As clients Ben and Suzie began house hunting, their first order of business was finding the best place that would grow with their family of five. They prioritized a layout that offered plenty of space to be together with the option of retreating to quieter, private spaces. A good-sized yard was also a must for the kids and dogs to roam and explore.
The couple had toured the Renaissance Homes Street of Dreams home as well as several other of our model homes, and they liked the level of craftsmanship and attention to detail.
“We knew we wanted Renaissance to build our home,” said Ben. “It was just a matter of finding the right plan and the right property.”
Finding the land and the plan
When a .6-acre lot became available in the popular and amenity-rich Lake Grove neighborhood of Lake Oswego, Ben and Suzie knew it would be the perfect location for their custom build. The property featured flat construction-friendly and rambling terrain and an idyllic place to plant roots.
With a teen and two young children, they had a clear vision of how they wanted their new home to live today and years from now. Taking all of their families’ needs and nice-to-haves in consideration, they selected the Edgemont home plan.
About the home plan
Four beds, four full baths
First-floor den/office
Upstairs bonus room
235 square-foot covered outdoor living space
3,550 square feet of living space
Balancing shared and private spaces
Farmhouse-inspired exterior architecture is bright and welcoming, and the couple’s addition of a covered front porch enhances the home’s charming curb appeal.
Rooms flow seamlessly to keep everyone together and connected, while each retains its own purpose and character.
“We really like the open-concept design of the downstairs living spaces,” said Ben.
One of the Edgemont plan’s main selling points for Ben and Suzie was its thoughtful floor plan design and each room’s placement and relationship to the rest of the home. The upstairs layout features a larger secondary bedroom with ensuite bathroom that shares no walls with the remaining bedrooms to give their teen space and privacy. The couple’s two younger children each enjoy their own bedrooms situated away from the main living areas below to reduce household noise for earlier bedtimes.
A home office off the entry is set apart from the main living areas, an ideal work-from-home area that’s quiet and peaceful, and encourages focus and productivity. From there, a short walk down the hallway opens to the great room, kitchen, and dining area to take advantage of backyard and property views.
A mud room with a storage bench and shelving does double duty as a pocket office for Suzie. Its convenient location off the garage keeps mail, other paperwork, shoes, and bags out of sight from the downstairs living areas.
Timeless and modern styling
A high-contrast black-and-white palette accentuate the contemporary feel, with warm woods offering a balanced counterpoint throughout the first-floor main living areas. Wire-brushed wide-plank oak flooring complements the scale of the airy, open-concept layout. Interior styling is modern-day farmhouse with classic mid-century touches.
“We definitely wanted things more on the modern side,” said Suzie. “It’s our modern farmhouse with a mid-century twist.”
In the kitchen, Ben and Suzie selected Renaissance Homes signature shaker cabinets in a high-contrast finish with a black-painted center island. Veined quartz countertops visually connect the island to the perimeter, while a picket tile backsplash with a soft gray contrasting grout creates an appealing softness to the chef-inspired space.
“The picket tile was a newer design that came in, and I was so glad it became available because it’s exactly what I was looking for,” said Suzie.
Triptych windows in the dining area and large stacked sliding doors in the family room bring in ample natural light and establish a connection to the covered exposed-wood outdoor space with fireplace and expansive backyard. The addition of a second covered patio off the kitchen makes all-season grilling easy and comfortable any time of year.
The play of geometric forms and clean lines makes a sophisticated and striking statement, from the pendant lighting above the kitchen island to the black mid-century stair rail that offers a focal point and style continuity throughout the main living areas.
The upscale farmhouse style with mid-century touches continues throughout the second-floor bedrooms, bathrooms, and bonus room. Suzie came to the Design Studio with a clear vision of how the secondary bathrooms should look, and our interior design team was happy to help bring her ideas to life, from the floating walnut cabinets and circular mirrors, to the mod hexagonal tile flooring and exposed bulb sconces.
Despite the expected and industry-wide construction challenges posed during the pandemic, Renaissance Homes delivered their home on time and exactly to specification.
“There were no real delays,” said Ben. “Expectations were clearly set.”
Ben and Suzie recently moved into their new home and are happily settling in before the holidays. In fact, they created a fun Instagram account to document their custom home journey!
“Honestly, it’s been a dream,” said Suzie. “Everything is my favorite thing. I just love everything about it.”