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Built in the 1970s by a hardworking family patriarch, this Portland-area ranch home had been the backdrop for generations of memories. When the homeowners inherited the property from their grandparents, they saw an opportunity to honor its history while creating a modern sanctuary for their growing family. Through a thoughtful whole-home renovation, this once dark and compartmentalized ranch was transformed into a bright, open, and welcoming home designed for the next generation.
With a toddler at home and another child on the way, the family's goal was to create spaces that felt connected, functional, and built to last. The heart of the renovation centered on opening the home's main living areas, replacing disconnected rooms with a spacious open-concept kitchen and living room designed for gathering and everyday life. Enlarged windows flood the interior with natural light, while carefully selected finishes bring warmth, durability, and timeless appeal.
The kitchen became the focal point of the transformation. Stock cabinetry was elevated through custom details including floating wood shelves and stained wood-wrapped columns that add warmth and character. At the center, a striking quartz island serves as both a gathering place and a clever structural solution, seamlessly incorporating support elements required for the newly opened floor plan.
Creating this open-concept layout required significant structural modifications, including the removal of six walls, three of them load-bearing. Engineered beams were recessed into the ceiling to maintain clean sightlines, while new footings were carefully installed within the crawlspace to support the redistributed loads. Additional improvements included relocating the furnace to eliminate a major circulation obstacle and installing a new garage access door that required modifications to the existing foundation.
Throughout the project, thoughtful planning helped maximize both budget and performance. Luxury vinyl plank flooring provides the look of hardwood while standing up to children and large pets, while stain-resistant carpeting offers comfort in the bedrooms. Existing window locations were retained and enlarged to increase natural light without the expense of major structural changes. Even the structural columns required for the new beams were integrated into the island design, transforming a necessity into an architectural feature.
Completed two weeks ahead of schedule, this Portland metro ranch remodel demonstrates how thoughtful design-build remodeling can preserve a home's heritage while adapting it for modern family living. Through strategic planning, creative problem-solving, and quality craftsmanship, a beloved family home was transformed into a bright, functional retreat ready to create decades of new memories.

Solved a drainage problem by regrading the corner and installing overlay pavers to match the paver steppers that bridge the main yard with this patio corner. Hibiscus, the home owner's favorite flower, will give great color to his speical spot. Photo by Kari Petterson

This amazing renovation focused on solving a series of problems that a previous kitchen expansion had created. By rearranging the appliance placement, updating the cabinetry, designing all new storage solutions and maximizing the amazing outdoor views; we cured the spit personality disorder plaguing the existing kitchen. The home now has a beautifully redesigned kitchen and living space perfect for entertaining, relaxing and enjoying the outside views. Vaulted ceilings with bright skylights, reflective glass wall tiles, sleek sophisticated Cambria quartz counter tops, fingerprint-free faucet, multi-functional Prolific kitchen sink by Kohler, stainless steel appliances, creative storage solutions, all new lighting and timeless shaker cabinets by Wellborn lend to the now bright, open, vivacious and flawless function of this newly renovated galley style kitchen. White base cabinets along the outside walls contrast perfectly with the dark grey island cabinets. Linear satin nickel door and drawer pulls coordinate with the stainless steel appliances and sink. An eclectic blend of vintage and modern furnishings, artwork and rugs create a comfortable balance that feels and looks timeless. Breathtaking backyard views are artfully framed by new Pella windows and doors with integral blinds between the glass. Calm, inviting neutral tones provide the perfect backdrop for this refined design.
Photos by: Kimberly Kerl
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The view from the driveway shows how the gently curved bed lines soften the bold architecture of the house, and how the planting plan pulls elements from the home into the landscape, effectively grounding the house.

• Before - 2,300 square feet
• After – 3,800 square feet
• Remodel of a 1930’s vacation cabin on a steep, lakeside lot
• Asian-influenced Arts and Crafts style architecture compliments the owner’s art and furniture collection
• A harmonious design blending stained wood, rich stone and natural fibers
• The creation of an upper floor solved access problems while adding space for a grand entry, office and media room
• The new staircase, with its Japanese tansu-style cabinet and widened lower sculpture display steps, forms a partitioning wall for the two-story library

One feature palm was salvaged when this seven year old Mediterranean style residence on the Caloosahatchee River underwent a complete landscape and hardscape remodel in the beginning of 2015. The landscape had not been properly maintained for a few years prior to when the new owners purchased in 2014, was overgrown and unhealthy and therefore was in need of a complete evaluation and landscape overhall.
The original red brick concrete pavers were removed and replaced with a gold travertine blend with ivory travertine border for accent. The front entry stair was expanded and redesigned for a more significant and welcoming front door. The side yard had a significant slope from the foundation of the house to the seawall and had significant erosion damage. This space was re-graded, grading and drainage was repaired and re-routed and a 70 foot long retaining wall was installed. The retaining wall not only solved the stormwater washout problem, but also provided a level space for a private side yard tropical palm garden and pathway to access both the pool deck and the walk along the seawall. The stairs to the pool deck, dock and landing were all completely modified for ease of use.
Aside from the tropical and beautiful landscape that was installed, the most significant visual and aesthetic improvement to this property was the addition of three 9 foot tall by 5 foot wide natural stone water walls with stone basins that were designed to fit within the archways at the driveway entry and designed to complement the architecture of the residence. These water walls offer ambient noise, visual interest and have completely improved the use and entry experience for the homeowner and visitors. Tropical shade bromeliads, alocasias, cordylines and ferns dress up the new landscape beds at the entry and along the front foundation where previously red brick intersected the foundation walls for a mundane solution.
Other elements of interest include the cable wire espalier that was installed in front of the archway on both sides of the entry way for colorful bougainvillea trellis vine to climb and soften the tall walls and eventually connect over the arch. Confederate jasmine vine will soften the garage corner on the cable wire trellis installed and there is also a 4 foot wide by 18 foot tall cable wire espalier on a tall, once stark, wall on the pool deck. Three pool planters were reconfigured and planted with large triple princess palms and bold blue-tone pottery was selected to add interest and color to the pool deck. Micro-drip irrigation was connected to the pool planters and pottery for a low maintenance solution.
This project was a collaborative effort with an ideal client who was open to all design ideas, who worked closely with the design team, and was a great success for both the client and R.S. Walsh Landscaping.

Our Interior Designers tell clients, “Be true to yourself, and you will love the results.” This kitchen remodel reflects that motto. The owners of this Salem area ranch home had a long-standing appreciation of the classic white, black, and red color combination. So when C&R Senior Interior Designer Linda Stewart selected the new color palette, she stayed close to that theme.
A challenge in nearly every older kitchen is the new refrigerator sizes. Remember the day when you could replace your refrigerator and the new one would fit perfectly in the existing space? Not anymore. Now, the super-sized refrigerators wreck havoc on most kitchen spaces. If, by luck, it happens to fit beneath the upper cabinet, it more than likely protrudes out into the room.
This kitchen had that issue. The refrigerator stuck out a good six inches from the cabinet edge, seriously affecting the visual flow. And with that much added depth, reaching the cabinet above was almost impossible.
C&R solved this problem with a custom cabinet and side pantry that extends the full depth of the refrigerator. This accomplished two good things: added architectural interest and a refrigerator proportional to the kitchen as a whole.
Terry Poe Photography

The client dislikes kitchen counter clutter, but her husband needs his morning cup of coffee just like everyone else. To solve this problem, a coffee and water station is “hidden” on a kidney-shaped pullout made by Clever Storage LeMans corner storage. It’s not the only hidden feature: a neighboring drawer bank boasts a pop-up mixer shelf. In this kitchen, all of the small appliances are tucked away; pulling them out as needed is as easy as opening a cabinet door and sliding them forward.
Chris Davis Photography

Entertaining friends and family doesn't work well when rooms are small and closed off. So when our clients decided to remodel, they knew they wanted to open up the space to accommodate large gatherings. Also important were ample storage and quality appliances that would hold up to the demands of cooking creative meals several nights a week.
As is sometimes the case with remodeling, solving one problem can create another. Opening up the space involved removing a wall, which sacrificed critical square footage for cabinetry and appliances. We knew the wall needed to come down so we were challenged with making sure every available cabinet space in the kitchen was being utilized as thoughtfully and creatively as possible. A tall pantry was added next to the refrigerator to allow for storage of pots and pans, as well as food, while another pantry in the adjacent dining room housed all dishes and silverware. A small bar area was created in an unused section in the back of the home to store coffee and tea accessories and drinkware. Finally, a small island in the center of the kitchen offered the ideal location for the microwave and most-used pots and pans.
With the expanded space, smart use of storage options and top-notch appliances, our clients are enjoying working in their new kitchen and have already hosted a ravioli-making class!
Matt Villano Photography

Job Name: Culver City Accessible Residence
Contractor: Glynn Design Build
Dealer: Taylor Brothers
CS Products used: Cavity Sliders Full-Height Ceiling Mount tracks, M8 500lb carriage system, and CL400 ADA locks.
What was the problem we solved: Cavity Sliders pocket door track systems and ADA compliant door locks offer space saving options which provide easy wheel chair access and maneuverability.
Comments: Our Full-Height Ceiling Mount Track and new CL400 ADA locks with custom color indicators were used to achieve the sleek contemporary style desired by the home owner.

The existing two story residence was built in 1937 and has a footprint of approximately 2,850 sq. ft. While much of the plan at both levels remained in its original “formal” layout with spacious rooms, the home did not meet the current day needs for this modern family. The lack of an “informal” family-room, no space to accommodate overnight guests, only a small powder room tucked under the main stair at the ground floor, and barely enough room for one car in the garage, not to mention the lack of storage space were the problems to solve.
After investigating numerous options the decision was made to introduce a new two story addition with maid’s quarters, a new laundry room, and a three car garage with plenty of additional storage space at the first floor, and a two bedroom guest suite with a kitchenette and living quarters at the second floor. Together with a small addition, this move delivered over 600 sq. ft in the main structure for a new family room with game tables and a full bathroom for guests which also serves as a cabana for the pool area.
The design of the additions, including the introduction of new fenestration to capitalize on daylight and views was sensitive to the original architecture and unanimously approved by the Historic Preservation Board of West Palm Beach.

From builder standard to designer upgrade.
A recent project of ours in Harrison NY had us taking an adequate builder designed kitchen to something much more special. The original layout led to traffic jams while entertaining and valuable storage was lost due to the fact that the cabinets did not go to the ceiling.
The new design moves the refrigerator out of the traffic pattern that often lead to gridlock
in previous years as well as providing ample storage for trays and baking sheets in the slim pantry. Grillwork doors allow for airflow from the air-conditioning vents, while still allowing for cabinets to the ceiling.
A professional grade range replaces the old smaller model, with a heavy-duty hood to assure complete ventilation no matter what the cook creates. The microwave moves farther down the work triangle to assure that the heating of a cup of coffee or bag of popcorn need never interfere with the chef again. Equally of value is the island mini-frig not just to chill the occasional bottle of wine, but to keep the kids sodas out the main refrigerator.
And then there is the desk/ command central area. The formerly blank wall where no piece of furniture seemed to fit, because of the radiator, has become an efficient home office.
With room for two people to work, grown-ups can search Food Network for recipes while the kids do their homework – problem area solved!

From builder standard to designer upgrade.
A recent project of ours in Harrison NY had us taking an adequate builder designed kitchen to something much more special. The original layout led to traffic jams while entertaining and valuable storage was lost due to the fact that the cabinets did not go to the ceiling.
The new design moves the refrigerator out of the traffic pattern that often lead to gridlock
in previous years as well as providing ample storage for trays and baking sheets in the slim pantry. Grillwork doors allow for airflow from the air-conditioning vents, while still allowing for cabinets to the ceiling.
A professional grade range replaces the old smaller model, with a heavy-duty hood to assure complete ventilation no matter what the cook creates. The microwave moves farther down the work triangle to assure that the heating of a cup of coffee or bag of popcorn need never interfere with the chef again. Equally of value is the island mini-frig not just to chill the occasional bottle of wine, but to keep the kids sodas out the main refrigerator.
And then there is the desk/ command central area. The formerly blank wall where no piece of furniture seemed to fit, because of the radiator, has become an efficient home office.
With room for two people to work, grown-ups can search Food Network for recipes while the kids do their homework – problem area solved!

From builder standard to designer upgrade.
A recent project of ours in Harrison NY had us taking an adequate builder designed kitchen to something much more special. The original layout led to traffic jams while entertaining and valuable storage was lost due to the fact that the cabinets did not go to the ceiling.
The new design moves the refrigerator out of the traffic pattern that often lead to gridlock
in previous years as well as providing ample storage for trays and baking sheets in the slim pantry. Grillwork doors allow for airflow from the air-conditioning vents, while still allowing for cabinets to the ceiling.
A professional grade range replaces the old smaller model, with a heavy-duty hood to assure complete ventilation no matter what the cook creates. The microwave moves farther down the work triangle to assure that the heating of a cup of coffee or bag of popcorn need never interfere with the chef again. Equally of value is the island mini-frig not just to chill the occasional bottle of wine, but to keep the kids sodas out the main refrigerator.
And then there is the desk/ command central area. The formerly blank wall where no piece of furniture seemed to fit, because of the radiator, has become an efficient home office.
With room for two people to work, grown-ups can search Food Network for recipes while the kids do their homework – problem area solved!

This modest brick Rambler was dark in the Winter. What we thought was a lighting problem to solve, was really that of spacial arrangement and organization. The clutter with no place to store anything, made this interior seem so dark, and our interior design solution of custom built-ins made the space feel lighter and organized, along with adding a few extra lighting fixtures to the mix! North Seattle House - Compact Space Built-Ins. Belltown Design. Photography by Paula McHugh

Job Name: Culver City Accessible Residence
Contractor: Glynn Design Build
Dealer: Taylor Brothers
CS Products used: Cavity Sliders Full-Height Ceiling Mount tracks, M8 500lb carriage system, and CL400 ADA locks.
What was the problem we solved: Cavity Sliders pocket door track systems and ADA compliant door locks offer space saving options which provide easy wheel chair access and maneuverability.
Comments: Our Full-Height Ceiling Mount Track and new CL400 ADA locks with custom color indicators were used to achieve the sleek contemporary style desired by the home owner.

The existing stairway had two major issues: the large wall limited the size of furniture the clients could bring upstairs, and the ceiling height was too low for tall members of the family. Problems were solved by raising the ceiling and opening the wall to add a finely-crafted banister.

Bedspreads are making a come back as customers are hedging away from big bulky comforters. And isn't it funny - mattress depths have changed and varied yet sheet, comforter and bedspread sizes have not. Well, that problem is solved when you have a professional come to your home and custom make your bedding!

From builder standard to designer upgrade.
A recent project of ours in Harrison NY had us taking an adequate builder designed kitchen to something much more special. The original layout led to traffic jams while entertaining and valuable storage was lost due to the fact that the cabinets did not go to the ceiling.
The new design moves the refrigerator out of the traffic pattern that often lead to gridlock
in previous years as well as providing ample storage for trays and baking sheets in the slim pantry. Grillwork doors allow for airflow from the air-conditioning vents, while still allowing for cabinets to the ceiling.
A professional grade range replaces the old smaller model, with a heavy-duty hood to assure complete ventilation no matter what the cook creates. The microwave moves farther down the work triangle to assure that the heating of a cup of coffee or bag of popcorn need never interfere with the chef again. Equally of value is the island mini-frig not just to chill the occasional bottle of wine, but to keep the kids sodas out the main refrigerator.
And then there is the desk/ command central area. The formerly blank wall where no piece of furniture seemed to fit, because of the radiator, has become an efficient home office.
With room for two people to work, grown-ups can search Food Network for recipes while the kids do their homework – problem area solved!
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