1978 Eclectic Ranch in the Southwest Hills
This 1978 Eclectic Ranch in the SW Hills of Portland underwent a phased whole house remodel. The homeowner is passionate about using salvaged materials, which is evident throughout her home and yard. Salvage sources we used include: Hippo Hardware, The ReBuilding Center, a deconstructed paper mill and the client’s own collection. Together with ARCIFORM’s design and build teams, a one-of-a-kind homebase was created for our adventurous homeowner to enjoy with family and friends.
EXTERIOR
The exterior is whimsical from the colorful siding to the sculptural touches on almost every plane. Curved copper gutters, a steel garland and a garage clad in corrugated metal add textural interest. The recycled rubber tire roof is designed to look like slate. A steel column at the porch was designed as a “banana tree” with salvaged window weight “bananas”. A custom front door was inspired by an abacus and has operable side ventilation.
FIRST FLOOR LIVING ROOM
The first floor is open plan, with few doors. The living room is the full height of the home but feels warm and cozy, with Cherry paneling, cheery yellow walls and a ceiling finished in herringbone-patterned Kirei board. We removed a wood-burning fireplace and added built-in media storage drawers. Behind the tv, the wall is tiled in terracotta colored marble. The wood floors are made from salvaged pickle barrels and shiplap.
DINING ROOM
We replaced the dining room’s gold-sponged mirrored ceiling with steel sheathing framed with Cherry. A structural dining room wall was replaced with a steel I-beam, opening the space up to the kitchen. A large window maximizes daylight.
KITCHEN
The kitchen has custom Cherry and Walnut cabinets with cast iron knobs and pulls, and counters are skim-coated Venetian plaster. At the window a rack for glassware filters the light. Every square inch was maximized for storage.
BATHROOM
One enters the first floor bathroom through a screen door mounted on barn door glides. We added radiant heating to the flooring and walls, creating a towel warmer by leaning a salvaged wrought iron railing against a heated wall. Tinted plaster and cool-hued glass mosaic tile offer visual and tactile texture in the room. The vanity is a repurposed buffet, with a blue glass sink and a cobalt blue granite counter. The round shower was custom made and antique light fixtures illuminate the space.
MAIN STAIRS
Spring green walls showcase framed artwork and stair risers are tiled with colorful bits of salvaged tile & marbles from Anne’s childhood collection. There’s a continuous Cherry handrail with a balustrade made from scrap steel from junkyards. Above it all shines a ceiling clad in pressed tin tiles.
SECOND FLOOR ADDITION
The S-curved, cantilevered addition wove the balcony together with the interior space and expanded the existing bedrooms and bathroom to create a roomy master suite.
MASTER BATHROOM
The master bathroom is a cool, calm retreat in contrast to the client’s natural instincts. There are marble floors with glass accents and Venetian plaster walls. A custom marble trough sink, modern classic pedestal tub and toilet create a streamlined feel. The trio of windows are reflected in a wall of custom cabinets.
MASTER BEDROOM
This is no ordinary master bedroom! Recycled leather tile floors, turquoise walls and a Kirei board ceiling create an intriguing background in this unique space. A wall of Cherry built-in shelving has a chainmail curtain with plumbing pipes for hanging clothes and artwork. We built a round platform bed with a lazy susan underneath for shoes and storage. A woven Cherry railing overlooks the living room below.
WALK-IN CLOSET
This walk-in closet’s sunny walls, floors and ceilings play visual tricks on you. There is plenty of room to store clothing and accessories, but also an egg-shaped nook that overlooks the living room, created from scrap metal.
BACK YARD STORAGE CONTAINER GUEST HOUSE
A storage container was transformed in our shop from an empty vessel to a special guesthouse, then craned into our client’s backyard. Outside, you’re met with perforated metal panels on barn glides, concealing the door. Inside, walls are clad in wind-fallen wood paneling. At one end is a shelf rotating on a vertical axis, separating the main room from the bath. A metal feeding trough serves as a shower basin, and a stone sink sits on a tree stump base with a copper pipe faucet. At the other end are a desk, seating and hinged artwork that folds down into a standing desk. In between it all is a cozy daybed with a view.
BACK DECK
The back yard holds the most adventurous aspect of our project: the back deck! This multi-terraced deck spans the length of the house, connecting it to the garage and guest house. It was built chiefly from materials sourced from a defunct Oregon paper mill. Welded scrap metal railings incorporate our client’s personal salvage collection, including but not limited to: baking tins, saw blades, boat steering wheels, gurneys, antique lighting and old lockers. Walkways are made from metal grating and counters from industrial salvage. A foundation for the future tower project has been set. There is an amphitheater with the shell of a crashed car, and a freestanding sauna.