NW Portland Open-Concept Kitchen & Dining Remodel
Date: December 2025
NW Portland, Oregon
In 6 weeks, this NW Portland home underwent a full transformation of the kitchen and dining area, converting a closed-off, storage-heavy layout into a bright, open-concept space designed for everyday living and entertaining. The project involved structural modifications, permitting, and detailed coordination to deliver a clean, modern result that feels both intentional and timeless.
Before
After
Before
After
The Challenge
The original kitchen and dining areas were divided by multiple interior walls, and a side room was used primarily for storage. The layout limited natural light, disrupted sightlines, and made the space feel smaller and more compartmentalized than necessary. A sunken living room added even more choppiness to the flow of this dining, living, and kitchen layout.
Key challenges included:
A chopped-up floor plan with limited flow
Ceiling drops caused by load-bearing walls
Inefficient kitchen layout with minimal gathering space
Storage areas that didn’t meaningfully serve the home
The homeowners wanted a space that felt open, functional, and refined, without losing warmth or durability.
The Solution
The remodel focused on removing physical and visual barriers while reinforcing the home structurally. Several interior walls were removed and replaced with a large engineered glulam beam, allowing the ceiling plane to remain flat while fully opening the kitchen and dining areas.
The kitchen footprint was expanded into the former side room, creating space for a massive 11-foot island that now anchors the room. This island serves as the primary prep surface, gathering space, and visual centerpiece of the home.
The scope also extended into the living room, where a previously sunken floor was raised to align with the new kitchen and dining areas, creating a continuous, level main floor. Custom rift-sawn white oak shelving and a matching mantel were added to the living room, reinforcing the warm material palette and tying the spaces together visually and functionally.
Design and material selections emphasized longevity and restraint:
White oak frameless cabinetry for a clean, modern profile
Marble tile backsplash for texture and subtle contrast
Integrated undercabinet and recessed lighting
New windows and a sliding door to improve natural light and indoor-outdoor connection
Construction Scope & Craftsmanship
This was a permit-driven, investment-level remodel that required close coordination across trades and careful sequencing. The scope included:
Structural engineering and beam installation
Full electrical replacement and lighting upgrades
Custom cabinetry installation
Flooring replacement and leveling
Window and slider installation
Raising the sunken living room floor to create a seamless transition between spaces
Custom rift-sawn white oak built-ins and mantel fabrication
Multiple change orders managed throughout construction
Despite the complexity, the project maintained a cohesive vision from start to finish, balancing structural precision with finish-level craftsmanship.
Project Gallery
The Result
The finished space is open, light-filled, and highly functional, designed to support both daily routines and larger gatherings. By removing unnecessary barriers and level changes, rethinking the layout entirely, and integrating custom living room millwork, the kitchen and dining area now feel connected to the rest of the home while standing confidently as its centerpiece.
This kitchen remodel reflects a thoughtful approach to investment-level renovation: improving how the home lives today while enhancing its long-term value.
Considering a Kitchen Remodel in Portland?
Explore more of our kitchen remodeling projects or reach out to discuss how a layout-driven remodel could transform your home.