When the homeowners of this 1960 home in Portland’s Southwest Hills bought the property in 2009, they became the new owners of a lot of white carpeting, tired woodwork, dated wallpaper, and lackluster storage. Over time, they came to wish for a home that better suited their lives, but didn’t want to sacrifice the excellent midcentury bones.

A two-pronged renovation became the answer to their problems. For the first phase completed in 2016, Fieldwork Design + Architecture remodeled the main floor. The firm swapped out the white carpeting for warm cork flooring, then strategically inserted variegated cedar planking. Fireplace surrounds received new plaster to bring in a subtle, earthy texture. Sharp black accents, whether via dining chairs or new patio doors, add definition.

Before: Living and Dining Room

After: Living and Dining Room

For the second phase of the transformation, which wrapped in 2019, Annie Wise of Annie Wise Design stepped in for a gut remodel of the kitchen and master bathroom, with the goal of ensuring any changes remained consistent with what had already been done. “We wanted to respect both the era of the home and also the beautiful work that Fieldwork had already completed in the space,” says Wise. Her goal was “to give a busy, modern family a minimalist design without sacrificing their maximalist lifestyle.” What was the backbone to her approach? “Thoughtfully designed storage to conceal and tuck away the clutter of everyday life,” Wise says.

Before: Kitchen, Eating Nook, and Den

After: Kitchen, Eating Nook, and Den

With regards to space planning, Wise’s changes were subtle yet effective. “We paid respect to the original layout but just shifted things around to use all the available space,” she says. Removing a soffit allowed Wise to bring the cabinetry up to the ceiling. Adding in drawers means there’s no dusty, unused space at the back of cabinets. Most importantly, the process started with documentation of the clients’ stuff, so the new system would have a place for everything. For instance, the cabinet next to the eat-in bar now has a charging station and spots for mail and papers to avoid stacks on the counter.

Before: The Master Bathroom

After: The Master Bathroom

After: Portland SW Hills Midcentury Hideaway floor plan" layout="" credit="Courtesy of Annie Wise" photoUserId=""/>

More Before & After:

A 19th-Century Row House Becomes a Boho Newlyweds’ Nest

A Brick Church in Quebec Becomes a Resonant Home

A Melbourne Pub Is Recast as a Funky Home

Project Credits:

Architecture: Fieldwork Design + Architecture / @fieldworkdesign

Builder: Phase 1: EB Construction & Remodeling Phase 2: Hamish Murray Construction

Structural Engineer: Grummel Engineering / Alex Grummel

Lighting Design: Solus / Mariel Acevedo

Interior Design: Annie Wise Design / @anniewisedesign

Cabinetry Design/Installation: On The Level Custom Cabinets / Kevin Roggencamp

Bathroom Plaster Work: Josh Baeckel

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Before & After: An Artful Update Streamlines a Portland Midcentury