Laurelhurst Craftsman

Location
Portland, OR

Size
1,002 SF

A Master Plan Guides the Way
The Laurelhurst Craftsman is a stately three story home in a traditional Portland neighborhood. The renovated house fits perfectly in with its traditional neighbors.

Some design decisions just don’t make sense. That is what happened in the story of this poor Craftsman house, located in Portland’s Laurelhurst neighborhood. It is always a pleasure to help clients who are ready to make things right by returning a home to its architectural roots. In this case, making things right required a whole house remodel.

Photo of the existing house before the whole house remodel.
After the whole house remodel, the exterior features traditional details including: lap siding, window trim with parting bead and crown, eave brackets, shingles, corbels, and an oversized barge board.

Illogical additions and the stripping away of cherished details left this home a bit of a trainwreck. A well-considered master plan laid the groundwork for creating a functional layout and bringing back the charm and character. 


The whole house remodel featured three different phases and spanned five years. 

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Before
After
After the whole house remodel, the renovated stair features traditional Craftsman detailing. A built-in bench in the entry hall provides a place to remove shoes and store essentials.

The exterior work of the whole house remodel refreshed the façade with all of the classic detailing of a beloved Craftsman—eaves, custom brackets, a substantial bargeboard and a combination of lap siding and shingles. Furthermore, the addition of a full-width front porch reintroduced the home into the neighborhood in a welcoming way.

This enticing appeal continues in the entry, where an enhanced stairway and bench seat create a distinct—welcome home—sense of arrival.

Dark, enclosed stairway before renovations.
Dark, entry hall before renovations.

When embarking on a multi-phased effort, it is important to create happy places amidst the chaos of long-term construction. The client was clear that the renovation process had to begin in the kitchen.

The open, light-filled layout provides views of the backyard. A central island supports efficient food prep while maintaining a distinct separation between the work zone and circulation space.

An island with a walnut butcher block countertop is the central focal point of the renovated kitchen.
Renovated kitchen with built-in eating nook. Island with walnut butcher block counter.
Dining nook in the whole house remodel.

An addition at the rear of the home creates a cozy dining nook. The butcherblock table matches the island—rich wood tones to complement the classic black and white palette. Finally, mouldings, flush inset cabinetry and honed black granite countertops provide the finishing touches.


The clients’ kids found the booth to be their favorite place to do homework.

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Before
After
Dining room after the whole house remodel.
Dark dining room with fake beams prior to renovations.

The dark dining area also begged for a renovation. By removing the fake beams and adding new windows with views of the backyard, the room feels larger. Light paint colors bring the space to life while a custom built-in adds Craftsman character.

Dining room built-in buffet with white  flush inset cabinets in the whole house remodel.

The living room lacked style. It was very vanilla—and not the good kind. Traditional mouldings and a dark hardwood floor enrich the space while a refined fireplace mantle completes the look.

Dark brick fireplace prior to renovations.
Fireplace with new painted mantle and tile surround in the whole house remodel.