Mountainwood Homes helps homeowners turn ideas and dreams into reality.
A charming time capsule of a home in need of an update. A knotty Northwest Craftsman transformed into a modern Northwest Contemporary. An unused living room turned cook’s dream kitchen that changes the whole flow of the home.
Such are the kinds of home-remodeling projects that Tigard-based Mountainwood Homes prides itself on — projects that help homeowners identify their true goals and how to reach them.
“We provide guidance so the homeowner gets what they want,” says Alicia DeCosta, director of marketing for Mountainwood Homes. “The result meets their needs but also their desires, so they love where they live.”
Founded in 2008 by Robert and Heather Wood (he’s a builder, she’s a designer), Mountainwood Homes is a residential
design-build firm that specializes in all things remodeling — kitchens, bathrooms, additions, whole-house remodels — as well as custom homebuilding. While many design companies have a perfectly curated portfolio with a certain look, Mountainwood’s portfolio really shows the company’s variety of project scopes and styles.
The Mountainwood team consists of almost 40 experienced professionals, from project developers and designers to skilled craftsmen and project managers. DeCosta says the team is a comprehensive one that’s involved from day one through a project’s completion.
After: The kitchen layout barely changed, but the Northwest Contemporary style, upgraded materials and color palette helped to transform the space. (David Papazian Photography)
After: The primary bathroom features a modern style with concrete countertop and accent lighting. (David Papazian Photography)
“I think one of the things that makes our process unique is that we have a team to help you from start to finish,” DeCosta says. “That means figuring out what you want, what’s possible within the constraints of the home and the budget, working through design and construction — the whole process. You have Mountainwood’s support all the way through.”
The company’s process is straightforward and thorough. A Mountainwood project developer meets prospective clients at their home to hear their ideas and see their space. The team talks budget, possibilities and goals. If the fit is a good one, a design agreement is put in place and additional members of the team get involved. There are measurements, design renderings and floor plans, finish and material options, quotes from trade partners and vendors, and then, DeCosta says, “the construction team brings it to life.”
Case in point: The homeowners of a 1983 Beaverton home came to Mountainwood Homes with a clear dilemma. The kitchen was too small for them both to cook — which they love to do — and a formal living room sat largely unused. The result was a fragmented floor plan that didn’t maximize the available space.
To solve the challenge, Mountainwood got creative, transforming the living room into a new, much more spacious and inviting kitchen complete with an induction cooktop, an island with seating, an adjacent office area and an eye-catching custom-tile backsplash. And the old kitchen? It’s now a dedicated laundry room, which before had been in the garage.
“The kitchen is now the heart of the home,” says Sierra Lemieux, a designer with Mountainwood Homes. “The family can enjoy their love of cooking and spending time with family and friends in this connected space.”
Before: The small kitchen in this 1983 Beaverton home was squeezed into a small space, creating a fragmented floor plan.
(Mountainwood Homes)
After: With some creative rearranging, the kitchen was relocated to the unused formal living
room for more space. (Nathan Holden, Realty Pix Media)
Mountainwood specializes in helping people update homes that they love but that no longer meet their needs. Homeowners find that they love their location and don’t want to move — or lose their low mortgage rates — but the style or functionality isn’t what they want anymore.
A whole-house remodel took care of that scenario for a family living in a 2007 home in North Plains, Oregon. The homeowners loved the location and size of the home, but they wanted to move away from knotty alder wood and Craftsman details that gave it a dated feel. Mountainwood refreshed the home, giving it a modern flair with new paint, flooring, cabinetry, windows, entry beams and fireplaces, among other upgrades.
“Materials and color were the heavy lifters,” Lemieux says. “The home’s floor plan gave us a great foundation to work from.”
In addition to Mountainwood Homes’ experience, skill and ability to turn homeowners’ ideas into reality, Robert Wood says there’s one other important ingredient in the company’s recipe.
“We are a customer-service company,” he says. “We care about the whole client experience — and that comes through in our finished projects.”
Before: The goal of this whole-house remodel was to transform the 2007 home into a new era, departing from its outdated knotty alder wood, paint colors and Craftsman details. (Mountainwood Homes)
After: Despite considering a move, the couple loved their home’s size and location. The remodel updated it with modern materials and a fresh palette, preserving sentimental value while enhancing it for their new phase. (David Papazian Photography)
