Design Objectives

The primary goal was to transform the kitchen into a welcoming heart of the cabin—one that embraced the surrounding forest and river views while improving workflow and functionality. The homeowners wanted higher ceilings, lighter finishes inspired by nature, and a layout that better supported cooking and gathering. This remodel was also designed as part of a larger master plan for the home, ensuring today’s improvements would support future phases.

Design Challenges

Because the kitchen occupied what had once been a garage, the space came with a number of structural limitations. The concrete slab floor sat a step below the rest of the home, and the ceiling height was just seven feet—too low to comfortably raise the floor while remaining code-compliant. Any changes also needed to account for long-term plans for the house, requiring thoughtful preparation behind the scenes.

Design Solutions

By raising and vaulting the ceiling, the design team was able to dramatically change the feel of the space while solving several functional challenges at once. New trusses created volume overhead, while building up the floor—paired with insulation and radiant heat—made the kitchen warm and comfortable year-round. Relocating the exterior door opened the door (literally and figuratively) to a more efficient L-shaped layout with an island, improving flow and usability. A larger window on the river side now frames the view and brings natural light deep into the space, strengthening the connection to the outdoors.

Special Features

Material choices play a starring role in this kitchen. Illusion Blue quartzite served as the inspiration for the palette, influencing the blue-green tones and warm copper accents found throughout the space. Random slate flooring grounds the design, while a copper island countertop and copper detailing in the cabinet crown add richness and character. Bronze and black accents provide contrast and depth.

Natural textures further reinforce the organic feel, including a soft green tile backsplash with a pebble tile accent. Live-edge elements—such as the barn door to the pantry and open shelves at the sink window—add a handcrafted, cabin-inspired touch. Known affectionately as the Toad River Cabin, the homeowners plan to tuck small toad figurines and carvings throughout the space for friends to discover, adding a layer of whimsy and personal meaning.

Key Suppliers + Manufacturers

• Decor Cabinets and Amerock pulls

• Intrepid Quartzite and Tile (backsplash)

• Classique Marble and Granite

• Apple Pie Antiques (copper pieces)

• KitchenAid, Sharp and Vent-A-Hood appliances via Basco Appliances

• Marvin Elevate windows

• Simpson doors

• Denali Furniture live edge pantry door

The result is a kitchen that feels rooted in its environment—warm, inviting, and thoughtfully designed to support both present-day living and the homeowners’ long-term vision for their mountain retreat.

Dreaming about creating a retreat of your own? Talk to a Neil Kelly interior designer in Bend, Eugene, Portland, ore Seattle and start on the path to making your dream come true. We’ll make the remodeling journey enjoyable, too. Consultations are complimentary and no obligation.