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My Houzz: 2 Dwellings Keep Things All in the Family
Grandparents get a newly built guest cottage in Portland, while the main bungalow benefits from a major overhaul
Louise Lakier is a contributing photographer for Houzz. She is a designer, a construction manager, a photographer, traveler and storyteller. She is currently in Central America.
Louise Lakier is a contributing photographer for Houzz. She is a designer,... More »
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Two years after meeting as neighbors in southeast Portland, Oregon, Sam and Stephanie Dyer jumped right into their first project together: remodeling a 1911 bungalow. The home was in serious disrepair, with black mold, small pests, stained carpeting and lead paint. Combining Stephanie's interior design background with Sam's knack for carpentry, the couple looked past the problems and turned the dilapidated space (nicknamed "Tiny") into a lively abode filled with repurposed and salvaged materials, Craigslist finds and locally available accessories.
After their son, Mead, was born, both sets of grandparents longed for more time in Portland with their grandson, but the Dyers' small house was not ideal for extended visits. Sam and Stephanie thought about buying a condo they could rent out when relatives weren't using it, but Sam's father, Chris Dyer, came up with idea of replacing the home's forlorn stand-alone garage at the back of the lot with a new living space. The cost of construction, done by Harding Construction, was less than the price of a condo, and the collaborative process resulted in a custom guest cottage that offers both closeness and privacy.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Sam and Stephanie Dyer and 2-year-old son Mead
Location: Mississippi neighborhood of Portland, Oregon
Size: 1,075 square feet plus 342-square-foot guest cottage
After their son, Mead, was born, both sets of grandparents longed for more time in Portland with their grandson, but the Dyers' small house was not ideal for extended visits. Sam and Stephanie thought about buying a condo they could rent out when relatives weren't using it, but Sam's father, Chris Dyer, came up with idea of replacing the home's forlorn stand-alone garage at the back of the lot with a new living space. The cost of construction, done by Harding Construction, was less than the price of a condo, and the collaborative process resulted in a custom guest cottage that offers both closeness and privacy.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Sam and Stephanie Dyer and 2-year-old son Mead
Location: Mississippi neighborhood of Portland, Oregon
Size: 1,075 square feet plus 342-square-foot guest cottage
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by Louise Lakier
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| The two-story guest cottage, nicknamed "Tinier," combines the amenities and streamlined look of a modern condo with the historic charm of the larger main house. It also feels much grander than its 342 square feet would suggest, with tall ceilings, light finishes and lots of natural light that creates the illusion of space. When it came to an efficient floor plan, no space was overlooked; for example, pullout drawers below the breakfast nook bench provide storage. |
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by Louise Lakier
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| The Dyers also came up with innovative ways to combine uses. The custom-built nook functions as a dining area and workspace during the day, then ... |
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by Louise Lakier
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| ... transforms to a full-size bed at night. Stephanie designed the textured matte white tile used around the fireplace and as a backsplash for the Topo Collection for Clayhaus Ceramics. The floor tile is also her design. It's a hydraulic-pressed ceramic tile that will be available from her new business venture, Archipelago Tile, launching in 2013. It's one of six designs and aptly named Basketweave, in Amber/Sky. Upholstery fabric: Fabricut, Custom Design Workroom in Bend, Oregon |
by Louise Lakier
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The watercolor painting above the fireplace mantel depicts Sam's childhood home in Wisconsin and is a reminder that his late father's spirit lives on. Chris passed away unexpectedly before the project's completion. In his last visit, he laid the flooring in the bedroom, coated all the doors with polyurethane and installed the stair trim.
"While he never had a chance to stay in our completed cottage, we all believe he would have been proud and would have felt at home," Stephanie says.
"While he never had a chance to stay in our completed cottage, we all believe he would have been proud and would have felt at home," Stephanie says.
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by Louise Lakier
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| Douglas fir is a unifying element throughout the home. The kitchen cabinetry and countertops were built by On the Level Custom Cabinetry. Double bowl corner sink: Ikea |
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by Louise Lakier
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| Sun streaming through a window on the landing illuminates the Douglas fir treads and the three-dimensional tile patterns on the risers. Stephanie installed the tile here and in the bathroom. Tile: Topo Collection for Clayhaus Ceramics |
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by Louise Lakier
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| A 2-foot bump-out on the side of the cottage was put to good use. Upstairs, the bed nestles into the alcove next to the windows. Downstairs, the breakfast nook does the same. The custom-built bed has pullout drawers beneath it for storage. Both the bed and the cabinetry were built by Harding Construction, while Chris and Sam worked together to install the wood flooring and interior trim. |
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| Wall sconces from Rejuvenation and floating bedside shelving from Ikea save floor space in the small room. Bathroom tile: Contract Furnishings Mart; paint: Refined, Benjamin Moore |
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Tile accents the brick walkway that leads to the cottage's front door. The couple painted the exterior with help from Sam's mom.
Paint colors (all from Benjamin Moore): Barista (siding and trim), Mississippi Mud (trim), Antique Bronze (window sashes and doors)
Paint colors (all from Benjamin Moore): Barista (siding and trim), Mississippi Mud (trim), Antique Bronze (window sashes and doors)
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by Louise Lakier
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| The main house, a 1911 bungalow, has undergone massive renovations as well. "We can't really say we fell in love with our house, except that I liked the idea of building it to suit our own preferences," Stephanie says. "Eight years later we both have a lot of pride in our accomplishments and definitely consider it home." |
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by Louise Lakier
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| The existing wood floors were sanded and coated with Osmo floor wax. The couch is a secondhand find and was reupholstered by Raleigh Hills Upholstery. "I'd love to add a few vintage modern classics eventually. I'd also like to incorporate some of my custom fabric into some accessories, like ottoman poufs and drapery," says Stephanie. |
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by Louise Lakier
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| These stacked corner plant holders were purchased from a favorite Portland nursery, Pistils Nursery. The cuckoo clock is a Craigslist find, labeled as being from East Germany. Accent wall paint: Moroccan Spice, Benjamin Moore |
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by Louise Lakier
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| Stephanie created the woven wall in this side entry space with wood shims, then glued it in place and painted it the same color as the exterior doors and window sashes. The light fixture is a cluster of exposed chrome-dipped bulbs hung with cloth cord and secured to the ceiling with salvaged decorative escutcheons. Lighting parts, including the bulbs: Sunlan; escutcheons: Hippo Hardware |
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by Louise Lakier
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| The chandelier, spray painted red-orange (Paprika from Rust-Oleum), is a bright spot of color that plays off the cool tones of the bedroom. Stephanie plans to add a custom upholstered headboard. Wall paint: Providence Blue, Benjamin Moore; ceiling paint; Ambassador Sterling, Ralph Lauren |
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| "The kitchen is my favorite spot in the home," Stephanie says. "It was one of the drawing factors in purchasing the house and one of the last projects to be completed, so to see it finished with its original cabinetry (albeit reconfigured) is really gratifying." Changing the layout wasn't without its issues, however. "It was a huge struggle to install the cooktop and oven properly, so overcoming that obstacle makes the victory all the more sweet," she adds. The couple has included other personalized touches, such as the kitchen table they made from an Ikea butcher block countertop and hairpin legs. The room beyond the kitchen was Mead's room initially; now it's a mudroom. Cork tile floors are a durable and practical choice for this space. Stacked filing cabinets with slide-away doors, once in Stephanie's grandfather's office, have found new life here as a display cabinet. |
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by Louise Lakier
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| Most of the kitchen cabinets were salvaged, dipped to remove old paint and repainted. The lower cabinets were raised to 36 inches; the upper cabinets were raised as well to allow for an 18-inch backsplash. The gray hutch is a Craigslist find, refitted with a new countertop and painted to match the interior doors. The extra-long kitchen sink was salvaged from Rejuvenation and re-enameled. |
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| The bar wall is finished with wood that was salvaged when the basement walls were demolished. The shelving niches are made from scrap 2-by-6s, while the mirror backing above each floating shelf was removed from the bathroom before that room was remodeled. |
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| "I can't live without my bathtub," Stephanie says. She painted the claw-foot tub dark gray to match the interior doors and window sashes of the newly remodeled bathroom. The tile was a wedding gift from a friend. Hex tile: Daltile; tub, sink: Rejuvenation |
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| The fenced-in yard between the two dwellings is a grassy space bordered by planting beds, perfect for playtime or shared meals. Outside the fence, the neighborhood is equally inviting. "What I love most about our neighborhood is that we know our neighbors and can walk to fantastic restaurants and shops," says Stephanie. "There's great grocery stores nearby, parks, pretty much everything you need on a daily basis. We rarely eat outside of a 2-mile radius!" Table, chairs, umbrella: Ikea |
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by Louise Lakier
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| Stephanie, shown here, has a background in historic preservation and restoration, and respects the history of her home. "One of my main tenets in design is respect for context. I believe living in a space of the past connects us with our roots on a subliminal level." She adds, "Our house was built in 1911, the year my grandmother was born. While it wasn't a time I have a memory of, history adds soul to spaces, and my approach was to keep all fixed elements in a structure cohesive and to have fun with furnishings and accessories to reflect my personality." Have you found a creative way to add more living space? Tell us about it below! |
Ideabook published on Nov. 18, 2012.
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I'm looking forward to seeing the tiles when Stephanie's shop opens.
Archipelago Tile (the patterned cement flooring tile) is slated for launch in January. Select samples are currently available upon request- inquire via www.stephaniedyer.net.
Samples of the Topo Collection (the ceramic tile line) are available upon request via www,clayhausceramics.com.
Sincerely, R.R.
I'm sure you could search for similar companies in your area, but it's the only one I know of in the Portland area.
The ADU Dinette table base is a 3-part telescoping piston system that was custom made by a metal welder. The different heights are locked into place with bolts. I'm still working to perfect the design to make it more user friendly for our VRBO guests (bolts can be a little cumbersome). The root of the challenge lied in attaining the two varying heights of 11" and 27" to achieve optimal ergonomics for all possible tasks- the height range ruled out a 2-part piston system, so the bolts were required for stabilization.
Regarding the main house kitchen wall paint- I'm sorry but I don't seem to have any record of the color! It was painted a while ago (hence the lack of recall), but I do remember it's a Miller Paint product.
The guest cottage is very inspiring. Our dream is to one day make over our backyard shed into a coach house and this article has a lot of great ideas. I also love the bungalow's character and good use of space. It reflects the house's era while still meeting the needs of a modern family. Thanks for sharing!