The Story of Lake Oswego Modern
If it were easy, everyone would do it! Remodeling, that is.
Welcome to the story of our Lake Oswego Modern project!
In this blog, we will walk you through the process of remodeling Lake Oswego Modern, along with the challenges, tricks, and opportunities we encountered along the journey. Stay tuned for tips on achieving this beautiful look in your own home.
Wendy and I adjust a colorful art piece in the dining room at Lake Oswego Modern.
In this project, my Husband and I found a house with all the right bones in the hills of SW Portland. Our mission was to highlight the architecture, natural light, privacy, and surrounding nature that wraps its arms around this special house in the trees.
This stunning home is a love letter to mid-century modern design, brought to life with contemporary styling.
First, we took the house down to the studs. We stripped away all dated features while preserving the beautiful wood.
The fir wood ceiling was sandblasted to its original state and clear-coated to reflect its natural wood color. The ceiling and expansive windows let us keep the rest of the finishes simple, letting the architecture and nature steal the show!
Read further for three challenges we faced and how we overcame them:
The living room features a Samsung frame TV, which can double as an art piece when its not in use.
CHALLENGE 1: Solving for Electrical in a Wood Ceiling
Electrical systems usually run up the walls and penetrate through the ceiling to illuminate a room. In a typical remodel, you can take out the drywall ceiling and place the lighting wherever you want. However, with our wood ceiling, we were restricted to the architect’s original lighting plan.
Since we opened the floor plan by removing walls, we ended up with lighting holes and dark spots. We solved this by using sconces and floor lamps, which, in the end, was a happy solution since we prefer ambient lighting over overhead lighting anyway!
This stunning copper light by Tom Dixon studio is a testament to the varied lighting in this home.
CHALLENGE 2: Making an Entry Stunning
The entry is the first impression of any home. In this project, the entry was on the ground level, where not much is going on, so we wanted to create an impactful entrance. We focused on the wood treads, the railing, and installing beautiful lighting to make the stairs up to the main floor the focal point. This approach helped us create a memorable and inviting entry.
The entryway in this home is a unique design opportunity in its own right, but it’s a challenge to keep guests interested as they make their way up to the main floor.
THE FINAL CHALLENGE: Working with Your Spouse
Before Teal & Scott (circa 8 years ago), my Husband and I worked on projects together, which could be challenging at times. Identifying our roles and responsibilities was essential for effective project and partnership management. I handled the design elements and finishes, while Henry focused on general contracting and structural challenges. However, remodeling requires crossover and compromise.
Managing the budget was crucial. For example, one incident involved the electrician wiring for a high-tech surround sound system, which wasn’t in the budget. This led to some heated discussions, but we navigated through it. In the end, such features do enhance the home’s value.
The kitchen highlights our decision to keep the original wood ceilings, which offer warmth against the contemporary features of the rest of the space.
How to Achieve This Look
GET INSPIRED Take your inspiration photos to tile, countertop, and hardware stores. Ask associates for help and bring samples home to see how they work together. It’s worth investing in this support to ensure your vision comes to life.
STAY AFFORDABLE Stay focused on your budget. Find affordable alternatives (dupes) for expensive items and keep it simple. We focused on attracting buyers with a few standout features without overspending on personalized elements. This approach worked—our house sold before we even listed it!
PRIORITIZE Focus on structural essentials first—foundation, roof, windows, and water mitigation. Spend on necessary upgrades to ensure the house’s integrity, then allocate the remaining budget to design and landscaping. This strategy keeps the project on track and within budget.
Thank you for joining us on our Lake Oswego Modern journey! We hope you enjoyed the content.
If you have any questions, please drop them below! Thanks for following along and sharing with your friends. It means a lot to us.
Happy remodeling!
Teal
HELPFUL LINKS
For you visual learners, follow along this story in our latest YouTube video!
Wondering when it's time to bring in the pros? Check out our blog on When to Hire an Architect!
Looking for more on how a project comes together? Don’t fret! We have a whole blog on Breaking Down The Design Process.
