Regardless of the devastation, this Portland, Oregon, household felt blessed after a fire struck the kitchen of their 1920s Craftsman home. The harm was terrible, but no one was hurt. Looking on the bright side they saw the opportunity to redesign their kitchen to the space they had always wanted.
Portland architect Michael Howells opened the kitchen up to add more light and storage. “We spend a lot of time indoors here in rainy Portland, as well as the dark wood interiors shared to old Craftsman houses can be gloomy,” he states. New white cabinetry and materials all manufactured in America provide a contemporary look that nonetheless feels at home in the 1920s home.
Howells Architecture + Design
The family needed a contemporary farm-style kitchen painted cupboards, subway tile and full-height custom made cabinetry were top on their list. Shelving at the back of this peninsula, generously sized cabinets and full-extension drawers provide the kitchen plenty of storage area.
Before Photo
Howells Architecture + Design
BEFORE: Thankfully, no member of this household was home when the fire broke out. From the time the family arrived on the scene, the flame was extinguished, and inspectors had begun to take account of this harm.
Howells Architecture + Design
AFTER: The kitchen’s original layout worked well, or so the family kept it — with a few tweaks. The peninsula at the close of the counter creates a small breakfast area, and the window at the corner changed the light.
Howells Architecture + Design, LLC
New white cabinetry immediately lightened the area’s visual weight. Rather than closing this off tiled wall at the peninsula with cabinetry, Howells left open, allowing light from the skillet to stream through.
Before Photo
Howells Architecture + Design
BEFORE: The inspectors thought that the fire caused a spark or electricity surge after an outage — possibly from a faulty toaster oven. Although the fire was mostly in the kitchen, intense smoke damage considerably influenced the rest of the home. Most of the home had to be gutted and remodeled, and nearly everything — including the silverware — had to be professionally cleaned.
Howells Architecture + Design
AFTER: Howells, who likes to use local goods, stuck using American materials to maintain the house’s quintessential Craftsman design. Black honed granite countertops look classic, and the backsplash tile is made by Heath Ceramics in Sausalito, California. Howells also custom made the cabinetry to mention traditional panel doors.
Howells Architecture + Design
A warm lotion wall color keeps a consistent tone through all the public rooms, but Howells used the backsplash to add interest. “I love to shoot backsplashes as an opportunity to do something fun and expressive,” he states. Simple open shelving around the sink is sensible for often-used decor and items, and still looks amazing.