North Portland Fence

Safety was the priority for these clients in North Portland. Their house sits on a corner with formidable retaining walls dropping 4 feet down to the curb. Throw in a mobile toddler in the mix and you can see the necessity for a fence.



They wanted something inviting and pleasant to both look out from and for onlookers to look up at. They wanted as many natural materials as possible, so once again Cedar seemed the logical choice. I mixed in a bit of wood joinery to give the vertical and horizontal elements a bit more strength and added grace. We decided on using a decently thick gauge steel to act as the filler in between the posts. This particular steel would oxidize over time, creating a nice rusty look to complement the cedar. The hardware was all painted black to keep the shining metal to a minimum.



After regretfully installing a typical self-adjusting latch system we quickly discovered how annoying even the self-adjusting catches functioned over 6 months of wear and tear. I replaced this with the rare earth magnet + metal plate and it has vastly improved entry and exit. I am sure it has saved the mail carrier's years of carpal tunnel damage.



I made sure to have the fence follow the terrain, rolling up and down the property's slopes and still leaving some room between the stone wall drop and the fence for landscaping and planting. Inside the fence's perimeter is more of the flat terrain that contains plenty of room to play around and enjoy the beautiful old walnut tree that dominates the Northwest corner of the property.



During the hot summer months, this family enjoys dining on their modest back porch adjacent to their kitchen. With no fence along the perimeter and the property elevated, they felt like each summer meal was a display to the world. This side stretch of fence needed to be a bit higher than the other side, to retain the privacy a bit more. I still wanted to incorporate the metal grid into this design in the hope of achieving some balance. An access gate is also framed in by a Japanese-influenced gateway.

Bathroom Remodel

This project was aided by the fact that the clients had a second bathroom in the basement. This made their lives easier while the main bathroom was being ripped up. As I tell most clients in this kind of work, "It's going to look worse before it starts looking better."


Their D.I.Y. spirit was in full force and helped me out a lot. After some "do's" and "don'ts" from me on the finer points of lathe and plaster removal, they were off to the races. The original pink tile floor proved to be VERY tough and after a quick assessment, we opted to use a jack hammer to break free the beast. High marks to the original installers for building to last--mesh wire with 2" concrete mortar + 5/8" thick tile = very sweaty, exhausted demolition workers. It put up a hell of a fight and we respected it all the way to the dumpster.


The cozy bathroom space would be upgraded to a dual vanity and modern shower. What was once a porcelain shrine to the 1950's is now a pleasant trip to the loo. Again, the home owners rolled up the sleeves and pitched in, laying the floor tile leaving me free to concentrate on the plumbing and electric.


For the shower, it is always best to err on the side of caution. Water is the enemy and always seems to win in either liquid, gas or solid form. We made sure to re-line the walls with 3 layers of protection.


My clients were well-disciplined in choosing materials. They always seemed to make wise decisions on where to spend a little more for better quality (Toto Toilet, copper water supply pipes) and when to just play ball with the usual materials that still get the job done.


Projects like these usually progress in fits and starts. After the sheet rock and tile went on, the true changes were visible and finish line within site. A new window helps keep the heat in and a few upgrades like a fan that actually draws moisture out of the room will keep the mirrors from being forever fogged.


The most rewarding part of my job seems to be that feeling at the end when you have happy clients who love the changes that were made. The fact that they were partners in this blood / sweat & tears process certainly boosted this feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction.

6 & 2 Proud Fence

This was a much needed backyard fence. The old fence was rotting from the bottom of the posts on up and the wood was neglected for decades, which left a gray and mossy green residue. The owners and I worked out a tall, sturdy, clean design that is inspired by the simplicity and elegance of the craftsman style.

The name of this fence probably needs some explanation. The "6" and "2" refers to the 1 x 6 and narrower 1 x 2 slats that alternate each other. The "Proud" refers to how the 4 x 6 posts stick out from the plane of the slats by 3 /4" to help give the fence more depth and stature.


It is comprised entirely of cedar. Thanks to the quality lumber supplied by Dwayne at Custom Cedar Products the boards were straight, mostly free of knots and beautifully sanded (S4S). To give the fence extra strength, we opted for 4 x 6 posts and used (3) 6 x 6 corner posts to help provide a beefy foundation for a future play structure in the corner.



To avoid the previous fence's moisture problems, the bottom of the posts were soaked in a wood preservative and then covered with an asphalt shingle to prevent water from "wicking" up the end grain.


Upon digging the post holes, we found out there had been two previous generations of fences along that same perimeter. Lots of old concrete was removed from their former resting place and the dirt back filled.



The fence was built with symmetry in mind but also to maximize on strength. We used stainless steel ring-shank siding nails to keep the board slats in place. This proved a challenge for my nailing jig and a few adaptations had to be made to ensure a consistent nailing pattern. Additional fasteners included special decking screws and outdoor rated construction adhesive.



The top cap of the fence consists of long stretches of 2x6 cedar with a beveled edge. This cap acts as an umbrella for the vertical fence detail below. There is also a small "drip rail" located on the underside of the 2 x 6 cap that prevents any moisture from sliding to the middle of the fence. Aside from the (3) taller 6 x 6 corner posts, the top cap runs continuously across the "L" shaped perimeter. This adds strength to the fence where it is needed most. Once the tops are screwed in and glued down, the rigidity is obvious. The neighborhood squirrels also seem to appreciate this design and use it as a sort of freeway.




The owners opted for a clear finish that helps bring out the orange colors in the wood. Were the finish not applied, the fence would fade to a natural slate-gray color--which looks nice in its own way. Since the entire fence is comprised of cedar, this look would be handsome. When your fence is built with a mixed array of wood (like pressure-treated posts) the aging process ends up looking odd after a season. The cedar is gray while the pressure-treated wood remains orange.


There are many wood stain products available and some even boast very low V.O.C.'s and more environmentally friendly chemical makeups. I would advise spending a little more at the end of the project to help keep the UV light and water from prolonging the life of a fence.

Garden Gate

This particular project was more like a close collaboration between builder and clients / designers. Both of these clients have an impressively extensive background in science, design and aesthetic. Their house is a shining example of quality craftsmanship and restoration from the inside and out. It was imperative to get JUST the right look and function.


We worked closely to design a definite barrier between the driveway approach and the inviting back yard. This garden is stunning in all four seasons, even when lying fallow in winter it has shape, life and color--thanks in part to Judy's expert eye and thumb. She is a licensed professional specializing in beautiful and unique garden design. Her yard gets an annual visit from the garden tour experts and it shows with so many passers by stopping to admire the roses ect.

The all cedar gate helps to keep the "Grandcat" in the back yard and gives the occupants in the back a bit more privacy from the busy street at the front. The gentle curve of the gate helps open up this busy world though, and allows the numerous and fantastically friendly neighbors to pass through and say hello.


Since the gate would often remain open, we devised a "Latch" system utilizing rare earth magnets. A hinge plate-sized piece of metal securely mounted on the door catches a small inset magnet on the strike side of the gate post. No latches actually are there to mis-align or warp with the wood over time. Another magnet was inserted on the body of the fence to act as a "catch" to keep the gate secure in the open position. The magnets secure to the metal plate with a pleasant and confident "click".

We installed a traditional bolt latch on the inside of the gate to enable a padlock to be used for security and additional holding power in case of a powerful windstorm rolls through and turns the gate door into a sail.



An inset oil-rubbed bronze pull handle completes the look of the gate. It was necessary to find an inset handle due to the 180 degree swing of the door to catch in the "open" position. Any conventional gate handle would have interfered with the magnetic latching system. This overall look makes the design quite sleek and operation smooth for decades to come.

Fireplace Mantel

Having briefly lived in an old Craftsman home, I developed a real love for the big grand fireplace mantel. I truly do appreciate how the fireplace and surrounding hearth exude that home like feel. Whether a fire is burning or not, they seem to offer a warm invitation for us to gather in front of. I appreciate the wall to wall shelving, storage below for all the wonderful books & things we inevitably collect over the years. Mantels also offer a nice platform on top to display photos, tchotchkes (lawn gnomes, priceless art, everything in between) and lighting to a room. I always appreciate walking into a room and discovering its arrangement is focused around books and a fireplace.



Yet we do live in a much upgraded and digital age. So the design of this particular mantel had to cater to the modern needs of a modern family. My clients are much more audiophiles than anything else, so the classic look could be retained. I made sure to integrate conduit across the length of the mantel to ensure the present stereo and future setup can blend in with the new surroundings. Two power plugs are on the top of the mantel and another two are on the far bottom shelf to give the broadest range of options--from lamps, Christmas lights, wireless adapters, stereo / laptop power source, iPod / phone charging. . .ect. A small grommet is also in place to lead wires up from the stereo to the top of the mantel.


We opted for adjustable shelving throughout the unit, for the configuration of speakers, books, CD's and other items would be a constantly evolving process. The shelves were made out of Poplar and reinforced with a face frame to ensure optimal strength supporting the heavy loads of all those books & items.



The addition of the slate accent around the fireplace serves as a "warming" touch to the overall look of the mantel. Even though stone can appear cold and dull, this natural slate provides a nice transition from the dark metal fireplace and the white painted wood surrounding. The base gray or green background of the stone is splashed with brilliant orange, red and purple colors on many of the tiles. I was very picky with my slate, and discovered the advantage of buying the original 12" x 12" pieces individually. Color and tone control were crucial for such a small exposed area of stone, so the hand selected pieces were cut down into strips that conformed to the consistent look we were going for.



The deep bottom drawers seemed to offer a bit of balance to the base of the unit and offered a great place to store everyday items. The advantage of having a quick place to store things out of sight seemed to outweigh the option of having one more open shelf. With a little one in the house, the ability to store / hide toys, games and books in an easy place tipped the scales. The drawers are given a legitimate shot at longevity thanks to the bottom mount Blum hardware that has the slam-proof struts. As kid-proof as it gets.



The room configuration posed several different challenges. The central window location below the fireplace gives away the modern retro-fit of the gas fireplace (usually a chimney would be in its place and two smaller windows at each end). This particular unit was purchased at Gordon's Fireplace Shop and installed by Shamburg Heating. The main room boasted a cornucopia of different trim details, reveal depths and molding sizes. Height constraints had to be considered, as well as leg vs. head proportions as compared to the above window trim detail. The original baseboard that used to occupy the back wall was re-used to act as the fireplace mantel base footing.

All in all, a very rewarding project that literally transforms the room and makes the client's lives a bit more cozy and warm.

Kitchen Remodel

This project presented its self in the form of a water leak. My very first clients in Portland called me up one stormy Sunday afternoon with distressing news. The 108 year- old lath and plaster ceiling in their kitchen was soaking up water from the 108 year-old tub drain one floor above. This house is quite special. After 4 different owners, none of the extensive stain-grade old growth Doug Fir wood trim has been painted over. All original and untouched. It is like a living museum to craftsmanship, care and detail.




The damage was clear, there were no other options. The ceiling would have to come down. A mysterious-looking lead ball "P" trap was the culprit. After more than a century of trouble-free work, it had finally decided to give up the ghost. This lead trap was something new to me and I deferred my plumbing know how to a true expert in Tom Allender.




With the ceiling exposed, we discussed the many options to improve on the lighting situation (one low voltage light converted from when it was originally a gas light gave the only source of illumination in the room). One idea and upgrade led to another and after over 20 years of living with the constraints of a house this old, the owners finally decided to make some enhancements. We called in Scott Schlepp of Scotco Electric. He is a very reliable and capable electrician who is very good about doing the right thing in retro-fitting wiring in an old house. Scott will always go the extra mile for the job to ensure you are happy and your new electrical setup will be reliable and safe.




New and improved lighting with a mixture of can lights, pendants and spot lights make the work area much improved. A convection oven enables the baking expert of the house to really excel at her hobby. A lovely granite counter top replaces an antique table that served as the previous work platform. A small, hand-hammered copper vegetable sink complements the upgrade to a very functional and elegant peninsula.





Like many old homes built around the turn of the century, the rooms are compartmentalized and cordoned off. There are really two kitchens, one with the cabinets and sink and the other with the fridge, stove and pantry. There are 4 doors going in and out of this room, so passage, flow and spacing was a constant consideration.




The period look and precision of the peninsula could not have been achieved without the help of the cabinet maker Fred Dieter. He was able to copy the old Doug Fir panel doors and Vertical Grain Fir face frames--complete with aged brass hardware. The result is a stunning continuation of a classic old cabinet growing out of the beautiful old Fir wainscoting. Mr. Dieter possesses a keen eye for detail and offered several suggestions that enhanced the look and feel we were trying to achieve. Fred also took an antique oak door panel the owners proudly displayed on a wall and built a free-standing cabinet that now houses the microwave. He restored the antique panel and integrated it seamlessly into the new cabinet, making sure to copy the arch and angles of the adjacent Oak hutch. No detail was spared from his creative and capable hands.




We also decided to install a vent to help the lovely old stove top channel the odors, heat and grease that are inevitable with even the healthiest of cooking. Again, after over 20 years of having no vent to push the air outside, the owners adapted and overcame the drawbacks. This project finally empowered them to feel like they deserve the upgrades. The owners settled on a very low-profile model that offers plenty of ventilation and additional light. Coincidentally, this model boasts a handy remote control that mounts magnetically to any surface and blends right in with the existing refrigerator.