Maricara Modern

Grayhaus' Maricara Modern project was a full gut renovation + addition our clients, Sara and Roshan, and their two children. The home is nestled in Portland's Arnold Creek neighborhood, a wooded outskirt southwest of the city. Sara, who grew up in Oregon wine country, was thrilled with the home's 2-acre plot, still close to downtown, but also a quick commute to Nike where they both work.

Originally built in 1947, the house had undergone various disjointed renovations leaving it without a sense of place or clear point of view. The goal was to make a more intentional connection to the outdoors and bring in light. Our client's envisioned a modern and inviting home spacious enough for entertaining their large extended family.

By opening up the main floor and floating the staircase, Grayhaus created a circular flow anchored by a huge kitchen island that acts as an extension of the dining room - the ideal space for large gatherings. They acutely balanced a foundational material palette of blackened steel, french oak, smoked sawn oak, unlacquered brass and natural linen. The furnishings are as timeless as the structure itself with a mix of classic Danish icons, custom and small pieces by local and international craftspeople. Paintings commissioned from Hayden Rearick and Kit King hold personal meaning for the family.

This neutral and texture-rich palette created a sense of harmony and calm, seamlessly connecting one room to the next with the wooded sanctuary as the perfect backdrop. The result is a modern yet timeless space that truly reflects the client's feeling of home.

Credits:

// Architect + Builder: Wisdom, Inc.
// Photographer: George Barberis
// Stylist: Kira Corbin