Holly Street
Portland, Oregon
Ladd’s Addition Remodel
Remodel
Located in the historic heart of Ladd’s Addition, one of Portland’s oldest and most architecturally significant neighborhoods, this 1904 home is registered as a historic resource and rich with original charm. Preserving that legacy while modernizing key living spaces for a family of four was no small feat—but one that aligned beautifully with our values as a female-led design-build team focused on thoughtful remodels in older homes.
The homeowners—both physicians with demanding schedules—needed a more functional kitchen, a brand-new ensuite bathroom, and upgraded infrastructure that would carry their 120-year-old home into its next century of life. But throughout the project, we remained deeply intentional: retaining as much original material as possible, repurposing existing trimwork, and introducing new elements that felt authentic to the home's early-1900s architecture.
Kitchen Remodel: Breathing New Life into the Home’s Core
To open up the dark, segmented kitchen, we removed a load-bearing wall between the original kitchen and a butler’s pantry + enclosed porch. In its place, we installed structural support beams that gave way to an airy, sunlit space ideal for family cooking and gathering.
Custom cabinetry was built in a heritage-appropriate Shaker style, finished in Sherwin-Williams Anew Gray, and accented with reeded glass panels and Burnished Antique hardware from Rejuvenation. Cabinet interiors were done in white melamine for durability while maintaining a fresh, clean look.
We selected Bedrosians Mont Blanc quartzite for the countertops—an elegant but natural stone with nuanced veining that honors the character of the home. The Ann Sacks Canyon Lake backsplash tile in a glossy Antique White was laid in a classic offset brick pattern to bring warmth and texture.
A particularly special moment? Refitting and reinstalling original window casings and sills, which had been previously damaged, into the new kitchen layout. We advocated successfully with the Historical Society to remove and replace several poorly placed or aging windows with Marvin wood windows that aligned with both preservation requirements and modern energy codes.
Other upgrades included:
Custom back door and new deck, sized and trimmed to match the home’s existing rear entry
Thermador appliances, Zephyr hood insert, and a Riverby undermount sink paired with a Brizo Litze pull-down faucet in Polished Nickel
Brass gallery rail detailing at the peninsula cabinetry
White oak flooring throughout the main level to match existing profiles
New electrical service in the garage for future EV charging
Primary Ensuite: Building Something Beautiful from (Almost) Nothing
Upstairs, we transformed a small, unused storage room into a fully appointed primary ensuite bathroom—despite discovering the floor had no structural integrity and required complete reconstruction. We kept the original exterior walls intact, working within extremely tight tolerances to run plumbing and electrical while maintaining visual balance and functional flow.
The layout included a walk-in shower, double vanity, and separate toilet area, all built from scratch in a footprint that previously had no plumbing or HVAC. Flooring throughout is TileBar’s Parma Gray porcelain, chosen for its subtle movement and matte finish, while the shower walls feature white glazed terracotta brick tile that feels timeless yet fresh. Carrara 2" hex mosaic tile on the shower floor adds grip, texture, and classic appeal.
Cabinetry was custom-built and painted in Sherwin-Williams Sensible Hue. A wardrobe-style cabinet with drawer stacks was added beside the vanity to accommodate her husband's work clothes and daily essentials—a thoughtful solution in a home with limited closet space.
Additional features:
Kohler Purist fixtures in Brushed Bronze for both vanity and shower
Crosswater Heir toilet and Rejuvenation frameless mirror
Lumens Brody sconces for soft task lighting
Heated tile floors
Polished brass Schluter trim for subtle sparkle
Corner Carrara marble shelves in the shower from EleMar
We also added a new transom-style window, scaled intentionally to sit above cabinet height and preserve wall space while bringing in natural light.
Craftsmanship + Preservation
What truly distinguishes this project is the custom carpentry and reverence for original materials. We salvaged and reinstalled original baseboards, headers, and door casings wherever possible, reusing even small sections of trim to keep the architectural language consistent throughout. New millwork was crafted to match original profiles, including in the new ensuite and kitchen transition zones.
Every material choice and construction method was made with a singular intention: to honor the 1904 bones of this house while preparing it for the next 100 years. Whether it was restoring beadboard in the toilet room or selecting historically inspired switch plates in Unlacquered Brass, every decision layered in story and soul.
Additional Upgrades + Thoughtful Touches
New interior paint throughout in White Flower (SW 7102)
Toilet room beadboard painted in SW Retreat, a grounding blue-green
Custom cabinetry in the basement for organized family storage
Wallpaper selections like “Emrik” and “Olof” (Scandinavian botanical patterns) explored to add softness and heritage charm to smaller spaces
Brass and antique bronze hardware, varied by zone to reflect room purpose and lighting tone
Final Thoughts: Heritage Honored, Home Reimagined
This project is the embodiment of what we do best at Ashley Kiely Living—reimagining space with integrity, honoring architecture without being bound by it, and guiding clients through the messy magic of thoughtful remodels in old homes.
With expert craftsmanship, preservation-minded choices, and a bit of muscle, we helped this family modernize their everyday life—without ever losing sight of the past.
"Ashley and her team were so amazing to work with! They give great attention to all the details of the work and to the client.”
