1909 Sellwood Bungalow

ARCIFORM completed a phased remodel of a 1909 cottage-style bungalow in Sellwood over a period of ten years.

A Cosmopolitan and Industrial Inspired Remodel of a 1909 Sellwood Bungalow 


From the homeowner:


"In reflection, I would echo something I shared on the phone. I realized through our conversation that my house has the unique power to be both grounding and expansive. Affirming and freeing. A feathered nest for myself and my daughters — but with a wide-open door welcoming newfound loves of people and ideas. 

 

In the hardest times of my life, I found (I created, I turned to) all of that in my home. From losing and finding health (I’m a breast cancer survivor), to grieving for people that left the world in hard ways in the same year (my father and my brother-in-law), to leaving a three-decade career as I found a new purpose helping others become better leaders, to becoming unmoored from a marriage to ultimately finding my life partner and best friend, to helping my daughters launch into their own lives and discovering that my nest was a little roomier yet not at all empty.

 

Every remodel I did rooted AND lifted me further through this magical house-power. My cozy, hand plastered blue kitchen nook sits just opposite the perfect French blue stove. It has green leather booth seats, that are a magnet for friends-who-are-family and family-who-are-friends. The graphic cement tiles of what was supposed to be a mud-room but turned into super pantry draw you further back into the deep blue monochromatic comfort of the family rooms. This is where we draw up together with our cats to the fire (and to new worlds that we find on the TV). The lush potted-plant filled second floor balcony just off my bedroom welcomes me for work or rest and gives me a wide view of the sky, while also allowing me green shelter to hide from the world. There is even a little overhang where I can sit and look out when it’s raining. 

 

We find a way, don’t we, to make the world we need".


From ARCIFORM:

Phase one comprised of a two-story addition with a family room, mudroom and master suite. Phase two was the kitchen remodel. Phase three saw the renovation of the front porch and replacement of dormer windows and siding. Phase four included a nook and mudroom addition with a balcony, indoor and outdoor gas fireplaces and an outdoor living room with a gate and pergola.


Entering from the outdoor living room, you’re welcomed into a cheery mudroom with a colorfully patterned encaustic tile floor. A repurposed Chinese screen on gliding hardware reveals custom built-in pantry shelving by Versatile Wood Products with intricate wallpaper at the back. A wall mounted sink is conveniently located right near the door. The bar cabinet with an undercounter wine fridge is clad in salvaged paneling and is topped with marble and connects the room to the kitchen above.


To the rear of the mudroom is the family room, updated with deep blue walls which highlight antiques and treasures from travels as well as favorite paintings. Textiles and colorful soft furnishings add comfort while the sculptural concrete tile fireplace is the centerpiece of the room.

Inspiration for the kitchen remodel was drawn from our client’s eclectic, cosmopolitan style and the industrial 1920s.


A staircase was removed to enlarge the space. There is a farm style sink, a French gas range in Delft Blue by LaCanche and antiques which double as prep spaces and storage.


Custom-made open shelving with steel frames and reclaimed wood are practical and show off favorite serve-ware.  Underfoot is salvaged Fir, and on the walls there’s Florence Broadhurst’s Egrets wallpaper, tinted plaster and ceramic subway tile. ARCIFORM paneled the ceiling. Small mobile islands with zinc tops offer prep space and can be tucked away when entertaining. In the new kitchen nook, a custom table with a brass leg is surrounded by cozy upholstered benches.


At the Second Floor Addition, the main suite features saturated colors and textures. An attractive stair landing connects new and old spaces. The main bedroom has a walk-in closet and a window which opens to a private, plant-filled balcony. The added bathroom boasts a Jack & Jill shower, four full height, recessed medicine cabinets with perforated metal door panels and penny round floor tiles.


Subtle exterior detailing was designed not to overwhelm the original house. The front porch was remodeled and a gate to the outdoor living room was made with salvaged carriage doors and is lit by a barn light. Through the gate is the outdoor living room, paved with Bluestone. Under the plant-covered arbor, a bright chandelier illuminates the dining space at dusk. An exterior wall is clad in tile to create the backdrop for a fireplace creating a focal point in the cozy back yard living space.


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