Before & After: A Home Gets a Charming Overhaul in Portland, OR

It’s not often that you can find an older home on the market that’s only had one owner. But that was exactly the case for Portland, OR couple David and Kimberly Brandt with their 1928 Cape Cod style, 1,700-square-foot cottage. They are only the second family to live in the home, just blocks from the restaurants, shopping, and coffee shops in the neighborhood of Beaumont Village.

Before they could get to the point of looking for a home, though, they had a list of boxes they wanted to check off before taking the plunge into buying. They knew that a fixer-upper was not out of the question, so they spent a year prior vetting contractors, researching vendors, and consulting with a structural engineer. Once they found the home they wanted to make an offer on, the couple worked with the sellers and were able to have all of the “unseen but necessary” things done before closing on the house. “We decommissioned an oil tank, replaced electric, replaced plumbing, replaced water line, replaced water heater. So that left the ‘fun’ stuff,” Kimberly says. After planning and ordering materials, their contractor, Kevin Pasion of Grebs Kitchen & Bath Remodeling, knocked out the entire renovation in about 10 weeks. “Would’ve been quicker if we weren’t hit with an epic snowstorm in the middle of it,” Kimberly notes.

With a new kitchen, bathroom, and living room, their home is now a mix of a British country cottage and a beautiful, streamlined Scandinavian aesthetic. “Our goal was finding a balance of both of these, while creating a welcoming, family-friendly space,” Kimberly shares. “Nothing is off-limits to our kid or pets. Everything was selected with the ‘Hound Dog’ filter in mind.” The living room fireplace was what really sold them on the home in the first place, with its curved, brick lining. The cabinets on either side of the fireplace were added during the renovation. One side holds their son’s toys, and the other side hides a TV. “Our woodworker had the genius idea of putting the TV on a lift, so the top opens and the TV slides up at the push of a button! It’s so hard to solve the TV dilemma in a tiny space where you want to be able to entertain,” Kimberly says.

All the gorgeous cottage details and smart, functional living solutions are no doubt thanks to Kimberly and David’s careful planning before even setting sights on this home. Please scroll down to see this amazing transformation. —Erin

Photography by Kris Seymore

Image above: After giving the kitchen a modern cottage makeover, the Brandts now have the kitchen look they dreamed of achieving. 

from Design*Sponge http://www.designsponge.com/2018/03/before-after-a-home-gets-a-charming-overhaul-in-portland-or.html

from Home Improvment http://notelocreesnitu.tumblr.com/post/171625755649