NE Portland Classic Craftsman
Kitchen Renovation

ARCHITECTURE | Craftsman

LOCATION | Rose City Park, NE Portland

This NE Portland kitchen renovation was a standalone project that involved a full gut and complete rethinking of the space. An underused adjacent area was integrated into the kitchen, allowing for a new layout that significantly improved function, storage, and flow. Every decision was made with the goal of creating a kitchen that felt seamless with the rest of the home, both functionally and architecturally.

DESIGN & STYLING: WENDY COMBS STUDIO
CONTRACTOR: MENEHUNE
PHOTOGRAPHY: HANNA VARGAS

before

A kitchen with white cabinets, a window above the sink, a wooden cutting board, knives, and open shelves with dishes and bowls.
Portland kitchen renovation with dark wood custom cabinetry and fixtures by Wendy Combs Studio
Kitchen with white marble countertops, wooden cabinets, a gold faucet, a window with trees outside, and decorative items like a plant, framed picture, and soap dispensers.
Modern kitchen sink area with a window showing green trees outside, brass faucet, black and white soap dispensers, wooden cabinets, and decorative items like a plant, basket, and cutting boards.
Kitchen sink area with a window view of trees outdoors, a black vase with white flowers, soap dispensers, and a wooden cutting board.
Kitchen with dark wood cabinets, white marble countertops, gold fixtures, and large windows showing green trees outside.

THE ASK

The existing kitchen no longer supported how the home was being used. The layout was inefficient, storage was limited, and valuable square footage nearby was going unused. The goal was to fully rework the kitchen to gain space, improve day to day function, and create a layout that felt natural within the home.

It was also important that the finished kitchen feel updated but also like it belonged to the home.

DESIGN APPROACH

The kitchen was completely reconfigured, incorporating the adjacent unused space into a new, more functional layout. Storage, work zones, and circulation were carefully planned to support how the kitchen is actually used.

Window locations were adjusted to better align with the home’s architectural style. Materials, finishes, and details were selected with the existing architecture in mind, allowing the renovated kitchen to feel cohesive with the rest of the house rather than standing apart from it. Every element was designed to balance function with architectural continuity.

THE RESULT

The finished kitchen feels spacious, intuitive, and fully integrated into the home. By reworking the layout, improving storage, and aligning the design with the home’s architectural style, the renovation created a kitchen that functions beautifully while feeling like a natural extension of the original house.

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