A Classic Look Welcomes An Oregon Couple Home
Anchoring the vanity area in the master bathroom is a round mirror by Paul Ferrante; on either side are Vaughan sconces. Emtek hardware from Chown Hardware punctuates the cabinetry, while a Dennis & Leen stool brings an old French reference and Hartmann & Forbes shades dress the windows. Underfoot is stone from Exquisite Surfaces in Sun Valley, California.
The interior of the house needed to match the exterior’s classic look. That was the priority for a couple who, 15 years ago, hired an architect to transform the outside of their West Linn, Oregon, abode.
“The home had a lot of trendy features from the 1980s,” architect Jeffrey L. Miller says. “I redid windows, dormers, arches and columns and gave it classical pediments and elements that would stand the test of time.”
Now, it was time for these homeowners — and their trusted design team — to bring the living space up to snuff. That mean saying goodbye to such dated details as the faux-finished ceiling, green granite countertops, and black-and-white marble floors — all while keeping comfort and functionality in mind.
Builders Brian Bohrer and Jeff Bohrer, and interior designer Joelle C. Nesen worked to give the estate a timeless makeover that brought in gray stone tile, silver travertine, coffered ceilings and a remodeled master bedroom that boasts a reading nook and fireplace area. Perhaps most notable was the sense of freshness the new design brought out in the home.
“Everyone in Oregon tends to want to do fifty shades of brown,” Nesen says. “But because of this Classical-style architecture and because I always do a shade of white to add lightness, we used cream here. It’s just sort of this crisp anchor that adds brightness on a gray day.”