A Sustainably-Minded Portland Kitchen Remodel

The kitchen was most likely remodeled in the 1950s when an electric range was added to upgrade the original wood stove system from when the home was built in the 1930s. The kitchen had not been touched other than the red paint for 60 years, and it was in need of an update.

The family never lived in the house before the remodel. “When we were looking to buy the house, I almost cried because it was in such bad shape,” says Adrian Hale. On the main level, there were four different floors in four different rooms. The floorboards were so worn through that you could see straight to the basement, Adrian notes. Now, there’s a seamless wood floor throughout.

The kitchen is the heart of the home for Adrian and her family. “I am a cook, and the main people I cook for these days are my kids, husband and friends who pass through,” says Adrian. “Later in the day, the kitchen is the place where I discuss vacation plans with my husband or hear a story about my daughter's day while making dinner, or sit down at the counter to help my son learn to read.” The family eats breakfast at the island – and sometimes dinner (especially when Gregg is out of town.)

The ceiling beams are new FSC-certified glue laminated beams that Green Hammer had made for the kitchen space and stairs. The original stairs were imposing and stood uninviting right as you opened the front door. At first, the family talked to Green Hammer about removing the stairs entirely, but that would've been expensive. Green Hammer came up with the design of moving the front door and creating a breezeway-type space alongside the stairs. They also opened up the stairs in their design so that the staircase doesn't cut the room in half. “We really wanted one big open room, and I was happy Green Hammer figured out what to do with the stairs to still allow us to achieve that,” says Adrian.