My Houzz: Tour a Contemporary Townhouse on the Water
An elevator, a stunning outdoor patio space and a private beach contribute to an Oregon family's dream lakefront home
Whitney Lyons is a professional photographer, writer and a design enthusiast. She has traveled the world working as a writer and photographer.
Her travels took her to Ireland, where she worked as a photojournalist and reporter for Imokilly People newspaper in Co. Cork.
Whitney spent a year traveling across Europe and Asia, further expanding her photography skills and experience. She eventually landed in New Zealand, where she photographed and wrote articles for Wild Tomato magazine in Nelson.
Whitney is now located in Portland, Oregon where she works as a freelance photographer and writer.
You can see more of her work at flavors.me/whitneylyons.
Whitney Lyons is a professional photographer, writer and a design enthusiast.... More »
A private beach, easy lakefront access and views of the river from every room make this Oregon home perfect for water lovers Jill and Chris Hall. Living on the water has always been a dream for them and their son, Scott. A large site in Lake Oswego's historic district along the Willamette River fit the bill. The couple worked with architect Curt Olson to build two townhouses on the large property — one to rent out, and one for their dream home.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Jill and Chris Hall and their son, Scott
Location: Lake Oswego, Oregon
Size: 2 townhouses: 4,100 square feet and 3,800 square feet
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Jill and Chris Hall and their son, Scott
Location: Lake Oswego, Oregon
Size: 2 townhouses: 4,100 square feet and 3,800 square feet
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by Whitney Lyons
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| Interior designer Jenni Leasia hung rustic-style Restoration Hardware chandeliers over the kitchen island and added contemporary bar stools from Duo Modern. The island features a convenient prep sink, and the range holds one of Jill's favorite features — the mounted pot-filler. |
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| The couple wanted an updated cottage look that would fall in line with their clean and modern style. Leasia had a custom dining room table from Design Furnishings designed in a simple look with both traditional and contemporary elements. Upholstered chairs from West Elm add that more modern touch that Jill and Chris love. |
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| The Halls spend most of their time in their living room, admiring the view through the large, panoramic windows. Floor-to-ceiling sliding doors create a smooth indoor-outdoor transition. The living room cabinets are made of a warm walnut wood. Both the fireplace in the living room and the one on the patio were made by North West Masonry. Sectional: Portland Furniture Store; cabinets: Mapleleaf Cabinets |
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| This cozy and serene seating space is ideal for hosting barbecues. Outdoor furniture from Target provides a place to take in the view, enjoy the sunshine or take cover under the archway in a storm. A Restoration Hardware chandelier completes the look. |
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The first-floor guest bathroom has visually minimal plumbing as a form of art. Carved limestone with a beautiful leaf pattern from Artistic Tile lines the wall. "We wanted to reference the river without having fish and waves everywhere," says Jill.
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| An elevator, lined in walnut, provides an extra lift in the three-story home. |
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The master bathroom features a phenomenal view of the outdoors. Glass tile and marble from Ann Sacks is used throughout the space. "We used a lot of glass, thinking about the local water and outdoor elements," Leasia says.
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| The spacious vanity has a sturdy quartz countertop. The bathtub — complete with a soothing outdoor view — is made by Happy D by Duravit. |
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| The master bedroom echoes the clean lines of the rest of the home and centers around a spectacular view of the river. Bed: Crate & Barrel |
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| This laundry room and crafting space is one of Jill's favorite spaces in the home — a seasoned knitter, she has a place for all of her knitting supplies. The handy room is also accessible through her walk-in closet. |
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This custom wine cellar, built by carpenter Bob Tucker, provides plenty of storage for the couple's wine collection. The bare concrete room is built into the side of the hill to maintain a consistent temperature.
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The main townhome has four and a half bathrooms, each with a slightly different twist on tile design. "I didn't want anything that we would get tired of," says Jill. "So we used classic materials in different ways in each of the bathrooms."
Bathroom tile: Oregon Tile and Marble, Pratt and Larson, Ann Sacks, Pental
Bathroom tile: Oregon Tile and Marble, Pratt and Larson, Ann Sacks, Pental
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| The basement microkitchen and lounge creates a relaxing place in which the family can unwind. Chris commissioned the custom ski chair from an artist at First Thursday in Portland's Pearl District many years ago — the main pair of skis belonged to Chris. Artwork: Z Gallerie; bar counter: Glass Strategies |
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| Originally, the Halls wanted to build two single-family homes on the property. "We didn't need to build as big a home as the property could fit," says Jill. It didn't make sense to build the single units because of zoning and height restrictions, so they built two townhouses. The Halls live in the townhouse on the right and are looking to sell the other one. |
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| The cabana had the first working bathroom on the property. The other half is devoted to storage. |
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Jill saw a similar mirror in a magazine and thought it would fit in nicely with their cabana bathroom. She purchased a mirror and completed the DIY project with thick jute rope.
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| The backyard has a beautiful edible garden where Jill grows fresh herbs and vegetables. This garden is not for the faint of heart, however — there are more than 90 stairs to climb from the house down to the backyard. The family relishes their private beach on edge of their property. Jill loves to bring a cup of coffee down by the water and watch the wildlife and kayakers going by. Their next project? A new boathouse, right on the water. |
Comments
kbumgar Gorgeous! I'll bet it's wonderful to stroll down to the lake for a dip on a hot day!
12 months ago · Like
Rosalie Katzman_Wieldt like the hanging mirror with rope.
12 months ago · Like
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judy1857 four and a half bathrooms?!
12 months ago · Like
Stephanie White Terrific home enhanced by the views! Who was the architect and the builder?
12 months ago · Like
sjth The architect was Curt Olson of Olson Group Architects. Built by Riverland Homes. Very difficult site--masterful job by both.
12 months ago · Like
sherrykay I so want to live here...
8 weeks ago · Like
Ideabook updated on Sept. 6, 2012.
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