“When we started talking about a project with you at least two years ago, never in my dreams was the house as amazing & stunning & so well suited to our needs.”

Project Brief

When the owners of this 40 year-old ranch in Portland's Vista Hills purchased the home in 2012, they'd fallen in love with the neighborhood and saw the home's character and potential. What they needed was a whole-house renovation to make it ready for the next 40 years.

The homeowners tapped Gentry Construction with the task of how best to achieve a free-flowing, open main floor. Working with the homeowner's architect, we were there at the beginning of the planning process to provide sound spatial design and buildable solutions, maintaining both the structural and aesthetic integrity of the home.

We took the house down to bare studs, took out seven walls, and set 30 new ceiling beams to support the open plan. We brought in 8,100 cubic feet of crushed rock to regrade the lot and form a seamless transition between interior and exterior living spaces. To top it all off, a new 800 square foot master bedroom/bathroom addition provided the homeowners with a spacious and luxurious oasis.

New master bedroom in 800 square foot addition.

Scope of project:

Removal of most interior walls and all of the lath and plaster, down to bare studs
Structural reinforcement of ceiling to allow for wall removal and open floor plan
New 800 square foot addition, including master, 2 baths, and pump room (for new pool)
Accessibly designed movement paths and thresholds throughout main level
Finish out 1000sf basement
New concrete back patio and pool deck. Veranda extends usability of outdoor space.

Click through the project gallery below for more photos and details.

Exterior view—new siding, paint, fence, and concrete. All new windows.

Kitchen detail with custom walnut cabinets, granite countertops, and handmade glass pendants over large island.

Through the La Cantina doors to exterior living space under covered veranda and pool. Lot was regraded for seamless transition inspired by universal design.

Open floor plan living space. La Cantina Doors allow seamless interior/exterior transition. Two skylights open up the space vertically and provide lots of natural light, even on overcast days.

Gas fireplace detail with custom walnut bench.

New office, where kitchen used to be.

Media Room detail with built-ins

Dining Room detail with large picture window.

Master bedroom addition. High ceilings follow roofline up to exposed beam.

New master bathroom with no-threshold glass shower enclosure, heated stone floors, vanity station, and custom walnut cabinets

Custom built-ins for new master closet

Laundry room detail

Finished basement and added new window well.

Finished basement detail with new window well.

By the numbers:

7 walls removed on existing main floor.
1 open-plan great room.
30 new ceiling beams to open up living space
800 square foot addition
600 square foot outdoor living space extension with veranda.
8,100 cubic feet of crushed rock fill to raise the backyard up to be level with the house.