View from Kitchen looking North into Living room past 3-sided fireplace that sits between. Photo by Architect
Minimalist kitchen photo in Portland

The clients called me on the recommendation from a neighbor of mine who had met them at a conference and learned of their need for an architect. They contacted me and after meeting to discuss their project they invited me to visit their site, not far from White Salmon in Washington State. Initially, the couple discussed building a ‘Weekend’ retreat on their 20± acres of land. Their site was in the foothills of a range of mountains that offered views of both Mt. Adams to the North and Mt. Hood to the South. They wanted to develop a place that was ‘cabin-like’ but with a degree of refinement to it and take advantage of the primary views to the north, south and west. They also wanted to have a strong connection to their immediate outdoors. Before long my clients came to the conclusion that they no longer perceived this as simply a weekend retreat but were now interested in making this their primary residence. With this new focus we concentrated on keeping the refined cabin approach but needed to add some additional functions and square feet to the original program. They wanted to downsize from their current 3,500± SF city residence to a more modest 2,000 – 2,500 SF space. They desired a singular open Living, Dining and Kitchen area but needed to have a separate room for their television and upright piano. They were empty nesters and wanted only two bedrooms and decided that they would have two ‘Master’ bedrooms, one on the lower floor and the other on the upper floor (they planned to build additional ‘Guest’ cabins to accommodate others in the near future). The original scheme for the weekend retreat was only one floor with the second bedroom tucked away on the north side of the house next to the breezeway opposite of the carport. Another consideration that we had to resolve was that the particular location that was deemed the best building site had diametrically opposed advantages and disadvantages. The views and primary solar orientations were also the source of the prevailing winds, out of the Southwest. The resolve was to provide a semi-circular low-profile earth berm on the south/southwest side of the structure to serve as a wind-foil directing the strongest breezes up and over the structure. Because our selected site was in a saddle of land that then sloped off to the south/southwest the combination of the earth berm and the sloping hill would effectively created a ‘nestled’ form allowing the winds rushing up the hillside to shoot over most of the house. This allowed me to keep the favorable orientation to both the views and sun without being completely compromised by the winds.

Transitional powder room photo in Los Angeles

Inspiration for a small mediterranean light wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen remodel in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

View across the 'Stair Tree' bridge from the Entry landing into the Living room beyond and the Dining/Garden Living below and Family room above. Peter Vanderwarker / Dale Headrich - photoshop

Shane Odonell
Example of a minimalist bathroom design in Los Angeles

Flight, by Sara Baldwin for New Ravenna, a hand cut and waterjet natural stone mosaic in Blue Macauba and Thassos, is shown here in a custom shower.
Example of a trendy multicolored tile and mosaic tile bathroom design in Other with white walls

Peak into the Powder room. All Photo's by CWR
Inspiration for a small contemporary gray tile limestone floor powder room remodel in Portland with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, concrete countertops, a one-piece toilet, a vessel sink and yellow walls

The clients called me on the recommendation from a neighbor of mine who had met them at a conference and learned of their need for an architect. They contacted me and after meeting to discuss their project they invited me to visit their site, not far from White Salmon in Washington State. Initially, the couple discussed building a ‘Weekend’ retreat on their 20± acres of land. Their site was in the foothills of a range of mountains that offered views of both Mt. Adams to the North and Mt. Hood to the South. They wanted to develop a place that was ‘cabin-like’ but with a degree of refinement to it and take advantage of the primary views to the north, south and west. They also wanted to have a strong connection to their immediate outdoors. Before long my clients came to the conclusion that they no longer perceived this as simply a weekend retreat but were now interested in making this their primary residence. With this new focus we concentrated on keeping the refined cabin approach but needed to add some additional functions and square feet to the original program. They wanted to downsize from their current 3,500± SF city residence to a more modest 2,000 – 2,500 SF space. They desired a singular open Living, Dining and Kitchen area but needed to have a separate room for their television and upright piano. They were empty nesters and wanted only two bedrooms and decided that they would have two ‘Master’ bedrooms, one on the lower floor and the other on the upper floor (they planned to build additional ‘Guest’ cabins to accommodate others in the near future). The original scheme for the weekend retreat was only one floor with the second bedroom tucked away on the north side of the house next to the breezeway opposite of the carport. Another consideration that we had to resolve was that the particular location that was deemed the best building site had diametrically opposed advantages and disadvantages. The views and primary solar orientations were also the source of the prevailing winds, out of the Southwest. The resolve was to provide a semi-circular low-profile earth berm on the south/southwest side of the structure to serve as a wind-foil directing the strongest breezes up and over the structure. Because our selected site was in a saddle of land that then sloped off to the south/southwest the combination of the earth berm and the sloping hill would effectively created a ‘nestled’ form allowing the winds rushing up the hillside to shoot over most of the house. This allowed me to keep the favorable orientation to both the views and sun without being completely compromised by the winds.

This is a remodel of a Master Bedroom suite in a 1970 split-level Ranch. This view is in the 'Master' bath shower. All photo's by CWR
Example of a trendy bathroom design in Portland

Inspiration for a transitional kitchen remodel in Los Angeles with glass-front cabinets, stainless steel appliances and white backsplash

Shane Odonell
Example of a huge trendy master bedroom design in Los Angeles

West & South elevations of New addition, Garden and existing home. All photo's by CWR
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Photo by Andrew Hyslop
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(Photo Credit: Karyn Millet)
Transitional patio photo in Los Angeles with a fire pit

Dining room - transitional dark wood floor dining room idea in Los Angeles with beige walls, a stone fireplace and a ribbon fireplace

Trendy kitchen photo in Boston with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets and white backsplash

(Photo Credit: Karyn Millet)
Inspiration for a transitional foyer remodel in Los Angeles with beige walls