23 Oct WEST LINN PROJECT
Raised Ceilings and Beautiful Millwork
One of our most recent projects was a remodel at West Linn. The property was owned by European owners who spent half of their year in Oregon, and the other half in Europe. They loved European architecture and styling and wanted to bring some European flair into their property in West Linn. It was our task to turn the property – which had small rooms, long dark corridors and low ceilings – into a property reminiscent of the continent.
The corridors were lined with closets which made the space look so much smaller than it actually was. Even just taking them out within the first day of the project opened up the space significantly. Using our skilled engineers and architects, the upper floor of the West Linn property was completely redesigned to have two larger bedrooms and an extra bathroom, giving the family more space to live in. In line with more European style, we raised the ceilings, making the entire property appear more open and spacious. The use of smooth drywall also enhanced the feeling of space. It reflects light – whether it’s artificial light or natural light – but a great tip for when you are remodelling your property!
In order to give the property a true European flair, we concentrated heavily on the finishings. The door frames and mouldings used are not so popular in the US, but extremely popular and widely used in Europe. The door frames were surrounded in architrave that brought the European feeling to life inside the home. By painting them white, they contrasted subtly to the mild light yelllow colour on the walls – but again, added the feeling of additional space and brought the eye around the room to appreciate the added space and size.
The key to this property really was the colours chosen to finish it in. Whilst the architrave and door frames were painted white, the walls were painted in light colours – in particular a light yellow – which in combination, gave the property an airy but warming feel, bringing out a luminosity to the whole project – even on those rainy Portland days!
