Young retirees start a new chapter in a home that meets their evolving needs.
At first glance, it might be hard to understand why the clients chose the two-story, 3,800-square-foot, 1990s-era farmhouse on 4.25 acres in Wilsonville as their forever home.
But for every negative, there was a positive. Yes, it had ugly yellow siding, but there was acreage and a pool. It was minutes to I-205, but the secluded property felt worlds away.
Enter Metke Remodeling & Luxury Homes, tasked with transforming this dated, fairly unremarkable home into something magical.
“If a home doesn’t pencil to tear-down, we want to creatively maximize the existing structure and somehow make it feel new. That’s the unique challenge of whole-house renovations,” says Jeff Metke. “You shouldn’t be able to tell where the old home ends and the new home starts. It all feels like a brand-new home.”
Entertaining Spaces and Functional Living
With a plan in place for a more open-living concept, a private main-floor primary suite and plenty of outdoor spaces for entertaining, Metke got to work.
“Our goal was to balance the addition so there was a semblance of symmetry to the house,” says Metke’s Senior Design Coordinator Crystal Elder. “It needed to look like it was built that way.”
The home had a traditional curved staircase and small separate living, dining and kitchen spaces. Outdoor entertaining spaces had no flow or functionality and were connected to the home by one small door.
Utilizing pathways between the existing home and the new 1,100-square-foot addition, Elder created a sense of sanctuary and retreat in the private primary suite. Out went the old staircase and in went a new contemporary staircase with floating risers and a straighter trajectory, opening up the home’s sight lines.
“Now when you walk in the front door, you have unobstructed views through the house to the patio and public entertaining spaces beyond. It draws you in,” says Elder.
The yellow siding was replaced by distressed wood siding from Tualatin-based Hewn, and Aurora Landscape was enlisted to lay stone pathways between the pool and the covered seating area just off the kitchen.
A new 1,200-square-foot patio is accessed via large multi-slide doors where family and guests can gather together around the stunning masonry fireplace or large dining table. An outdoor kitchen makes entertaining a snap and a beautiful tongue-and-groove cedar ceiling warms the space. The patio hits the sweet spot of being large enough for a group to gather by the fire or under cover for a meal, but small enough that it still feels cozy and inviting to relax alone with a good book. Follow a stone walkway to another patio and you’ll find a fire pit surrounded by Adirondack chairs — the perfect spot to chill under the stars.
Private and Sophisticated Primary Suite
With an eye to the future, the clients wanted a primary suite of their dreams on the main floor, and Metke delivered. A cedar ceiling mirrors the one on the outdoor patio, as does a stone-clad fireplace.
Elder consulted on furniture selection, as well as procuring and custom designing many of the unique pieces used throughout the home. In the primary suite, she selected a slate-colored velvet upholstered bed that complements the slate-blue tile in the adjacent bath, where Calcutta marble subtly ties it all together. Custom designed live-edge walnut nightstands add to the moody vibe, as does an adjacent private covered deck with a hot tub.
Wood and Stone Create Continuity
Leaning into the rural setting, the clients opted for natural materials and wood furniture, with an eye to sophistication and functionality.
Both the primary suite and living room feature stone fireplaces, as well as wood beams and fireplace mantels in similar finishes, to connect those indoor spaces with each other and with the outdoor living space that makes use of the same materials.
Instead of painted woodwork, the homeowners opted for stained doors and wide, stained alder baseboards, complemented by a palette of rich paint colors. Reclaimed maple shows up in the living room coffee table and console.
“All of the pieces have a story that the homeowners connect to on a personal level,” says Elder. “It’s not fussy. There is a quiet elegance that comes from the uniqueness of the pieces and materials.”
Elder’s eye ensured that the wide variety of tones and textures played well together.
“Some tones are deeper and darker, some are in the middle. We specifically didn’t try to match everything,” says Metke. “I hope that’s a trend that continues.”
By listening carefully, the team at Metke ensured that every element of the home, from the generous entertaining areas to the intimate retreats, reflected the homeowners’ needs and aesthetics and turned their dreams into reality.
