Peek Inside This Cozy Oregon Home That Is Truly A Sister Act

Sara Gray’s younger sister has long looked up to the designer. Her older sibling has been a guiding force in her life for years, helping her with everything from finding her first Portland apartment to making an introduction to her now-husband. Accordingly, when the couple returned to Oregon after a stint in Los Angeles, there was no question whom they would select to design their forever home. “Sara is my go-to for styling advice, and she has a warmth about her that brings me a lot of comfort,” the owner says. “I knew we could trust her.”

The couple’s desire for a peaceful, warm, inviting abode connected to nature steered Gray as she went on a house hunting mission for them in Lake Oswego. With that vision in mind, she knew from her first visit that the property her sister ended up purchasing would be the one. “The site contained a 1960s ranch house, nothing special, but the location was spectacular,” the designer recalls. “It’s just off the lake with beautiful views, and I knew it would be a wonderful spot to raise a family.” 

So, along with architect Solomon Berg and general contractor Taylor Thompson, Gray began the journey of designing a dwelling for her sister. “First, to create the amount of interior space needed, we opted to build a new two-level home on the existing foundation,” she says. Besides additional square footage, Gray sought to craft spaces that would capture the cozy sense of warmth the couple craved. “My sister and her husband appreciate the simplicity and ethos of Scandinavian and Japanese design, so we leaned into that as we developed the narrative,” Gray explains. The result is a residence that merges a resort-like feel with highly personal details, all wrapped in warm finishes and buttery soft textures. Together, the combination encapsulates the owners’ ultimate goal: a home that feels like a warm hug.

“It was interesting to manifest that,” recalls Berg, who worked closely with Gray to translate the vision into physical form. The architect’s interpretation began with a restrained exterior expression featuring a black metal roof and dark-stained vertical cedar siding. Inside, the ground floor balances a compressed low-ceilinged entry against an expansive double-height living area with broad views of the forested surrounds. “This method draws you through to the back of the house where the magic is happening,” Berg says. 

The open-plan living space nestles together a collection of modular sofas in soft merino fabric beside a custom-designed oval dining table. Anchoring the space is a monolithic brick fireplace finished in white plaster. “It was a true labor of love,” explains Gray, who hand-applied the plaster herself from atop scaffolding to achieve the exact ghosted-brick finish she had in mind. “It’s my personal stamp on the house.”

The airy expansiveness of the living area is heightened by the cozy spaces radiating from it, including the limestone-and-walnut kitchen and the home office wrapped floor to ceiling in white oak panels. A window seat next to the fireplace was specially designed for Gray’s sister, who treasures her daily tea ritual. “Throughout the house, it was about creating places for connection but also spaces for quiet reflection,” the designer says. “This was one of the latter.”

Upstairs, the primary suite continues the introspective feel with a custom white oak bed. The wood appears again in the closet and primary bath, where a freestanding tub sits atop whitewashed river rock flooring. Next door, a guest room was converted to a nursery mid-construction when the owners learned they were expecting. “The nursery wallpaper features birds, which our late mom loved,” Gray explains. “It feels very Zen and serene.” 

While the opportunity to work with family proved a treat, the project wasn’t all smooth sailing. During construction, two large Douglas fir trees fell on the abode. “I was there when the first tree cut directly through the house,” Thompson recalls. “But as soon as it was over, all you could really do was get back to work and rebuild.” That spirit of resilience and determination paid off, and now the residence serves as a safe harbor for the young family. “These last few years have brought us many difficult experiences,” the owner says. “But through it all, knowing we had our home to come back to has been the greatest comfort.”