| |

SHED Revives a Mid-Century Modern House in Portland

ByMyProperty Life

Nestled in a serene, forested enclave of Portland, Oregon, the Mori House merges mid-century modern architecture with contemporary minimalist sensibilities. Originally designed in 1963 by Saul Zaik, a revered figure in Pacific Northwest architecture, this home has been thoughtfully reimagined by SHED Architecture & Design to meet the aesthetic and functional needs of its new owners: a young family with a passion for design.

A modern, dark wood house surrounded by trees, featuring large windows and a wraparound deck.

Set on a sloped, wooded lot, the Mori House makes a striking yet understated statement. The property includes a detached garage and studio, along with a teahouse pavilion, accessible via elevated decks. These elements, framed by towering trees, create a peaceful retreat that prioritizes connection with the natural environment.

Read another article:Design Trends for Creating a Vacation Vibe at Home

Modern house with large glass windows surrounded by dense green trees, showcasing an interior with wooden furniture and artwork.

Zaik’s original blueprint was a celebration of mid-century modern design, marked by clear geometries and the use of organic materials. The current remodel extends this vision, weaving in Japanese-inspired minimalism. SHED’s approach preserves the house’s architectural integrity while enhancing light, space, and the fluidity between indoors and outdoors.

View of a modern house with large glass windows, surrounded by trees. Inside, a table and chairs are visible.

Read another article:Hot Trends: 20 Best Farmhouse Style Kitchens in White and Wood

A dark wooden house with large windows and a central glass door, surrounded by blooming pink flowers and tall trees.

Central to the redesign is the transformation of the vertical circulation. The removal of the original spiral staircase and loft unveils a dramatic vaulted ceiling, showcasing a nail-laminated wood roof that draws attention to a new central skylight. This skylight, a focal point of the home, infuses the living spaces with soft, natural light and highlights the structural rhythm of the house.

View through a wooden door into a bright interior with wooden ceilings, large windows, and a yellow umbrella on a bench in the entryway.

Read another article:Revamped Small Barcelona Apartment Combines Multiple Styles and Finishes

A modern living room with a wooden ceiling, large window with a forest view, gray sofa, orange chair, fireplace, and a minimalist decor.

On the main floor, the living, dining, and kitchen areas flow seamlessly along the southern axis, framed by expansive glazing that opens to the forest. A newly positioned fireplace anchors the living room, offering panoramic views that extend to Mount Saint Helens on clear days.

A modern living room with a leather sling chair and small round table facing large windows overlooking a forest. A wooden ceiling and rug add warmth to the space.

Modern living room with wooden ceiling, skylights, and minimal decor. A gray sofa with a colorful blanket faces two framed artworks on a white wall.

A modern living room with a gray sofa, a pink round ottoman, a minimalist painting on a white wall, and a small bar with bottles visible through a wooden frame cutout.

A modern interior with a high wooden-beamed ceiling, minimalist decor, two paintings on the wall, a plant, and a round pink ottoman.

A man, woman, and child sit at a wooden dining table inside a house with large windows showing a forest view.

A modern kitchen with wooden cabinetry and ceiling, a central island, and large window overlooking greenery. A wooden dining table with chairs is in the foreground.

The kitchen’s design enhances functionality while celebrating craftsmanship, with custom fir accents and thoughtfully placed windows that connect the space to the landscape. A horizontal window runs along one wall above the cooktop displaying framed views of mature rhododendrons.

A modern kitchen with light wood cabinets, a black countertop, and a large window. A tray with oranges sits on the island.

Modern kitchen with light wood cabinets, black countertop, gas stove, coffee maker, kettle, and decorative items on open shelf. Large window with greenery outside.

Modern kitchen with wooden cabinets and a large window showcasing green foliage. Black countertop with a stove, pot, and bowls. Wooden ceiling adds warmth to the space.

A bedroom with a wooden ceiling, large windows overlooking trees, a bed with dark bedding, a leather chair, a nightstand with a plant, and a pair of slippers on the floor.

The primary suite, positioned on the northern side of the house, embodies serene luxury. Featuring a walk-in closet and an elegant bathroom complete with a Japanese soaking tub, it combines comfort with understated elegance. Fir slats above the suite’s entry doors subtly diffuse light, maintaining a connection to the skylight above.

Modern bathroom with wooden accents, large mirror, black countertop, glass shower partition, and black floor tiles.

Modern bathroom with wooden cabinets, a black countertop, a large mirror reflecting a wooden ceiling and slats, and a window with a view of green trees.

A wooden bathtub with a gray towel draped over the edge is positioned by large windows, offering a view of trees. The room has tiled walls and a ceiling light.

A living room with large glass doors overlooking greenery. It has a green couch, a patterned rug, a round ottoman, a wooden rocking toy, and books on the floor.

The renovation also enhances the lower level, turning it into a versatile space for family life. Three flexible rooms – suitable as bedrooms, offices, or fitness areas – accompany a shared bath and a dedicated wine cellar. A cozy lounge, framed by floor-to-ceiling windows, offers a tranquil space for relaxation, reinforcing the home’s strong bond with its natural surroundings.

Bathroom interior with a freestanding bathtub, gray tile walls, a towel hanging, and a large window revealing a view of a lush, green forest.

Home gym with a treadmill, stationary bike, and exercise ball is set by large windows displaying a forest view.

For more from SHED Architecture & Design, visit shedbuilt.com.

Photography by Rafael Soldi.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.

Similar Posts

  • Eye-Catching Efficiency: Small Eclectic Home Offices with Colorful Panache

    There are plenty of different styles you can choose in a small home office or workspace that bring order and create a relaxing backdrop. Some feel sophisticated and minimal and others are classic and full of textural charm. But few have the sheer ‘energy’ and vivacious brilliance of eclectic style at its balanced best. The […]

    You’re reading Eye-Catching Efficiency: Small Eclectic Home Offices with Colorful Panache, originally posted on Decoist. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Decoist on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

  • Breathe Life into Your Space: 22 Fresh Aesthetic Living Room Ideas – Decorilla Online Interior Design

    Do you ever look around your lounge and feel it could use a dash of magic? Well, say hello to aesthetic living room ideas! Let us take you on a creative journey filled with diverse styles that can transform your living room, one decor piece at a time. 1. Sink Right In: Inviting Aesthetic Living… Read more »

    The post Breathe Life into Your Space: 22 Fresh Aesthetic Living Room Ideas appeared first on Decorilla Online Interior Design.

  • DIY Fairy Light Lanterns That Perfectly Blend Rustic and Chic

    We know that photos can be an amazing source of design inspiration, so this article may contain affiliate links that will direct you to a particular decor item. Clicking on a link may result in a portion of proceeds being paid to www.decoist.com The peaceful summer nights may be coming to an end but that […]

    You’re reading DIY Fairy Light Lanterns That Perfectly Blend Rustic and Chic, originally posted on Decoist. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Decoist on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

  • Cascading House

    The site has the typical challenges of many urban lots in Ho Chi Minh city: abutted by tall neighboring houses, small developable area relative to the clients’ program, and compromised access to daylighting and natural ventilation. Due to the height restriction, the house was pushed 1 level below the ground to accommodate the large program. In an effort to solve as many issues as possible, we proposed a concrete column system hidden inside the north and south concrete wall that face the neighbors, acting as the primary structure for the house and freeing up the space in-between. These concrete walls provide privacy to the clients and their family, and open up the east and west facade for views and outdoor-indoor connection. Because the column system extends continuously from the basement to the roof, the concrete beams spanning in-between can be moved vertically without any structural concerns. This flexibility also meant total discretion to determine the elevations of the upper floors–which we intended to take advantage of. By convention, the program is stacked floor-by-floor to maximize the usable area of a small lot which could result in monotonous and isolated spaces. We wanted to do just the opposite: visually and spatially connecting the different parts of the house together by splitting the floor plates, and then cascading them to create a multi-story atrium. In this space, life unfolds naturally; once a family member steps out of the bedroom, he/she will be in an all-connected “room”, and in the company of another member, whether that person is on the other side of the atrium or 2 levels above. In addition to spatial articulation, this atrium brings daylighting down to the basement, and–working with the 2 sunken gardens which are naturally filled with cool air–aids the stack effect by letting the hot air rises to the top. The temperature of the lower floors, as a result, becomes more comfortable. From the outside, Cascading House looks solid as a rock that provides sturdy shelter. The interior, however, feels as porous as a sponge soaking up natural light and air, and brings family members closer together–the qualities that make this house a home.