Eclectic Classic Irvington
Whole-Home
Refresh + Renovation

ARCHITECTURE | Foursquare

LOCATION | Irvington, NE Portland

This historic foursquare in the Irvington neighborhood of Portland was already a beautiful home. The goal was not to reinvent it, but to update it in a way that reflected the homeowner’s more modern, eclectic style while respecting the original architecture. The project included a full furniture, fixtures, and finishes redesign across eight spaces, along with a gut renovation of one bathroom.

DESIGN & STYLING: WENDY COMBS STUDIO
DINING ROOM ART: CHI MEREDITH
CONSTRUCTION: RED ROOSTER REMODELING
PHOTOGRAPHY: GENNY MOLLER & HANNA VARGAS

Dining room with wooden table, chairs, and bench, pendant light fixture, and a green cabinet. Windows with shades, a lamp, chair, and printer visible. Hardwood flooring.
A bedroom with a bed, featuring a gray headboard, and white bedding with a plaid pattern. A bedside table next to the bed holds a lamp with a striped lampshade. There is a window with blinds partially open on the right side of the image.
Bathroom with a toilet, shower, window, and cabinet.

before

A modern dining room with a wooden table, beige chairs, and a large abstract chandelier. The room features light walls, a light rug, houseplants, and a piece of abstract art on the wall. A lamp and decorative items are on a side console.
Modern dining room with a wooden table, tan chairs, abstract chandelier, and artwork on the wall. Two plants, a table lamp, and decorative items are on a sideboard. Windows provide natural light, and a light-colored rug is on the hardwood floor.
Modern living room with white sofa, decorative pillows, large white lamp, and a houseplant on a stone pedestal next to a window.
cozy living room with leather armchair, fireplace, painting, and plants
Interior decor with abstract artwork and vase
Modern bedroom interior with a bed featuring dark green pillows and a gray blanket, a bedside table, and a brass wall-mounted lamp against a dark green wall.
Abstract gold metal grid sculpture on a soft beige fur blanket over dark background.
Bathroom vanity with gold faucet, black countertop, wood cabinet, rectangular mirror, gold sconces, marble wall tiles, towel rack, and floral decor.
Modern bathroom with a glass shower, white marble tiles, wooden stool, and hanging towel.
Bathroom with custom wooden vanity, black countertop, gold fixtures, round mirror, wall-mounted lamps, and white tiles.

THE ASK

The homeowner wanted the home to feel unmistakably personal from the moment guests entered. While the architecture and proportions were strong, the interiors needed to better reflect her taste and create a layered, welcoming first impression.

Beyond the overall refresh, one bathroom was uncomfortable, outdated, and experiencing moisture issues. That space needed to be addressed functionally, while still feeling aligned with the rest of the home.

DESIGN APPROACH

The home was approached holistically, with eight spaces considered together to establish a cohesive visual language and a memorable sense of arrival. Because the historic foursquare architecture was already doing much of the work, the focus was on furniture selection, lighting, finishes, and color to introduce a modern eclectic feel and create impact as visitors moved through the front entry and main living spaces.

The bathroom renovation focused on improving usability and comfort. The small shower was opened up and redesigned as a curbless shower, making the space feel larger and more functional. Materials and details were selected to feel elevated while remaining consistent with the broader design direction.

THE RESULT

The finished home feels reflective of the homeowner’s style, with a strong wow factor that is felt immediately upon entry. By limiting construction to where it was necessary, the project balances restraint with impact while honoring the character of the historic Irvington foursquare.

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