Private Residence
Portland, Oregon

In the process of remodeling the entry area, living room and a bedroom, a new face was given to an older ranch-style home. The front elevation is now interrupted by a bumped-out entry and front porch. The new space is centered on the façade, adding depth and dimension to the previously flat-fronted home, while the cross-gable roof of the addition breaks up the roof line. The covered porch now provides a place to enjoy the front yard and the neighborhood. Classic columns and the heavy wood door of the new entry lend elegance to the previous simple elevation from the 60s. The new, single-hung picture windows are taller than the original windows, but are mounted lower on the walls. This arrangement adds a subtle boost to the height of the wall without physically raising the roof.

The addition contributes to the warm and welcoming feel of the home. The changed roof line allows higher ceiling heights in the entry hall, which brings light deeper into the interior. Small, square windows set high in the walls flanking the front door also allow more light in without sacrificing interior privacy. A built-in bench provides an opportune place to unload the day or prepare for the outdoors. In addition, the adjacent entry closet provides much needed storage space and helps to create a transition space to the rest of the home.

The remodel also included the conversion of a former bedroom into a home office for the client. This room is entered by means of a sliding-glass pocket door, opposite the fireplace in the living room.