Architect Ben Waechter wrapped the upper floor of Nick Oakley’s house in inexpensive black corrugated steel. By rounding the corners, Waechter avoided unsightly trim at the edges.
Architect Ben Waechter wrapped the upper floor of Nick Oakley’s house in inexpensive black corrugated steel. By rounding the corners, Waechter avoided unsightly trim at the edges.
In the master bedroom, a Mandal bed from Ikea is draped with a Tuuli duvet cover by Marimekko.
In the master bedroom, a Mandal bed from Ikea is draped with a Tuuli duvet cover by Marimekko.
A cantilevered second floor addition wrapped in black corrugated steel gives Nick Oakley's home in the Alberta district of Portland an industrial feel from the outside, one that is countered by the welcoming, wood-dominated interior.
A cantilevered second floor addition wrapped in black corrugated steel gives Nick Oakley's home in the Alberta district of Portland an industrial feel from the outside, one that is countered by the welcoming, wood-dominated interior.
Floor-to-ceiling windows from Sierra Pacific offer views across a cedar deck to the backyard. Oakley says he and Waechter asked themselves, “How would we build something that’s functional and warm and utilitarian, and have some vestige of familiar architectural reference?”
Floor-to-ceiling windows from Sierra Pacific offer views across a cedar deck to the backyard. Oakley says he and Waechter asked themselves, “How would we build something that’s functional and warm and utilitarian, and have some vestige of familiar architectural reference?”
The master bathroom is clad in inexpensive tile from Daltile. The wall-hung toilet is by Duravit.
The master bathroom is clad in inexpensive tile from Daltile. The wall-hung toilet is by Duravit.
The kitchen is outfitted with Akurum cabinets from Ikea. The island is also an Ikea cabinet, customized with maple panels to match the flooring.
The kitchen is outfitted with Akurum cabinets from Ikea. The island is also an Ikea cabinet, customized with maple panels to match the flooring.
Oakley House Floor Plan

A    Storage

B    Living Room

C    Kitchen

D    Dining Room

E    Master Bedroom

F    Master Bathroom

G    Closet

H    Laundry

I    Guest Bedroom

J    Child’s Bedroom

K    Bathroom
Oakley House Floor Plan A Storage B Living Room C Kitchen D Dining Room E Master Bedroom F Master Bathroom G Closet H Laundry I Guest Bedroom J Child’s Bedroom K Bathroom
Playing off the work of artist James Turrell, as well as the front porch scheme prevalent in the South, an outside living room of the Lewin House by Dencity is half covered and half open to the leaf canopy overhead. A pair of teak armchairs are clustered around a Laguna fire table from Restoration Hardware.
Playing off the work of artist James Turrell, as well as the front porch scheme prevalent in the South, an outside living room of the Lewin House by Dencity is half covered and half open to the leaf canopy overhead. A pair of teak armchairs are clustered around a Laguna fire table from Restoration Hardware.
Kelly Milford helps son Adam out of the hot tub nestled on a wood deck in back of the house. The exterior paint is Wrought Iron by Benjamin Moore.
Kelly Milford helps son Adam out of the hot tub nestled on a wood deck in back of the house. The exterior paint is Wrought Iron by Benjamin Moore.
The master bath is a bright sanctuary with a freestanding tub by Victoria + Albert and Ecostat shower fixtures by Hansgrohe.
The master bath is a bright sanctuary with a freestanding tub by Victoria + Albert and Ecostat shower fixtures by Hansgrohe.
In the backyard, Kunigk “montaged” what she admired in the work of John Pawson, Tadao Ando, and Piet Oudolf, the Dutch garden designer who collaborated on landscaping for New York’s High Line. She plans to reconfigure the plantings again with the landscape designer Rina Zweig, who worked on the front yard.
In the backyard, Kunigk “montaged” what she admired in the work of John Pawson, Tadao Ando, and Piet Oudolf, the Dutch garden designer who collaborated on landscaping for New York’s High Line. She plans to reconfigure the plantings again with the landscape designer Rina Zweig, who worked on the front yard.
Hexagonal tiles made by the Portland Cement Company continue the pattern in the bathroom, where the architect designed low drawers and cabinets that are easy for Luna to reach.
Hexagonal tiles made by the Portland Cement Company continue the pattern in the bathroom, where the architect designed low drawers and cabinets that are easy for Luna to reach.
Oakley furnished his living area with a Karlstad sectional sofa from Ikea and a pair of City Slicker side tables from CB2.
Oakley furnished his living area with a Karlstad sectional sofa from Ikea and a pair of City Slicker side tables from CB2.
The living room sports a panoply of wood: Douglas fir for the ceiling, hemlock for the walls, and stained oak for the floor. The sofa is the Neo model by Bensen and the rug is vintage.
The living room sports a panoply of wood: Douglas fir for the ceiling, hemlock for the walls, and stained oak for the floor. The sofa is the Neo model by Bensen and the rug is vintage.
The room also features built-in bookcases fabricated by Earthbound Industries and a vintage Sesann sofa by Gianfranco Frattini for Cassina.
The room also features built-in bookcases fabricated by Earthbound Industries and a vintage Sesann sofa by Gianfranco Frattini for Cassina.
With four children under the age of six, the Ruells have learned not to be overprotective of their collection of contemporary and vintage furniture. In the living room, an Eames lounge chair and ottoman sit on a Moroccan rug from M.Montague, while the family’s eldest child, Mirene, surveys the indoor/outdoor view. Throughout the house, Kolbe windows and fixed glass (in existing jambs) were added to increase energy efficiency.
With four children under the age of six, the Ruells have learned not to be overprotective of their collection of contemporary and vintage furniture. In the living room, an Eames lounge chair and ottoman sit on a Moroccan rug from M.Montague, while the family’s eldest child, Mirene, surveys the indoor/outdoor view. Throughout the house, Kolbe windows and fixed glass (in existing jambs) were added to increase energy efficiency.
Aaron and Yuka Ruell transformed a Portland ranch house into a retro-inspired family home with plenty of spaces—like the trellised porch—for their four children to roam.
Aaron and Yuka Ruell transformed a Portland ranch house into a retro-inspired family home with plenty of spaces—like the trellised porch—for their four children to roam.
The house that Kem Studio designed for Sarah Magill on a narrow lot in Kansas City has a steel facade with reclaimed cypress cladding near the entrance. The entire structure sits atop a steel foundation set on concrete piers that were driven into solid stone.
The house that Kem Studio designed for Sarah Magill on a narrow lot in Kansas City has a steel facade with reclaimed cypress cladding near the entrance. The entire structure sits atop a steel foundation set on concrete piers that were driven into solid stone.
At a seaside New Zealand house, the simple kitchen has strandboard cabinetry and an MDF island that conceals a fireplace at one end. The bright green cabinetry of the island are a happy pop of color that references the native greenery outside.
At a seaside New Zealand house, the simple kitchen has strandboard cabinetry and an MDF island that conceals a fireplace at one end. The bright green cabinetry of the island are a happy pop of color that references the native greenery outside.
Resident Ty Milford peruses a book by the George Nelson–inspired built-ins fabricated by Big Branch Woodworking
Resident Ty Milford peruses a book by the George Nelson–inspired built-ins fabricated by Big Branch Woodworking
Resident Brian Whitlock saved some serious cash by taking on much of the construction and electrical work himself.
Resident Brian Whitlock saved some serious cash by taking on much of the construction and electrical work himself.
Fusion Landscape Design worked with PATH to remake the backyard into a grown-up playground. Under the stairwell sits a tiny custom cedar sauna and an outdoor shower—just a literal hop, skip, and jump away from the sprawling in-ground eight-by-ten-foot hot tub. Down three short stairs, Gloster’s Elan dining table from Design Within Reach is surrounded by Spark chairs by Don Chadwick for Knoll and a built-in fire pit and DCS grill by Fisher & Paykel—all resting on a smooth surface of bluestone pavers.
Fusion Landscape Design worked with PATH to remake the backyard into a grown-up playground. Under the stairwell sits a tiny custom cedar sauna and an outdoor shower—just a literal hop, skip, and jump away from the sprawling in-ground eight-by-ten-foot hot tub. Down three short stairs, Gloster’s Elan dining table from Design Within Reach is surrounded by Spark chairs by Don Chadwick for Knoll and a built-in fire pit and DCS grill by Fisher & Paykel—all resting on a smooth surface of bluestone pavers.
A Beat Light pendant lamp by Tom Dixon hangs above a table and Felix side chairs from Crate and Barrel.
A Beat Light pendant lamp by Tom Dixon hangs above a table and Felix side chairs from Crate and Barrel.
All of the furniture was meticulously handmade by Klebba and Reis to serve the family’s needs.
All of the furniture was meticulously handmade by Klebba and Reis to serve the family’s needs.
Rahman did her own landscaping in the garden outside her house. The cedar fence was made with planks that were charred and sealed following the ancient Japanese shou sugi ban technique, which is supposed to make the wood resistant to fire, rot, and insects.
Rahman did her own landscaping in the garden outside her house. The cedar fence was made with planks that were charred and sealed following the ancient Japanese shou sugi ban technique, which is supposed to make the wood resistant to fire, rot, and insects.
Their tenants include veterinary student Leslie Carter and intern architect Brad Raines.
Their tenants include veterinary student Leslie Carter and intern architect Brad Raines.
The home is a customized version of the Method Homes Elemental 1 model from Method Homes and totals 825 square feet. It features a full Monogram kitchen and a wall of operable windows from Western Window Systems. The house was parked outside Rejuvenation in Portland.
The home is a customized version of the Method Homes Elemental 1 model from Method Homes and totals 825 square feet. It features a full Monogram kitchen and a wall of operable windows from Western Window Systems. The house was parked outside Rejuvenation in Portland.
Inexpensive but sturdy James Hardie lap siding was used on the exterior.
Inexpensive but sturdy James Hardie lap siding was used on the exterior.
“Our desire was to have the spaces appear as though they were carved from a single block of wood, with the movable pieces an integral part of the overall composition,” says Vincent. “This created a feeling of seamlessness.”
“Our desire was to have the spaces appear as though they were carved from a single block of wood, with the movable pieces an integral part of the overall composition,” says Vincent. “This created a feeling of seamlessness.”
The couple lounges in their great room. The 16-foot-high windows are from Milgard.
The couple lounges in their great room. The 16-foot-high windows are from Milgard.
A simple work space features an Angelpoise lamp and a desk from La Redoute Interieurs.
A simple work space features an Angelpoise lamp and a desk from La Redoute Interieurs.
Hutchins and Montague worked with Samuel H. Williamson Associates Landscape Architecture on the garden, which is planted with sword ferns, vine maple, and wild ginger. “When we look at it from the bedroom, it’s our private little forest,” Montague says.
Hutchins and Montague worked with Samuel H. Williamson Associates Landscape Architecture on the garden, which is planted with sword ferns, vine maple, and wild ginger. “When we look at it from the bedroom, it’s our private little forest,” Montague says.
Waechter designed the custom bookshelf, which Oakley uses to define distinct spaces for living and dining.
Waechter designed the custom bookshelf, which Oakley uses to define distinct spaces for living and dining.
In the photos that follow, we take a look at the product offerings inspired by the house, which Yeon designed when he was only 27 years old.
In the photos that follow, we take a look at the product offerings inspired by the house, which Yeon designed when he was only 27 years old.
More than just a clever cover, the ipe wood shell of Mark Erman's spa, thanks to its 40-foot tracks, niftily navigates the rocky straights between spa shelter, dapper deck, and bespoke buffet table.
More than just a clever cover, the ipe wood shell of Mark Erman's spa, thanks to its 40-foot tracks, niftily navigates the rocky straights between spa shelter, dapper deck, and bespoke buffet table.
Here's what you need to know before undergoing a building project with a contractor but no architect.
Here's what you need to know before undergoing a building project with a contractor but no architect.

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