The western slopes of Mt. Hood hold a myriad of recreational opportunities and scenic wonders. The area, clustered along Route 26 from Welches up-mountain to Government Camp, also contains dozens of artistically rustic “Steiner Cabins.” Between the late 1920s and 1940s, German immigrant carpenter/homebuilder Henry Steiner and his son, John, constructed as many as 100…
Building
Mid Priced Bathrooms
Often, we at Harvest Construction LLC are asked to design and remodel a bathroom from floor to ceiling. Frequently the potential client will add, “It’s just a small bathroom, about 6’ X 8’,” which typically means they really don’t want to spend much money on this remodel. Then the client will add their wishes for…
Recycled Interior Design Products
I love the idea of using repurposed and recycled materials in my interior projects, but I hate the idea of giving up great style. In my many trips to design markets and gift shows I have found some amazing recycled and repurposed products that are super stylish, easy on the eyes, and easy on the…
All You Will Ever Need to Know About Stairs
The anatomy of a staircase is not something most people will contemplate or take the time to know. After all, unless one is a stair guy, why would one need to know the difference between a ball top and a tread cap? While it’s true that stairs are more complicated than just about anything else a…
How to Remodel Your Kitchen for $15K
With the current economy forcing people to stay in their homes because they can’t afford to sell them, we see some new trends in the remodeling industry. Before 2008, it was common for people to spend $50K or more remodeling their kitchens, and being able to recoup the investments when they sold their houses a…
From Drab to Daylight: Transforming a Converted Attic
We recently completed a remodel of the second floor of our 1924 bungalow, which involved reconfiguring 500 sq ft into a master suite with a bath and two closets, a second bedroom, and a reading alcove, all without adding a dormer or changing the roof line. Like many who consider remodeling, we contemplated moving but…
Stillness
What many of us could use in our lives right now is stillness. Stillness is the quiet restfulness of the contemplative – harmony, if you will — that allows escape from the mind-numbing sensory overload of the technological world. What I call stillness is what Arts & Crafts progenitor John Ruskin called repose, what he…
Historic Encounters with a 1910 Bungalow Kitchen Remodel
After completing a number of smaller home improvement projects on her 1910 bungalow, including exterior painting, building a new fence, and adding a gate, plus regular maintenance, Elizabeth Epping was ready for a more substantial kitchen remodel. WILLCO was excited to be her chosen building professional for the job. As a design-build remodeler, we were…
NWR PROfile: Portland Vintage Plumbing
Northwest Renovation interviewed the owner of Portland Vintage Plumbing, Brenda Wasco, on what products she has to offer and how she can help her customers find the right products for their home remodel. Why did you start Portland Vintage Plumbing? I’d worked in the plumbing industry for over 10 years when the business I worked…
Prairie Houses in Portland
“Prairie” is the name given to a style of house originated by Chicago architect Frank Lloyd Wright around 1900. The first use of the term “Prairie” occurred with Wright’s plan for “A House On the Prairie,” published in the Ladies’ Home Journal in 1901. The term “Prairie School of architecture” was later given to the…