Reno Updates and Inspiration.

Well here we are mid July and the goal was to post on a regular basis and that didn't happen!  Oh well.  The Morrison House is coming right along.  Demo is pretty much done.  Electrical, HVAC and plumbing rough-ins all completed and drywall is up and in the process of being mudded.  This month is set to be a busy one!  We've been slacking on getting pictures of updates around the property but for now, here is a little inspiration for the project.

As mentioned before, a modern Victorian farmhouse is the main inspiration for the whole project.  Charcoal greys, white, and a Mediterranean landscape are where this design starts.  We are looking to go with a classic feel for the outside of the house and these colors and how they were applied are pretty much spot on with what we were envisioning.  Still on the hunt for the perfect Victorian front door...

This kitchen is perfect.  We are wanting to create a farmhouse feel for the inside of the Victorian and we feel this kitchen has the perfect combo of farmhouse and modern style.  Our plan is to create a similar look with the ship lap walls, but our plan is to incorporate a more traditional cabinet with brass hardware, unique lighting and a stunning spot for the kitchen sink.  Can't wait!

As much as we would love to create these amazing Victorian details around the passageways in the house, it's probably not realistic.  But we do love the walls, rustic floors and the layout is almost exactly the same as the Morrison House! 

Now here is where we add our touch of modern.  The minute we saw this staircase we decided it needed to be done in the Victorian.  We've done black staircases before and we are excited to do it again.  We are even hoping to recreate that wear on top of the railing and newel posts.  An all white interior with an all black staircase?  Serious style!

The landscape at the house is already on it's way but from the beginning, we'd dreamed of a Mediterranean landscape.  Think lavender, sage, cypress trees, decomposed granite patios and gracious outdoor living areas.

Now the outdoor area wouldn't be complete without a mini Victorian shed!  We have plans to convert the shed into a cute Victorian outdoor living space...perfect for guests in the summer.  This converted shed has us in love, so we will see what we can accomplish to ours on our budget and time frame.

So there you have it.  A glimpse into what we have in store for the Morrison house.  If you want to see more of what is inspiring us for this project, take a look at Chelsea's and Brandt's Pinterest boards...and follow us!  We are excited to incorporate these ideas into our design and vision for the house while putting our spin on them.  The little things are starting to come together and it is going to be exciting to watch it all come together.  More to come!

The Morrison House.

Remember way back, when we mentioned how much we love Victorian homes?  Well, we have our next project lined up and guess what?  It's nothing other than a 1894 Victorian!  We are wrapping up our latest project this week (which I will post more about later), and work will start on this home shortly thereafter.  We already have a large scale of ideas ready for this project but have some fine tuning to do as we move along.  

The house is gorgeous and in great condition.  It is hard to tell from the picture, but the siding is brick and that really excites us.  Over the years, some of it's original character has been stripped and we have plans to add some of that back during renovations.  Word has it, a porch ran the length of the house but was torn off sometime before the 1950's.  One thing is certain about this house is that we can go either way with it...super simple Victorian farmhouse or a more ornate version adorned with corbels and intricate trims.  Stay tuned.

This front porch was original but the columns have been replaced as well as the stairs leading up to the front door.  Although the original stairs were wood, we like the fact they are poured concrete.  We have exciting plans in store for those steps!

Now the brick siding is evident in this picture.  Isn't it beautiful?  We especially love the arched windows.

We love that the original staircase is in tact.  Since we love historic staircases, our plans are to keep the integrity while modernizing it and making it something really special.

 The living room is right off and completely open to the entry way.  We have plans to make this space feel more intimate and special, like a true Victorian "parlor" or living room should feel.  There were drop ceilings installed throughout the main floor in this house, so that means tall ceilings!  Those will be the first to go!

The dining room right off the living room is very spacious and can you say bright?!  Lots of potential here.

Now off the dining room, is a room that was being used as a bedroom but we plan on turning into the kitchen.  Our plan is to create an open living, dining and kitchen area that caters to modern day living while keeping the Victorian spirit alive.

How funky is this kitchen?  We love the light the glass block adds but we plan on changing the opening to something a little more traditional.  The current kitchen is an open and large space, which is good, but we plan on moving it as mentioned earlier.  The plans for this area are to become an awesome bedroom...that is on the main floor!

The other side of the kitchen houses these leaded glass built-ins, which we plan to keep and update.   Our plans are to make this space a hallway.  Upon removing some of the drop ceilings in this area...we found a surprise which I will elaborate more on later! 

Off the kitchen, there have been a couple of additions which make the back of the house and the interior spaces pretty awkward.  Although we love salvaging, we plan to demo and rebuild this area to look more cohesive with the rest of the house on the exterior, while providing optimal flow on the interior.

One thing that will remain the same in this area is the entrance to the basement.  We plan on keeping this area and turning it into something truly special.  Let me just say...I would die for something like this in my dream home!  More to come on this...

The master bedroom is located on the second floor and has huge potential.  The space is large, bright and unique.

We plan on converting this area into a unique walk in closet.

Since there is already a bathroom attached to this bedroom our plans are to expand the existing bath into the master since the space is there and currently unused.

The current master bath is small, but not tiny.  We plan on rearranging the fixtures and expanding it to make it more luxurious and practical.

The upstairs guest bedroom is charming and doesn't need much other than small cosmetic changes.  We plan on taking some square footage from the adjacent bath to make a closet for this space.  How about those original trims?

One other special thing about this property (other than the amazing home sitting on it) is the yard.  Being a corner lot, the property is a commanding presence from the street.  The house also sits very close to the edge of the lot, making a large lot in Portland feel even larger.  We have plans to make this yard as gorgeous as we plan to make the house.  Think entertaining spaces, a special retreat, and a Mediterranean vibe.

This property has a lot of out buildings.  They are all clustered toward the back of the lot, making it somewhat awkward and cramped.  We plan on moving the shed and converting it...to something we are really excited about!  

Work on this project begins very soon. There is so much to write about this place, it's difficult to fit it all in one post.  We can't wait to break ground!  Stay tuned!

Livingetc Magazine!

The past month we have been in and out of magazine stores around town trying to get our hands on the 2014 May issue of Livingetc Magazine.  For some reason, their issues don't arrive a month early here like other magazines.  So today, we were finally able to get a hold of their May issue and take a peek of the article in which we were featured.  

Look familiar?  Yes...it's the shower in Bold European Design.  We were surprised to find out that the picture was featured twice in the issue.  They also featured it on their Design Planning table of contents cover.

The article features numerous showers of varying styles that are on trend right now.  Though all the other rooms were completely stunning, one thing we noticed that distinguished our shower from the rest was that we were the only one to use a shower curtain...and brass.  We will always be fond of shower curtains because they add a layer of softness where frame-less glass doesn't.  Both the curtains and brass also offer a period look to a seemingly modern space, which is something we LOVE and love to incorporate into our designs.

It was a pleasure to be featured in such a widely known magazine.  We are thankful for the people who stand behind us in our work as we continue to grow and refine.  We couldn't do it without you guys!  More exciting news for us to come, more blogging, more pictures, more design, all very soon!

And...Happy Mother's Day to the wonderful Moms in our lives.  We love you!

Old Portland Foursquare...A New Life.

Where to start with this one?  Our time this last five months has been consumed melding the characteristics of a hundred year old craftsman with the everyday conveniences of the modern world...not to mention our aesthetic!  The result is something truly unique.  Large, historic, rooms that feel cozy and inviting.  Wood trims, floors and lighting with the original character of a 1910 home but with colors, finishes and design that can only be described as "now".  Bold choices were made with a discerning eye and we feel we gave an old foursquare a modern, new life.  We're thrilled!

PS:  We still used lots of salvage on this house, it's a way of life for us!

We gave the original fireplace a grand face lift.  The old trims and mantle did not do the fireplace justice.  The living room is grand and it needed a grand fireplace to match.  The solution was to build out and surround the fireplace with a modern look but to keep in mind the traditional style of the home.

The upstairs shower was the most unique project we undertook with this house.  We found a piece of chalkboard slate at a salvage yard and thought it would be perfect for a shower.  We thought the chalkboard would play well with the classic subway tile.  We gold leafed the border to match the brass fixtures and to add a little punch to the slate. 

One of our favorite shots.  It was a foggy day in Portland and it showcased the house perfectly.

Brass fixtures and hardware finished the house off.  We love the way brass plays against modern day colors like blacks, greys and whites.  So elegant!

We patched holes in the upstairs bathroom wood floor with brass sheet metal.  The result is truly eye catching and unique.  Will definitely be doing this again!

This has got to be our favorite kitchen we have done so far.  The classic elements play well with the modern colors and  rustic wood.  Not only does this kitchen meet modern day standards as far as aesthetic and space design, it also feels like a kitchen that would have existed during the time the house was built.  Success!

All rooms received modern paint colors and treatment.  We painted everything from the baseboard to the picture molding one color to simplify and modernize the rooms.  The result was simply stunning.

We are LOVING the modern color scheme on this house.  The colors may not be so modern, but it was how they were applied that gives the house that modern characteristic.

The character in this house was and is incredible.  Along with saving much of the original character we feel we added some modern (and unique) character too!

There she is.  It's hard to imagine what this house looked like before and it only excites us more to continue saving these amazing old homes no matter how small or grand they are!   This project taught us how to incorporate a slightly modern aesthetic while leaving the original character intact and blending them so they work together.  It was the perfect house to start our work in Portland on and we hope it lasts another 100+ years too!  Here's to the love of old homes!  Cheers!

Link to the Real Estate listing:

http://www.redfin.com/OR/Portland/3007-NE-57th-Ave-97213/home/26328817

We Hit the Portland Market!

First of all, it has been way too long since our last update.  There is good reason.  From late fall into winter we have been working like crazy to get the house done and on the market.  Our original deadlines passed us by...a couple of times...but we kept at it and FINALLY got it on the market last Tuesday.  She's quite the house and we are very happy with the finished result (and to finally get a day off).  This project has taught us a lot but one thing is certain, we love old houses and we are in this for the long haul.  We are still getting more pictures of the beauty but until then, here is a preview of her all finished up!  I have included a link to the listing as well.  More updates real soon!

http://www.redfin.com/OR/Portland/3007-NE-57th-Ave-97213/home/26328817