Originally, the renovation project in this Portland mid-century house was limited only to the kitchen, but it quickly grew into a whole-house remodel. The three-bedroom, two-bathroom home had a lot of history—it was originally designed by notable Portland architect William Wayman in 1953, who was known for his mid-century modern designs throughout the city.
The homeowners—a newly married couple who relocated to Portland in 2020 to be closer to family—were fans of architecture and mid-century modern design, so preserving the house’s character was important to them.
“We were eager to see how we could update certain areas of our home (like the kitchen and master bathroom) to better meet our needs while maintaining the original character and integrity of the home,” says homeowner Leah Citron. “The house is tucked away In the hills of southwest Portland, and while we loved the location and our views, we wanted to make some changes to accommodate our aesthetic and growing family.”
The main issues with the home were the disconnected living room and kitchen, plus an addition that created an awkward and narrow dining area. “The kitchen was long and narrow, cut off from the other living areas, and featured no exterior windows, relying on skylights for natural daylight,” explains Solomon Berg of Ment Architecture, who worked on the project with design partner Adam Lawler. “The square footage in the home was great, but there was no connection between the spaces."
Essentially, the goal was to honor the home’s architectural roots while making it cohesive and functional for daily living and hosting, Solomon adds. That’s why Solomon and team were inspired by the home’s original mid-century characters and details for the redesign, including the wood-raked ceilings, curved casework in the kitchen, the fireplace’s brick details, and concrete floors. But the most noteworthy detail of the home? Its roof.
“One of the most unique original features of the home was the roof structure, which was designed to act as a pool in the winter, collecting and storing rainwater for thermal insulation and to appear mirror-like to the neighbors on the hillside opposite the home,” Solomon says.
While the design team tried to preserve as much of the home’s original details as possible, they did have to remove some tired finishes in order to rework the floor plan. But, Solomon says, the character of those features were reintroduced in fresh new ways, like through cedar ceilings, floor-to-ceiling white oak paneling, and mosaic tiling in the bathroom.
The new kitchen got both a new location and layout, with a custom concealed espresso bar and concealed walk-in pantry with wine storage and kegerator. The dining room and living room were relocated as well.
Since the homeowners wanted a proper primary bathroom with a tub, shower, and double vanity, Solomon and team took over the walk-in closet in the primary bedroom to double the size of the bathroom. The closets were relocated within the main bedroom.
The remodeled home retains its character with beautiful wood details and windows and skylights that connect it to nature. “All the finishes feel cohesive and really set off the house in a way that feels more grounded, original, and intentional than the existing finishes,” explains Solomon. “We feel very pleased with how authentic and bohemian the end result is—this home feels very settled, textured, and storied.”
And the owners couldn’t be happier with the outcome and are glad they trusted Ment’s vision throughout the process. “We never could have imagined the reconfigured layout of the home and are thrilled with the way we were able to utilize the space, opening up our living spaces and adding the modern look we were seeking while keeping the integrity of the original design,” Leah adds.
Originally published in Sunset
Text by Sarah Yang
Photos by Luke and Mallory Leasure
