Dining room with large windows showing city and river view, wooden table with a basket of apples, dark chairs, and modern ceiling light fixture.

Rio Vista

Architect: Celeste Lewis Architecture
Photographer: Sally Painter Photography

  • The Rio Vista home was originally built in 1962. In 2017 Owen Gabbert, LLC completed a full remodel of the house – from top to bottom, inside and out.

    Beginning upstairs, the walls and fireplace between the kitchen and the living room were removed in order to allow for an openness and even flow from one room to the next. The remodeled kitchen features the same exposed beams as the living space, along with sleek Myrtlewood cabinets and a patterned black and white back splash. Through these structural changes, the continuous wood beams were exposed to accent the living and dining space – and to tie together custom woodworking that frames newly redone windows. Facing north, these windows feature an unobstructed view of Portland’s historic Industrial District.

    The custom woodworking continues down to the basement with a floating stairway that leads to newly refinished concrete floors, suited perfectly for the family dog. Consistent with the upstairs, interior walls were eliminated to brighten the space, necessitating complicated, exposed, angular framing with minimalist knife plates. As part of that work, the basement was reoriented to allow maximum space for the owners’ two daughters.

    The team continued the woodworking to the exterior of the home, which accents bright hues and clean lines. The finished product is a home that retains its mid-century modern appeal with all of the updates of a brand-new house.

Front view of a modern house with a bright green door, brown and light blue exterior walls, and large windows, with trees in the background and a small garden with flowers in front.
Modern single-story house painted in light blue with wooden accents, green front door, and a two-car garage, surrounded by trees and clear blue sky.
Bright living room with light blue sofas, patterned chairs, a coffee table, potted plants, large windows, hardwood floors, and a wooden ceiling.
Modern kitchen with wooden cabinets, black and white geometric tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, and a kitchen island with two black chairs, illuminated by hanging pendant lights and natural light from windows.
Modern kitchen with wooden cabinets, black countertops, and a geometric black and white backsplash. Features three windows, pendant lights, and stainless steel appliances, including a refrigerator and oven. Two black bar chairs are at the kitchen isl
Interior of a modern home with a wooden dining table and chairs, a living area with a blue sofa, a kitchen with stainless steel appliances, and decorative lighting fixtures.
Dining room with a wooden table, gray chairs, and a tray of apples. Large windows show a cityscape and trees outside, with a wooden door leading to a balcony.
Interior view of a modern home staircase with wooden railing, black metal balusters, patterned tile flooring, large windows with wooden frames, and a pendant light fixture.
Interior view of a modern hallway with patterned floor tiles, wooden handrails, a large potted plant, three hanging pendant lights, and windows letting in natural light. A person is entering through a wooden door with frosted glass.
Modern bathroom with white rectangular sink, metallic stand, and a large round wooden-framed mirror on a white brick-texture wall. Two hanging light bulbs are above the sink, and a beige towel is on a holder underneath the sink.
Indoor recreation room featuring a foosball table, a black bookshelf with books and decorative items, a wooden staircase, and a vintage wooden cabinet, with a mix of wood and concrete finishes.
A modern staircase with wooden steps and black metal bars as a railing, set against a wood-paneled wall. The staircase twists upward and is adjacent to a white wall with vertical black lines, and the floor is concrete with a textured finish.
Bathroom with dual sinks, wood cabinets, white countertop, large mirror, two round globe lights, towel rack with a gray towel, tiled blue and white backsplash.
BACK TO GALLERY