This 1914 Portland, Ore. house had the typical quirks that include older houses: layers of wallpaper and paint, obsolete wiring and plumbing, a mish-mash of materials. The kitchen was badly organized and too tiny.

The owners love to cookso they enlisted the help of Ogawa Fisher Architects to assist them transform their kitchen into a workable space. The end result: a bright and airy kitchen with a custom made beech pub, sleek granite countertops plus a large bi-fold window which opens into the garden.

Ogawa Fisher Architects

Hiromi Ogawa let in a lot of light and refrained from using upper cabinetry to generate the 8′ x 20′ space feel as open as possible. “You are able to see and feel that the garden all the way through to the living space,” she says.

Barstools: Bertoia cushioned barstools

Ogawa Fisher Architects

At first, the plan was to join the kitchen into the rear yard with a large glass door, however, the roofline was too low to walk beneath. The bi-fold window in front of the bar area was a happy compromise. “It’s a fantastic sidewalk cafe feel,” says Ogawa.

Ogawa Fisher Architects

The kitchen was in the exact same galley style it’s in now, but there was an attached covered mud porch place on the deck which made the room feel awkward. Ogawa and Fisher incorporated the mud room area to the kitchen for additional space.

Ogawa Fisher Architects

Each one the cabinetry is out of IKEA, but by mixing in a custom made bar, quartz countertop, and beautiful in-wall window, Ogawa and Fisher were able to attain a distinctly high-end feel. “I believe our resourcefulness indicates a feeling of balance and style,” says Ogawa.

Countertop: Caesarstone 3cm Pebble in a honed finish
Range and Oven: preexisting
Hood: Broan
Cabinetry: IKEA

Ogawa Fisher Architects

Rubber tile floors was a practical option that also went well with the kitchen’s industrial feel. Ogawa and Fisher built a full-height pantry on one side of the kitchen (the wood plank visible to the left in this photograph ). This piece was designed to look more like a piece of furniture than a storage unit, but it conserves drawer space and makes up for the shortage of top cabinetry.

Sink: Blanco
Wood panels for pantry: IKEA
Floors: Flexco

More:
Kitchen of the Week: Creative, Colorful, and Modern
Kitchen of the Week: A Warm and Eco-Friendly Update
Kitchen of the Week: Black-and-White Fireplace for 7

See related