Iconic October 2022

letter from the editor

Holidays and DNAs

Happy Holidays! And welcome to the first Holiday edition of Iconic.

If the title for my letter intrigued you – after all, what do holidays and DNA have in common? – then I promise to try to make the connection between this unlikely pair of words apparent. But, I can tell you at the start that it has to do with tradition.

Our lead story has to do with tradition in a way that strikes home for Richard and Anne De Wolf, founders of ARCIFORM. It’s about the richly historied Isam White House in Portland’s Alphabet District. A beautiful example of the Colonial Revivalstyle, the house also happens to be Anne and Richard’s home. We tell a love story and an adventure story at the same time in this article.

For Anne and Richard, the Isam White House was love at first sight. They visited the local landmark to see if it might be suitable for a client. They had recently restored their own home and were not in the market. That is, until they saw the house. They made an offer that night. And the adventure of renovating a 10,000 square foot house full of beautiful craftsman touches began.

Anne and Richard approached the task with care, preserving original woodwork, tile and cabinetry, even researching traditional Colonial Revival exterior colors before repainting the house. “We wanted our house to look like a well-taken-care-of house that’s 120 years old, not a brand-new house that has the style of a house that’s 120 years old,” said Richard. Their approach to their own home exemplifies the ARCIFORM approach to renovation. Listen to the stories, including the histories of the previous owners. And pay attention to the DNA of the style, using it as a guide to a timeless restoration.

Tradition, whether in a holiday or a home remodel, can be a balancing act. Too much of it can be stultifying, smothering current creativity in a slavish adherence to the past. Too little can obliterate valuable and beautiful customs or, in the case of period home, irreplaceable craftsmanship. As families, inheriting and mixing holiday traditions, we often take the same approach. Preserving the best of our handed-down customs while leaving room for creative new traditions that fit our characters.

The “DNA “of the holiday season is to take time to enjoy family and friends, eat good food together and find ways to let the people you care for know that you care. All of our traditions proceed from that.

From the ARCIFORM and ICONIC family, happy holidays to you and yours!

Snow Blackwood snow@snowbdesigns.com snowbdesigns.com

table

a very

special house

For ARCIFORM and Versatile Wood Products’ owners, restoring Portland’s historic Isam White House has been a great adventure.

BRIAN LIBBY / PHOTOGRAPHED BY CHRISTOPHER DIBBLE

Cabinets crafted by Versatile Wood Products to match the old boast an integrated soapstone sink and vintage faucet.

When Anne and Richard De Wolf received word from a realtor friend that Portland’s historic Isam White House in Northwest Portland was for sale six years ago, they were immediately intrigued, despite not being in the market for a home at the time. In fact, the couple had only just completed renovating their house across town. The realtor had contacted the De Wolfs in hopes they might know of some other potential buyer—not expecting them to be the ones. Yet this local landmark was too special for ARCIFORM and Versatile Wood Products’ owners to pass up.

“We made an offer on it that night,” Richard recalls. “We didn’t look at a single other house. We weren’t house shopping, and we just bought the damn thing.”

At just over 10,000 square feet, the house was bigger than Anne and Richard would ever need. Yet the couple saw an opportunity in the added space, particularly an attic wing that had originally served as a ballroom for the Whites to entertain in; it could be transitioned into short-term rental

spaces and the basement would be apartments. The De Wolfs knew the location and a house this beautiful could be a powerful attraction to visitors. Why stay in a cookiecutter hotel when you could spend the night in the historic Isam White House? The couple also knew the house could help them give back. “We want it to be able to host open houses, to donate this space as a venue for charity auctions. And the house is a treasure trove of wonderful details and craftsmanship,” Anne De Wolf says. “I can invite a client over and show them many creative details that this house has.”

Architectural Pedigree and Mint Jelly

The Colonial Revival-style Isam White house, completed in 1904 and occupying a double lot at NW 20th Avenue and Everett Street, was constructed for Isam White, a prominent local merchant and philanthropist who had emigrated to Portland from his native Germany (which is also Anne’s home country), and his wife Rose. The house was designed by the city’s most acclaimed turn-

of-the-20th-century architecture firm, Whidden and Lewis. Before partnering with Ion Lewis, co-founder William Whidden had worked for the nation’s most acclaimed architecture firm, McKim, Meade and White in New York City. Whidden and Lewis went on to design local landmarks like Portland City Hall, which still stands today, as well as the grand Portland Hotel, on the site of what is now Pioneer Courthouse Square. The firm designed many Portland houses, but Isam and Rose White were especially keen to have the best; it was the most expensive per square foot of any Whidden and Lewis-designed mansion.

The house came with a colorful history. Rose White, a native New Yorker and sister to 14 siblings, loved to entertain. But Isam White died just five years after the house was completed. Rose lived there until 1914 (when she moved to the Benson Hotel) and retained ownership until 1923. Harvey and Mabel Osbourne then purchased the house for use as a mortuary, only to be restricted by the city. In the late 1920s and ‘30s owner Mary O’Neil ran a boarding house here, then in 1943, a new owner, Hilma Carson, opened the Cape Cod Tea Room on the first floor. A five-course meal featuring roast lamb with mint jelly went for $1.50. The Cape Cod also enjoyed a prominent role in Portland civic life. With ownership, Richard and Anne inherited an album

of old photos, some even showing Rose Festival princesses being crowned at the tea room. After the Cape Cod went out of business, Carson left the house to her long-term boarders, who took care of Carson until her death, and who sold the house to the De Wolfs.

Seen from 20th Avenue, the house has a powerful presence, elevated several feet above the street grade. Yet it’s softened by a lush array of trees, flowers and shrubbery.

Though asymmetrical in plan, the house exterior appears perfectly in balance, with side wings and porches flanking the central portion of the building, including a rounded two-story wing at the south end of the house, and exceptional Classical detailing. Especially handsome is the main entrance porch projecting from the center of the façade, its covered entry canopy marked with Doric columns and pilasters.

Uncovering a Treasure

When Richard and Anne bought the house, its main spaces were remarkably intact, especially the wood-festooned main floor, centered around a dramatic open staircase with a stained-glass window that was added in the 1980s to hide the highrise that was built next door. The living room, dining room and den all feature

Photo: Alden Rodgers

geometrically patterned flooring with ornate borders, paneled wainscoting, and heavily beamed ceilings. The living room woodwork is built entirely with oak, while the den as well as the dining room are mahogany. These public spaces each contain their own ornate fireplaces, with hardwood mantels accented by marble surrounds and hearths.

A series of do-it-yourself projects like heavy wallpapers, layers of curtains, thick carpeting, and wonky shelving to hold collections made the house feel that it would fall over. The couple and ARCIFORM rolled up their sleeves to uncover what lay below all the fuss. “We wanted our house to look like a well-taken-care-of house that’s 120 years old, not a brand-new house that has the style of a house that’s 120 years old,” Richard explains. “I don’t mind seeing a ding from somebody’s suitcase in the near post, or a little crack in the plaster. I just don’t want to see visible patching repair over a crack in the plaster. I don’t mind that the wood on the stair treads is worn, but paint on

hardware is a big pet peeve of mine. We didn’t want it to look like a new old house. We want it to look like a nice old house.”

The couple considers their houses part of the family; they need to be listened to, not ignored. From the architecture to the exterior paint color they consider the personality of a home it’s charm. Anne remembers that 25 years ago, they painted their first house, a little 1910 Victorian in a Tuscan orange, because she’d become enamored with Tuscan villas. “The next day, when I pulled up to the house, I started crying,” Anne remembers. “It was the most hideous color combination on that house. Afterwards, I would not pull up to the house without wearing sunglasses. I made the mistake of thinking I could put this image onto it that it just wasn’t. The Isam White house is a place I never imagined living in; it is grand, dark and pompous, but its timeless beauty, not marred by trends, has taught me to appreciate architecture at its best and has reminded me to look beyond what is popular now.”

Embracing Moody and a Pop of Color

Not deterred by the horrors Anne inflicted on their first house, the couple again bravely chose a bold color for the exterior of their stunning home. The dark blue-green is a shade used on many Colonial Revival houses, particularly on the East Coast of the United States. “It’s a huge success,” Anne says, “and I think it’ll be timeless, because we did our research based on the style of home, rather than trends and went from there. We removed much of the overgrown landscaping and now the purple of the Wisteria and the pinks of the Rhododendron pop in front of the

Photo: Alden Rodgers

“

ding

I don’t mind seeing a

from somebody’s suitcase in the newel post, or a little crack in the plaster.”

dark house.” The interior restoration began on the top floor, where the old ballroom was turned into three short-term rentals. In the process of adding the bathrooms up there, the plumbing was updated throughout the house. “Luckily, we were able to open walls and ceilings without damaging any significant artistry,” Anne adds. The bedrooms on the second floor were tackled simultaneously, so Richard, Anne, and Richard’s Mom, who lives with the couple, had a place to sleep.

“On the main floor it was a preservation approach. The house itself was in excellent condition,” Anne says. “I felt my personality would come through in furnishings, artwork, wallpaper, and light fixtures. I love that I can buy antiques and art and have a home for them.”

If preserving the wood-paneled public spaces was an easy call, the rounded room along the south wing of the house offered a chance for a bold pop of yellow walls. “I go in there and it cheers me up,” Anne says. “The rest of the house is darker, moody and quiet. This room has energy and sunshine.” The idea got started when Richard’s mother “wanted to paint something in her room the yellow of her Fiesta Ware dishes,” Anne continues. “We bought a quart of this yellow and painted a cabinet in her room. When we had paint left over, I said, ‘Let’s paint it on that rounded wall and see what it looks like.’ I loved it so much!” The yellow is also

fitting, considering this room was originally known as the Morning Room: a place to greet the day.

A Space for Stories

The one area in the house that seemed forgotten to Anne and Richard was the main stair landing on the second floor. It was just a room. It had none of the extravagances of the rest of the house. So here the two could add their own mark to the Isam White house.

“We decided to build a library in this space to create a home for our many books,” says Anne. “We pulled out all the stops,

The addition of custom library cabinets by Versatile Wood Products is fun with a rolling ladder, dramatic wallpaper and gilded accents.

had Versatile Wood Products build floor-to-ceiling bookshelves with a library ladder, added crystal chandeliers, installed a gold leaf ceiling and exotic wallpaper at the main staircase and painted the paintable surfaces a peacock blue.” It is now a magical space befitting the home it lives in.

Kitchen Confidential

Even otherwise historically-accurate house restorations often gut and transform their kitchens. The De Wolfs took a lighter touch here, too.

During the Cape Cod Tea Room era, the kitchen and China Room were used as a commercial kitchen and the wall between the two rooms was taken down. Thanks to respectful past ownership, all the tile and original cabinetry were kept, only supplemented with loosely fitted cabinetry and appliances.

“A lot of people’s instinct, and a more common contemporary approach, might be to remove all that old cabinetry and tile and put a large chef’s kitchen into the house,” Richard says. “We approached the remodel creatively, throwing out many kitchen design guidelines. Versatile Wood Products built custom cabinets to match the original cabinets in the China Room where

our dishwasher and under counter freezer now live under a soapstone counter next to a custom soapstone sink. In the kitchen proper we added an island for counter space, purchased an antique sideboard, found a cast iron sink on eBay and installed an Aga cooker. Of course we also have a wingback chair for visiting.” In the former side porch, which had been enclosed in years past, Richard built his own fridge inside the closet that used to store ice.

As a result, the De Wolfs’ kitchen is very memorable and even a bit quirky: a reminder of the house’s past, retaining its DNA. “It’s about the experience,” Anne says. “You’ve got to focus on what makes you happy.”

Perhaps it’s telling that when asked to name his favorite aspects of the house, two of Richard’s three choices are here in the kitchen. “I like the library, my Aga cooker and my refrigerator,” he says. Both the vintage stove and the disguised fridge go along with the house’s existing DNA: adding to it instead of replacing it. And in a broader sense, that’s what this entire house’s restoration, and even the ARCIFORM philosophy, are all about. •

This spacious kitchen, replete with statement fixtures and original tile, is now also a spot for casual socializing. A bright new island made by Versatile Wood Products with seating keeps the feeling light and bright.

archive.

your whole house plan part three: the basement and beyond

Now that you have completed your upper floor renovations you are ready to tackle the basement and some exterior finishing touches. You should have already addressed any water management, seismic or hvac updates, allowing you to focus your energy on the creation of living space that will make good use of your basement real estate.

The real attraction of a basement renovation lies in the glory of all that untapped potential: a whole house footprint of space just waiting to be claimed for the good of the family… or guests… or the mother-in-law. Which brings us to the most important questions to ask when tackling the basement portion of your whole house plan:

Who will be the primary users of this space?

Which activities will the space be used for?

This will affect your design and budget in a variety of ways. For example, those polished concrete floors (shown above) make a sophisticated statement as a party room or home

This daylight basement, designed by Arciform Principal Designer Anne De Wolf with interior styling by Shannon Quimby, serves a dual purpose as the family’s media room and a swanky space for entertaining.

office but may be a challenge for small children. On the other hand, your mother-in-law may not value easy access to bike storage, but your teenagers certainly will.

Some practical logistical questions to address with your design team will be:

• Does the space have enough ceiling height to meet code as a finished space?

• Which modifications (if any) need to be made to the interior or exterior stairs to accommodate your plan?

• How will you provide code-required emergency egress?

• How will you provide access to mechanical systems (like furnaces and electric panels)?

• Where will you put everything that used to be in the basement (including laundry facilities)?

Unless your stairs are unsafe or placed in a location that is unworkable with your proposed design, we will often recommend leaving the existing stairs in place, since existing stairs are often “grandfathered in” and will not need to comply with current code. You’ll also want to consider egress. If there will be a bedroom in your basement, it will need to have a window that fits specific criteria designed to allow for escape in case of fire or emergency.

There are other options for meeting egress requirements depending on the location of your doors and stairs. Your design team will help you identify the most cost-effective solution that fits your design goals.

Next you’ll want to consider which level of finish your rooms require. This can range from fully-carpeted rooms with a finished ceiling to a more industrial look with polished concrete and exposed ducting. •

For this daylight basement remodel a new staircase was installed with custom millwork. Dead space under the stairs was transformed into an adorable little playspace for their daughter. Photo by Photo Art Portraits.

This basement renovation builds convenient bike racks along with essential storage tucked behind lockers and in under-stair niches. Photo by Photo Art Portraits

For this project we spiffed-up the existing stairs with carpet, paint and updated millwork. Photo by Photo Art Portraits.

By spraying the ceiling a dark color and sealing the concrete floor, we were able to give this basement family room a polished look at lower cost. Photo by Photo Art Portraits.

At the other end of the spectrum, carpeting and a dropped ceiling with integrated can lights give this basement designed by Arciform Principal Designer Anne De Wolf a finished and family-friendly feel. Photo by Photo Art Portraits.

For this basement designed by Arciform Principal Designer Anne De Wolf, a stacking washer and dryer were tucked behind a barn door in the bathroom, retaining the room’s original use. Photo by Photo Art Portraits.

The custom bar with tambour doors nestles in with shimmering wallpaper and deep green tile.

basement design

get the look. a basement remodel to celebrate!

It’s an entertainment center, set for celebrating holiday gatherings. It’s a family room. It’s a Speakeasy—moody, clandestine, complete with comfy lounge furniture and a wet bar. It’s a guest bedroom, filled with light. It’s an office. A study space for the kids. It’s a wine cellar. An arcade. It’s an homage to serpents. It’s the Lieb family basement, remodeled by Arciform.

PETER HERRING / PHOTOGRAPHED BY CHRISTOPHER DIBBLE / STYLED BY EPIPHANY STYLING

A dedicated gathering spot for games or a celebratory toast opens to the lounge.

Walk into a house and you’ll typically find a kitchen, living room, dining room, bedrooms, bathrooms, perhaps a den, a foyer, maybe a mudroom. Every room has a name and a function. Basements are a different animal. Usually comprising the full footprint of the house that buzzes with life atop them, they refuse to be categorized into one name with one purpose; they present unbridled opportunity. That was the Lieb family vision that drove the remarkable remodel Arciform created for them.

The Liebs dreamed of a family room for games, movies, get togethers. They fancied an entertainment space for evenings and holidays. A guest bedroom was a necessity, as was a home office. The kids needed desk space to study. Their bottles of wine needed a proper home. They stipulated an alcove for their vintage arcade game and a space for taxidermy that was gifted to them. Lastly, they wanted to pay tribute to their daughter’s love of serpents.

There was one other thing: the Lieb family is tall, and, in a height-challenged basement with projecting beams, they needed headroom.

Rich blue-black sets off creamy white textiles and a comfy cognac couch in the lounge.

ARCIFORM took on the task of providing all of this in an approximately 1500 square foot basement that had previously been through a minimal remodel. The slab floor sloped considerably, and the back half had to be removed and repoured. Galvanized plumbing needed replacement. Structural upgrades were required. Importantly, the ceiling beams needed to be exchanged with new ones that tucked into the ceiling framing, saving bumped foreheads. Interior walls were removed, creating a large open space, ideal for multiple uses.

The basement is a study in light and dark. The bedroom has large east-facing windows and French doors to the backyard, whereas the entertainment room has smaller windows and a dramatic, shadowy feel, lending a Speakeasy vibe. The ARCIFORM team embraced the darkness, leaning into what the house had to give. Walls

ABOVE: Just beyond the bar is a Mahogany wine cellar with a glass façade. BELOW: The guestroom is a tranquil and stylish feathery nest.

were painted a deep blue. The floor was kept concrete. A handsome rug underneath the circular table depicts a stylized snake, while runic wallpaper by the wet bar is called Serpentine. Magical metallic figures seem to glow. Their daughter was appeased!

The wet bar is a work of art with custom cabinets by Versatile Wood Products, with an unlacquered brass sink and ample shelves for glassware, all backed by stunning

green tile. Adjacent to the bar, the glass façade of the wine cellar creates a temperature-controlled showroom for fine wine. All of this is visible from the generous lounge where a flat screen TV is backed by rustic reclaimed wood.

On the way to the bedroom, you pass a bright office tucked into a hallway alongside the stairs. Behind one blue door is the storage area, the next hides the laundry closet and the third is a guest room that any late-night reveler would love

to awaken in. Bathed in soft white to accentuate the light, the cheerful mood is further lifted by whimsical wallpaper that mixes a feathery feeling of flight with a nod to art deco design, and expertly integrates the closet doors.

This is a multi-use basement design par excellence! The feat of combining so many activities, festive to studious, seamlessly into one wondrous space is, indeed, something to celebrate.

On the stair wall, salvaged shiplap backs the media center in the roomy yet cozy lounge.

BELOW:

Merry Mixology

While the hearth may be the family center of the holidays, when it comes to celebratory gatherings, the wet bar is the undisputed hub of the party, providing a showcase for the amateur mixologist, easy access to libations, and a rallying point for guests.

ARCIFORM delights in designing celebratory spaces, special places in private homes that open to gatherings of friends and family. We wish you a happy holiday season and hope that your special place is ready for the holidays! •

A built-in cocktail station by Versatile Wood Products brings elegant hospitality to the family room, with details that mirror the kitchen.

Photo: Blackstone Edge

to warm up your hearth 5 ways holidays for the

Now that Fall is fully upon us and the bitter winds of Winter are not far from sight, it’s time to start thinking about how we can keep cozy through the dark and cold months to come.

What better way to keep warm than to curl up next to a fire with loved ones? Nothing else quite compares to the sight, smell, and heat of a roaring fire beckoning you to enjoy these crisp Portland days. Luckily we have some inspiration for you to spruce up your mantel and get ready for the holiday season to come.

Contemporize the Function and Feel

The paneling surrounding the fireplace below made the space feel too dark and dated.

Photo: Photo Art Portraits

Make Use of the Surrounding Space

Many Portland homes have fireplaces that are flanked by unused space.

BEFORE: This 1962 whole house remodel features a Mid-Century Modern inspired kitchen with full overlay doors and drawers, simple hardware and strong, simple shapes.

Make Use of your Decommissioned Fireplace

AFTER: Open shelving

pottery and glass vases along with books to add interest to the surrounding area. The mirrors above the new mantel shelf help reflect the room’s ambient light and give the illusion of more open space.The cabinet door to the right of the mirror conceals a TV that can pivot out on an arm when needed.

There are plenty of decommissioned fireplaces in older homes and to miss out on the opportunity to use them as a design feature would be a shame. They are a great place to store books or a collection of personal treasures gathered from travels around the world.

displays colorful

Revamp your Mantel with Period Appropriate Details

Fireplaces are a great place to incorporate period appropriate details and millwork. If your mantel is a victim of a bad remodel, returning it to its original glory is a wonderful way to pay homage to the age of your home. Versatile Wood Products is a great source for custom millwork to help you build the mantel your home deserves.

Add Color

Whether you are trying to draw attention to or away from the fireplace, a simple coat of paint can work wonders.

What does your hearth need to get it ready for the long winter nights ahead?

Whether you are adding a touch of color, restoring a classic mantel to its original glory or hoping to add storage space and integrated technology features, Arciform’s Design Team can help you get your hearth ready for the holiday season. •

Photo: Greg Kozawa

ARCIFORM’s

25th Anniversary Open House Celebration

What better way to celebrate 25 years of renovating, restoring, remodeling and bringing creative beauty to our community than to open up our recently restored Isam White house for a party!