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Project posted by Alexandria Abramian

A Mid-Century Comeback in Portland, Oregon

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McDougall designed an entertainer's kitchen in what was formerly the dining room. Under-counter beverage drawers by Fisher & Paykel.
McDougall designed an entertainer's kitchen in what was formerly the dining room. Under-counter beverage drawers by Fisher & Paykel.
The backsplash by Z Collection offers an organic touch to the light-flooded space that looks onto the back garden.
The backsplash by Z Collection offers an organic touch to the light-flooded space that looks onto the back garden.
The kitchen features seamless counter-to-ceiling Calcutta quartz surfaces as well as a Bosch fridge.
The kitchen features seamless counter-to-ceiling Calcutta quartz surfaces as well as a Bosch fridge.
McDougall re-envisioned the home's original double-sided fireplace. Today they're wrapped in black shiplap and tile to create a visual anchor in the home.
McDougall re-envisioned the home's original double-sided fireplace. Today they're wrapped in black shiplap and tile to create a visual anchor in the home.
Porcelain, ceramic, and marble tiles were used in the bathrooms for durability and design aesthetics. Brushed gold accents were incorporated into the bathrooms with the faucets, light fixtures, accessories, and Schluter trim pieces.
Porcelain, ceramic, and marble tiles were used in the bathrooms for durability and design aesthetics. Brushed gold accents were incorporated into the bathrooms with the faucets, light fixtures, accessories, and Schluter trim pieces.

Credits

From Alexandria Abramian

When interior designer Kelly McDougall was hired by local Realtor, Shelley Lucas, to renovate and redesign a midcentury Portland post-and-beam, the project evolved into a balancing act: Ditching the dated while preserving the architectural ethos of the original.

“Taking on a renovation of your whole home can be a roller coaster of emotions,” says the designer. “It’s helps to stay focused. So for this project, we had the client keep a few items of inspiration. She started with a throw blanket, pillow, and a ceramic tile from Fireclay that she returned back to throughout the project, reminding herself of the end goal.”

One year later, the home has emerged as an updated version of its original self: A more modern residence that has kept its effortless, open flow and light flooded spaces while modulating into a moodier palette of colors and materials.

“The black-on-black color scheme we used in the Entertainer’s Kitchen sets a tone that’s moody and dramatic,” says McDougall, who extended the footprint of the existing kitchen without moving or changing any walls. “By using part of the adjacent large dining room space, we extended the cabinetry and appliances to create an Entertainer’s Kitchen. The existing kitchen was updated with new appliances, cabinets, and countertops and became the work horse, or the Chef’s Kitchen. Together both kitchens have a sort of yin and yang vibe, balancing each other out.”

Another design star of the renovation turned out to be the fireplace. The original version, a two-sided fireplace faced in limestone, made for a severely dated eyesore, but according to McDougall, removing the wall it and remaking the flues was considerable. Instead, the designer framed over the limestone, tiled the bottoms with a large format black tile from Z-Collection, wrapped the upper portion in black shiplap, and connected the materials around the three sides to make the fireplaces appear as one.

When it came to the floors, she was able to restore much of the original white oak. “We laced in additional white oak hardwoods into the bedrooms in place of carpet and refinished the entire house. The result is gorgeous and brings a natural warmth to the entire home.”