Sarah & Mark: A 1910s Bungalow Kitchen That Hadn’t Changed in Decades
The Starting Point
Sarah and Mark’s Sellwood-Moreland bungalow had its original galley-style kitchen layout — small, closed off from the rest of the house, with cabinets that didn’t reflect how they actually used the space.
What We Did
We walked the space, talked through what wasn’t working, and put together a detailed quote before anything started. Permitting went through the City’s standard review, and we kept them updated at each stage rather than leaving them to guess at progress. See our full process for how this sequence works on every project.
The Result
A kitchen that fits how they actually live, with the timeline and cost landing where the original quote said it would — no renegotiation partway through.
James Wilson: Making a Small NE Portland Kitchen Work Harder
The Starting Point
James’s kitchen in a Craftsman-era home near the Alberta Arts District was small by design, typical of homes built in this era, and he was concerned a real update would mean a long, disruptive design process.
What We Did
Because the footprint was small, the design phase moved quickly — a couple of meetings settled the layout, rather than the weeks-long back-and-forth larger renovations sometimes need.
The Result
Once cabinets and materials were ordered, construction moved fast, since a compact kitchen has less square footage to touch. The project stayed close to the original estimate throughout.
Emily & David: What Happened When Demo Uncovered Something Unexpected
The Starting Point
Emily and David’s Hawthorne home was undergoing a full kitchen renovation, and like many homes from this era, what was actually behind the walls wasn’t fully known until demolition began.
What We Did
Once a wall opened and something unexpected turned up, we stopped work and brought it to them directly — explaining what we found and what it meant for cost and timeline — before doing anything further. Nothing proceeded without their sign-off.
The Result
The renovation was completed with no surprise invoice at the end. Emily and David have said this part of the process — being told immediately, not after the fact — is what they’d tell other homeowners to ask about before hiring anyone.
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