. Plus they sounded like jets taking off, and required an air replacement unit just to return the air that’s pumped out. Finally, it may be hard enough to find space for a gas stove in small, older kitchen; now your remodeler must fit in an air replacement unit, too. And then, of course, there are the deleterious health effects of gas cooking. Those high BTUs were potentially making us sick.

Of the kitchens we’ve remodeled in recent years, I’d estimate 90% included a switch to induction cooking due to its many advantages. It has zero off-gassing, uses a smaller, quieter hood, requires no air replacement units, and is more energy efficient than standard electric ranges. Plus, it’s much easier to clean! If you’re switching from gas, it does add to your electric load, but that may be a wash if you’re removing a giant hood.

Seismic Retrofitting: Protecting Your Investment

We live in earthquake country, and older homes were not built for it. Although many homes have been seismically retrofitted, most have not. Remodeling your basement provides the perfect opportunity to retrofit your home—before new walls are in. It’s a good idea, for safety and for protecting your investment. Even if you get earthquake insurance, there’s a good chance that such companies will not be able to pay all claims in the event of a large quake. Seismic retrofitting may be as simple as anchoring your walls to your foundation if it’s in good order. But some older Portland foundations are porous and crumbly and will need to be replaced or reinforced first. Working with a seismic professional will give you a plan of action and peace of mind.

Navigating Permits and Code Compliance

Reading the tome of residential building codes in Portland is about as fun as reading the fine print on an insurance document. Navigating the permitting and inspection process takes time, patience, and a glossary of construction terms. But all of these rules and regulations are there for good reasons; to keep structures standing, make wiring safe, etcetera.

Older homes sometimes have existing unpermitted alterations or additions. These may need to be torn out and redone, unless there is good reason to grandfather them in. Working with a professional who knows the codes, and personally knows many inspectors, can save a lot of time, money, and frustration.

When to Hire Professionals vs. DIY in Older Homes

There are many projects homeowners on a limited budget can do themselves, including aesthetic improvements, updating appliances and fixtures, and envisioning a long-term plan for transforming your current home into your future masterpiece. You can also work with a remodeler to establish phased projects that can be done over time.

For projects that impact structure, electrical, or plumbing in any way, it’s best to work with a professional. Don’t have some handyman who says, ‘Yes I can do plumbing. Yes, I can do electrical.’ It’s very dangerous, and it’s going to cost you more than anything else you spend on the house. The trades are there for reason. Check CCB (OR Construction Contractors Board) and make sure they’re licensed. That is the number one advice I would give.

Honoring the Past While Creating Your Future

Modernizing older homes can bring challenges that promote creativity, often leading to unique solutions that add even more charm! We all love these houses for their beauty, attention to detail, and craftsmanship. Embrace those qualities. Think of modernizing your vintage home as listening to its story. Then update that story, project by project, keeping it vibrant and vital for the next generation.

This Day in History: The Edward Dimmit House

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 20:58:10 GMT

Perched 800-plus feet above sea level along the scenic Columbia River Gorge is the Edward Dimmit house, built in 1932 for its namesake, one of the early 20th century’s most renown postcard photographers. 92 years later, this sturdy Eclectic Tudor house in the coniferous woodlands of Corbett, Oregon is home to two lighting designers and their pups.

Getting Started

Edward L. Dimmitt (1881-1963) joined Arthur B. Cross’ photography studio in Portland in 1916. Cross and Dimmitt specialized in scenic photography: the Columbia River Gorge, the then-new Historic Columbia River Highway (built 1913 - 1922) and other scenic landmarks. Selling them as postcards from their Model T, and later from a stand at Crown Point, the adventurous businessmen helped share the wonder of the Gorge with visitors and, thanks to the United States Postal Service, to postcard recipients across the world.

Dimmit moved into this house with his wife around 1931. He served for 40 years as the caretaker of the nearby sandstone Vista House at Crown Point (dedicated in 1918). Vista House was not only a place to observe and pay tribute to the history and beauty of the landscape, but also a place for travelers to rest and refresh themselves while exploring the Gorge along the new highway.

Today the Dimmit House’s owners are a creative duo who fell in love with its rustic charms, cradled in the Gorge’s majestic wilderness. Their pocket of the Gorge is an inspiring place to live—high on basalt cliffs that rise from the ancient river valley, tucked away in wind-blown woods with a few neighbors and bobcats, black bear, deer, tree frogs, owls, falcons and eagles, among other critters.

Arciform remodeled the basement to be more inviting, complete with a marvelously moody lounge, wet bar, handsome bathroom, a smart office and walnut cabinetry. It’s prime entertaining space when friends and family come to stay.

Our clients found white oak plank floors, hewn posts and beams and original windows in great shape on the main floor. The half-timbered living room’s ceiling runs the full height of the home, where the stone-clad fireplace takes center stage. Through its north-facing windows there are stunning views of Crown Point and the Washington side of the Gorge.

On the second floor, we reconfigured the main suite’s layout to optimize natural light and enhance the flow. There is a new laundry space and closet at the front end, bedroom at the rear, and the main bath lies between. Reeded glass and fresh tile in the spacious shower, matte black floor tile, soft white walls, walnut cabinetry and stained fir combine for a dapper ‘30s feel.

Just 30 minutes east of downtown Portland, it is a short drive to the bustle of the city, but feels a world away. Here it’s easy to imagine the first people, fishing, navigating and trading on the river. And later the settlers and entrepreneurs setting up railroads, steamboat routes and the Historic Columbia River Highway that Dimmmit and countless others drove to be in this incredible place.

The Arcifiles: Profiles of the Faces Behind the Places

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 20:58:07 GMT

No man is an island, John Donne famously wrote. No company is, either. Arciform works with many sub-contractors, product designers, and industry nonprofits to achieve stunning remodels and restorations. In this edition of Arcifiles, we introduce you to three dynamic people, each of whom contributes to the creative energy of the design-build community in their own unique way.

Jackie Kirouac-Fram, Ph.D.
Company: ReBuilding Center
Duration: 4 years
Role: Executive Director

Role at ReBuilding Center

Jackie Kirouac-Fram didn’t have a background in sustainability, materials, salvage, recycling, or “any of the things that you would think the Executive Director of the Rebuilding Center (RBC) would have.” What she brought was a lifelong career in the nonprofit sector. “The throughline has been economic justice and racial justice work.” For the RBC, which focuses on building community through economic justice and human and environmental resilience, it’s a perfect fit.

Getting Started

Hailing from Missouri, Jackie worked a myriad of nonprofit positions, the last as VP of Focus St. Louis, where she generated strategies to better serve women and minority leaders, as well as providing financial oversight. Attracted by Portland’s progressive atmosphere, she searched for positions here. “I was drawn to the ReBuilding Center because climate justice is racial justice, because there’s incredible potential for reuse and repair to support economic resilience, and because the organization is a physical manifestation of the redistributive goals of economic justice.”

Favorite Project(s)

RBC customers are primarily homeowners with limited budgets seeking affordable, salvaged materials, plus the coaching and education that RBC provides, and DIYers with a continual eye out for materials. Currently, remodelers and builders mainly donate materials. Now RBC is revising the physical store and creating an online presence to make it easier for people to find what they need. “We’re really going to start trying to find ways to work more cleanly with design firms, contractors, and architects so that they can better incorporate our materials.”

Proudest Accomplishment

Putting her social justice skills into play, Jackie is proud that she has helped the RBC focus on improving their materials and store while shifting their emphasis to how they use those materials and their skills-building classes to build community resilience. RBC now leverages their materials to strengthen affordable home ownership and retention by providing low-cost, free materials and repair classes that empower people to remain in their homes, mitigating displacement and keeping communities whole. “That’s the focus that we’re taking now, and it’s shaping how our store looks and what classes we offer, which is an exciting shift for the organization.”

Experience Working in the Local Design-build Field

Most materials come from remodelers, contractors, or DIY home remodelers who want to reduce waste and give things a second life. RBC doesn’t currently work with many remodeling or construction companies to source their materials. Arciform is an exception; while they do donate materials, for clients interested in reclaimed or salvaged building materials, fixtures, and finishes, they send them to RBC or go shopping with them. When the online store launches this summer, RBC hopes to reach out to more companies.

What She Wants You to Know

“I would love for readers to know that we are an awesome place to shop, and when they shop with us, their dollars are being used to support whole communities and home retention for people.”

How Do You See the Future of Remodeling and Building?

Jackie sees an increasing focus on sustainability, including creating buildings that are designed to be taken down and reused. “The EPA is working on regulations to encourage more use of reclaimed salvage materials in federal projects, which is very exciting.” There are plenty of salvageable materials and an incredible need for them in the community. “We just need to get them so that we can redistribute them, not just for low-income homeowners but for all sorts of people.”

Emily Henderson and Arciform Turn Potential into Paradise

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 18:32:29 GMT

Inside a Portland Farmhouse Renovation: An update on working with HGTV Design Star and Instagram Influencer Emily Henderson

When interior designer and Instagram influencer Emily Henderson, @em_henderson, found a vintage farmhouse on three secluded in the middle of an incredible old suburb 15 minutes from Downtown Portland and 5 minutes from cute restaurants, she just knew it was meant to be—and, she also knew she would need help tackling the renovation. Emily’s blog announcing their search for local help caught our eye, and we threw our hat in the ring, along with many Portland area designers, architects and general contractors. After meeting Emily and husband Brian remotely, and each of us carefully vetting the other, well—you know what they say, the rest is history! Follow the journey below.

The property has two farmhouses—one in serious need of repair from 1860 and the main house from 1910, which hadn’t been updated much over the years. There are many outbuildings (a barn, multiple sheds, and huge garage), a large sports court, and countless trees. The main house was the focus of our work on this Oregon farmhouse, and the list of projects was extensive! It needed a new foundation, all new plumbing and electrical, a sewer line, had mold, water damage and asbestos, all the windows needed repair or replacing, and, after all of that, designing the house to suit the Henderson family’s needs.

With a goal to renovate once, and for the long haul, Anne, Stephyn, Emily and Brian began researching, planning, and designing, with input from many experts. This renovation project truly was a puzzle, made more engaging with our design software of choice, Chief Architect. The four held three hour Zoom calls every week to try out different layouts in Chief, so we could virtually walk from room to room and all around the exterior.

Changes big and small occurred all throughout the design process (and even during demo). One example: the kitchen moved to maximize natural light and connection to the yard. This required input from our engineer. Tile layout and details were adjusted. Soon after approval, our carpenters started demolition, restoring salvaged items and building again.

The whole team visits the site with Emily and Brian. The Arciform crew at a pivotal moment.

Emily, Anne and Stephyn work out sunroom floor tile patterns

Two Designers, Two Different Approaches

So, how do two designers collaborate to remodel a 120-year-old farmhouse to be comfortable, welcoming, timeless, modern and respectful of its roots, as well as engaging?

Anne says, “It’s not often that I get to work with another designer on her future home, so I’ve embraced this experience to work out farmhouse renovation ideas with Emily to the fullest.” She had so much fun working with Emily and Brian on their family home, from the challenges to the victories. Their countless hours exploring design ideas together were mostly done remotely. They looked at every trend, listened to friend's and family members’ opinions, considering them all. While this wasn’t an efficient way to design by any stretch, the three of them enjoyed the process and learned so much, like just how much Emily loves windows and skylights, and how to find the most logical spot for the mudroom (where there was room for a dog washing station, washer, dryer and library ladder)!

Arciform’s 25-plus years of experience has taught us that, if we do not have most of our ducks in a row before we start with a remodel, we all hustle to make final decisions on the fly, financial predictions are harder to make, and the result might not be quite as thought-out. So, working with a social media influencer/blogger who goes at rapid speed and loves to consider many different ideas (we have this very much in common) meant we approached this project from all sides. We were still designing windows, door sizes and layouts while the engineer was doing structural calculations, and the demo phase had begun. This was both exciting and often very nerve-wracking.

“This lady, Mrs. Mudroom, is quite possibly my favorite room in the house (rivaled by the kitchen, sunroom, and our bathroom, TBH). I’m not joking that every single time I walk into it I feel joy and happiness through the sense of light, space, and sheer ease of function. All the design elements came together just as they did in my mind—NO, even better.”

Original 1910 siding was uncovered at demo.

Anne was incredibly impressed by how hard Emily and her team work to promote and support all of her partners. She is loyal to a fault, and our team had to be sure she made decisions that were best for her and her family in the end. Emily asked our team to keep her in check so she didn’t design solely for a photo op, as she looks at a space through the lens of a camera. While this was a new approach for Anne, it balances the practical with composition and the element of the story Emily wants to tell, as someone whose designs have a worldwide audience.

Spinning and twirling and exploring and considering was the norm for months, and it was so much fun!

Arciform is very diligent about the project development process, including navigation of our clients’ expectations. Every client is different. We all like to splurge on some things but not on others. Renovation is not necessarily the most glamorous work, as so much effort is invested in fixing what is already there.

Emily’s Pretty and Practical Dream Kitchen

We’re known for our kitchen remodels, designed and built with longevity in mind. Over the last 100 or so years, kitchens have become many people’s favorite space for communal and creative pursuits, so we feel this is a room worthy of a splurge. We took our time together, pulling in so many special elements that were not only pleasing to the eye, but also made sense for this family’s daily life. This farmhouse kitchen remodel is full of thoughtfully considered features that would wear well, be user-friendly, look beautiful and feel just right for the Hendersons.

Anne, Emily and Brian poring over kitchen plans

Jamie in the kitchen on beam installation day

Kitchen floor, windows, tile and cabinetry are IN!

Jamie, Emily and Anne talk cabinet hardware.

“Jamie, the project lead, really killed it with the execution and installation of all the carpentry, details, cabinet and appliance install, with the help of Taylor, Alex, Taurin and Steve. We love you Jamie!!!”

*Opener and Progress Photos by Kaitlin Green

“As you know, we wanted a vintage island to bring in age and soul, but finding the right one proved to be very difficult…until one day it wasn’t. It seems to be an old store counter, because its sheer size means that it must have been in something commercial (it’s more than 9” long). The six drawers on the front side function pretty well—heavier and harder to open/close than new drawers, but they are actually really deep, so we store our colanders, Tupperware, and random cooking tools in there. It’s white oak with an old reddish stain that we actually love.”

“We tried extremely hard to choose materials that were timeless, hardworking, high quality, and felt very “us” but appropriate for a farmhouse. It feels really pared back and casual, with some utilitarian elements against simply beautiful materials. Nothing too glam, nothing too traditional, nothing too unexpected or hyper-modern, and hopefully beautiful enough to never need changing (GOOD GOD I HOPE). It really does feel very, very “me” and while it’s not this crazy mix of patterns and trends, I hope that you can see how appropriate it is for our family and this property.”

Level Plane tile-wrapped the window jambs — with MASSIVE help from Stephyn, who figured out the math for all tile take-offs.

“We really should just call the kitchen the “glass sunroom.” We were desperate for natural light in the previously very dark west-facing living room (now with a covered porch), and y’all, we got it by bringing it in through the kitchen. The kitchen has a full wall of windows (white oak, double-hung, from Sierra Pacific Windows), and we didn’t stop there—we added three Velux skylights that flood it with natural light overhead, even on the darkest days. On super sunny days, there is some harsh side light in the kitchen, but only for a couple of hours (around 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.), and only if you are sitting at the island (it’s fine when you are cooking). It does not bother us at all, since it’s something we predicted and planned around. It’s just wonderful.”

There are so many special corners of this home—a hushed, plush family room for games and movie nights, the sunroom addition with its cheery tiled floor, the rose-hued guest bath, cozy bedrooms, new kitchen windows, wrapped with Emily’s favorite blue tile, the prettiest, hardworking-est mudroom and so much more.

We’re thrilled to have helped reimagine and create the Henderson’s welcoming home. You can read about the rest of Emily Henderson’s farmhouse renovation on our website . Catch up on modern farmhouse design tips and so many other discoveries and insights on Emily’s website .

A Dreamer, a Problem Solver and a Shared Vision

Thu, 16 May 2024 19:25:56 GMT

Time is a funny thing when discussing the Bay House, a curved roof waterfront dream house that was inspired by both a medieval fortress and a dilapidated barn.

Designing a Home to Withstand the Elements

“I really wanted to build a home that could withstand winter here; the 80mph winds, the corrosive salt air, all those brutal elements,” said Richard De Wolf, co-owner of the 2420 SF, three-bedroom, three-bath rural home located on 12 acres on Willapa Bay, Washington. “And I wanted it to be handcrafted.”

Crafted it is, from the inception to the details. His wife and business partner, Anne De Wolf, had originally designed the entire home in the New England style, complete with white siding and a metal roof. This idea was scrapped the moment they drove past a rustic feed barn and inspiration struck. She rapidly began scribbling on a napkin and, within 24 hours, the pair were updating their permit applications.

Riffing off of what Richard said, Anne adds, “We wanted a place that gets better with age.” All the decisions were weighed against how rough usage and elements would improve the materials. The original concept was an unforgiving style, but now anything we incorporated that is a bit rough is actually a positive.” She lists the many details that improve with time, “Stained siding. Unfinished floor planks. Galvanized roof. Even the overhang means no gutters to be filled with spruce needles.”

She explains why this is so important. “It’s not meant to be a pristine or spotless home like you would imagine on a sunny beach. Our beach is interesting. The bay is a seaweed-filled, muddy, sandy beach located within an actual rainforest. There are ferns, grasses, and evergreens. We even have a wetland nature preserve behind us.”

This appreciation for the land and location shaped the design. Originally Richard wanted a stone home but quickly changed tack. He realized he’d have to truck-in rock, meanwhile he was literally surrounded by timber. “Land dictates architecture. A city is different with 50 x 100 lots, but not for property out in nature. Here you can let the wild talk to you. Ideas started flowing the moment we stepped onto the property. We wanted to use materials from the land. We considered the location, the sun, the hills, the weather. All of it has an impact.”

Building with Local Materials: A Labor of Love

“There’s a lot of talk about green or environmentally sustainable architecture. It’s not new. It’s the old way. People use to only build with whatever local materials were available and did it by hand. So much of what we did to build this home has been done for thousands of years. We’ve only been working with plywood and 2x4s for the past few generations. I didn’t have to learn something new. I had to learn the old ways. There are a ton of books on the subject of timber framing and building with trees. It was like building a 16th century fortress.”

As for the specifics, the De Wolfs were only limited by the size of the trees on the property, which they milled on site to their specifications. They stored the lumber on the property, stacking it high with sticking between each piece to aid in the drying process.

They both agreed the property looked like a lumberyard as they felled, milled, cut, dried, and prepared the wood for their home. But they had a vision. Anne reminisces, “I wanted the simplicity of a rectangle, the drama of curved lines and a symmetrical aesthetic. The previous design that I worked on for years had so much compromise and fussiness. All it took was this moment of kismet. Standing in the pouring rain, looking at an old barn, the entire home design came together in 15 minutes.”

While Anne’s design may have come together instantaneously, the process of building was a testament to problem solving and organization.

Take the lumber. Anne recounts the multiple piles of wood on their land. “We had a post station. A joist station. Rafter station. Decking station.” They took inventory of the framing lumber, roof rafters, floor joists, then added 10%. “We first had to clear the land where the house would sit. We labeled, felled, and stacked the trees. Once we had the logs, we made bonfires of the bark and branches, and then repeated this process over and over.”

Custom Curves: Crafting a One-of-a-Kind Home

The method and means of building curves speak to the pair’s dedication to their joint vision. Anne explains how the curve creates a domino effect, “If you have a simple straight gable-end roof, there is a nice pitch, so water runs off. The flashing details can be purchased off the shelf. The sheetrock and lumber, gutters, and balustrade—all straight. But add in one single curve and everything must be custom.” She justifies the effort, “Richard doesn’t like sitting around talking. He’s a doer. So, all this work suited him.”

On this Richard laughs and partially agrees. “ If you’re doing it for yourself, time is relative. If we had to pay, the hours would be expensive. Curved work is double the labor, if not triple.”

Sustainable Architecture: Learning from the Past

Numerous accommodations and increased awareness were required. The barrel roof had to support a shallow pitch at the top yet shed snow and water. The sheeting was bent to the rafters, but the tighter the curve, the thinner the wood and the more layers that would be required. The beams were one particular element that Richard relished problem solving.

He attempts to explain his process that includes a complicated, engineer-approved combination of rope, compass, and a chainsaw. The end results are arched timber frames that literally ground the entire home. The effect is profound. Altogether, it is a singular, one-of-a-kind dream home brought to reality through the talent and perseverance of both owners.

The details throughout the home bring the vision to fruition. Anne waxes poetic about the milk paint she used, “I love that stuff! You don’t have to prime; you just brush it on. Plus, it’s very forgiving. There are no mistakes—just sand it. Because it’s water-based, it can be more or less opaque and I love that you can see the wood through it.” Richard appreciates it for an entirely different reason, “It’s an early example of paint. It’s always been around.”

Being able to see the grain of the wood takes on more meaning in the Bay House. Because it’s not just the rough aesthetic one can appreciate, but the labor of love to create it, and the fact the couple who live in it are the ones who dreamed and crafted it from the very land it stands upon.

This is local living taken to an art form.

Design & Build: Arciform LLC

Photographer: Sara Ligorria-Tramp

Photo styling: Emily Henderson Design

Specs:

* Stain at the exterior wood— Storm Stain ; Category 3: color Headwall.

* Clad exterior windows and doors—Oil Rubbed Bronze

* Wall paneling finish uno— Milk Paint by Lee Valley or General Finishes Color “Snow White” at ¾ paint ¼ water.

* Walls above paneling—Tinted Plaster

* Painted Trim— Dunn Edwards Color “Milk Mustache”

* Primary bathroom shower tile—Zellige 4x4 “natural white” from Ann Sacks , Idris by Ait Manos

* Primary bathroom shower head/fixtures— Hans Grohe AXOR Montreaux

* Primary bathroom sconces— Hippo Hardware vintage.

* Primary bathroom vanity— Arciform

* Primary bedroom bed frame— Community Warehouse (used)

* Primary bedroom striped comforter, bedding— Casaluna , Target

* Primary bedroom king comforter and linens— Casaluna , Target

* Primary bedroom lumbar pillow— Threshold , Target

* Primary bedroom milk paint on paneling— General Finishes

* Black guest bathroom wall paint – Milk Paint by Lee Valley or General Finishes Color “Lamp Black” with wax finish.

* Black guest bathroom sink—Vintage find through Rejuvenation with minor alterations to backsplash to fit between windows.

* Black guest bathroom towel “cart”— Restoration Hardware

* Black guest bathroom concrete tile floor— Granda Tile Stars & Crosses

* Black bunk bedroom (w/ perpendicular mattresses) quilts— Rejuvenation ,

* Black bunk bedroom sheets and shams— Target , faux leather lumbar pillow— Target

* Black bunk bedroom rug— Rejuvenation

* Kitchen backsplash tile - Zellige 4x4 “natural white” from Ann Sacks Idris by Ait Manos

* Kitchen faucet— Ann Sacks Idris by Ait Manos

* Kitchen range/cooktop—Blue Star—All appliances were purchased from Eastbank Appliances .

* Living room sofa— Scan Design

* Living room coffee table—made from logs from the site.

* Living room arm chair— Manor Fine Wares

* Dining table—Milled from trees from the site.

* Dining chairs— Windsor Workshop

* Dining area chandeliers— Ebay —salvaged from a church

* Sheepskin throws—Ikea and the blanket gifted from a friend.

* Puzzle table chairs/table/chandelier—Table from Bloomsbury Antiques ; Chairs from an antique store in Seattle that is no longer in business; chandelier from Hippo Hardware .

* Tall bookcase near puzzle table—custom by Arciform

* Bird’s nest side table—Logs from site

* Bird’s nest rug— Ikea

* Sources for stained glass + any other salvage materials—Stained glass windows and doors by Bloomsbury Antiques ; interior wood doors we had collected over the years from projects.

* Large Mahogany Window with integrated door—custom by Arciform

* Kitchen and pantry cabinetry– custom by Arciform

* Storm windows to make stained glass window insulated—custom by Arciform

* Wall paneling, casing, any trim—milled from wood from the site

* Walls that are not paneled—tinted plaster

* Brass sconces in Bird’s Nest— Big Ship Salvage

* Large Spotlights— Old Portland Hardware & Architectural

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

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 17:28:05 GMT

Knowing what defines the popular architectural styles that are a part of Portland’s history is important. Portland’s neighborhoods are full of historic homes. Preserving the stories that these architectural treasures tell is what we love to do at ARCIFORM. The easiest way to know the different styles is to understand what was going on during the time when they were popular. Architecture reflects the fashion, science, and industry of the times.

Let’s start with the first home that was built in Portland: a log cabin. This home was built in 1843, downtown on Washington and Main street, by Asa Lovejoy and Francis Pettygrove. From there, our beautiful city spread in all directions.

The Victorian Era (1860 – 1900)

The Victorian area architecture is defined by verticality and formality. Access to exotic products was made possible by an expanding railroad and shipping network, and stylistic details and exuberant mixtures within styles flourished. Most Victorian homes in Portland are two to three stories with complicated asymmetrical shapes and separated formal interior spaces.

There were several unique architectural subsets within the Victorian period. These include Italianate, Second Empire, Queen Anne Reviva and the Farmhouse Victorian.

Italianate (1840 – 1885)

Italianate homes have low pitched roofs with moderate to wide overhangs, decorative architectural features, and arched top windows. Note how vertical the proportions are. This is the key element of Victorian architecture.

Explore the impressive Fried-Durkheimer House , also known locally as the first Morris Marks House, a stunning example of Italianate architecture.

Second Empire (1855 – 1885)

This is a French-inspired interpretation of the Victorian style. If a structure reminds you of Paris, it is likely in the Second Empire style. Mansard roofs, molded cornices, decorative brackets on the eaves, and features that resemble carved stone define the style.

Queen Anne Revival (1880 – 1910)

Inspired by the Queen Anne era from the early 1700s, these romantic, whimsical structures feature steeply pitched roofs with towers, turrets, spindle work, patterned shingles, and asymmetrical facades. They are often very colorful.

Victorian Farm House (1880 – 1910)

The Victorian farm house’s identifying characteristics are the vertical proportions of the windows, the rooms and the simple steeply pitched roofs.

The 1905 Lewis and Clark Exposition was one of the reasons Portland grew 129% in the first ten years of the 20 ^th Century. Spec houses built during this time in the Colonial and Craftsman styles remain part of our treasured neighborhoods today.

Colonial Revival (1880 – Present)

In architecture, the term “revival” means a renewed interest in old styles. Colonial Revival is inspired by America’s early colonial homes. Features include symmetry, a central porch, and double-hung windows with shutters. The roof shapes are clean and symmetrical as is the interior room layout.

Dutch Colonial (1880 – 1955)

A double-pitched gambrel roof defines this style. Dutch Colonial homes are made to resemble homes of the 1600s-1700s in central and northern Europe. They are usually two stories and can be on the more elaborate side with large front porches supported by large simple columns.

Spanish Colonial or Mediterranean (1910 – 1930)

These homes feature stuccoed exterior walls and terracotta tile roofs. Other features can include asymmetry, narrow, arched windows and doors, warm colors, towers, and turrets with iron balconies. The interior spaces seem to create the exterior spaces rather than the other way around.

Craftsman (1905 – 1930)

Craftsman style focuses on structure and function rather than decoration, making the homes cozy and casual for the more informal lifestyles of the period. This was a reaction to the formality of the Victorian Era. These homes feature low-pitched roofs with deep overhangs, large columns, decorative rafter tails, and front porches that span the width of the house.

Read more about our latest Craftsman remodel in Iconic Magazine

Prairie (1900 – 1920)

With low-pitched roofs, usually hipped, deep overhangs with boxed eaves, and extensive porches, these two-story homes were inspired by the Prairie style that emerged in Chicago in around 1900.

Foursquare (1900 – 1920)

These homes come in many styles, including Prairie, Colonial Revival, and Craftsman. The “Foursquare” name originated from the square floor plan with four rooms upstairs and four rooms downstairs.

Tudor (1920s – 1930s)

This style is loosely based on Medieval English architecture of the 1500s-1600s. Local Tudor homes feature steeply pitched roofs, smaller windows, and cozy interior spaces. Tudor arches, whimsical details that mimicked thatched roofs, and half-timbered construction are common. These two decades were dominated with drastic changes in industry and politics, and cozy enclosed spaces where attractive to the consumers. Portland’s Peacock Lane, home to an annual Christmas light display, is one well-known collection of Tudors in the area.

Cottage (1935 – 1950)

Built rapidly during the Great Depression and WWII to house workers and returning veterans and their families, these small one-story homes came in many different styles and were known as “the little [houses] that could.”

Ranch Style (1935 – 1975)

The Ranch style home has a simple, broad, single-story profile, a rectangular shape, a low-pitched roof without dormers, and often an attached garage. Ranch style homes were influenced by increasing reliance on automobiles as suburbs developed. Interiors were usually open with living, dining, and family rooms blending together, and the single-story floor plan was well-suited to families, seniors, and those with mobility issues.

Mid-Century Modern (1945 – 1960s)

Mid-Century Modern homes feature large windows and open spaces. Focusing on integrating nature, these homes are innovative, and sometimes influenced by the Space Age or the Bauhaus movement of the 1920’s in Europe.

New Traditional (1980 – Present)

These homes are often based reviving home styles from previous time periods, including Victorian, Tudor, Craftsman, or Colonial style homes. They often feature attached garages that are prominently placed. This was a counter-movement to the free-spirited 70s. People craved more order and predictability.

21 ^st Century Contemporary (1990s – Present)

The introduction of computer-aided programs and unlimited access to resources allowed for endless possibilities in design. Seen around Portland as infill or singular statements.

Watch now on YouTube:

Architectural Home Styles of Portland --Hosted by Anne De Wolf

The Walter: A Labor of Love

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 19:51:02 GMT

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 interior holds an entry hall, living room, dining room, kitchen, billiard room, and 7 bedrooms. Decorative woodwork includes mahogany boxed beams and trim, and oak hardwood floors with mahogany inlay. There are characteristics of the Arts and Crafts and Colonial styles throughout the 1 ^st and 2 ^nd floors. Atypically, the Cook House featured quartersawn oak prominently, thanks to Cook’s work in the lumber industry.

Its location on an important streetcar line surely made their home remodeling process, daily life and even entertaining at home more efficient.

A Home by any Other Name

In the recent past, the home was known to neighbors as The Christmas House , due to the previous owner’s generous Christmas displays. After the 2008 financial downturn, the house sat abandoned and was vandalized for 8 years. While fixed interior elements remained mostly intact, much of the hardware and light fixtures had been removed.

Lyrin Murphy and Walter

Portland realty broker Lyrin Murphy and her business partner bought the home at auction in 2018 without seeing the interior, saving it from demolition for new development . Murphy names the houses she restores, and this gem was dubbed Walter . He felt big, bold and hearty, with a personality that welcomes people in.

Lyrin is no ordinary broker. Since the day they bought Walter, she (and a small team of skilled contractors she hired) hit the ground running, roughing-in updated wiring and plumbing, restoring an original wall tapestry as well as the Mott earthenware bathtubs, tuck-pointing 12” thick stone walls, redoing the porch floor boards and straightening columns wherever possible. Murphy’s got a deep-seated passion for restoring good, old houses , and she’s not afraid to get her hands dirty for months on end. She went to great lengths to assure that anything that could be repaired was, and that new elements were added only when absolutely necessary. Driven by her big-picture vision and keen attention to detail, and with hours upon hours of blood, sweat and tears, Walter is now restored beyond his former glory; he had weathered many storms and has been one of her most challenging restorations yet.

Walter’s Restoration Team

Working as her own project manager, Murphy hired ARCIFORM to help repair and preserve as much of the original character and integrity of the house as possible. Her aim was to turn the home into an Airbnb rental or event space for the community. With the Covid-19 outbreak restrictions in place, Lyrin has since rented it out for films, music videos and photography sessions.

ARCIFORM refurbished over 65 windows, installed custom, period-sensitive exterior doors, and helped with interior trim. We helped re-engineer and rebuild the exterior railings, using as many original pieces as possible. Richard De Wolf, founder of ARCIFORM, worked diligently with Lyrin to help figure out what was salvageable and what needed to be milled. Our plan was to make the balustrade the showstopper it once was.

Principal Designer Anne De Wolf, co-owner of Arciform consulted with Lyrin on tile, furnishings, fixtures, fittings and wallpaper options and rich, lush colors throughout the house.

Lyrin hired Anne to design Walter’s kitchen, as there was no trace left of its original features. Anne’s design is as hard-working and efficient as it is handsome and harmonious to the home in look and feel. Anne and Lyrin considered the finishes and fixtures carefully to echo the beauty and charm of the period while offering plenty of storage and modern efficiencies. The new appliances, cast-iron farm sink, open shelving and custom quartersawn oak base cabinets and two full height cabinets by Versatile Wood Products are practical and attractive, while Calacatta marble counters and luminous Moroccan zellige tile lend beauty and an old world feel to the room, a modern-day Downton Abbey. The flooring had been damaged by standing water, so reclaimed, 100-year-old Fir from a school in Silverton, Oregon, and the painted tongue and groove paneling on the ceiling add to the old house feel. The spacious room has an antique table as an island, easily moved to accommodate a circle of friends prepping a meal or busy caterers, creating a celebration feast.

ARCIFORM’s carpenters Jake, Sam, Quenten, and Noah were an integral part of the restoration team and their stellar work can be seen throughout the house. Other key team members: Design Associate Stephyn Meiner, Owner Richard De Wolf and Project Manager Bri Johnson.

Versatile Wood Products replaced the veneer on the original Oak balcony door, heavily damaged due to being left ajar for years.

The basement has three main rooms: a billiard room, wine cellar and boiler room, and a back hall with laundry room and water closet. The north side of the basement was left untouched in 1909 and still has historic fabric from 1892. Work in the basement included repairing major water damage, taking down a crumbling wall under the porch, removing battens, numbering them and reassembling it all. It was also a staging area for reassembling the railing pieces. Murphy and Arciform owner Richard De Wolf sat on the floor in the dark, wet basement for hours (centipedes and spiders all around), putting the railing together.

Of 6 tiled fireplaces, 3 have rare Rookwood Faience tile

The Rookwood Faience tile found in the Cook House were all depicted in Rookwood’s architectural catalog in the early part of the 20th century. The cottage scene with green tiles found in the dining room was particularly popular during the Art & Crafts Movement, as green-colored fireplace tile with a wood surround was en vogue at this time. The living room surround with brown tiles, corbels with hanging fruit, and integrated ceramic mantel is rarer. The company still has the original receipt from Jacob Cook’s tile order.

Bathrooms

Everything in the existing bathrooms had to be taken apart, but much was salvaged for reuse. 2 bathrooms had the original J. L. Mott earthenware (not cast iron) tubs in reusable condition. Plumbing fixtures were rebuilt and Lyrin cleaned up all the tile she could salvage.

The railings for the 2nd floor balcony have “b”-shaped balusters. 230 of the 300 original balusters were saved during restoration, and most of the original rail cap and crown underneath. The balcony ceiling was replaced during the renovation with new beadboard to match the profile of the original.

The story of this Mt. Tabor landmark continues: we don’t know what Walter could become down the line, but he will be listed on the National Historic Register in February 2021 and is currently up for sale .

Professional photos by Christopher Dibble

The Harlow Hotel: From High Hopes to Hard Times to a New Heyday

Fri, 05 May 2023 16:20:31 GMT

This was the façade of the Harlow Hotel in 2015 in desperate need of attention

If you were a newcomer to Portland you would never believe, looking at the beautifully restored Harlow Hotel , that a scant few years ago it hosted only pigeons, who checked in through its many broken windows. Street level windows and doors were boarded up, providing prime canvas for graffiti, and the condemned building looked like imminent work for a wrecking ball.

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. Capt. John passed away in 1893 and his wife Celeste took over the property, running the second and third floors as a hotel and filling the street level with retail stores, including a barbershop and the East Park Exchange Saloon. In the economic downturn of the 1890s, it became the Harlow Hotel and served as a lodging for the working class. Celeste Harlow sold the building in 1902, and the new owner changed the name to The Park. The hotel was sold again in 1907, and the hotel's name became The Muckle Building.

In the 1930s, the hotel and street level storefronts, including a laundry, were managed by Japanese American proprietors. All were removed to the Pacific Coast internment camps after the attack on Pearl Harbor. When World War II ended, Japanese Americans returned to the hotel as proprietors and residents and the building was again filled with businesses. These included the Park Cleaners, who remained until the building was shuttered in 1972. It is a testament to the erasure of those times that the names of the Japanese American business people are not readily available.

Ganesh Sonpatki bought the Harlow Hotel building in 2008. The first renovation work began in 2009 when Sonpatki hired a demo crew and supervised the demolition of walls and dirt removal. True to its earlier trials and tribulations, however, the historic restoration of the building met with delays, difficulties and an economic downturn now called the Great Recession. “Dealing with the city of Portland was fine,” said Sonpatki, “But because it is a historic building, every cosmetic change had to be approved by the National Parks Service and the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office.” Ganesh and his wife’s long dedication paid off finally on August 17 2019, when, thanks to their passionate efforts and the restorative skills of Versatile Wood Products and Arciform, it reopened with newfound elegance.

When Arciform first visited the site in 2015, half of the roof was gone. Rainwater had poured in, and the basement was flooded. Half of the windows had been broken. Pigeons were everywhere. Woodwork had decayed, including the once-beautiful grand staircase and many windows, casings, doors, and transoms.

Working as a team, Versatile Wood Products built and Arciform installed the extensive wooden architectural details, inside and out, beginning with the entire storefront, half a city block long. The Harlow Hotel is on the historic registry, so all work had to match the original as closely as possible, while incorporating modern, energy-efficient materials.

Versatile first made all the entryway systems , including recessed ones that had to fit in with existing cast iron columns. (The Harlow Hotel is a good example of cast iron construction that proliferated in Portland between the 1850s and 1880s.) Replica doors and storefront windows were designed to closely match originals while allowing for modern hardware, insulated glass, and weatherstripping. Some of the window assemblies had complicated combo jambs that were arched on one side and square on the other, which presented a technical challenge. Transoms and side lites with matching details contribute to a harmonious concept that extends through the entire ground floor of the building. Storefront assemblies include clerestory courses, large, fixed window expanses, mull caps and casing, and panels.

Inside the building, Versatile created functional replica doors for every hotel entrance; old transoms were replicated and replaced. The hotelier agreed to leave one of the original doors to a storage room as a fun historical reference. To restore the corridors, the team recreated trim for the wainscoting. They completely rebuilt the side staircase. The process required dismantling it and replacing all risers, treads, newels, and balusters. Versatile also worked on the deteriorated main stairwell, crafting replicas of its railings and furnishing stair parts which Arciform used to restore the grand staircase, reestablishing the hotel’s elegant entrance.

The existing windows were in varying states of decay – some were missing altogether – and budgeting was critical, necessitating a hybrid strategy. Salvageable windows were restored onsite by another contractor, while Versatile replicated all assemblies that were too far gone to repair.

As it was a historic restoration, a targeted strategy was devised for each opening, with the objective of retaining as much original material as possible. Some jambs were usable, needing replacement sashes only, while some openings required a whole new assembly. Fitting irregular brick openings was a challenge. All required insulated glass and weatherstripping, not only for temperature control but to help mitigate urban noise for the guests.

The historic Harlow Hotel has faced over a century of challenges; to tell its tale is to recount much of the story of Portland, from halcyon days to hard times...to a new heyday. It seems only fitting then that this historic building presented unique challenges for Versatile Wood Products to overcome during its restoration. Working as a team, the hotel’s visionary owner, ARCIFORM, Versatile and other contractors have given Portland an enduring gift. Together they’ve helped create a richer future by preserving and restoring a vital piece of our past.

Arciform and Versatile Wood Products are proud to have been recognized with a 2023 DeMuro award for the restoration of the Harlow Hotel building in downtown Portland. This prestigious award is given every year to Oregon companies and people that have done an exceptional job restoring and reviving landmark buildings in the state. The renovation of the hotel took place over a 10-year period, ultimately turning a dilapidated building visited only by pigeons into the exquisite hotel you see above.

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

Wed, 03 May 2023 17:12:44 GMT

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:

Basement utilities are easily accessible or hidden with a gliding door

Furnace: Locating and sizing the volume of the existing furnace is important when the area around the furnace is being remodeled. It is most cost effective to keep the furnace in its existing location and plan the space around it, so knowing exactly where it sits is key. Noting whether a furnace is gas or electric also helps us to communicate to our mechanical subcontractors which type of system they’ll be working with.

Left: Basement Before. Right: After - ducts are painted to match the walls and ceiling in this basement family room

Plumbing Systems:

Water Meter: Locating and sizing the water meter, which is typically found at the street, is important since the size of the water line running from the meter to the house determines the number of plumbing fixtures the meter can efficiently supply. Our building code requires the water meter to be upgraded if the fixtures being added exceed the current meter’s capabilities.

Left: Plumbing stack in a basement before. Right: The stack painted to match the basement walls & ceiling, after.

Fixtures: Locating the centerline of each pluming fixture (sink, toilet, tub or shower drain, etc.) within a space allows us to plan around existing fixture locations, determine where new fixtures can be located, and how they’ll tie into the plumbing stack.

Electrical Systems:

Electrical Panel: The electrical panel tells us how much power is supplied to the house, and how much of that power is currently being used. Seeing empty spots on an electrical panel is always a good sign, telling us that the panel has the capacity to handle additional load. Locating the panel is important since planning around its existing location is more cost effective than having to relocate it.

Electric Meter & Connection: When planning an addition, knowing where the electric meter, nearest power pole, and connecting power line are allows us to plan the size and location of the addition without having to alter the location of the meter and connecting power line.

Outlets, Switches & Fixtures: Documenting every outlet, switch, and fixture helps us, and our electrician, to plan future electrical layouts in a way that utilizes existing wiring (if it is in good condition) and account for adjustments when moving walls.

Follow along for Part 3 of our Site Measure Series, which will cover which structural systems are important to capture and why!

As Built Documentation - A Critical Component of Your Renovation and Remodel

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 19:59:06 GMT

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!

1. We walk through the spaces as a team and review the goals of the project.

2. Once we wrap up our walk through, we sketch the lot, floorplans and the exterior elevations, making sure to include all mechanical, electrical, and plumbing features. Major utilities such as the electric panels, gas and water meters, water heaters, and furnaces are captured as well, which helps us to determine if any of the utilities need to be upgraded to accommodate changes we propose down the line. We locate trees and hardscape on the lot as well.

3. We note the ceiling and wall material and texture for each area, as well as flooring material and direction. A millwork comb is used to collect information on millwork, from siding to base molding to casings and crowns. This helps us to make sure the areas we remodel or add onto blend seamlessly with the rest of the structure.

4. Once our sketches are complete, we go room by room, first measuring the ceiling height, then the overall measurements from wall to wall. Then, we start in one corner and move around the room clockwise, noting the width, height, and header of each window and door, as well as the spaces between them. Door jamb thicknesses are measured at each door so that the wall thicknesses can be drawn into our 3D model correctly. Sticking to this sequence prevents us from missing details or skipping a step.

HOT TIP: We divide into teams of two so one person can gather the measurements, while the other holds the “dumb” end of the tape and records the information on the plan.

5. Once we have made our way back to the corner we started in, we measure any soffits and get centerlines on plumbing fixtures and appliances. If any registers are in locations we’ll need to work around, we make sure to get their sizes and centerlines too. This is important, as systems hidden behind walls or soffits can very much affect the design decisions.

6. If the house has stairs, we note the width of the stairs, nose depth, and rise and run for each step.

HOT TIP: If there isn’t a place to clearly measure the height of the floor joists, stairs can help you determine this! All you need to do is add up the risers, then subtract the ceiling height of the level the stairs start on. A little bit of math subtracting sheetrock, flooring, and sub flooring thicknesses will get you the joist size!

7. When measuring basements and attics, we make sure to capture as many structural details as possible, including size and spacing for floor and ceiling joists, structural posts and beams, rafters and roof pitch, foundation types and dimensions, and sheathing information. This data helps with designing and engineering changes or additions to the structure.

8. Lastly, the exterior details of the home are captured, including siding and millwork details, hose bib and utility locations, any large trees, fence lines, etc.

HOT TIP: The City of Portland provides a free service called Locate Service. A technician comes to the site and locates underground lines like gas, sewer, and water. This service is required when pulling a permit for an addition.

All of the data we collect during our site measures then gets translated into a Chief Architect 3D model of the existing home, called the as-built. This model lays the foundation for the preliminary design options and allows our designers to easily make changes, see them in 3D, and share them with our clients, subs, and build team members.

Site measures are an intimate look into the structure, style, and history of a home. There is so much more to a home than what meets the eye. This is why the site measure phase of our design process is so crucial to setting up our team for success. There is always a buzz of excitement when we make our way back to our cars after a measure… possibilities abound!

Click here to read Site Measures – Part 2: Capturing Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing Systems

Return to Romance: A Color-Filled Kitchen for a NE Portland Bungalow

Sat, 09 Jul 2022 20:19:31 GMT

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.

“We have very talented gardeners, Mariana and Ruben, who do the magic. I just say, ‘Could we have more flowers here?’ and they make it happen.

“I fell in love with this place when my foot first hit the step, back in 1990,” Gretchen said. “It may look small from the street, but it has five bedrooms and a finished basement TV room. We use every square inch with two home offices, an exercise room, and my gompa – that’s Tibetan for meditation room. I love this house and neighborhood more every day. It’s a paradise!”

She leads me through a home filled with eclectic décor. From blown glass art to several vibrant photos of theater scenes. I asked her about those.

“We have a good friend, Jason Langer, an art photographer, and he did a series on Portland burlesque performers, printed on paper tinted sepia with Stumptown coffee – how Portland can you get?” Along with the photos of dancers there’s a photo of the Oregon Ballet Theater doing Midsummer Night’s Dream, depicting children with monarch butterfly wings. “Jim discovered the photo over the mantle. The gallery owner told us that it was taken in Nerja, a little town on the Malaga Gold coast of Spain where Jim had stayed while I was meditating up-country.”

“But let’s get to the kitchen you came to photograph,” she says.

Although the kitchen, remodeled by Arciform, is distinctly Portland in keeping with the Craftsman house it occupies, it’s also like a blast of sunshine, with creamy yellow walls set off by patterned tiles in vibrant hues of yellow, orange, red, azure and cobalt.

These accent tiles are themselves set in a sea of deep yellow field tiles. I felt like I was walking into an inviting room in Mexico, Spain, Portugal, Southern France or Italy – places that bring to mind warm, golden sun, clear blue sea, earthy red clay, fields of sunflowers and beautiful romance languages.

“I love the sunniness of this room!” I exclaimed. “And I’ve noticed that yellow seems to be a favorite. Was that your idea or Arciform’s?”

“Bradley counseled us to consider what we loved about the current kitchen and include those elements in the design. We had yellow walls and blue Portuguese tile and I knew I wanted those colors and tile again. The yellow helps reflect the light. We live in a neighborhood with a lot of old trees and sometimes don’t get a lot of light, so the yellow helps. All these beautiful old trees, that’s a good problem to have.” She laughs.

“And the cobalt cabinets?”

“The cobalt cabinets were the idea of my sister-in-law, Christine, when I told her I thought there was too much yellow and not enough blue.” I remarked that it sounded like Bradley and Stephyn, their Arciform design team really listened to them.

“We waited a long time before we remodeled our kitchen and I’m happy we did because we were able to have Arciform. They are a unique group. We had chosen another company, but had promised ourselves we would talk with three, and the third was Arciform. Anne and Bradley showed up. I think we might have hugged at first sight, but I’m certain we did as they were leaving. I was sold when Anne told me that our little kitchen was efficient, not too small, and when, from the dining room, I heard Bradley exclaim about the existing kitchen: ‘This is adorable!’”

“The carpenters Jamie and his crew, coordinated by Adam, were wonderful too. I enjoyed having them here and it is a joy to see people create with such attention and skill. Adam always let us know what was going to happen, who was showing up, etc. in emails so clear that my sister-in-law said, “He must have been an English major. I later learned that he was.”

Arciform describes itself as a family, and that is how they feel to us, genuinely like family. I was happy to have our beautiful, highly functional, kitchen complete but I missed them when they were no longer around.“

Before:

“All the details are Arciform’s. I never knew how much details mattered. Stephyn and Bradley did so much – from choosing the exposed hinges to a door stop that is both beautiful and holds open the door. It works so much better than the little porcelain frog I was using there before! And look at this lovely vent. Who would have thought a vent matters, but all the little details make all the difference!

“They even moved the range and redesigned the cabinetry and prep space so that it works better for Jim, who is left-handed.”

Gretchen points out the beautifully symmetric array of decorative tiles above the stove.

“Stephyn helped us find the fabulous Mexican style tile you see here. We had had a hard time finding what we wanted, but this company had so many designs we loved that it was hard to choose, and they were were much less expensive than the tile we’d settled on. She also spent many hours finding things like the right handles for the appliances, hinges, and other small things I wouldn’t have considered but love now.”

The brass knobs on the cabinet and drawers catch my eye; they work so perfectly, set off by the cobalt blue. “Can you tell me about these?” I ask.

New cabinets have full inset doors and drawers and were made by Arciform . Cabinet knobs from Historic House Parts .

Gretchen laughs. “Oh, that’s a funny story. We had these ornate pulls on our original kitchen drawers. I had thought that they were probably precious, and we wanted to preserve them. But when we took them off, little Made in China stickers fell off the backs! We found these lovely knobs that matched. Except these are solid brass and cost about five times as much as the old, “precious” pulls.”

“I love color,” she says, opening the most organized “junk drawer” I’ve ever seen, full of multi-hued containers, pens and scissors, paper clips and other odds and ends. “It makes me SO happy every time I open my fabulous junk drawer and find exactly what I’m looking for.”

She then goes to her office and returns with two “magic wands” that she made. They are long sticks bejeweled with intricate beadwork.

“In the ‘80’s I learned bead work mainly because I loved working with the colorful glass beads. The peyote stitch was traditionally used to cover things like rattle handles and other stick-like shapes. I was inspired by these sticks I found to make these magic wands. The brighter one is the young version of the wand, and the more subtle one, covered in metal beads from the 1920’s, has matured with use–the crystal on the front has become completely clear and the one in back has divided into three. I can’t say I’ve used them except to joke with clients, ‘Well, we could wave the magic wands to help.’”

Perhaps the wands did work, because an hour has passed like magic. Christine has been busy photographing as Gretchen and I talk, and I find myself wishing we didn’t have to leave so soon when she tells me she’s close to getting everything we need.

For my last question, I ask how Gretchen and Jim met. She smiled.

“That’s a good story. Jim and I met at a yoga school party in Santa Monica in 1982. He was there with his girlfriend, a beautiful New Zealander; my sexy Mexican boyfriend wasn’t with me that night. We talked the whole evening, then didn’t see each other again for at least six months when we were in the same class at the yoga school. It turned out we both love to do many of the same things, bike rides, movies, and so on. The beautiful girlfriend and the sexy boyfriend didn’t really share those things. We became good friends and over a few years, when his girlfriend and my boyfriend were gone, much more.”

I feel like I’m standing in a room full of romance.

– Snow Blackwood

The colorful tiles that evoke a Mediterranean villa or Mexican casita. And this lovely, affectionate couple who found so much in common with each other. And I can’t help but reflect that good design, and a good relationship between designers and clients, has some of those same qualities. It’s all about listening to each other and paying attention to the little things that, in the end, make all the difference.

Building Trusting Relationships by Design

Sat, 09 Jul 2022 20:00:16 GMT

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.

We Love Stories, Partnerships, and Old Houses

Any home is a wealth of stories. There are the stories of the building itself; what were the design fashions of the time, which materials were used, which methods of construction led to buildings that are uniquely of their age? And then there are your life stories. How do you live, what are your days like, which rooms do you like to hang out in and what do you like to do there? What are your dreams? What do you want each room to evoke for you?

We are experts at restoring and remodeling old houses, from the late 1800s through the 1960’s. But you are the experts in how you like to live. We listen to that. In one recent project, the wife wanted a clean Scandinavian look that appealed to her roots. While her husband was fine with that, he pined for the cozy atmosphere of old Irish pubs. So, while we designed the main house with a Nordic feel, his office design was reminiscent of the warm woodsy feeling he loved.

Relationships between people usually begin with sharing stories; our approach to partnering with you is no different. Your stories, and the stories of your home, guide us towards the right decisions for you. From our first conversation to the final finishing touch, we’ve developed a process that informs and engages you in the creation of your new space.

We Take Your Project and Best Interests To Heart

We begin by putting ourselves in your shoes. We treat your house as though it was ours. We know that every brush stroke can have financial consequences, so we follow a process that ensures that all decisions, from major elements to the all-important details, are made before construction work starts. Our motto here is: make mistakes on paper; they’re quicker and simpler to correct.

We start every project with a thorough consultation with you, listening to your stories, dreams, inspirations, and any concerns you might have. We align with you on goals and outline the steps to reach them; we will check in on those goals throughout the design- build process. Your design and build team will work with you to develop realistic plans based on your aesthetic, priorities, and a budget for you to approve before any construction begins.

You Get What You Want Because You’re Part of the Process

We see our role as drawing on our skills and expertise to facilitate and achieve your goals. At the beginning, your designer will sit down with you to collaborate on concepts, ideas, fixtures and finishes that please you, co-creating an aesthetic concept that helps us transform your story into your beautiful new space.

To make sure we’re adhering to your goals, your design and build teams will work together to develop or review a complete set of plans and detailed specifications for each part of the project. Based on these, we will create work orders for your review and approval. At each juncture, before the next phase starts, we will check in with you to make sure we’re on track.

Building Respectfully, Building Safely During Covid-19

Remodeling can be a disruptive process, inevitably involving noise and dust; we minimize that by sealing off and isolating the rooms we are working in. We protect all surfaces, including floors, with coverings and our build team wears shoe covers. All ducts are tightly sealed to prevent dust or fumes from entering.

Ensuring your comfort, privacy, and safety during your renovation has always been our priority. During Covid-19 this has only become more important. The good news is that our longstanding practices of isolating the workspace ensure that remodeling during this period remains safe for your family.

The Binder that Binds Us Together

In this age of high tech, we have a simple, time-proven device that glues the entire project together: our project binder. Including concepts, components, designs and build plans, the binder is the complete picture, accessible to the entire team at every step from dream to reality.

Besides working with you and getting your approval each step of the way, all of our designs and plans go through multiple internal reviews as we progress. The binder makes these hand-off meetings easily accomplished. Working under the premise that many minds and eyes are better, we augment each other’s ideas and catch each other’s mistakes early on. Our designers also work closely with our Project Managers, as well as our experts in electrical, mechanical, plumbing, carpentry and cabinet making to ensure that all designs are feasible, efficient and adhere to budget.

We believe that fast isn’t the best way to do things; correct is better. Working too fast can lead to expensive changes at the construction phase, incurring additional costs and marring the entire process. Avoiding change orders and down-the-line surprises is the bedrock of our practice. We have a very good record of smooth processes that are as pleasing as the results.

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The Heart of Trust

Trust is a heartfelt thing, but earning it relies on a series of consistent, reliable actions. Since 1997, we’ve enjoyed the multitudinous stories of our clients and their houses. These stories, amalgamated, now tell the story of us. At Arciform, we earn the trust of our clients by listening well, communicating clearly, keeping in touch at all steps of the project, and doing what we say we’ll do when we say we’ll do it. Yet there’s a subtler ingredient at work, too – the warmth, kindness, enthusiasm, and plain old sense of fun that we bring to each project.

Even the end of our project is not the end of our relationship. We’ll stay in touch, checking in to make sure you’re happy with your new space. We always look forward to hearing our clients’ feedback.

As one client recently commented: “We appreciate your professionalism, kindness and thoughtfulness and will look forward to continuing on this journey together.”

We couldn’t have said it better. Now we look forward to the opportunity to earn your trust as well, so we’ll both have great stories to tell.

By Saving “One of the Last of Its Kind,” Arciform Preserves Portland’s History

Sat, 09 Jul 2022 18:48:20 GMT

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.

It was a beautiful sunny day, the sky azure blue and punctuated by fluffy clouds. The house stood encircled by a chain-link fence, its fresh coats of pale blue and white paint gleaming in the sun. Joe graciously invited us inside, gave us a tour, and introduced us to the crew who were hard at work painting and finishing various elements. As construction is one of the fields that is considered essential, the Arciform crew has been able to continue their work during the pandemic by wearing masks and keeping a safe distance from others.

This probably isn’t the first time that masks were worn in this house to ward off a virus. Just a century ago, a novel influenza virus infected one-third of the world’s population, possibly including inhabitants of this home. Though it was originally built in 1880 as a private residence for the Morris Marks family, by the turn of the century the building was functioning as an 11-room boarding house. In the early 1900s, the house was advertised in the Oregonian as having, “light, airy, heated rooms, [and the] finest home cooking,” and a 1917 Oregonian ad, just a year before the 1918 pandemic hit Portland, promised residents “electric lights, gas, phone, and bath” for $3 a week.

Arciform crew members Benjamin Houser (left) and Roger Muller (right). Photo by Gingi Tilbury.

Talking to the crew, it was clear that the value of this home as a historical, cultural, and architectural record is in the forefront of their minds. Standing in a sun-filled room on the first floor, beneath an ornate 19 ^th century chandelier, Arciform site lead Roger Muller and carpenter Ben Houser chatted with me about this house’s importance and the sometimes challenging process of working on it.

The original ornate banister. Photo by Gingi Tilbury.

“This is one of the last of its kind. You don’t have too many Italianates left in the downtown core,” Roger said. “It’s a good symbol, especially right now. This house is 140 years old and is still here,” Ben added. Agreeing, Roger continued, “It’s survived a lot of big events in our history – world wars, the 1918 influenza pandemic, the Great Depression – and hopefully it will continue for another 100 years. This house is already 140 years old. But when the trees were harvested, they were probably at least 200 years old, so that makes the wood in this house at least 340 years old. It’s remarkable.”

The pride these craftsmen take in their work is evident. “Did you get a shot of these doors yet? This is one of my favorite things,” Ben said with infectious enthusiasm, sliding the pocket doors out from their recessed hollow. Painter Rene Flannigan had explained to us earlier that they actually boiled the paint off the original door hardware, which now shines in the newly painted doors.

The original door hardware was salvaged by Arciform. Photo by Gingi Tilbury.

“Did you get a lot of pictures of the moldings and all the details?” Roger asked, showing us the original and reproduction wainscoting – the new pieces perfectly indistinguishable from the old.

This Italianate beauty has an abundance of intricate millwork; the Arciform crew repaired what they could and reproduced sections they couldn’t. Site lead Jack Ouska explained via email that “The vast majority of the restored and replicated pieces on this project were done by Arciform carpenters in the field – using basic hand tools, some power tools, and their carpentry skills.”

As we talked about why it’s important to save old houses like this one, Roger said, “We have enough cookie-cutter homes out there. This house is so unique. You could replicate something like this, but who’s going to? For starters, the moldings are so intricate. And the cost it would take to replicate these details is cost prohibitive.” Both Roger and Ben agreed that new houses just aren’t made with the same attention to detail and craftsmanship.

“When doing renovation, so many people don’t take the time to research what is proper for the style and time period of their home. They take out these great old double-hung windows and put in vinyl windows. We don’t do that. This attention to detail is what Arciform is known for. We can restore and modernize aspects of a structure, but without sacrificing any of the architectural integrity. That’s so important,” Roger said.

Door repair by Arciform

With so much intricate woodwork to be repaired or replicated, Arciform played an important role in the restoration of the Fried-Durkheimer House. Their skilled craftspeople recreated an elaborate window that was damaged beyond repair; replicated the front doors, salvaging decorative parts from the originals; repaired, replaced, and re-glazed numerous original window sash; repaired and replaced numerous interior doors; and produced millwork for various repairs.

Reproduction of one of the building’s ornate windows. Photo by Arciform.

Other details receiving careful attention include the restoration of the marble fireplace, which has become a special project for site lead Jack Ouska. “Jack is extremely enthusiastic about the fireplace, so everyone wants him to be the one to finish it,” said Ben. “For the repair,” Joe explained, “we are going to reset the pieces in mortar and then grout all the cracks. We won’t be trying to make it look seamless; the cracks will still be visible, giving it some character.”

The original marble fireplace will be repaired by site lead Jack Ouska. Photos by Benjamin Houser (left) and Gingi Tilbury (right).

Arciform founder and co-owner Richard De Wolf sourced the salvaged antique light fixtures on the first floor, some of which were donated by the Architectural Heritage Center . The dramatic gilt bronze chandelier was once a gaslight fixture, a common method of lighting during the mid-1800s before electricity became the norm. (You can read about the history of gaslight fixtures and see fixtures similar to the one used in the Fried-Durkheimer House in the National Park Service’s article titled “ Gaslighting in America: A Guide for Historic Preservation. ”)

The process of restoring the house wasn’t always easy for the crew. “If you’d seen this place when we first started, it’s a pretty phenomenal transformation,” Roger said.

Joe said, “It was pretty bad.” The house had been empty since the 1990s and was occupied by squatters for years.

“It’s been kind of a love-hate relationship. I think we’re now all starting to love it more, but there were times when we would come here before the roof had been repaired . . . We had blue tarps on the roof,” Roger said, gesturing upwards towards the ceiling, “and we would come here in the middle of the winter, and it’d be raining, there were five gallon buckets everywhere throughout the house, and the water would just pour down on your tools.”

Laughing, Benjamin added, “It would be ten degrees colder inside than it was outside; to warm up, you’d have to go outside!”

“It was just miserable,” Roger continued. “I think we’re now all starting to love it more, but there were times when we would come here before the roof had been repaired . . . it’d be raining, there were five gallon buckets everywhere, the water would just pour down on your tools. It was kind of a depressing job site for a long time. Half the windows were missing. We had plywood up. It was kind of a depressing job site for a long time. Now that it’s this far along, we enjoy working here again. But there was a time when, you know, we thought ‘Are we ever going to see the end of this?’ We do this on a regular basis, but . . . ” Roger paused, “this one was a little harder.” Roger and Ben said the last sentence together, in almost perfect unison.

“Even though we work on things like this all the time, when we first started working on this house, a lot of us felt like, ‘This thing is so far gone.’ But now, with the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel, it’s just remarkable how far we’ve come,” Roger said.

As our conversation concluded, Roger again emphasized why saving these historic structures is worth it, even when it’s challenging: “If you start eliminating one house or one building here and there, the next thing you know you’re losing the fabric and the identity of the city.”

Jack Ouska, the primary site lead for this project, wasn’t on site the day we visited, but he shared his thoughts with me via email about the exciting journey this house has taken, both literally and figuratively:

Jack Ouska, site lead for the Fried-Durkheimer restoration. Photo by Christopher Dibble .

“Nothing was on paper as to how you shore up a three-story home that is 138 years old, balloon framed, with no subsiding or subfloor, cut it in half vertically, like slicing a tall wedding cake from top to bottom, and have it survive, intact, for a mile and a half ride through Portland. I remember Richard [De Wolf] looking at me on our first site visit and asking, ‘What are the chances of this home making it to its new location without collapsing during the move?’ I told him, ‘No problem.’

Jack goes on to say, “Richard, Joe McAlester, and I came up with a plan, and as you can see, it worked. Credit also goes to Sam Gray, one of our site leads who took the reins while I went on vacation, finishing all the shear walls and brace panels. He was also our ‘cake slicer.’ Sam did a remarkable job, as did many others who lent their skills.”

Karen Karlsson, Rick Michaelson, and Richard De Wolf, the current owners of the Fried-Durkheimer House, certainly share similar sentiments about how important buildings like these are in preserving Portland’s history and culture. They headed the efforts to save this house in 2016 , purchasing the house for $1, cutting it in half, and moving it to its new location at SW Broadway and 6th, which took an incredible amount of time, money, and effort.

Richard De Wolf explained that the guidance of experienced architects is essential, “especially when converting a building from residential to commercial,” as is the goal with this project. For the restoration of the Fried-Durkheimer House, Arciform consulted Paul Falsetto, an architect with specific expertise in historic preservation. Paul has developed preservation and rehabilitation plans for many buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Richard says, “Paul was great to work with. His extensive experience with commercial architecture, along with his passion for historic buildings, helped make this project a resounding success.”

Preserving historic buildings is important and not only because people love them. Places hold memories that connect us to our history, culture, and community in essential ways, both individually and collectively. Architect Paul Falsetto explains:

“The history of a place is encoded, in part, in its properties and structures. They provide evidence of the values and lifestyles of generations past, made real and tangible for us to experience today.”

--Paul Falsetto, architect

“You can see and touch the historic building façades built by craftsmen of that time. You can stand inside the building spaces and experience light and volume much like previous inhabitants did. These properties act as a through line of narrative from past to present that helps bind a community together in a meaningful manner. Conversely, if you lose a property of historic significance, such as what very nearly happened with the Fried-Durkheimer House, you lose forever a piece of the story of what makes a place real and unique.”

This is what makes the work done by Arciform so important: it preserves our community, deeply connecting us to place and history.

Joe McAlester and Roger Muller work on final details. Light fixture donated by the Architectural Heritage Center. Door restored by Arciform. Photo by Gingi Tilbury.

The day after our interview, project manager Joe McAlester sent me a lengthy list of all those currently involved on this project. Joe wanted to be sure to give credit to the entire Arciform crew responsible for restoring this important cultural landmark: Jack Ouska, Sam Gray, Roger Muller, Darin Puntillo, Benjamin Houser, Quenten King, Christopher Burgos, Taylor Rademacher, Brian Hoffman, Jacob Hawkins, Peter Chakmakian, Don Golden, Noah Schultz, Rene Flanigan, Travis Sergi, Derek Eshenaur, Brad Horne, Stephyn Meiner and Isiah Dorn.

Reading through this list of names, it’s reminiscent of an award-winner’s Oscar night thank-yous, and that seems somehow appropriate for such an impressive accomplishment.

Inspired by Family

Sat, 09 Jul 2022 16:51:51 GMT

In business since 1997, and with many residential remodeling projects under their belt, Arciform is known for their expertise in historic preservation. How does a company like this grow and thrive? It starts with family. And by family we mean not only those related by blood or marriage, but also the strong bonds that form between people who care about each other. These kinds of connections are what makes a company strong, and this is what Arciform strives for.

With creative direction by Snow B Designs , Arciform recently filmed the “ Inspired by the Family ” video as part of their three part series: “ Inspired by the Story ,” “Inspired by the Family,”and “Inspired by the Neighborhood.” This video introduces viewers to the family as they prepare and enjoy a meal together – parents, children, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and the extended Arciform family they’ve come to know over their two-year renovation.

Located in historic downtown Lake Oswego, this gorgeous bungalow was built in 1920. Using salvaged and antique materials when possible, Arciform renovated this home to fit the needs of this young family. In close consultation with homeowners Gary and Melissa, Arciform principal designer Anne De Wolf, Project Manager Adam Schoeffel, and Site Lead Jamie Whittaker, reconfigured living spaces and integrated architectural elements to match the original house.

Design Team Manager Marty Hegg explains how Arciform helps families evaluate their changing needs: “We want them to consider if the proposed changes will suit their family over time, as we know that families grow and change. Will that nursery that we build now be adaptable as a guest bedroom once their children have left the nest? Do they have a first-floor bedroom with a bathroom that would suit grandpa in a few years? Should the stair balustrade be spaced more tightly so little Clementine doesn’t get her head stuck between bars? Marble floors in the bathroom are pretty, but are they too slick for kids or aging parents?” These are all important considerations; Arciform is skilled at helping families anticipate what needs might arise in the future, even those they might never have considered themselves.

As one’s family changes, expands, shrinks, or ages, various considerations come into play. Perhaps when you bought your home, you didn’t yet have children, but now that you’re a family of five you’re finding your family needs more space. Or like many families, you may be caring for elderly parents who have difficulty navigating stairs, which may necessitate adding a ground-floor bedroom or wider walkways and larger bathrooms to accommodate wheelchairs or walkers. You may be at the other end of the life cycle yourself, where your nest is empty or nearly so, and starting to consider what your needs might be as you head into your retirement years in the next decade or two. Perhaps it’s time to turn that now-outgrown basement playroom into a space for a favorite hobby? Whatever stage of life you happen to be in, ARCIFORM can help meet your family’s changing needs.

Further reflecting on how ARCIFORM is “ Inspired by the Family ,” Project Manager Joe Hoffman says, “In our work here at Arciform, our craft is always informed by the family that will enjoy the project – be it an extended family or an individual and their pets. Knowing how the family lives and enjoys their space informs and inspires the creation. From the initial concept, through the process of construction, to celebrating the final results, understanding the family’s desires, needs and wishes are key to our success.”

At ARCIFORM, we draw inspiration from the families that we encounter every day in our work – both our ARCIFORM family and yours.

This Day in History

Tue, 28 Jun 2022 18:46:23 GMT

December 18th, 1949 was a chilly day in Portland, Oregon, with afternoon temperatures dipping into the low 30’s and Portland’s signature snow y ( …no, rain y …no, snow y …no, rain y … ) weather in the air. Bundled up in overcoats, two Portlanders might have decided to warm themselves at the Cape Cod Tearoom in the Isam White House on 20th Ave NW, owned and managed by Hilma Carlson. Inside, they would have found a welcom ing warmth and a small but filling menu. If they felt flush, they might have treated themselves to a De Luxe dinner of Crab Cocktail, Soup and Salad, and a main dish of Roast Leg of Lamb with Mint Jelly, served with vegetables, potato, freshly made rolls and a choice of beverages and desserts – among them three pie choices, Chocolate or Raspberry Sundae, or Spice Cake. And this sumptuous repast would have set them back a full $1.75 apiece! Ah, those were the days…

Pop quiz!

Built in 1903 – 1904 the Isam White House, now the beautifully remodeled home of

Anne and Richard De Wolf, is a wonderful exemplar of which architectural style?

— answer below

2021 DeMuro Award Winner: Caples House Museum! Congratulations to the entire project team responsible for this notable restoration.

Watch the Restore Oregon video about this award winning project here .

Arciform loves to elevate historic architecture. The story behind the Caples House begins in Ohio, 1844, when young Charles Caple headed west with his father on the Oregon Trail, eventually settling in a Native American Fishing Village on the banks of the Columbia River. The family built a log cabin on the site. Charles studied medicine in Portland eventually establishing his own practice. In 1885 he married Lucinda McBride. Together, they built the existing Caples House (AKA the Dr. Charles G. and Lucinda McBride Caples Farmstead) atop the site of the original log cabin.

The house remained in the family until 1959 when Dr. Caples’ daughter, Dell Caples Houghton, bequeathed the house and its immediate surroundings to the Oregon State Society Daughters of the American Revolution (OSSDAR) to use as a museum. Unfortunately, the Caples did not give the house a proper foundation and was suffering from damage on the south wall, warping and water leakage, and gaps around door and window frames.

Working with Oxbow, Inc. of Scappoose, OR, Arciform lifted the house and poured a new foundation, completing the restoration with additional electrical work and repainting. Caples House now enters the future on a firm footing! Aside from the Caples House, what were Dr. Caples’ and Lucinda McBride's historical contributions to Columbia County? . . . . A: Dr. Caples was the first doctor in Columbia County; Lucinda worked as his medical assistant and midwife. Together, they founded the first school in Columbia City.

Watch the timelapse video of OXBO and Arciform lifting the Caples House.

Pop quiz!

Aside from the Caples House, what were Dr. Caples’ and Lucinda McBride's historical contributions to Columbia County?

— answer below

When it incorporated in 1851, Portland had over 800 inhabitants, a sawmill, a log cabin hotel, and the Oregonian – but no library. Thirteen years later, in 1864, that was remedied when a group of businessmen established The Library Association of Portland (LAP) and leased space in Benjamin Stark’s building, at First and Stark Streets. In 1893, the library gained a building of its own as the Stark Street Library (between Broadway and Park Streets) opened its doors to Association subscribers. The Library was on the first floor, the Portland Art Association on the second. In 1900 LAP (then joined with the Free Reading Room and Library Association) received a bequest of 8,891 books, maps and other materials plus $2,500 in gold coin from businessman John Wilson. LAP negotiated taxpayer support with the city and hired Mary Frances Isom as Head Librarian. Isom brought two firsts – she was the first professionally-trained and the first woman to hold the position. It soon became apparent a bigger library was needed.

In 1911, Isom and her board purchased the block where the Central Library now stands for $342,000. They hired Portland architect Albert E. Doyle of Doyle, Patterson & Beach to design the new building. In September 1913, the beautiful Georgian Revival Central Library was ready. Befitting its mission, Central Library honors authors, historians, philosophers, artists, statesmen and scientists, whose names are inscribed on panels below the arched windows and twenty benches surrounding the building. ⁠ ⁠ Central Library’s exterior has changed little in 100 years; in 1979 the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. ARCIFORM’s sister company, Versatile Wood Products, added interior window sashes to the library’s existing windows, reducing noise and improving efficiency, part of an extensive renovation in 1997, ensuring that this iconic landmark that connects modern downtown Portland to its past will carry its inspiring architecture – and knowledge – well into the future. ⁠ ⁠

Pop quiz!

The Central Library John Wilson Special Collections, with current holdings of over 10,000 items, contains what book that is historically significant to Oregon?

— answer below

Quick quiz: which historic house in Portland is both fictive and real? If you answered the Barnes Mansion , built in 1913, you’d be right. The same house was reborn in the pages of the Ramona series by Beverly Cleary, who grew up nearby. Cleary declared the house to be haunted, a reputation that grew as hard times, disrepair, and the Columbus Day storm reduced the architectural masterpiece to a forbidding eye sore, and a musical owner regularly shook the neighborhood playing his thunderous organ. The origin of the Barnes home is a sort of tale of two mansions, due to a rivalry between its owner, Frank Barnes, and Henry Pittock, who was building his own famous mansion at the same time. The men had similar histories, both crossing the plains to come to Oregon, both of modest means and monumental ambitions. Pittock made his fortune in publishing, Barnes in salmon and timber.

The Barnes Mansion, designed and built by the firm of Stokes & Zeller, combines English Jacobethan architecture with a grand Colonial Revival portico and Arts and Crafts details. The 11,443 square foot, 32 room mansion, which includes a ballroom, was constructed by the best craftsmen using the finest materials: 18-karat gold threads in the drawing room wall fabric, a mahogany staircase, an Italian marble fireplace, and stained-glass windows by Portland’s Povey Brothers Studio, known as the “Tiffany of the Northwest”. The house, no longer haunted, has now been lovingly restored. Currently, we are working on the restoration of the main suite. Previously we returned the kitchen to its former glory, creating a style that’s simultaneously stately and homey, with new-milled mahogany cabinet lowers and white painted uppers, including a built-in hutch to show off glassware and treasures. ⁠ ⁠

Pop quiz!

The Barnes Mansion was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Which architectural style is the house listed under? ⁠

Arciform’s clients love this house not only for its historic charm but also for the *gorgeous* Gorge scenery. (Sorry, we couldn’t help ourselves!)

This home—the Edward Dimmit house—was built for one of the early 20 ^th century’s most influential post card photographers. Edward Dimmit captured stunning scenes of Mt. Hood and Portland but was best known for his panoramic photos of the Columbia River Gorge. No wonder he wanted to live out his days here, mere miles from the mighty Columbia.

Dimmit, who was a waiter before he found his calling as a photographer, catered to the tourists who flocked to the Gorge upon the completion of the Historic Columbia River Highway in 1917. He and his entrepreneurial business partner sold post cards along the highway from their car, a Model T, and later opened a post card stand.

Pop Quiz!

In what Columbia River Gorge landmark did Edward Dimmit open his post card stand?

— answer below

The Pioneer Mother’s Memorial Cabin is one of four historical buildings in the Newell Pioneer Village , located on a hill overlooking Champoeg State Park . The cabin is open to visitors, hosting thousands of children every year. Visitors to the living history exhibit can see period furniture, quilts, and even a bear skin rug—artifacts that female pioneers would have brought along on the Oregon Trail or collected after settling.

To preserve the nearly century-old building, we disassembled and then reassembled the building brick by brick and log by log to ensure it was recreated exactly as the original—with a few exceptions. We updated the cabin for ADA accessibility and seismic safety so Oregonians can visit for generations to come.

Pop Quiz!

The Pioneer Mother’s Memorial Cabin was originally built on the site where Oregon’s provisional government was established in 1843.

Why was the cabin moved?

— answer below

The First Congregational Church , located at 1126 SW Park Ave, in downtown Portland is notable for two reasons. First, it is a rare and splendid example of Venetian Gothic architecture, not simply in Portland, but in the United States. Two, its 175-foot bell tower was the tallest building in Portland for a little more than two decades, when the Oregonian building, at a height of 194 feet, eclipsed it. Founder Horace Lyman commissioned Swiss architect Henry J. Hefty, who designed the church to resemble the Old South Church in Boston. On Sunday mornings the bells still peal out with a “joyful ring”.

Pop quiz!

Do you know why the number of rings differs each Sunday?

— answer below

Portland incorporated on Feb 8, 1851. But the process to get there was complicated, involving the Tale of Four Rivalries. Today we take for granted that Portland is the dominant city in the region, and the major port. But that was far from the case in 1843, just 7 years earlier than the incorporation date, when Portland was a small clearing on the west bank of the Willamette. Oregon City, Milwaukie, St. Johns, St. Helens and Linnton all vied to become the major port in the region. Portland eclipsed Oregon City with the construction of a plank road that gave Portland better access to the farmers in Washington County, making the city a major agricultural port. But they weren’t shipping Pinot Noir.

Pop quiz!

What was the major commodity of the day?

— answer below

The coin toss that started it all. According to Portland’s bureau of planning , in 1843 business partners William Overton and Asa Lovejoy file to claim the land on the west bank of the Willamette River. Then, in 1845, Overton sold his share of the claim to Francis Pettygrove. Pettygrove and Lovejoy surveyed the land, deciding to build a city. Previously called The Clearing, Portland gets its name with the toss of a coin.

Pop quiz!

Which founder won the toss? Hint: Portland was named after this founder’s hometown in Maine.

— answer below

Pop Quiz! Answers

Built in 1903 – 1904 the Isam White House, now the beautifully remodeled home of Anne and Richard De Wolf, is a wonderful exemplar of which architectural style? The Isam White House is a wonderful example of the Colonial Revival Style that can be found throughout Portland, noted for their central porches, pillars, and double-hung windows.
Aside from the Caples House, what were Dr. Caples’ and Lucinda McBrides’ historical contributions to Columbia County? Dr. Caples was the first doctor in Columbia County; Lucinda worked as his medical assistant and midwife. Together, they founded the first school in Columbia City.
Which founder won the toss? A: Portland was named after Pettygrove’s hometown in Maine.
What was the major commodity of the day? Portland became the major port for shipping wheat to San Francisco.
The Pioneer Mother’s Memorial Cabin was originally built on the site where Oregon’s provisional government was established in 1843. Why was the cabin moved? We painstakingly moved the cabin in 2014 to avoid erosion and the encroaching Willamette River.
Do you know why the number of rings differs each Sunday? It depends on how many times the bell ringer call pull the massive, 119 year old bell.
In what Columbia River Gorge landmark did Edward Dimmit open his post card stand? Dimmit opened a concession stand, where he sold photographs and post cards, next to the Vista House at Crown Point. You can still visit this historic site, which has some of the most impressive views of the Gorge, though you’ll need to go elsewhere to buy post cards!
The Barnes Mansion was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Which architectural style is the house listed under? The Barnes Mansion’s National Register listing call the house “Colonial Revival”.
The Central Library John Wilson Special Collections, with current holdings of over 10,000 items, contains what book that is historically significant to Oregon? A perfect copy of the first book published in Oregon after it became a state: Captain Gray’s Company, Abigail Scott Duniway’s first novel, was a romance with multiple female heroines based on her own experience traveling the Oregon Trail. Bonus Question: How did Georgian Architecture get its name? Georgian architecture, the name given to the set of architectural styles current between 1714 and 1830, is named after the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I, George II, George III, and George IV—who reigned in continuous succession from August 1714 to June 1830.

Site Measures – Part 3: Capturing Structural Systems

Tue, 03 May 2022 17:12:48 GMT

Exposed framing and structural members during the transformation of an existing garage into an ADU.

We often hear people say, “this house has good bones”, but what does this mean? This refers to all the structural members of the home coming together to make a strong skeleton that supports the building, giving it structural integrity. During site measures it is important to collect as much data as possible on how the home is built and supported so that we, and our engineers, can properly plan changes.

When planning structural changes to a home, we have a top-down and outside-in approach. You can’t take a wall out without thinking first about what is above and below it. This is because loads transfer down through gravity, becoming heavier as they travel toward the foundation.

Other aspects we consider are wind and earthquake forces, which put sideways pressure on a home. These were considered much less in older Portland homes but need to be addressed today. Capturing the size, spacing, and layout of each structural component helps us to determine if additional support is needed to make changes for a remodel.

Let’s start at the top:

Rafters: Rafters are the structural members that support the roof of a building. Since roofs are generally pitched, and we do not get much snow in Portland, they were, on average, not sized very large in old Portland homes. The lower the roof pitch or the longer the span, the bigger they get and/or the closer they are spaced together. Sometimes, there are intermittent walls that transfer onto the floor or ceiling joists if the span gets too long. The rest of the load gets transferred onto the perimeter walls.

In this 1920 garage, trusses were redesigned to accommodate a grading issue that caused the garage door to impede the plane of conventional truss design. Framing members were upsized, and we created a vaulted scissor truss.

Ceiling / Floor Joists: Joists are the horizontal framing members between different levels. Sometimes joists are easy to see and measure, such as in unfinished basements and attics; other times, they are completely hidden within the structure. There are a couple of tricks to measure joists when they are concealed:New paragraph

Joists above the kitchen were fully exposed during this remodel and addition

If a stairwell has an open side, with no wall below, you can measure the thickness of the floor platform, subtracting average flooring, subfloor, and ceiling drywall sizes from this measurement to get the joist size.

If a stairwell is enclosed, you can add up the stair risers and subtract the ceiling height of the floor below and the floor, subfloor, and ceiling surface depths.

Post & Beams: Old Portland homes often have unfinished basements. Posts with footings and beams or walls with continuous footings support the long spans of joists above. The ends of the beams are supported by the perimeter concrete walls. The beams run perpendicular to the joists. Locating posts and beams is crucial for basement remodels since it is more cost effective to plan around their locations.

Before (left), a large beam ran down the middle of this kitchen, cutting the room in two above the island. After (right), two beams, set perpendicular to the original, open the space, provide structural support, and create a more harmonious feel.

Foundation: Foundations transfer loads from the structure to the soil, similar to the roots of a tree. It is important to investigate the condition of a foundation in order to find any cracks or crumbling areas that might compromise the strength of the structure.

Sheathing: And last, but by no means least, is the sheathing that holds all of the framing together and prevents the structure from racking and shimmying. While the bones were nicely sized in old Portland homes, sheathing did not quite catch on until the mid to late 1920’s. Often siding was directly attached to framing, and then horizontal shiplap provided some stiffness. Better stiffness was affected by diagonal shiplap, and, ultimately, with the invention of plywood, our current shear systems became standards.

Left: horizontal sheathing in a 1920s home. Right: diagonal sheathing in a 1960s home

Image from https://lynn-engineering.com/shear-walls/

Kitchen before (left) and after (right). Box beams were added to the ceiling in this 1911 home. Some of the beams are structural and some are decorative, creating a pleasing pattern.

Making changes to a structure requires the work of an engineer to get permits. Capturing all the structural information of the home during the site measure ensures that, once the engineer is brought in to do their calculations, they have all the information they need. It is our job to work with the engineer to guarantee that a house with “good bones” remains a house with good bones. ��

Click here to read: Site Measures – Part 2: Capturing Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing Systems

STAGING INTERVENTIONS: Preservationists Rick Michaelson & Karen Karlsson Fight to Save Portland’s Architectural History

Tue, 06 Oct 2020 19:33:08 GMT

Your average Portlander might not know architectural preservationists Rick Michaelson and Karen Karlsson by name, but they will certainly recognize many of the properties they’ve worked to save. On the list are some of Portland’s most interesting historic structures. Along with Arciform co-owner Richard De Wolf, we connected with Rick and Karen on an August afternoon to discuss their work in architectural preservation and the completion of the trio’s recent project, the Fried-Durkheimer House , a gorgeous Italianate structure built in 1880.*

As they were amidst an extended East Coast vacation, splitting their time between Fire Island and Nantucket, we chatted via Zoom. Both Karen and Rick are charming, personable, skillful, and determined, and they are clearly quite adept at handling the many complicated navigations, both literal and procedural, needed to accomplish complex preservation projects like these.

Karen, an engineer who now runs her own project management firm, KLK Consulting, spent twenty-three years working for the City of Portland, mostly on mass transit, including managing the westside light rail expansion. Karen’s professional background has been quite helpful when it comes to negotiating the complex maze of paperwork required on projects like this one. “The core of my business is getting regulatory approvals for projects,” Karen explains. “I get land use approvals, I get permits, and those things have been handy in the preservation work that I’ve done.”

As Karen talks about historic architecture, at times her voice swells with infectious enthusiasm: “I’ve always had a love of old buildings. I never imagined ever living in anything that was a new building. . . . I love the story that old buildings tell. I want to know that story. I want to know who lived there. I want to know what it means to the people around it. Why would you ever get rid of these older places when they tell our story and they are our history?”

Rick is slightly more subdued, his enthusiasm more a slow simmer than Karen’s rolling boil. With degrees in both architecture and architectural history, Rick has been in this fight for decades, having saved at least fifty historic structures. This work led him to win the prestigious George McMath Historic Preservation Award in 2018. Rick has also been a member of the board at the Architectural Heritage Center and Restore Oregon, sat on both the Historic Landmarks and Design Commissions, served the Portland Planning Commission for sixteen years, and has been an advisor to the National Trust since 1998.

When he began his career in the 1970s, the environmental movement was just starting to ramp up, and Rick was on board: “I realized we already had more buildings in this country than we needed, and that it was really bad environmental practice to tear buildings down and build new ones.” This influenced the trajectory of his career, and as a result, Rick explains, “I have always been professionally involved in the reuse of existing buildings.” When asked whether environmental conservation, aesthetics, or the historical value of old buildings hold the most weight for him, Rick says, “I think all of those are a part of it. There’s not just one simple answer to this. I am intrigued with reusing space from a design point of view. I find it a lot more interesting to do adaptive reuse than to build new. Plus, the quality of the materials and the quality of the buildings that you’re working on with a preservation project is so far superior to the kind of materials you’d be using in a new construction project. It just all fits together.”

The Fried-Durkheimer House also fits together quite nicely now, but before it could be saved, it had to be sawed in half and transported carefully through the Park Blocks and Portland State University, a task that put everyone’s nerves on edge. Karen says, “I remember the moment that they pulled [the two halves of the house] apart and looking at the relief in Richard’s face that they cut everything. You know how when you cut a piece of bread, there’s always something that didn’t quite get cut?” Instead, everyone was relieved to see that they were successful: “Yes! It worked!” Karen exclaims. At this point in the conversation, Richard chimes in to add, “I’ve done a few projects where there’s a moment that is not necessarily going to make my career, but it could break my career, and that was one of them.” All three laugh, clearly relieved to have this part of the process in the rearview mirror.

As they talk about the renovation process, the conversation turns to their favorite parts of the house, and the three architecture buffs sound almost giddy. “I love the front porch and the detailing that, with the help of some benefactors, we were able to put back in it. I love the new metal curved bannister on the front staircase that just absolutely accentuates the shape of that space. It’s gives it an incredible sweeping feeling that’s very special,” says Rick.

“When the house was gutted, and before all the drywall went on, you could see a supporting piece of the stairs that was a curved piece of wood, and it was just to me the most beautiful thing. It’s the bones of the house that you don’t see now. It curves, but you don’t know that it’s not a bunch of pieces of wood put together and plastered to form a curve. The wood itself was curved. And that to me is this really cool piece that no one else knows about,” enthuses Karen.

Richard adds, “It got carpeted over, but I love the zigzag cut line that goes through the house,” referencing the visible scar that remained after the house had been cut in half.

The house isn’t the only thing with history; there’s history between these three as well, and they joke amongst themselves like close friends. Rick says, “I’ve known Richard for many years while serving with him on the boards for Architectural Heritage Center and Restore Oregon . The work he does at ARCIFORM is of the highest quality, and he was one of the first people that came to mind when we were building our team.” Karen adds, “With Richard, we were so comfortable in what he was doing with the house and the competency of his teams that it was a real relief for us.”

When asked what inspired them to save the Fried-Durkheimer House, Rick jokes, “Stupidity?” Then continues, “No, I’ve been active in the preservation field in Portland for eons, and for one of my first big projects we relocated, in one weekend, eight buildings that Good Samaritan Hospital was going to tear down. So when there’s a house to be moved, I get called in to consult on it. [The Fried-Durkheimer House] had a very active group that was really interested in saving it, and it was one of the most important historic preservation projects in Portland.”

Despite strong support for saving this house, they still faced numerous challenges on this project. About a week before they were going to acquire the land, they found out it was owned by the Water Bureau and not the Parks Bureau, so they had to start negotiations all over again. Further complications arose when a new deadline was given by Portland State University because the university planned to use part of the house’s planned travel route, down SW 12 ^th and winding through the Portland State campus, for staging for their own renovation project. This meant even more negotiations. In order to make the project feasible, “City Council had to adopt certain ordinances, waive code requirements, and waive certain fees,” explains Karen. “Then, the gas company said they can’t turn off the gas on time. ‘Ok, who do we know at the gas company?’ we’d say. PGE would tell us, ‘We can’t move the wires by that time,’ but it has to be!” It was a series of complex negotiations that would make the average person’s head spin. But this team is anything but average, and they remained unfazed. Karen says, “I’m a project manager by birth. I’m used to pulling together projects like this and managing all the various and sundry things that need to happen.” On top of their own expertise, Karen says, “We had strong backing from the mayor’s office, Nick Fish’s office, and city council. Without that kind of help and assistance,” Rick and Karen say in unison, “this never would’ve happened.”

This isn’t the first architectural intervention they’ve staged; in fact, it’s only one of many. In 1989, Rick was involved in the much publicized battle against developer Phil Morford to save a row of historic houses on NW Overton and Pettygrove. A protest erupted as residents attempted to block demolition, and people were arrested. However, in the end, Rick and others were able to save a handful of the houses from destruction.

In 2010, along with Jeff Joslin, a former urban planner for the City of Portland, Karen and Rick intervened to preserve the Bull Run Powerhouse . “Oh, yes, another passionate save,” Karen says. “I guess my problem is that I come into these situations as if this [potential building loss] is the worst thing in the world. ‘You can’t tear that powerhouse down! Look at the stories that it tells!’” It took them four years to acquire the Bull Run Powerhouse and three years for land use approval, but in the end, they accomplished their objective.

In 2014, the Goldsmith House was another dramatic rescue. Karen, who was on the board of the Northwest District Association (NWDA), explains that “Developers would come in and tell us what they were doing, and this developer was going to tear down the Goldsmith House, and I said, ‘What? I know this building.’ The city had issued a permit when they weren’t really allowed to.” The developer was willing to sell, but wanted them to pay for the building, land, and potential profit that would be lost. They sprang into action, raising $1.6 million in less than 48 hours, and saved the house.

One of the next exciting projects on their agenda is saving Phoenix Pharmacy . Located at SE Foster and 67 ^th Street, this unique structure was built in 1922 by pharmacist John Leach, a philanthropist and significant figure in Portland’s history. John Leach and his wife Lilla, a passionate botanist, willed their home and property to the City of Portland; it is now the site of the Leach Botanical Garden , as the couple had intended.

When asked how Portland is doing when it comes to balancing the need for new construction with saving historic structures, Rick’s take on this is somewhat grim: “When I started working in Portland in the 70s and 80s, historic preservation was one of the top three priorities of the city. It was a seen as a tool for renovating and saving the downtown and building strong communities. I would say, at this point in time, that historic preservation is at the bottom of the scale. The city has priorities that are different, short-sighted, and not conducive to historic preservation. Even the fee structures and hassles that we have to go through with the building code indicate a city that just doesn’t care.”

Fortunately for Portlanders, Karen and Rick do care, and with their focused determination, they will save many more structures from demolition day. Karen says, “We usually get involved in these preservation projects when we are their last hope. If we don’t do it, it isn’t going to be done. Somehow we’ve been able to pull off some things that I think have been pretty amazing.”

To read more of our coverage of the Fried-Durkheimer project, see articles here , here , and here .

* Though it has sometimes been referred to as the Morris Marks House, this magnificent structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Fried-Durkheimer House . While the house was originally inhabited by Morris Marks and his family, they only lived in this residence for a few short years before moving to a second home, also on the National Register, which is officially recorded as the Morris Marks House .

Celebrating the Heceta Head Lighthouse!

Tue, 21 Jul 2020 19:10:58 GMT

Join ARCIFORM and Versatile Wood Products in celebration of the Heceta Head Lighthouse. We are happy to share our part in restoring this historic landmark structure on the Oregon Coast to keep it shipshape for visitors in the decades to come. Do you have children in your life who might enjoy a fun summer craft project?

Look for the download button at the end of this blog post. Print, assemble, take a pic, post it on Instagram, and tag us: @arciform, @versatile.wp.

Fun light house facts:

It took two years to build the Heceta Head Lighthouse.
They began building the lighthouse in 1892, and construction was completed in 1894. This makes the lighthouse 126 years old!
The Heceta Head Lighthouse sits 200 feet above the Pacific Ocean. Visible for 21 miles, it has the strongest lighthouse beam on the Oregon coast.
The lighthouse’s Fresnel lens was made in England by the Chance Brothers. In 1894, it arrived on the ship Manzanita, packed carefully in a wooden crate to protect the fragile lens from damage.

Over 187 wood pieces were used to make this door. Photo courtesy Versatile Wood Products.

Versatile restored the original wood exterior and interior doors, millwork, cabinetry, and flooring in the Heceta Head workhouse, replacing pieces as needed while retaining as much of the original wood as possible.

One complex design for the exterior door specified a herringbone pattern on the interior and a four paneled exterior. This single door required over 187 wood pieces to construct!

Up for an exciting summer adventure? Stay at the Heceta Lighthouse B&B and spend the night overlooking the beautiful Pacific Ocean in the light keeper’s cottage, where the light keepers and their families lived. Imagine how cool would it be to have a lighthouse for your nightlight!

One complex design for the exterior door specified a herringbone pattern on the interior and a four paneled exterior. This single door required over 187 wood pieces to construct!

Don’t forget, download this fun, free craft project to do with the kids in your life. Print, assemble, take a pic, post it on Instagram, and tag us: @arciform, @versatile.wp.

ARCIFORM Builds More Than Just Houses: They Build Community

Fri, 08 May 2020 18:32:38 GMT

Our Community Impact Beyond Design-Build

Ask ARCIFORM Principal Designer Anne De Wolf why supporting community organizations is important to her, and her answer is quick and definitive: “These organizations add character and meaning to our society. If we only focus on the endless list of tasks that need to be done each day, we lose track of what is beautiful in this world; we lose track of what actually makes life interesting, unique, and precious.” And these aren’t just words, but a philosophy that guides the way she and her partner, Richard, contribute to their community.

Richard and Anne De Wolf, co-owners of Arciform, have a long history of community involvement in the Pacific Northwest. The list of organizations they have supported is lengthy and diverse and includes Restore Oregon, Architectural Heritage Center, Lan Su Chinese Garden, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Oregon Food Bank, Serendipity Center, Pacific Northwest College of Art, Oregon Humane Society, Portland Baroque Orchestra, American Institute of Architects, Portland Center Stage, The Old Church Concert Hall, Girls Build, and others.

Anne explains that some of their most valuable contributions are in their collaborative efforts, using networking to connect donors and organizations. “We spread the word and help identify potential donors who might be interested in supporting these nonprofits. We look at how can we rally our resources to network together,” Anne says.

Anne and Richard are known locally as champions of architectural preservation, and have advocated for the conservation and restoration of many of the region’s most valuable historic buildings, like the Fried-Durkheimer House (also known as the first Morris Marks House), the Old Church, the Caples House , and a pair of 19 ^th century lighthouses on the Oregon coast.

It makes sense, then, that the Anne and Richard support the Architectural Heritage Center and Restore Oregon , two organizations whose mission statements clearly align with the De Wolfs’ own values. Restore Oregon’s site states that they have “always focused on taking care of the places that make Oregon, OREGON: the historic homes and neighborhoods, bridges and barns, churches and Main Streets that make this place so authentic and livable. Historic places are cultural, environmental, and economic assets, and they need active stewardship or they will be lost to future generations.” Similarly, the mission of the Architectural Heritage Center is “to inspire people to conserve the art, craft, and context of historic buildings and places to promote our cultural heritage as a vital element of livable, sustainable, communities. We seek to preserve the historic character and livability of our built environment, and to promote sustainability through the re-use of period homes and buildings.”

Anne explains that Restore Oregon emphasizes advocacy and intervention at the governmental level, whereas the work of the Architectural Heritage Center focuses more on education. Richard has served as a board member for both organizations, contributing a wealth of knowledge and connections within this field. “Being on their board meant making decisions, as a board member normally does, but also had me giving speeches, driving trucks for events, inspecting historic buildings, and taking tickets at shows and events. Dirty and glamorous stuff,” Richard quips. For her part, Anne regularly gives presentations at the Architectural Heritage Center on topics such as architectural styles and design.

Beyond offering direct financial support, time, energy, and expertise, Anne and Richard have even offered their own work and living space to benefit their favorite nonprofits. In fact, the De Wolf residence, the historic Isam White House, has been the site of multiple fundraising galas, most recently in support of the Lan Su Chinese Garden .

The stunning Lan Su Chinese Garden is one of the most authentic Chinese gardens outside of China and was built by Chinese artisans in collaboration with Portland’s sister city, Suzhou, in Jiangsu province. Richard says, “Lan Su is such a gorgeous place within our city. It was being built when we lived just a couple blocks away in our little downtown studio, and I was always impressed by how their efforts changed the dynamics of the entire neighborhood.” A few years ago, ARCIFORM helped restore the intricately carved windows of the garden’s Teahouse. Anne said, “Working on public buildings like this always brings a sense of pride knowing that thousands of people from all around the world pass through this space to see, touch, and have an appreciation for our craft.”

Beyond the advocacy that is directly tied to their professional lives, their philanthropy extends to their personal interests as well, including their love of animals, theater, and education.

Anyone who knows Richard and Anne knows they love their dogs, and they have been proud fur parents to several leggy, glamourous dogs, including Silken Windhounds Finney and Archer, and Salvador, an Afghan Hound. Salvador, their first dog, was a rescue adopted from the Oregon Humane Society (OHS). “Finding Salvador as a little puppy there was such a great experience,” said Richard. “He was such a cute, cuddly guy. We are forever grateful to the Oregon Humane Society for their role in bringing him into our lives.”

The Oregon Humane Society rescues 10,000-12,000 animals each year, saving 98% of all animals it receives , and Richard and Anne are enthusiastic supporters of this work. Richard explains, “The Oregon Humane Society has a wonderful hospital facility where veterinarians are trained and given hands-on experience. Some of the best veterinary science in our country happens here because of that hospital.” The De Wolfs have offered a wide range of support to OHS, including donating funds, pet food, and two box trucks to the organization. “We are happy to donate to this great organization that uses their funds wisely and for such a good cause,” says Richard.

Making meaningful connections with their neighbors has led Richard and Anne to other instances of collaboration and support. For example, Cynthia Fuhrman, the managing director of Portland Center Stage , used to live in the same duplex as the De Wolfs. “We got to know Cynthia and met a lot of the artists during that time, so we gained a great appreciation for the organization,” says Anne. “I love the theatre. It symbolizes the meaning of art to me. It provides a way to pause our daily routines, to escape our endless chores, and to set aside the screens and monitors through which many of us view the world.”

The De Wolfs’ connection with another nonprofit organization was similarly forged when a neighbor approached Anne to share information about her sister’s organization, Girls Build , a nonprofit that teaches girls about the field of construction through hands-on camps and workshops in the Pacific Northwest. Anne explains, “She told me that her sister, Ev Hu, was involved with Girls Build and asked if we were interested in supporting the organization. After introductions where made, we realized that we could help. Girls Build was looking to lease shop space, so we’ve carved out a special corner for them in our shop. Richard and I are personally contributing funds to help with rent payments because we feel their efforts make such a difference to our industry. We believe in supporting women in the trades.”

Today, Serendipity Center remains an important part of Richard’s life, and the De Wolfs regularly allocate resources in support of the center. Despite ultimately deciding that teaching was not for him, Richard learned a great deal from his experience. “The kids were great, and they taught me a lot,” he says. “With Serendipity, I think the greatest thing I learned was that we all have our own ways of learning things, and we need to be patient with others. Some people like pictures, others like bullet points, and there are those who need a narrative. We all have our ways. As the leader of this organization, I try to remember this and adapt.”

To Us, Sustainability is all About Preserving and Enhancing

Fri, 10 Apr 2020 18:23:18 GMT

Over the past 20 years or more, sustainable design and construction has made tremendous strides in the United States and around the world.

Because buildings account for more than half of our energy usage, it only makes sense that we as a society would begin to design with efficiency in mind. Today’s investments in robust insulation, double-pane windows and hybrid hot-water heaters, for example, will bring tomorrow’s utility-bill savings. No wonder more and more buyers are looking at not just the price of a for-sale home but what its environmental footprint and running costs will be over time.

Constructing a new home creates a large carbon footprint; as not only does the manufacturing and importing of building materials burden the environment, but so too does the waste generated. If we can preserve not only our history but also our resources by renovating an old home, we are taking a step in the right direction. The most successful cityscapes are where preservation lives hand in hand with contemporary construction and park-like spaces. We see the evolution of time, invention, style and function live next door to greenspaces and grocery stores. Diversity and respect apply to architecture as much as to people.

An old house tends to belong to a mature neighborhood, a place that has been able to grow into itself over generations. It’s not just that the trees have become tall, although on a summer day that’s hard to beat, it’s that older neighborhoods tend to be better connected to mass transit options and to walkable destinations. When you’re buying an old house, often you’re also buying the opportunity to walk more and drive less. One of the hottest trends in sustainable design actually has to do with the 20-minute neighborhood. If your place of work, where you buy your groceries and where your kids go to school are within a 20-minute walk or less, you’ll tend to put a lot fewer miles on your car. And that makes your life—your carbon footprint—less of a strain on the planet than commissioning a new house from a green design and driving to get that cup of coffee.

It’s not just that old houses tend to be part of more centralized neighborhoods. It’s that these houses have a story to tell.

When a house has been owned and lived in by generations of people, it becomes something more precious than just a set of rooms or an amalgamation of wood and stone.

Not many old homes are so architecturally precious that you have to maintain rigid historical accuracy. What is a lasting approach, though, is to be respectful. When you purchase a house, like it for what it is. A cozy Craftsman home will never be a light and airy Colonial mansion. A 1980s-style kitchen will be torn out because it just does not fit the house. This will cause a hefty burden on the environment and your pocketbook. Make the place your own with décor easily updated when it goes out of style.

Today you can buy traditional-looking windows that look like they belong in your historic home and offer great thermal protection. Or consider that the existing windows have survived for over 100 years. A new window will likely last only 20 years and will become landfill. Curtains and storm windows might also do the trick.

You have options to insulate your attic with products that have a low carbon footprint.

Consider bookcases along drafty walls – they are beautiful, functional and provide a great insulation value.

There are efficient heating and cooling options on the market that help regulate the temperamental areas of your house. And, because older homes tend to have basements, you’ve likely been given a room in your house that can feel like it’s air-conditioned all summer long or warm all winter long without spending a penny on heating or cooling.

Think of that word sustainability for a moment. At root, the word “sustain” is all about preserving and enhancing what’s there. That’s what home renovation is all about.

Carrying the Torch: Preservationists Save Portland’s Architectural Treasures

Fri, 14 Feb 2020 19:16:25 GMT

Built in 1880, the Fried-Durkheimer House , also known as the first Morris Marks House, is a stunning example of the Italianate style that was popular in Portland in the mid to late 1800s. Very few Italianate structures remain in Portland today, which makes this architectural beauty especially worthy of preservation. Designed by architect Warren Williams , this historic home has been beloved by Portland residents for many years. Williams also designed The Old Church and a second Italianate house that was built for the Morris Marks family in 1882. After the combined efforts of local preservationists saved the structure from demolition, the Fried-Durkheimer House was recognized as architecturally significant and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in early November 2019.

https://vintageportland.wordpress.com/tag/fried-and-durkheimer-building/

Last fall, the structure was cut in half by ARCIFORM and moved by Oxbo Mega Transport to its new Southwest Broadway location, where it is currently being restored. ARCIFORM Project Manager Joe McAlester said he found “the structural challenges of separating the house into two parts for the move, setting the house on its new foundation, and then stitching it back together” the most interesting aspects of this project thus far. (Check out an amazing time-lapse video of the house being moved here , and read other articles about the home and renovations here .)

Preserving historic buildings is a top priority for ARCIFORM co-owners Richard and Anne De Wolf, a passion they share with renowned Portland architect and writer William Hawkins, who carries forth a tradition of preservation that spans several branches of his family tree. Hawkins’ great-uncle, Lester Leander Hawkins, was instrumental in the creation of Portland’s city parks, which is detailed in Hawkins’ book, The Legacy of the Olmsted Brothers in Portland and in an Oregonian article .

William Hawkins, who has worked as an architect in Portland since the mid 1960s, earned his degree from the Yale University Graduate School of Architecture and has a long history of advocating for the preservation and restoration of Portland’s architectural treasures. In 2013, the University of Oregon’s Historic Preservation Program presented Hawkins with the George McMath Award, which recognizes individuals “whose contributions in Oregon have raised awareness and advocacy for historic preservation.” Kingston Heath, former director of the Historic Preservation Program at the University of Oregon, said that Hawkins, “brought to national attention Portland’s cast-iron front heritage ” and that “of particular significance were [Hawkins’] efforts to secure remnants, and in some cases full cast-iron fronts, in the city from demolition.” This advocacy was central to the restoration of the cast-iron architecture in the Skidmore District and Old Town.

Karen Karlsson, Rick Michaelson, and Richard De Wolf, the current owners of the Fried-Durkheimer House, are fellow champions of architectural preservation in Portland. De Wolf’s design/build firm, Arciform, has restored and renovated historic homes and landmarks in Oregon since 1997. Karlsson and Michaelson rescued the Victorian mansion known as the Goldsmith House from demolition in 2014 and then spearheaded the effort to preserve the Fried-Durkheimer House in 2016. Though the costs of this undertaking will be substantial, Michaelson told The Oregonian “It’s that important a house in Portland that I’m willing to take on that risk.”

Recognizing the concerted efforts to save this historic home, William Hawkins submitted a recommendation to the Oregon Heritage Excellence Awards Committee, explaining the special expertise that ARCIFORM brings to this project:

It is my great pleasure to write a letter of recommendation for ARCIFORM, in particular, citing their successful efforts to save the Morris Marks House [now listed in the National Register of Historic Places as theFried-Durkheimer House], a splendid example of the Italianate style of architecture that once dominated the City of Portland. It is one of two remaining residential structures designed by one of Portland’s most eminent architects of that era, Warren H. Williams . . . . It took the special expertise of Karen Karlsson, Rick Michaelson, and Richard De Wolf of ARCIFORM to overcome all obstacles to finally make successful the move of the house to its new site.

ARCIFORM brings several significant strengths to the table, which combined to make this project a success, and which makes them a leader in preservation in Portland. First, they have a passion for, and a long experience with, accurate historical renovations. Second, they understand that to truly preserve these old buildings they must also make them viable for the future, so that they remain in use, contributing to the city’s vitality. At the same time, the building is modernized in terms of energy use and efficiency, while preserving the original aesthetics of the architecture. Third, those of us who are involved in efforts to preserve historic buildings know that, while architecture restores them, politics and regulator know-how saves them. ARCIFORM brings a long familiarity with city government and regulations along with the tenacity to stick with it until the job is done. Saving the Morris Marks House required all of these attributes.

I deeply believe this project deserves recognition for saving an important part of our cultural history. Our city was once a showcase of Italianate style architecture, now all but vanished. This example, one of the best of the period, is an architectural “artwork in the round,” unique in its special, unified and elegant design. ARCIFORM was a pivotal element in saving this rare example of Portland’s best.

By Natalie K Perrin & Libby Provost

ARCIFORM is handling both interior and exterior renovations of the home, which will become a commercial office space. Currently, ARCIFORM is finishing installation of the mechanical systems, and then they will proceed to interior millwork, doors, and window repairs, with parts provided by Versatile Wood Products. The exterior has been painted in classic colors, with a rich, mid-tone gray for the siding and pale gray for trim and millwork, both colors by Benjamin Moore (Silver Mink 1586 & Horizon OC-53). Project Manager McAlester said that they are targeting early April to be ready for the Architectural Heritage Center’s Old House Revival Tour, giving Portland fans of the home a chance to see it in a fully restored state.

Read the next installment in our continuing blog series, Saving “One of the Last of Its Kind,” ARCIFORM Preserves Portland’s History

Oregonlive blogs:
http://visitahc.org/2894-2/

https://www.oregonlive.com/history/2017/10/1880_morris_marks_house_now_si.html

https://www.oregonlive.com/hg/2018/03/moved_marks_house_pdx_ahc_revi.html

Great Gatsby! What a Party!

Mon, 17 Jun 2019 17:04:50 GMT

On Saturday, April 27, 2019, Anne and Richard De Wolf, owners of Portland-based design-build firm ARCIFORM, hosted a Great Gatsby-themed party in their fabulously restored 1904 historic mansion. The event was a benefit for the Lan Su Chinese Garden during their annual fundraiser, Under the Moonlight .

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Isam White House, the De Wolf home is a stunning example of a Colonial Revival in Portland’s Alphabet Historic District.

Guests enjoyed live jazz by Mia Nicholson and her band, couture cocktails from 3 Doors Down , and hors d’oeuvres from Lechon .

This Beautiful 1909 Bungalow Matches Kerri Hoyt-Pack Inside and Out

Fri, 29 Mar 2019 16:45:47 GMT

Visionary. Leader. Change Maker. Mentor.
These are among the many words that describe Kerri Hoyt-Pack. A former advertising and marketing executive, Kerri recently left a thirty-year globe-trotting career advising well-known international companies, among them Levi’s, Nintendo, and Nike. After fifteen years with Nike, Kerri resigned from her position as Vice President of Marketing to start The Liberty Collective , a global organization focused on promoting women in leadership positions. “Believe it or not, I sort of woke up one day and decided to make this leap,” Kerri says of her career shift.

When asked about the direction she hopes to take with The Liberty Collective, Kerri’s goals are meaningful and impressive. She says, “My goal is to create change — lasting, progressive and collaborative change that moves us forward in a positive and urgent way. I believe strongly that we can’t just create an accelerator of talent to do what needs to be done — namely, get more women in more roles at the top of companies, organizations, and communities. We have to shift the pervasive business culture that exists, and that [shift] benefits everyone.

Warrior. Fighter. Survivor.
These words, too, define Kerri. In 2010, she was diagnosed with breast cancer . A mother to two young daughters, then ages 8 and 10, Kerri forged ahead with positivity and determination, a journey that she detailed on her blog titled Amongst the Waves . It was her experience as a cancer survivor that led to the first incarnation of The Liberty Collective. Inspired by the beauty and energy of the stunning Liberty of London silk scarves that she adored, Kerri started a non-profit organization dedicated to gifting beautiful silk scarves to those who were battling cancer. Kerri believed that each scarf had a tale to tell, that they were “almost [humming] with this energy,” so she decided that “each scarf will include a story of those that donated the scarf or the people that wore it before.”

Daughter. Sister. Mother.
A powerful feminine energy flows through Kerri. Having lived a life surrounded by strong women – her grandmother, aunts, mother, two sisters, and two daughters – Kerri exudes a confidence and strength that appears entirely comfortable for her. One of The Liberty Collective’s aims is to “cultivate an unapologetically feminine force that helps to redefine victory,” which The Collective defines as also being “empathetic and open to vulnerability, humble, inclusive and compassionate, balanced in approach, patient and partnering — and gutsy, bold, strong and powerful.” It should come as no surprise that these words also describe Kerri, as strong leaders should embody the qualities they wish to inspire in others.

Creative. Collaborator. Designer.
Kerri’s incredible creative force isn’t confined to just her work. In a series of renovations spanning a decade, Kerri has collaborated with ARCIFORM principal designer Anne De Wolf to create the stunning masterpiece that she calls home, and it only makes sense that her home is as remarkable as she is. Kerri says, “I have selected everything in my house, and I am constantly remixing, editing, adding, and moving things. It’s a creative outlet and something that I love to spend time doing. Making a house a home and layering it with story is a true passion for me. I have a wide range of styles and influences, but primarily I have chosen objects and furnishings that are from my travels, vintage, handed down, or carefully selected, if new.” Filled with precious artwork and decorated in a vibrant range of blues — from robin’s egg blue to deep turquoise and slate blue-grey — Kerri’s home reflects an eclectic aesthetic that’s uniquely hers.

This love of beautiful design, objects, and art seems to be almost hereditary for Kerri, passed down to her like an heirloom via her artistic parents. When asked about her favorite aspect of her home, Kerri says, “[It’s] all the art that I have — much of it from my father, who passed away a few years ago. He carved, painted, did fiberglass sculpture and lots of sketching. He was a whimsical guy, curious about the world, and I feel lucky to have so much of his hand in my home. My mom is also very creative. She weaves cedar bark baskets and is pretty incredible at creating magical spaces. I learned so much from both of [my parents] about color, texture, and combining histories to create a special environment.”

From her writing , to her love of vintage scarves, her antiques, her parents’ art and crafts, and her work with The Liberty Collective, Kerri spins the thread of stories that weave this all into the beautiful tapestry that is her life.

Whole House Remodels: Breaking Down a Complex Process

Sun, 24 Feb 2019 17:23:23 GMT

AFTER Whole House remodel – 1952 Ranch. (Photo by Mitch Hose )

So you’ve just bought a charming 1920s Craftsman bungalow in need of extensive renovations: plumbing, electrical, roof, windows – the whole nine yards – and you want the work done quickly, before you move in. Perhaps you are the proud owner of a much-loved, sprawling mid-century modern home you’ve lived in for thirty years that’s in need of a whole-house overhaul, but a temporary move is out of the question. Or you may have inherited your grandparents’ farmhouse that underwent some unfortunate updates over the years, and you’d like to rip out the green shag carpeting, the orange tub and brown tile in the bathroom to take it back to more authentic roots, but you wonder how your dog, cat and young kids will handle the stress of construction.

No matter your situation, facing a major remodel can be daunting, but with a skilled team and the right preparation, your project can go from being a major headache to a fun challenge.

A whole house plan treats your home as an integrated system and plans up front for how each of your remodeling goals will impact the others to ensure the finished product will be architecturally cohesive and logistically efficient.

What are some of the benefits of a whole house remodel plan?

Design costs are applied more efficiently
The finished project has a more cohesive design aesthetic
It saves time and minimizes change orders during each phase of construction
Unexpected conditions can be addressed with a long-term plan in mind

It’s important to identify the necessary steps of this process to avoid missteps along the way. The first step is to assemble a skilled group of experts to guide your decision making, which should include an architectural design team, an engineer, a construction crew, and, if applicable, an interior decorator, and a landscaper.

Next, define your goals. Why are you embarking on this project? Is it for investment purposes? Are you planning to sell your home after the remodel or live in it indefinitely? Do you have children or pets to consider? Will you be living through your retirement in this home? Are there any accessibility needs that should be addressed? What’s your budget? What are your aesthetic goals? What are your plans for housing visitors or entertaining guests? Do you need to add an extra bath or a home office? Prioritizing your goals is important as well. Once you’ve considered these questions, share your thoughts and concerns with your design team.

The next decision is an important one: Should you stay or should you go? If you have the resources and ability to relocate during your whole house renovation, there are many advantages to this approach. One of the primary advantages is that this will give your construction crew unfettered access to your home, which will allow the renovation to move ahead more quickly and efficiently, and you and your family won’t be required to live among the noise and mess that construction inevitably creates.

However, relocating for the duration of a whole-house remodeling project is not feasible for many people, and in this case, a phased remodel is more appropriate. While living in a house under construction can be unpleasant, there are ways to make it less so.

Designer and blogger Cathy Poshusta shares her best tips for surviving a remodel in Architectural Digest:

Don’t remodel your kitchen and all bathrooms at the same time
Make sure you leave yourself a place to wash yourself – and your dishes! Being able to keep yourself, loved ones, and cutlery clean will maintain your sanity.
Preparation is key. Make sure you have your construction team chosen. They can schedule and purchase as far in advance as possible. This will help speed the renovation process.
Divide and conquer
Make sure your construction crew separates your living space from the construction space by creating barriers with tape and plastic sheeting to minimize dust.
Plan a staycation
While your circumstances may not allow for moving elsewhere during the entire renovation, renting a hotel room, booking an Airbnb, or even staying with friends for a few nights during the worst of it may save your sanity.

Other great suggestions from HGTV and the Huffington Post include the following:

Design an inspiration board
Cover your vision board with photos and plans, illustrating what your home will look like in the end. This keeps your focus on the end goal when spirits sag and helps communicate your goals to your team. Pinterest is a great tool for this.
Create a temporary kitchen
Include items like a microwave, an Instant Pot or a slow cooker, a toaster oven, a coffee maker, and an induction burner. Make sure you’re using heat-proof surfaces and electrical sources that are safe and won’t create a fire hazard.

What does “Inspired by the Story” mean to us?

Thu, 24 Jan 2019 17:14:38 GMT

From our earliest recorded history, stories have been an important part of being human. From ancient gatherings around the fire in cave dwellings to listening to Uncle Jim’s oft-heard humorous tales or reading bedtime stories to our children, storytelling has been used for thousands of years to create connections, build shared meaning, teach important lessons and pass down traditions, beliefs and folklore. In his article “ The Art of Immersion: Why Do We Tell Stories? ” Frank Rose explains: “Anthropologists tell us that storytelling is central to human existence. That it’s common to every known culture. That it involves a symbiotic exchange between teller and listener – an exchange we learn to negotiate in infancy. . . Stories are recognizable patterns, and in those patterns we find meaning. We use stories to make sense of our world and to share that understanding with others.”

We understand the role of stories in our personal lives, but how does this come into play when remodeling a home? One’s home is deeply personal; it’s where we spend most of our time, engaging with friends and family around the dinner table, sharing holiday traditions and building memories. It’s our refuge from the ups and downs of life that we all inevitably experience. No matter who we are or what our position in life, we all want our homes to be warm, inviting, comforting spaces where we feel at ease and can be ourselves. This sense of comfort and belonging is why the phrase “feeling at home” carries so much weight. Thus, the stories that come into play when remodeling a home – encompassing personality, history, family, friends, interests, and needs — must be considered in the process.

Sometimes the inspiration for ARCIFORM’s work comes from a well-known story itself, as seen in this 1902 Victorian in Sellwood. Included in the extensive renovation was a dormer addition based on Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

No longer a scary, gloomy gray, the Barnes Mansion has been beautifully renovated, with the ARCIFORM team handling an extensive remodel of the kitchen, which included new windows and doors designed to match the home’s original elements. The kitchen design was inspired by French bakeries and included a custom-built island with zinc-lined flour bins.

Making meaning and forging real human connections is part of ARCIFORM’s process when working with clients. At the heart of their business is the belief that these stories and their clients matter, a value that is demonstrated clearly in ARCIFORM’s “Inspired by the Story” video. In their phased remodel of the Hoyt-Pack house, which was built in 1909, ARCIFORM showcased their client’s flair and eclectic style. Homeowner Kerri Hoyt-Pack says, “The goal was to really respect and honor the character and history of the house, but be able to take it into the future,” and explains the value of being able to share her ideas in collaboration with principal designer and co-owner, Anne De Wolf. Anne also values this collaborative process and getting to know her clients in a personal way that is well beyond just a normal working relationship.

Photo by Christopher Dibble

Through building these close relationships, Anne and her team at ARCIFORM learn about the stories that turn each person’s house into a home they adore. Anne says, “We love when our clients love what we’ve done for them. We don’t shoot for like — that’s a pretty low bar. We aim for love. “

An Alameda Ideal

Mon, 19 Nov 2018 17:03:33 GMT

The Henry-Gonzalez residence was a renovation opportunity its owners couldn’t pass up. As the autumn leaves turn color and fall from the trees, and we turn our attention to the holidays with their family gatherings, it’s hard not to look at the fully renovated Henry-Gonzalez house and want to step inside for a warm beverage. With an exceptional array of architectural features and popping with color, this place is ideal for entertaining or for just getting cozy.

"ARCIFORM had better ideas than we thought we had,” Gonzalez says with a laugh. “We had strong ideas and sometimes they gently said, ‘Are you sure?’ We appreciated that."

Patrick Henry and his husband, Alex Gonzalez, weren’t looking to move when Patrick came across a Colonial Revival home in Northeast Portland’s historic Alameda neighborhood back in 2004. A real estate broker, Henry was actually showing the home to clients, and besides: he and Alex had just completed a top-to-bottom restoration of their own house just a few blocks away.

Yet Henry couldn’t help but fall in love. “It was pretty breathtaking,” he says of the house, which was completed in 1939 and combines Colonial Revival with Tudor design elements. After all, he’d grown up in a 1929 Tudor in Portland. But it wasn’t just nostalgia that made him swoon over this discovery. “The quality of construction was really something: incredible woodwork, amazing millwork,” he recalls noting that day. “I just thought, ‘I hope these people don’t buy this house.’ I could completely see Alex and me living there.” Thankfully, Henry’s clients ended up buying another house. When that was settled, “I called my Alex and said, ‘You’ve got to come over here and see this house.” Within weeks, they were the new owners.

Specializing in older homes as a real estate broker, Henry often hires local historian Doug Decker (author of the Old House Alameda blog) to flesh out a home’s story and context. For Henry and Gonzalez’s house, Decker’s research uncovered the story of its builder, Frank Read, who had been responsible for a cluster of houses in what was originally known as the Olmsted Park subdivision, its first houses dating to 1909, as well as many houses in the adjacent Irvington. Read made a point of building homes near Portland’s then-extensive streetcar line and within easy walking distance of shops.

Read (1885-1950), who was also likely the architect, built this house for $10,000, and employed the same blend of Tudor and Colonial-influenced style he used in nearly all of the 16 houses he built in this area. Among the distinctive features Decker noted were a second floor extending slightly beyond the first story, pendant drops at the corners, a two-story pitched roof over the entry, and low dormer insets. “The plunging roofline from the roof peak to above the entry traces a link to early 17th century New England homes,” he wrote.

Over time, Henry and Gonzalez have completed an extensive renovation, the first steps being relatively unseen: a new roof and furnace as well as all new plumbing and electrical systems. Before embarking on transformations of the interior spaces themselves, the couple felt it was best to live in the home for a while. “That’s what I always tell clients: ‘Don’t jump into a renovation until you’ve lived in the house,” Henry explains. “If you do what you think you want to do immediately, you’ll regret it.’ It took us a mere 14 years to figure out how to do it and make it feel like the space has always been there.”

Though the couple came to ARCIFORM with years’ worth of ideas saved up—particularly the common old-home-renovators’ desire to create more openness—they also credit the firm and its designers for gently pushing back.

For example, the couple initially sought to create one big great room by expanding the footprint of the house to connect the den and family room, each of which opened onto the patio, which would be claimed to help make the connection. ARCIFORM came back with a less-invasive suggestion that allowed the adjacent den to bleed into the kitchen, which improved openness without expanding the footprint.

"They reined us in, and they were right. It’s so much better this way,” Gonzalez says. “And it turns out we use all the time that outdoor space we would have lost. "

Arciform’s designers also helped create greater flow without disrupting the home’s historic design elements by employing a simple but effective move: removing doors between rooms, then enlarging the doorways with an arched shape that matched the home’s other passageways. “It’s a little less compartmentalized,” Henry says. Adds Gonzalez: “It all flows together now.” The kitchen was also doubled in size without ever seeming oversized for the house.

One architectural feature that particularly wowed Gonzalez and Henry actually wasn’t original to the house: the exceptional millwork. It’s not just moldings where the wall meets the ceilings or other traditional decorative touches. In this house, even the walls and built-in shelving units become a kind of canvass. And while the house’s overall style is a blend of colonial and Tudor, the millwork brings a playful touch of Art Deco. “We bought that house because of all the distinctive millwork and woodwork,” Henry says. “That’s what we loved about it. One of the previous owners, but not the original owner, was a woodworker by hobby. Most of that additional embellishment you’ll see, like the raised panel wainscoting, he added and was not original, yet you wouldn’t know it. It truly is one of a kind.” The couple also made the millwork stand out with bold, colorful paint choices that highlighted the details.

As the holidays approach, Gonzalez and Henry are ready for a small army of guests, be it the Turkey-day “Friendsgiving” they host annually or Henry’s family at Christmas. And the couple see Arciform’s work here as a gift that keeps on giving.

“They are and have been so instrumental in keeping the integrity of our home and period appropriate,” Henry says, “yet it also meets the modern way we live.”

Learn more about Patrick Henry

Inspired by Family Home Tour

Thu, 27 Sep 2018 15:38:00 GMT

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

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. We are 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.

Arciform’s 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, our team 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 main 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 the carpenters in our Arciform shop, 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

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, our crew converted the existing nursery into a bath and remodeled the main bath. New cabinetry is by Arciform. Tile is sourced through Tempest Tileworks , Heritage Tile , Dal Tile and Fireclay .

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

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.

Photoshoot Day: The Kerri Hoyt-Pack House

Wed, 18 Jul 2018 15:16:16 GMT

Last Tuesday we held a photo and video shoot at Kerri Hoyt-Pack’s Sellwood home. It started with a visit to the wrong house—but not to worry, the gentleman who answered the door knew Kerri. “Kerri? She works at Nike?,” he asks. Well, she used to work at Nike, but not anymore.

After an extensive career in marketing that allowed her to see the world, Kerri has recently launched an independent small business called The Liberty Collective . We learned that she’s focused on investing in women leaders through project-based, collaborative learning and partnerships. Clearly, she is energized and inspired by this new venture .

“I have just left a double decade career with Nike to start my own business, focused on developing women leaders and evolving workplace culture. It’s an amazing time to be leading this work, and the shift in pace and rhythm of my days is a welcome change. I have a small studio office here in Sellwood, so that means I have a much nicer commute these days and more time in my wonderful home,” says Kerri.

As Kerri prunes her roses in preparation for photos, I chat with her about what it was like working with Arciform on the remodel of her home over the past 10 years.

"Well, I worked mainly with Anne, but the whole Arciform team became like family in the end,” she says.

“Roger [Muller, site lead] was working here so much that when [the remodel] was over I found myself missing him,” says Kerri.

Her cat Bijou, however, may have missed Arciform most of all.

“During the project, Roger and I would start each workday going over what would be done that day. When I’d come home after work, it was like Christmas getting to see what had been finished. Bijou was always sitting in the middle of it all! It became such a ‘thing’ that I started documenting it with photos,” Kerri laughs.

And, sure enough, when Arciform site lead Roger Muller stopped by to share some insight into the project, Bijou came running.

“Kerri is one of those platinum-level clients,” says Roger. “We’ve got gold-level and silver, but Kerri set the bar really high for the perfect client.”

As Roger tells us why he loves Kerri and her home, his passion for his work comes through.

“A good remodeler knows that the little details all add up. That’s why I like working for Arciform. They know that things like trim and details need to match up, and that you can find all the old hardware, millwork and classic house parts that you need right here in Portland—places like Hippo Hardware and The ReBuilding Center have high quality, original products that make the design seamless,” says Roger.

“Old houses are not like new homes. They come with lots of challenges. We often have this idea that they knew what they were doing in the old days, but sometimes they didn’t,” explains Roger.

It’s easy to see the bond that has developed between Kerri, Roger and Anne as they discuss the details of the home and what their favorite parts are.

“I like the mudroom,” says Anne.

“Anne and I play off each other really well. When designing the mudroom, she said, ‘What do you love to do? Why don’t you design your mudroom around that? Your kids are old enough now that this can be your room.’ The ideation was really fun with her,” says Kerri.

As Anne practices for her spot on camera, it’s clear how much she cares about her clients and her work. She rehearses the perfect words to say that encapsulate what they do.

“At Arciform we’re inspired by the stories of people and spaces. We bring stories to life – we revive them. The stories of buildings that conjure up the eras in which they were created, and the stories of the people that are interwoven with the buildings – the designers, the craftspeople, the owners and the people who lived or worked there. It’s all carried forward and preserved in our work,” says Anne.

“It has been a phenomenal experience. Anne, Richard and their team are 100% committed to their passion to giving new life to old homes in a respectful way. They stand for quality and craftsmanship in all that they do,” says Kerri.

And we call it a wrap.

Stay tuned for final photos and a video of this gorgeous home coming soon! In the meantime a few “behind the scenes” iPhone pics below…

Kerri and Anne were inspired by the paneling made by Pioneer Millworks at Olympia Provisions. So, using salvaged trans-pacific shipping wood from The Port of Portland, they designed these. “Some of those glasses were my grandmothers,” says Kerri.

“Patriotic Banana” art carved by Kerri’s dad; fox/flower plate from Liberty of London ; curtains from Anthropologie

Dan Volkmer’s Kitchen Remodel

Tue, 22 May 2018 03:10:00 GMT

Dan Volkmer, Portland real estate agent with 40 years’ experience specializing in historic homes, and Anne De Wolf, principal designer at Arciform, have had a symbiotic relationship since the early years of Anne’s career. Through the years, Dan has referred many-a-client to Arciform, as they are a premiere design/build team in Portland for restoring period homes.

When Anne and Richard De Wolf (Anne’s partner and the founder of Arciform) were searching for their own historic Portland real estate, Dan was their go-to man. When it was time for Dan and Frank to renovate their 1907 Craftsman, Anne was their first choice, with her reputation for historic expertise in various architectural styles and an uncanny ability to incorporate unusual architecture and hidden storage into her projects.

This is where the story gets interesting. Normally, a renovation is a collaborative event between designer and home owners. Because they fully trust Anne’s eye, Dan and Frank decided to give her carte-blanche with their kitchen design. Not a single paint color nor piece of hardware to preserve was chosen by the homeowners. This remodel was 100% Anne De Wolf’s design.

Their home is known as the S. Morton Cohn (Cohn-Sichel) House, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The registry requires them to keep the facade true to original colors and form – there is no requirement to retain historical features for the interior. Dan and Frank, with their love of older homes, wanted to restore the kitchen to better-than-the-original form.

Growing up in Ohio, Dan has an innate love for older homes, as the state is known to have many majestic Italianate structures. To restore their home true to the era but with a modern flair, Anne was his sole choice when selecting a designer. They share the opinion that “every home has a story”, not to mention that, through their longtime business relationship, they had built a mutual trust.

A capture of their kitchen before demolition

Cabinets before

The original stained fir cabinets and marble counters were a few of the items chosen to salvage for reuse.

Replicated cabinets

Versatile Wood Products matched original details for the new cabinetry.

Anne seen here relaxing in the mudroom remodel. Encaustic hex floor tile was chosen for this busy passageway. New doors were added to the back patio.

The new island provides ample storage and is a gathering spot for food preparation or catching up at the end of the day.

Seen here are the restored original cabinets and salvaged Carrara marble. The 30″ gas range is by Wolf from Eastbank Appliance with a custom hood cover. New cabinet hardware by Restoration Hardware . Adorable Watson gets Anne’s attention.

Pendants and ceiling mounted lighting by Rejuvenation

Unique storage solutions are among Anne’s most appreciated details. Where paper was once piling up, this custom-made, reclaimed wood magazine/newspaper rack alleviates the mess.

Another well-loved feature of Anne’s design is this handy nook: a perfectly-placed surface for putting groceries away. She sourced the w allpaper through www.walnutwallpaper.com

Picasso said, loosely, “In order to break the rules, one must first know the rules”. Typically, painted kitchen cabinets of the era would be a shade of white. Anne chose to bend the rules and infuse some color with a heron blue/grey to complement the encaustic hex tile in the adjacent mudroom. For the new backsplash, Tempest Tileworks’ 2×4 tile in milk white pairs beautifully with the salvaged Carrara counters, and Anne added a butcher block prep area at the end of the cabinet run.

Seen here are some of the fine details by Arciform's cabinetry craftsmen. Drawers are made from sustainable bamboo and faced with quality wood. Drawers slide smoothly and shut with a soft close mechanism.

The Morris Marks Diaries: Old House Revival Tour!

Sun, 06 May 2018 17:46:00 GMT

Shown above are some of our favorite tour-goers’ Instagram photos. From left: @c.easter.c, @ninaleejohnson and @rebecca.pnwrealestate.

The month of April was a busy one for us here at Arciform. Not only did we host a workshop on ADU’s and Short-Term Rentals, a Design Week Open House and a Lan Su Chinese Garden benefit party at the De Wolf home, we also showcased what is becoming one of Portland’s most beloved old houses: the first Morris Marks House (Fried Durkheimer House). This home was recently featured on the Architectural Heritage Center’s Old House Revival Tour.

“We were thrilled to have the Morris Marks House on the tour because it was a rare opportunity for tour goers to see an example of Italianate architecture. Although the Italianate style of home was popular at one time in Portland, only a few of these homes have survived,” says Jean Zondervan, the AHC’s new Communications Director.

The Morris Marks House was the only home on the tour in an unfinished state, and it may have been the most popular one, with over 500 visitors!

“This project clearly has a big following. People were very curious and spent a lot of time in the house. One visitor even recognized that their uncle was part of the historic list of inhabitants! There was a very exciting and nostalgic energy to the day,” says Arciform’s co-owner and principal designer, Anne De Wolf.

Arciform staff members and AHC volunteers were stationed throughout the house to answer questions.

I asked the project manager Joe McAlester for an update on the restoration progress of the house. Here’s what he said:

“The project is under historic review and permitting with the city right now. In 2-3 weeks we will be backfilling around the foundation. After that we’ll be able to start on exterior repairs in preparation for repainting.”

I asked him about paint colors – is there any word on what color the exterior will be? Unfortunately, that’s currently top secret information.

Thanks to the homeowners, Karen Karlsson and Rick Michaelson, the home’s history and even a “family tree” of tenants over the years were on display during the tour. Below is some information from the posters, created by Erin Riddle of Klik Concepts. Read on for the interesting history…

Visitors read the posters provided by Klik Concepts. Photo by @ amywigglesworth

Why Did the House’s Address Keep Changing?

Based on the multiple addresses of this 1880 house, you’d think it was moved multiple times! The house did move, but only once in 2017 (That’s the one Arciform helped with – see the video here !). Here are the various addresses for the 1880 home over the years:

In 1880, when the house was built, its address was 254 10th Street.

In 1882, the city changed the street designations and the address changed to 254 12th Street.

In 1933, the city established quadrants and renumbered all buildings. The address changed again to 1134 SW 12th Avenue.

In 2017, the house is ACTUALLY relocated to a new physical address at 2177 SW Broadway.

1880

The Italianate style house was built in 1880, located at 254 10th Street. The house’s original owner was Morris Marks, a Polish shoe merchant.

Local architect Warren H. Williams was the designer of the house (he later becomes a prolific Portland architect whose work includes The Old Church and several cast-iron commercial buildings that still stand in Old Town).

Morris, his wife Annie, and their three children Meyer, Jessie and Rachael lived in this house until 1882.

1882

Morris Marks has a larger Italianate house built at 321 9th Avenue, also designed by Warren H. Williams. The Marks family moves into the larger house, which eventually becomes known as the official Morris Marks House.

Also in 1882, Moses and Fanny Fried, along with their four children Leo, Marcus, Hannah and Delia, move into the 1880 house.

1889

Delia Fried married Julius Durkheimer and lived with her parents in the 1880 house. Fanny and Moses Fried die in 1896 and 1899. The 1900 census shows Delia and Julius Durkheimer, along with their son Selvan and Delia’s brother Marcus Fried, living at the house with a newly assigned address of 254 12th Avenue.

1901

Julius, Delia, and Selvan Durkheimer and Delia’s brother Marcus Fried moved out of the 1880 house to another home at the address of 221 24th N. (This house eventually is given the address of 2415 NW 24th Ave and becomes the historic Durkheimer House, a stop along the Architectural Heritage Center’s 2012 Heritage Home Tour!)

It is unknown who lived in the 1880 house between 1901 and 1910.

1910

The 1910 census shows Mary J. Davidson, her two daughters, her brother, and 11 lodgers living at the house at 254 12th Avenue. Thirty years after it was built, the house began a new life as a rooming house.

Also in 1910, the official Morris Marks House was sawed in half and relocated to its present site at 1501 SW Harrison Street. Today, it is on the National Register of Historic Places.

1920

The 1920 census shows Emil F. Lostrand, his wife, three children and 13 lodgers lived in the house at 254 12th Avenue.

1930

The 1930 census records show Martha M. Marks (likely unrelated to the house’s original owner Morris Marks), her daughter and 10 lodgers lived in the house at 254 12th Avenue.

2003

Census data after 1930 has not yet been released, however in 2003 when the 1880 house was last occupied, it was still serving as a rooming house.

2017

Between 2003 and 2017, the house remained vacant. Many times it nearly faced the wrecking ball as various efforts to save the house fell through.

Finally, the house was purchased by Rick Michaelson and Karen Karlsson—two Portland preservationists—and complex planning efforts were put in place to relocate and restore the house. On September 30th, 2017, the final stages of the move were executed when the 1880 house, sawed into two pieces and mounted on wheels, traveled through the streets of SW Portland. One day later, it arrived at its current home near the I-405 interchange at SW Broadway and SW Sixth Avenue.

Fried Family Tree (1816-1984)

1910 census showing 15 residents in the 1880 house.

1920 census showing 18 residents in the 1880 house.

1930 census showing 12 residents in the 1880 house.

The 1882 Morris Marks House pre-restoration, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. (c 1963)

Surrounded by Churches

In 1880 and 1882, when Morris Marks built his first two houses, the area was dominated by housing and religious institutions. In 1882, the Calvary Presbyterian Church was built at the corner of 9th & Clay, just three blocks south of the 1880 house and kitty-corner from the 1882 Morris Marks House. The architect who designed the church was Warren H. Williams, the same architect who designed both of Morris Marks’ houses.

In the photo to the left, you can see the Calvary Presbyterian Church under construction. The church is Gothic in style with stained glass windows made by Portland’s Povey Brothers Studio. This church still stands at 1422 SW 11th Avenue and today it is referred to as ‘The Old Church’.

Just a half a block north of the 1880 house, on the opposite side of the street, the magnificent Temple Beth Israel was constructed in 1889. Again Warren H. Williams was the architect. This was the temple that Morris Marks attended. In the photo below, you can see it just to the left of the house. The temple was described as semi-Gothic and Moresque in style. Its two towers were 165 ft tall and towered over the area. Sadly, this structure was destroyed by fire in 1923. The fire burned for two days and could be seen for miles around.

The Old Block 32 Reservoir

Around 1871, a reservoir was built by the Portland Water Company on Block 32 in the Caruthers Addition. It captured water from Caruthers Creek in the undeveloped southwest hills. The City grew and the demand for water required supplementing the creek with water from the Willamette River. The cost of expansion was high, and the privately-owned company was not able to make a profit. In 1886, the Portland Water Company sold the water works, conveyance pipes, reservoir, and all other equipment to the City of Portland.

The reservoir provided water to downtown Portland, including the 1880 house. However, sometime in the early 1900s, new reservoirs in Washington Park (fed by water from the Bull Run Watershed) replaced the need for the Block 32 reservoir. In the mid-1900s, a new road named SW Coolidge Square was built, cutting diagonally through the block. After that, Block 32 consisted of two triangular sites.

In 1969, I-405 was built and the northwest triangle became part of the freeway. All that is left of Block 32 today is the land where the 1880 house sits now.

The 1880 house’s new site when it served as a reservoir, looking Northwest from Grant and S. Seventh (now Broadway Drive) c. 1920s

5 Kitchen Remodels We Love

Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:55:00 GMT

There’s a reason they call kitchens the heart of the home. A kitchen is where you spend time not just making food for yourself or others, but also where you grow your family. Kitchens are lively and full of energy when friends and family gather. They’re a calm and comforting nest after a heated discussion. They’re strong and stable when the rest of the world is chaotic. Kitchens are full of love.

Here are a few of our favorites:

Creative and Spirited

Super Modern with Classic Architecture

One of the best parts about residential design is the freedom to mix styles and eras. We love to do this while carefully respecting the home’s history. When looking at this kitchen, you might not guess that it’s in a home built in 1909. The homeowner’s aesthetic in appliances and materials was more modern. We worked with that while keeping the open kitchen in harmony with more traditional adjacent spaces. Details like dark-hued lower cabinets tie to the original fir molding. Needing an elegant, serene space to unwind after emotionally-taxing days as a counselor, our client appreciated the clean lines and soothing colors.

French-Inspired

Classic & Modern at the Same Time

Unpretentious Craftsman

Like a painting by Dou Gerrard , the natural hues in this kitchen evoke warmth, subtlety and grace. Paying particular attention to details, we used concrete countertops on unfinished honey maple cabinetry, which feels both utilitarian and comforting. A mobile island allows for flexibility in the kitchen and an open book shelf for cookbooks keeps time-honored recipes close at hand.

What would your dream kitchen look like? What’s your favorite style and why? Which of these kitchens do you like best? Let us know in the comments below!

The Morris Marks Diaries: Structural Development

Thu, 25 Jan 2018 17:43:00 GMT

An update from project manager, Joe McAlester

Perhaps while stuck in traffic, you’ve noticed the old house sitting at the intersection of Southwest Broadway Drive and Grant Street—you know that busy intersection to get on or off I-405 near SW 6th? It’s an area you might not have given much notice before, other than that cool retro motel sign. Now you find yourself gazing at what looks like a very old home. You may ask yourself, “Just how old is that home? Was it always there?”

In fact, it’s 138 years old. It was cut in half a few months ago and moved from its shady home near PSU with towering new buildings on each side. You probably hadn’t noticed it before, but now it’s come out of the shade and into the light. It might look a little run-down, but don’t worry, it will be a shining part of our city soon. And a shining part of history as well.

The house was built in 1880 by architect Warren H. Williams for Morris Marks, a successful shoe merchant, at what was then #254 Twelfth Street. This is the first of two homes Marks had built. Apparently, he was he was a man who appreciated architecture, as this is perhaps one of the best examples of Italianate architecture our city has to offer.

Arciform founder Richard De Wolf gave me an update on the home a few weeks ago:

“Now that the house has been set on a new foundation and structurally ‘tied back together,’ the historic review portion of the project can happen. Lots of decisions are made during this process. Our history with the city puts us at an advantage with historical restoration projects. We know what to expect and how to make it as efficient as possible.

The use of the building dictates how we move forward. An office building requires different codes than if it were used as a home. Things like ornamentation, rot, siding, etcetera, will be addressed in either scenario, so we can move forward on those common items. Seismic retrofitting is also a concern when deciding which code we apply to the building envelope. Once those are finalized, we can remove the addition on the roofline and restore the beautiful shape that has long since been gone. With a dried-in roof—watch out—we can go crazy on interior finishes and exterior restoration.”

The process is like a large puzzle in which Arciform’s Project Manager puts together the pieces. Today, photographer Christopher Dibble and I get to explore the inside of the house and find out what’s going on, straight from the Project Manager, Joe McAlester.

We feel pretty lucky to get the inside scoop on this home. With an average of 5-6 projects going on at a time, Joe McAlester isn’t usually free to sit and chat about his work, although he seems quite relaxed and happy to do so for us today.

“We’ve never had any top-down, house-lift projects quite like this. There’s a lot of structural stuff to be done. At this stage, we’re finishing structural repairs in the basement. Then we’ll remove the out-of-context dormer that was added on in the 70’s and restore the home to its original style, updated for today’s world,” says Joe.

The home has been a boarding house for many years with numerous children, adults and families as tenants.

”We’ve had several people walking by stop and inquire about the house; they share memories of living in the house and take photos.”

As we walk through the home, I notice layer upon layer of plaster and wallpaper on the walls. Large sliding dining room doors, a beautiful old marble fireplace, high ceilings in every room.

Things like bathrooms weren’t a thought in the 1880s—indoor plumbing didn’t exist yet! Which might be why we find a toilet underneath the stairwell (where Harry Potter would have lived if this were a J.K. Rowling novel).

Joe tells me the house will be done in about 9 months. As we look around and he lists everything that needs to be done, he says, “…maybe a year? Let’s say 9-12 months.”

Heading down to the basement, site lead Jack Ouska and his team are working inside the structural build.

Original beams are being replaced. New, larger beams allow for a more open floor plan with fewer posts.

They are also changing the way the beams are installed to improve headroom. The original beam was installed under the floor joists.

“To install the new beam, we cut a channel in the floor joists. The new beam will be installed in that channel, and the floor joists will be attached to the side of the beam. This will create roughly 5 inches more of headroom from the basement floor to the bottom of the beam. In addition to fewer posts, this will really help open up the space,” Joe explains to me as I try to grasp how in the world they’re making this old home stand strong again.

Written by Snow Blackwood

Photos by Christopher Dibble

A Kitchen for Cooking, Cats and Comfort

Thu, 11 Jan 2018 00:13:00 GMT

Clockwise from left: Linda’s baking supplies as she prepares her Chewy Ginger-Molasses Chocolate-Chunk cookies, Denali loves the camera and the kitchen; Simple ingredients and natural light are a recipe for the heart.

“I believe cats to be spirits come to earth. A cat, I am sure, could walk on a cloud without coming through.” – Jules Verne

Linda Schmidt loves cats. This is the first thing I noticed about the 1929 Tudor home. The cat shaped topiary as I walk through the front door, the bengal cat, Denali with it’s striking fur coat, cat paintings on the walls by Jonathan Blum .

Linda gives new meaning to the term: “cat lady”. This cat lady, is not one with loud wallpaper and leaky roofs. This cat lady has a restrained color palette and refined taste for antiques mixed with a traditional-modern style.
“Sometimes you get lucky and land a client with optimal taste and personality.” Anne De Wolf, owner of Arciform, has been working with Linda for over 9 years on the remodel of her 2,300 square foot home in Portland’s beautiful Southwest Hills overlooking a green yard brightened by magnificent yellow and orange fall leaves today.
Over the years, to say the two have developed a friendship would be putting it lightly. It’s obvious to see they have a uniquely close relationship. One that perhaps can only be obtained through the process of working on a project so close to your soul as one’s home.

“This is really Linda’s masterpiece. I didn’t do much.” De Wolf is humble. As the restoration-designer of historic homes, Anne turns others’ dreams into realities. And as a designer myself (though not of homes) I recognize the skill in taking one’s perspective and being able to turn this into something that’s expressive of them without projecting your own ego onto it.
“It comes down to a love for your work and having fun.” Anne doesn’t take herself too seriously and she believes creating and design should be fun. “You can see the difference when the process was fun.”

During our photoshoot, Anne and Linda’s contagious laughter fills the house. They playfully make jokes about “Sue” the imaginary neighbor who’s been causing upheaval with her loose ways. Never has it been so easy to get people to laugh and smile for photos.

As we walk around the dining table I admire the rustic-modern chairs—all from Restoration Hardware.

“Everything had to be perfect. Symmetry and perfection is important to Linda. I mean look at this!” Anne says as she shows me the intricately placed collage of photos which frame ALL of Linda’s history. She has black and white photos from the 1800’s of her German ancestors. Framed immigration papers from her “Papi”—the term both Linda and Anne use for their fathers. Both are of German descent.

Balancing a rustic, antiquey style with perfection and symmetry is not always easy. However, the way it’s done here works amazingly well. That—I can only guess—is in large part because of the relationship that Linda and Anne have developed over the years.
The dining room table is on wheels flanked with wide old boards that display a warm patina.
“We left it large even though the dining room is small, it creates intimacy.” says De Wolf.
The beautiful aged-wood balances the cool color palette and symmetrical precision of the arched entrances to the stairwell and front door. Every arched entrance was widened and changed so they matched in size creating a Escher-esque view from room to room.
The kitchen was the most recent part of the remodel. Having already completed the other parts of the home, only the basement remodel remains.

Linda loves to bake. So elements like the slide-and-pull shelving unit that go way back into the cabinetry were important. The kitchen is small, but the use of space makes it efficient.
The black cabinetry, mixed with gray and white is matched to a black range make the space feel incredibly elegant. And as Denali dances into the room lured by Linda baking ginger-chocolate cookies , the view is picture-perfect.

Written by Snow Blackwood Photos by Christopher Dibble

The Morris Marks Diaries: Moving Day

Thu, 02 Nov 2017 16:21:00 GMT

If you were downtown on Saturday, September 30th, you may have noticed a 2,860 square foot historic house moving through the street… in two pieces. Don’t believe us? Check it out here:

That’s right, we cut an 1880 Italianate in half, and with the help of OXBO, moved it 1.5 miles through PSU’s park blocks across the 405 freeway and to its new home at the intersection of Southwest Broadway Drive and Grant Street.

“The original location of the home placed significant development pressure, causing the house to sit vacant for years without investment and placing it under constant threat of demolition.” says Arciform co-owner, Richard De Wolf.

After ten years of levying for the homes preservation, Arciform started work in preparing the Morris Marks House for its new location on Friday, September 22nd.

“Cutting a house in half is no easy task. The intricacies involved include making sure services are out of the way, determining engineering requirements, predicting how the house will behave while traveling and then doing the actual cut and shoring of the building. The process took us 4 weeks, with 3 team members working on it from 7:30am-4pm each day.” says De Wolf

The Morris Marks house weighs approximately 84,000 lbs. Steel beams were inserted underneath the home’s foundation and each half (42,000 lbs each) was lifted using hydraulic lifts.

“It may look a little run down right now, but don’t worry, we’ll have this home shining like it once did years ago. At the same time, all of its services and foundation will be engineered for the future.”

“I’m happy they left the ivy on!” owner Karen Karlsson exclaims as her home moves through the PSU park blocks.

Inside the home there are many examples of wallpaper spanning several generations. The woodwork is mostly intact, the original wood floors will gleam again soon and the curved staircase and rails will show its craftsmanship to new generations to come.

Outside the home, the wide projecting cornices with heavy brackets and richly ornamented windows, porches, doorway and single bay define the classic Italianate style.

The plan right now is to convert this home into office space on the upper floors and an apartment in the basement level.

“We’re in the permitting stage right now, there is amazing potential for the restoration of this incredible home and we’re so happy to have saved it from demolition,” says DeWolf.

Originally built for a shoe merchant, it’s last use was a boarding home and in recent years, it has avoided demolition by the thankful efforts of the Blindheims (previous owners), Rick Michaelson and Karen Karlsson (current owners and developers), the City of Portland and all of its departments, OXBO (the team that rolls it down the street) and the tireless efforts of the Arciform crew.

Stay tuned for the exciting transformation as we continue to update you here!

Adventures in Remodeling, Part 3: The Kitchen

Sat, 13 May 2017 05:23:00 GMT

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.

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.

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:

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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Adventures in Remodeling Part 2: the Garage

Fri, 05 May 2017 21:57:00 GMT

The new garage was built to closely match the original structure

When you hear the word garage , adventure doesn’t usually come to mind. Garages are supposed to be functional and practical.

But our clients at the 1920 bungalow in First Addition, Lake Oswego have a pretty special garage. Arciform ‘s talented craftsmen created the structure just for them, and it had stories to tell before it was even completed. It’s sure to be the setting of many future memories.

There was a carport before we started the project

Project Manager Adam Schoeffel shares 4 reasons this garage is such a special place:

#1: Roof Trusses & Interior Paneling

Adam redesigned the trusses to accommodate a grading issue which caused the garage door to impede the plane of conventional truss design. He upsized framing members and ordered a vaulted scissor truss for a more hand-framed look. The trusses were painted to contrast with the aged patina of the salvaged lap board which clads the walls and ceiling.

Adam’s scissor trusses look sharp!

#2: Storage with Icebox Panel Doors

Adam and Site Co-Lead Eric Delph (the bearded one above) collaborated on this project, but the idea came from the client. Eric co-designed and constructed the unique storage with its icebox doors, and it looks as if it’s always been there. It is a real conversation piece, and everyone wants to open and close those doors.

Douglas Fir shiplap on walls and ceiling were sourced from local homes being demolished and from Portland area reclaimed wood vendors

#3: The Seed Cabinet

Our client found a handsome antique seed cabinet and knew it would provide great storage. It sat in the garage for many months while Arciform worked on other parts of the home.

One day, four of the cabinet drawers vanished! Without hesitation, Site Co-Lead Jamie Whittaker took charge of creating replicas. The old walnut was tough to match, but Adam found an alternate species that was very close and poked around several salvage shops to find the right hardware. They even matched the original drawer boxes, using flat-sawn fir. Jamie’s four drawers were so convincing, it was hard to tell which ones were new.

About six months after the project was completed, the four missing drawers were returned with an apology note attached to them!

#4: The Rodeo Sign

This is no small souvenir, but a family heirloom which holds years of memories. Our client has roots in St. Paul, OR, and has remained involved in the St Paul Rodeo for years.

The sign is made up of planks bolted together, then carved and painted. It needed stabilizing, so our crew disassembled it, stored it and later installed new pipe through it, slowly compressing the boards. They took great care to keep the words and images in alignment and looking crisp. Our clients intended it to be hung on a basement wall, but it was way too big, and looks truly at-home in the garage!

There are still more stories to tell about this project! Don’t miss our final post in the series next week: Adventures in Remodeling, Part 3: the Kitchen.

Professional photos by BlankEye and Photo Art Portraits

Adventures in Remodeling Part 1: the Secret Wine Cellar

Fri, 28 Apr 2017 21:07:00 GMT

How do you make your home something special to you? This series of 3 posts will share stories about how we helped clients make this home all their own.

In 2011 on a corner lot in the heart of Lake Oswego sat a charming 1920 bungalow for sale. It captured the hearts of a globetrotting family living in Florida, and they purchased the house with plans to relocate closer to their Oregon roots.

They hired design-build firm Arciform to help turn this gem into their forever home. With plans for a cross-country move, a flurry of emails, team meetings, and trips to local salvage shops started.

The home sits in First Addition, one of Lake Oswego’s oldest neighborhoods. Many homes in this area were first owned and occupied by Oregon Iron & Steel Company workers, built in a variety of architectural styles.

Principal Designer Anne De Wolf worked closely with the couple on a thoughtful interior remodel and additions. They shared a respect of the home’s style and era, using this to guide design decisions: from how to increase the footprint, down to door & cabinet hardware.

Reconfigured spaces and more square footage were desired, so the new plans provided a larger kitchen, a mudroom, a master suite, a new bath for the kids, and an outdoor living space.

The couple has a knack for finding wonderful old pieces with stories to tell. There are many antique fixtures, finishes and furnishings integrated into the project. Reclaimed sinks, shiplap paneling and more were salvaged from all over, including demolition sites, Salvage Works , Aurora Mills , eBay, and The ReBuilding Center .

The clients’ inspired vision brought so much fun to this project. One of many examples is the creation of the secret wine cellar.

It all started with four existing concrete steps in the basement. Though he didn’t know what to do with them, our client knew he wanted to do something . What purpose could those serve: storage of some kind? He needed somewhere to keep their wine…but how would they access it?

The adventurous spirit of the client inspired the trap door in the new kitchen floor.

Before: the abandoned steps in question

After: vision and teamwork gave this area new purpose

Site lead Eric Delph says, “When thinking of all the work accomplished at this residence, the one thing that stands out in everyone’s mind is that wine cellar! It evolved from an idea to reality with many hands and great interaction with the clients. From the hidden hatch doors to the storage system and that great final touch by the client himself: a confessional door!”

There are more stories to tell about this project! Stay tuned for the next chapter: Adventures in Remodeling, Part 2: the Garage.

Professional photos by BlankEye and Photo Art Portraits

Envisioning Your Basement and Bonus Room’s Potential

Wed, 02 Nov 2016 17:08:00 GMT

As the seasons change, many of us dream of creating cozy spaces for our families and guests to curl up in. Your basement has the potential to add the living space your family needs and get you that bonus room you have been dreaming of for years. Here are some considerations to help you look past the cracked walls and cobwebs of your basement.

1. Work the structural elements into the design

When looking at the layout for your basement remodel, try not to fight the location of the existing structural members. Moving posts and beams can be costly and trigger upgrades to meet current codes. Your best bet is to integrate the posts and beams into design elements. This can be as simple as hiding them within new walls. Posts can be used as an end point for half walls or could be exposed as design features.

2. Don’t forget the rest of your home

In finishing your basement, you will be restricting access to the systems that service the rest of your house. This is the perfect time to look at the state of your electrical, plumbing and HVAC. If your remodel requires these systems to move, then think about what upgrades can be combined to get the most out of your investment. Central air, re-piping of your house and additional outlets for the floors above are great additions to the scope of a basement remodel.

3. Level of finish

It’s up to you to determine what level of finish and investment you want to put into this project. If you are not looking to add legal livable square feet, there are plenty of ways to clean up your basement and make it function better for you and your family. You’d be surprised how big an impact you can make by cleaning and painting the walls and ceiling. Pair this with a lighting plan to brighten the dark corners and add warmth with furniture.

4. Classic or Contemporary?

Understanding the architectural details that define the era of your home will help you when planning the aesthetic of your remodel–whether you want to design within the style of your home or move in a different direction. Looking at the architectural elements, like existing millwork and built-ins, can help. Think of your basement as a blank canvas and have fun making it reflect your personal style.

5. Flexibility is key

One great way to approach your basement remodel is to plan for the spaces to have multiple uses. Do you need a dedicated guest room or can that also be a home office? If you are adding a bathroom and currently have laundry on this level, think about combining these rooms to save on plumbing costs and space. Are you comfortable with your new guest suite being used as a part time rental? Better to ask yourselves these questions now than later.

6. Creative Storage

It’s easy to focus on how much space you will be gaining by finishing your basement, but don’t forget about what you are giving up. The typical basement acts as a catch-all for the items that we don’t want in the rest of our house. It is important to plan on how and where those items will get stored once the basement is finished. Hidden doors, built-ins and creative pantries are all great options to keep your basement looking spic and span after the remodel.

7. Does your remodel have the potential to work for you?

It’s hard to escape the ADU and Airbnb discussion when considering a basement remodel. The first step will be to assess what the current structure of your home lends itself to. There are differences between the requirements for an attached ADU and converting your basement to a livable space. Make sure you explore how each option affects the scope of work and what benefits you will see once the project is complete before moving forward with your design.

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Understanding the Design Process: Final Steps

Thu, 27 Oct 2016 14:45:00 GMT

Whether you’ve never tackled a remodeling project before or you’re a seasoned home-improvement pro, the design process can seem daunting at times. Many firms have their own way of doing things and sometimes these methods are a bit convoluted or mysterious.

In this series, we’ll take you on a step-by-step tour through the Arciform design process so that you know what to expect when planning a home improvement project. In case you missed them – be sure to start with Part 1 which covers measuring and documenting existing conditions, and part 2 which covers conceptual design & details.

Step 5: Construction Documentation

Most of the projects that we design require city permits, and many require engineering. We take care of that for you! As the design process unfolds we have multiple scheduled check-ins and walk-throughs with our construction team members & subcontractors to get eyes on the project from all parts of the process. Our goal is to address as many potential issues as possible long before the hammers start swinging.

Here you can see an example of a structural page for the nook addition on the cottage we’ve been talking about.

Accurately developing the plans and getting all of the details onto paper is the most critical step in our process. We do this to make sure that every detail of your project gets built as closely as possible to the finalized design. There’s no way to catch everything, but the more we address from the beginning the fewer headaches there will be during construction – something our Project Managers definitely appreciate!

Step 6: Build & Enjoy!

As you can see from this side-by-side comparison, the rendered perspective is remarkably close to the finished product!

There’s a whole new ball game to go along with this last step (the entire construction process, for example!) but you’re now equipped with a highly detailed set of plans and specifications to get you through. Our designers make it a priority to remain available to you during the construction process as well; you can rest assured that you’ll have the help of a professional to deal with anything unexpected that may come up during the course of building your project. Because of all the steps you’ve taken to fully flesh out and detail your design plans, you’re well prepared for construction!

-Tara Keefner, co-author

Understanding the Design Process: 2nd Steps

Fri, 21 Oct 2016 15:11:00 GMT

In this series, we’ll take you on a step-by-step tour through the Arciform design process so that you know what to expect when planning a home improvement project. In case you missed it – be sure to start with Part 1 which covers the first steps in the design process, measuring and documenting existing conditions.

Step 3: Conceptual Design

After documenting the existing conditions, Senior Designer Kristyn Bester was able to come up with a number of options for this cottage remodel based on the client’s wants and needs for the space. Here at Arciform it is important to us to respect the history and architecture of your home, so the designer will always keep that in mind when designing.

One of the client’s main goals was to open up the kitchen with an addition off the back of the house. After coming up with a few preliminary designs, Kristyn presented the client with some options like the one above here in the design office. This first design meeting covers the schematics and general layout of the design. You will get to see what it feels like to be in your remodeled space.

Sometimes it can be hard to visualize your remodel from just a floor plan; luckily, the program we use enables you to see perspectives like the one above which are very true to how the final product will look.

Step 4: Details, details, details!

The steps following the first meeting can be very fun, or at least we designers think so! We will pick out the materials, finishes and fixtures that give the remodel flare and character. You can have as little or as much involvement in this process as you like. We find Pinterest to be a particularly great tool for clients and designers to use during the initial design stages; see the joint board that Senior Designer Kristyn Bester and the client started together here .

Once the space planning and layout for the kitchen and the nook addition was complete, it was time to get into the details of the plans and specifications. The specifications help to create a purchasing “to-do” list for the items which need to be selected. The plans include elevations of all walls to help detail out spatial needs for the rooms affected, including any special notes of concern for our field crew. Designers will often sit down with the client to go through each elevation within the remodeled space, addressing any aesthetic and spatial concerns.

This elevation example shows the type of details that need to be addressed which aren’t always easy to see in plan view, such as how the lights & shelves line up and the relationship between vertical elements such as backsplash and mouldings.

The final phase of design is the technical jargon that provides “instructions” for what is to be built and what that entails, such as permitting and engineering and the like. Stay tuned!

-Tara Keefner, co-author

Understanding the Design Process: 1st Steps

Fri, 14 Oct 2016 00:01:00 GMT

In this series, we’ll take you on a step-by-step tour through the Arciform design process so that you know what to expect when planning a home improvement project. As you follow along with this 1928 English cottage remodel, you will learn what to expect, how we work and why we do what we do!

Step 1: Measuring the Site and Recording Exiting Conditions

After the Initial Design Consultation , Senior Designer Kristyn Bester and the Arciform design team visited the home to measure the existing floor plan and site footprint of this charming cottage. The goal of the site measure is to document every single detail down to the nitty-gritty. We document the existing materials, millwork profiles, door and window styles, etc – and occasionally get into your dusty crawlspaces – all in an effort to mitigate any issues with the unforeseen during the construction phase.

The client had multiple phases in mind for this cottage project, making a whole-house site measure the best solution. A whole-house site measure allows the design team to understand how all floors of a home are being affected when designing; it also helps to smooth the transition between phases and, of course, you will have a set of current and accurate plans for your house!

Step 2: Turning the Measurements and Documentations into a Drawing

After measuring the space and documenting the details, we bring all of the information back to the office to draw up in our CAD software. This “as built” drawing then serves as a canvas for the design. Our computer program also creates a 3D model which lends the opportunity to generate different types of drawings & renderings, making it easy for the designer and client to visualize an accurate depiction of the possibilities.

Above is the “as built” floor plan for our example cottage, which gives a good idea of the kind of information you can expect to find on this plan. Different symbols & tags help the designers easily identify what is going on in the space. For example, the red symbols & lines represent mechanical, electrical & plumbing elements; the blue hatching means that there are no changes being made to the space.

Stay tuned for the next installment on our journey through the design process, outlining the “conceptual design” phase of this Laurelhurst home remodel.

-Tara Keefner, co-author

Everyday Luxuries: A Winning Wine Cellar

Fri, 19 Aug 2016 15:57:00 GMT

Adding a wine cellar sounds like the kind of investment that would only make sense in a grand residence- and there are certainly some gorgeous wine cellars in some of Portland’s most gracious homes.

Not everybody has that kind of square footage, of course. Is it possible to carve out a little piece of luxury when all you have to work with is a clean and dry corner of a bungalow basement?

This was the question we hoped to answer as part of our Wine Cellar Giveaway collaboration with Portland Monthly. Our wine cellar winner had a wonderful collection of French and Northwest wines… and absolutely nowhere to store it or display it.

Could Arciform Designer Jeffrey Kelly take this dry but unappealing corner of their basement and turn it into a stylish and functional temperature-controlled wine cellar?

Our first step was to devise a modular, flexible storage rack system that could handle different bottle sizes and shapes (including Magnums) while maintaining a clean and consistent look.

As an additional challenge, we looked for a design that would make use of off-cuts from our custom wood shop, removing waste from the waste stream and re-purposing it in a practical and beautiful way.

The solution: A series of modular rack components constructed from pieces of reclaimed clear vertical grain fir that were salvaged from our custom window manufacture process.

The racks were installed on two walls, providing an extraordinary amount of bottle storage in a tight footprint. Salvaged wood paneling along the accent wall tied the space together while a WhisperKool air conditioning unit keeps the space at the optimum temperature for storing wine. A small wine fridge keeps whites chilled.

Designing an Adventure-Ready Home

Wed, 03 Aug 2016 17:23:00 GMT

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:

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.