Owners Becca and Eric envisioned updating this 1,500sf 1902 split-level home into a duplex, with one unit upstairs and a second unit below, designed for aging-in-place.
The bottom garden-level unit is light-filled and feels nothing like a typical basement, thanks in part to a newly-excavated entry courtyard and new glassy doors. An open living/dining/kitchen allows optimal flexibility for the renter.
This project has been featured in Portland Monthly ("Designing for Small Spaces: Little and Luxe"), Northwest Renovations, and the Build It Green Tour.
The lovely and airy bathroom in the basement unit is designed for accessibility with a no-threshold shower.
This compact kitchen - just ten feet long - is a powerhouse with all the function of a larger kitchen thanks to compact appliances and extra-deep counters.
The upstairs unit's bathroom honors the home's traditional roots with a salvaged bathtub and pedestal sink from the ReBuilding Center, and period-appropriate tile and lighting.
All the home's original doors were relocated and reused.
New french doors and a balcony fill the upstairs unit's kitchen with light and views to the shared backyard.
A hallway nook under the stairs houses the perfect spot for an out-of-the-way desk.
The same ten-foot kitchen is used in the basement apartment too. To maximize design in a limited budget, Ikea cabinets were given a custom upgrade with apple-ply counters and detailing.
Budget-friendly Ikea cabinets were customized with apple-ply counters that wrap down the vertical face.