A remodel in Raleigh Park inspired by Lopez Island makes room for the whole family.
Design: Peony Architecture
Build: Lighthouse Construction
Photography: Christopher Dibble
When LuAnn Wu went looking for a house in Portland that could fit 15 members of her visiting family, she fell in love with the garden of a 1935 home in the Raleigh Park neighborhood. The house? Not so much. But she knew exactly whom to call — her new daughter-in-law, Emily Wu, the architect behind Peony Architecture.
“That garden was sprawling and delicious, and she could do amazing things with it,” says Emily. “But there was a real lack of clarity and cohesion in that home — it was just disorienting.”
The house required a complete remodel after having already been redone three times in the past century. It had a lot of square footage but also long hallways, awkward-shaped rooms, dead ends and spaces not laid out well for modern living.
“You could actually get lost walking through the house,” Emily says.
Architect Emily Wu left the kitchen lounge open to accommodate the family’s small children and pets.
On the list of desires: large gathering spaces for her family, as well as an updated kitchen and more connection between the home’s spaces. Emily began the process by leaning into her conversations with her mother-in-law and sketching out possibilities for a new floor plan given the existing structure. With the new floor plan in place, she added a series of arches to create better transitions between the spaces, as well as a window that repeats off of the historic living room to make the spaces feel more like they belong to each other.
“It’s really an iterative process with a lot of conversations,” Emily says. “LuAnn and I had a lot of back-and-forth about function and aesthetics.”
“I love using the mudroom. I bring roses or dahlias in from my garden and cut and arrange in vases before I have even removed my garden clogs,” says LuAnn Wu.
Arched transitions between spaces create a sense of cohesiveness between rooms.
Emily knew she didn’t want to turn away completely from the history of the house, but an overall freshening up needed to happen. The new home leans modern but with nods to the past such as historic trim and some of the tile patterns. But just as important was the need to look for solutions that feel distinctly like the homeowner, such as in the kitchen and kitchen lounge. There, the aesthetic is heavily influenced by Lopez Island, where the homeowner’s mother had bought a cabin for just $5,000 decades ago and where she camped for years as a child. The whole family continues to stay at the property often.
“Lopez Island is a pretty strong through line in her life,” Emily says. “It’s airy and it’s misty, but it is also grounded and earthy and not fussy.”
Emily brought that feeling into the kitchen through the use of lighting, textures, color, fixtures and materials while designing a full kitchen for a family that loves to cook. The end of the island is tailor-made for appetizers and drinks while the kitchen prep happens closer to the sink.
Design a Kitchen for Gathering
The best kitchens for hosting balance functionality with aesthetics to create a space that’s both practical and inviting.
1. Create a spacious layout. Opt for an open floor plan or a layout that allows for easy movement around an island.
2. Identify a command center. Include a space for planning, whether it’s a chalkboard for menu planning or a desk area with a calendar.
3. Foster conversation. Incorporate comfortable seating options, such as barstools at the island or a cozy breakfast nook.
4. Choose high-quality appliances. Pick reliable and efficient appliances, like a double oven or a high-capacity refrigerator.
5. Get smart with storage. Utilize cabinets with pull-out shelves, lazy Susans and ample drawer space to keep everything organized and accessible. Consider a pantry or additional cabinets for extra storage
6. Consider a prep sink. A secondary sink can be a game-changer for cooking together.
7. Add task lighting. Use a mix of overhead, task and ambient lighting to brighten up work areas and create a welcoming atmosphere.
8. Choose durable surfaces. Opt for materials that can withstand heavy use and are easy to clean.
9. Incorporate a beverage station. Designate an area for beverages with a wine fridge, coffee maker or cocktail station.
The kitchen island provides ample space for making pepparkakor cookies at Christmas and favorite family dishes like chicken soup and Mongolian hot pot.
