05/06/2026
Next month we begin an exterior transformation on our 1923 Portland craftsman, and I'm bringing you along for all of it.
Here's the reality: even a designer's house needs work. The paint is literally falling off the siding (not shown in these cheerful photos). The deck has decades of peeling paint, some of which almost certainly has lead in it (see last image for a visual of that mess). The railing design collects water and creates rot. None of it is structural, which is a win, but there's a list.
And this is exactly how I approach every project. You start with what's actually wrong, not just what looks wrong. Then you make a plan that accounts for your real life.
For us, that means two dogs who want to be on the front porch with us, and neighbors who don't necessarily want 60 pounds of enthusiasm rushing the fence every time they walk by. So yes, we're updating the porch ceiling, railing, and flooring. And yes, we're swapping the Roman-style pillars for square ones, partly because that's my preference for a smaller craftsman, and partly because square pillars make it possible to add a discrete dog gate.
That's intentional design. It's not just about beautiful. It's about listening to how you actually live and translating that into something that works for everyone in your household, dogs included.
If you're a Pacific Northwest dog owner who wants a home that's beautiful and actually built for your life, this is what I do. Link in bio.
