PKA Architecture carries out a phased mid-century renovation in Portland’s Southwest Hills.
Architect: PKA Architecture
General contractor: Petrina Construction
Interior design: Morgan Hill Design
Photography: MC Imagery
Unfolding over several years, PKA Architecture’s full renovation of this Southwest Portland home focused on restoring its mid-century character while making it more comfortable for family life. The PKA team approached the project as a thoughtful evolution, reworking circulation and livability room by room. The entry was reimagined as a warm arrival point, while expanded windows usher daylight deep into the home and frame sweeping city views. Inside, the kitchen emerged as the heart of daily life, anchored by fresh finishes and updated cabinetry that honor the home’s mid-century roots.
The layout of the original kitchen was maintained, elevated by new custom walnut cabinetry that matches the spirit of the mid-century modern home, along with white oak flooring carried throughout the house and new Wolf/Sub-zero stainless-steel appliances.
In the living room, a new white limestone veneer wraps the chimney and a new gas insert replaced the wood burning fireplace.
After
New sidelights and clearstory windows fill the previously dark entryway with natural light, punctuated by a new walnut front door and terrazzo tile. Powder coated steel rods around the stair further open up the entryway and allow more light to reach into the living room and dining room.
Upgraded lighting throughout the house and a refreshed lower-level bath elevate everyday living. Lifestyle-driven additions, including a sauna and a flexible home office, were added along with a new façade. Durable, cost-effective exterior materials were chosen to withstand the Pacific Northwest climate, ensuring longevity and a strong connection to the landscape. Inside, space was also carved out to showcase the family’s art collection, gathered over years of travel, creating interiors that balance modern comfort with personal storytelling and architectural history. The homeowners’ choice of vibrant wall colors adds a playful, unexpected layer to the mid-century palette.
The living room also offers expansive views of Southwest Portland and a connection to the expanded back deck space.
After
Space was reserved in the primary bathroom for a prefab kit sauna. New floating white oak vanity, solid surface counters, clearstory windows, terrazzo floor tiles, tile backsplash, and California Faucets fixtures all contribute to an elevated spa-like atmosphere.
The dining room was opened up to the hall and front of the house through the glass walled office beyond. Custom open shelving supported on steel rods that match the stairs display the homeowners’ ceramics collection.
Perched on a compact urban lot in the hills of Southwest Portland, the home occupies a site where steep terrain created both challenges and opportunities. The dramatic slope toward the rear allows for a walkout condition and expansive city vistas. At the street, the entry sits close to the road, typical of the tight hillside setting, with little front yard. PKA’s design responded by introducing a new entry overhang and a lush vegetative buffer. At the back, expanded deck space and larger windows maximize the panorama and natural light. Although the renovations were carried out in phases over time, the finished home presents as a cohesive whole, with breathtaking views that continue to surprise and delight no matter how many times you see them.
The most dramatic transformation was restoring the original cantilevered beams and vaulted entry roof. The entire street façade was updated with new Hardi Plank fiber cement lap siding, expanded windows, new garage doors, a new front stoop and lush gardens in weathering steel planters.
The back porch and living room provide stunning views of the city. Below, a walk-out lower level provides access to the back patio while the yard continues to cascade down the hill.
