As luck would have it, a couple and their two children were away when a storm brought down a live wire onto their Portland property, sparking a devastating fire in their classic Craftsman residence. When the flames were extinguished, the shell remained intact, but the interiors, recently remodeled, suffered extensive damage. All the previous changes went up in smoke.
When interior designer and neighbor Jasmine Vaughan noticed the couple dealing with the post-fire renovation, she didn’t hesitate. She picked up the phone and asked, “How are you doing—and do you need help?” The call, simple and sincere, came at exactly the right moment. The offer was accepted, and the neighbors faced the second remodel together.
Benjamin Moore’s Narragansett Green appears again in the dining room, where &Tradition chairs circle an RH table. Maiden Home stools line the bar made by Shelbyville Remodeling. Visual Comfort & Co. sconces and pendants illuminate the space.
Shelbyville Remodeling crafted the kitchen cabinets, outfitted with Classic Brass hardware. Arteriors counter stools pull up to the island, topped with quartzite from EleMar Oregon. The simple forms of the pendants by The Lamp Workshop offer an elegant touch.
The rounded forms of the Shoppe Amber Interiors chairs and Maiden Home sofa soften the woodwork in the living room. A Sputnikillumination chandelier and Matt Alford Studio sconces complement the upholstered pieces. The chair with a partial wood frame is by Eternity Modern.
Both the family and living rooms are in one large, open space. In the former, a Perennials-covered custom sectional faces a pair of Maiden Home armchairs. The Lawson-Fenning ottoman-coffee table is upholstered in Kravet fabric.
The powder room’s Calacatta Viola marble sink is paired with a Waterworks faucet. A Shoppe Amber Interiors mirror and Sputnikillumination sconces pop against walls painted Benjamin Moore’s Narragansett Green.
At the foot of the primary bedroom’s Four Hands bed are Crate & Barrel ottomans. The window seat is outfitted with cushions and pillows made with Pindler and Kravet fabrics, respectively. Above are Roman shades by The Shade Store.
Bedrosians wall tile forms the backdrop for Ethnik Living mirrors and Visual Comfort & Co. sconces in the guest bathroom. The Shelbyville Remodeling-crafted vanity features a Carrara marble countertop and Water Street Brass hardware.
The couple had originally been drawn to the home’s irreplaceable character: beautifully preserved oak woodwork, charming quirks like a concealed coal chute, and all the idiosyncrasies of a house with a century of stories to tell. Remarkably, they managed to preserve much of the original woodwork. “When the restoration crew started to tear it out, we told them, ‘It’s 120-year-old wood. Let it dry out and see how it cures,’ ” recalls the wife. Such decisions spoke to their desire to honor the past while thoughtfully adapting for the present.
This time around, hindsight became an asset. After reassessing the whole house, the laundry room was moved from the basement to the second floor, and an office was repurposed into a more useful craft and homework room. When the homeowner bemoaned the lack of space in the kitchen for a breakfast nook, Vaughan turned to the dining room for a solution. The oversize space—a bit too grand for Wednesday night mac and cheese—was reimagined. “It felt excessively formal, so I moved the table to one side and added a banquette to hug the window,” the designer says. “Now that part of the room is an informal space where they can eat, chat and play games.”
Another corner of the room was transformed into a chic-yet-warm entertaining spot for use when hosting events and dinner parties. Vaughan designed a bar and built-in cabinetry using lighter-toned wood that plays well with the historic oak but doesn’t compete. “The bar isn’t strictly traditional, but the curves and details echo the home’s aesthetic,” she says. The walls were painted a moody, greenish blue—a hue that resurfaces in the powder room.
In the kitchen, the previous layout, which packed the fridge, double ovens and microwave onto a single wall, was rearranged to optimize flow and keep guests from wandering into the cooking zone. New cabinetry, some with glass fronts, now stretches to the ceiling, and there’s ample storage in the oak island. “It was important to bring wood elements into the kitchen and dining room for continuity,” Vaughan notes.
Thoughtful space planning continues in an expansive area that contains the living and family room—two distinct seating arrangements that offer comfort and versatility. In the latter, a lounge-like sectional invites family hangouts, while the living room is designed to accommodate holiday gatherings. Curved silhouettes, like the swooping swivel chairs and a round ottoman, offset the rigid Craftsman geometry. Midcentury light fixtures add a modern note and tie the spaces together.
Throughout the home, there’s a noticeable balance of timeless character and contemporary flair. Classic touches, like unlacquered brass on all kitchen and bathroom fixtures, pay homage to the dwelling’s history, while minimalist, pattern-free rugs in the main living spaces bring a fresh, organic energy. “I enjoy working on old houses, but I’m no purist,” Vaughan says. “I like to honor the heritage while weaving in modern elements.”
Vaughan’s adeptness at mixing things garnered big points. “I love how she puts materials together,” enthuses the wife, who credits the designer with both modernizing and maintaining the integrity of her Craftsman home. “Everything is warm, thoughtful and unique. It’s a better house than I envisioned.”
Shelbyville Remodeling crafted the kitchen cabinets, outfitted with Classic Brass hardware. Arteriors counter stools pull up to the island, topped with quartzite from EleMar Oregon. The simple forms of the pendants by The Lamp Workshop offer an elegant touch.