A modern house with a wooden exterior and large glass windows, illuminated by interior lighting. The house is surrounded by landscaping, including trees, rocks, and flowering plants. The driveway curves around the garden, with a large tree in the foreground.

HEWETT HOUSE | PORTLAND, OR

SCOPE: Full interior renovation + Furniture

ARCHITECT + CONTRACTOR: Green Gables

PHOTOGRAPHER: George Barberis

Modern kitchen with wooden cabinets, beige countertops, an open refrigerator, and a built-in microwave and oven.
Modern kitchen with white cabinets, beige countertops, a black and/or dark gray wall sconce, and a window showing trees outside.
Interior view of a modern home showcasing wooden frames, a staircase with a slatted wooden railing, a large window, and a contemporary kitchen area.
Modern open-concept kitchen with wooden cabinetry, a large island with four brown bar stools, and large windows showing greenery outside.
A wooden dining table with red upholstered chairs around it. On the table are two yellow candlesticks with tapered candles, a pink vase with greenery, and a framed artwork of a tree on the wall in the background.
Living room with wooden flooring, a large abstract painting on a brown wall, a white vase with tall green plant, and a black lounge chair on a dark blue rug.
Bright living room with large windows showing trees outside, beige sectional sofa with pillows, wooden coffee table with books and a plant, two black chairs, a tall floor lamp, modern art on the wall, and potted plants, with a blue rug on the wooden floor.
A cozy living room corner featuring a blue armchair with a colorful pillow, a small round table with books, a modern fireplace, and a tall vase with green plant stalks against a minimalist wall.
Modern bathroom with a white freestanding bathtub, a small black side table with candles and a succulent plant, a beige towel draped over the tub, beige tiled half wall, a white wall with a black shelf holding a green plant and a yellow candle, wooden ceiling detail, and a glass shower door on the left.
Modern bathroom with double sink vanity, large mirror, wall-mounted light fixtures, yellow towels, and a small window with a plant outside.
A minimalist bathroom sink area with a black countertop, round black sink, black faucet, a white towel bar underneath, a mirror above, and soap and scrubbing brushes on the right side of the counter. A black and white spherical pendant light hangs from the ceiling.
Minimalist bathroom with white walls, a white toilet, a small shelf with a plant, and black fixtures. Artificial lighting from black ceiling lights.

Midcentury Modern Reimagined: A West Hills Family Home

In collaboration with Green Gables Design & Restoration, our team at Bright Designlab was tasked with a complete interior transformation of this 1954 midcentury home, including a full architectural finish package. The primary goal: to rework the layout in a way that maximized the home's sweeping views of Portland’s West Hills - starting with the strategic relocation of the central staircase and a comprehensive kitchen reconfiguration.

A Soft, Organic Modern Aesthetic

Throughout the home, we applied a palette of muted, natural tones and materials chosen for their ability to evoke a modern yet organic sensibility. The result is a space that feels warm, serene, and deeply livable. In the living room, original wood plank ceilings were preserved and thoughtfully integrated into the new design, bridging the home’s architectural past with its contemporary future.

Purposeful Design for a Multigenerational Family

The clients - parents to four teenagers and frequent hosts to extended family - requested a layout that prioritized privacy and functionality. We designed a serene Primary Bedroom suite that captures the west-facing views, while each of the additional five bedrooms was upgraded with its own en suite bathroom, offering comfort and autonomy for every family member and guest.

Elevated Living Through Thoughtful Interiors

Every corner of this home was intentionally designed for both beauty and function, delivering a calm, minimalist elegance without sacrificing warmth or usability. The final result is a refined modern retreat that supports the rhythm of everyday family life while honoring the home’s midcentury roots.