Tucked along the edge of Portland’s Washington Park and Hoyt Arboretum, this 2,500-square-foot home was reimagined in collaboration with Reverie Architecture to bring light and warmth into a once dark interior. Although the home bordered the forest with floor-to-ceiling windows, the spaces inside felt closed off and dim. To better highlight the wooded surroundings, the team sought to brighten the interiors and reorient the home to embrace its views into the trees.

By moving and reconfiguring the entryway and kitchen, the team created a more open, welcoming main level designed for entertaining. The remodel also included a 225-square-foot addition that expanded an upstairs office and a downstairs bedroom. Throughout the home, dark walnut paneling and ceilings were replaced with new hemlock T&G ceilings and white oak floors, bringing a light, cohesive warmth to every space. The kitchen was transformed to encompass nearly three times its original size, now featuring a separate pantry and prep kitchen. A large custom island with bar seating anchors the space and connects seamlessly to the adjacent dining area, offering multiple options for gathering. Rift white oak cabinetry and custom concrete countertops tie the space together, while a new 13-foot floating concrete hearth bench grounds the living room with sculptural simplicity.

Thoughtful built-ins—including a media wall, vanities, linen cabinetry, and bedroom shelving—add both function and refinement throughout the home. Innovative details like HAWA hardware for streamlined pocket closet doors showcase precision craftsmanship. In the bathrooms, hand-applied tadelakt plaster walls and matching lime wash paint lend natural texture and depth, while a custom CNC-carved concrete sink—etched with canyon topography—offers a subtle nod to the surrounding landscape.

Outside, a new corten steel entry portal and IPE gate set the tone for the home’s sculptural character. On the south side, an 8-foot cantilevered bumpout with expansive Marvin windows immerses the interior in forest views. Set on a steep, soft-soil site, the addition required a deep 5-foot foundation and inventive installation methods—including craning an 800-pound window over the home and through a narrow opening in the tree canopy.

Despite the complex logistics and tight site access, collaboration between ClarkBuilt, Reverie Architecture, and the client resulted in a seamless process and a remarkable transformation. The result is a home that feels deeply connected to its wooded surroundings—bright, modern, and elevated, yet grounded in its natural context.