This kitchen renovation transforms the core of a mid-century modern ranch house in Portland for two professionals whose work spans digital systems and visual culture. Their shared values of clarity, utility, and intentional design informed the brief: to resolve an awkward, compartmentalized plan into a kitchen that responds to the original home’s architecture while aligning with contemporary patterns of living and working.
The solution reconfigures the space into an elongated galley layout, improving circulation and increasing usable surface area. A compact interior wall volume consolidates appliances, cookware, and dry goods, creating a highly organized zone for heat-based preparation. On the exterior wall, fixtures, sink, and water-related functions are arrayed beneath west-facing windows, establishing a bright, open counter space. A café-style workstation anchors this zone with views into the backyard, offering a place to pause, work, or watch Mac—their doodle—explore the garden.
