34 | Oregon Home “It’s really an iterative process with a lot of conversations,” Emily says. “LuAnn and I had a lot of back-and-forth about function and aesthetics.” Emily knew she didn’t want to turn away completely from the history of the house, but an overall freshening up needed to happen. The new home leans modern but with nods to the past such as historic trim and some of the tile patterns. But just as important was the need to look for solutions that feel distinctly like the homeowner, such as in the kitchen and kitchen lounge. There, the aesthetic is heavily influenced by Lopez Island, where the homeowner’s mother had bought a cabin for just $5,000 decades ago and where she camped for years as a child. The whole family continues to stay at the property often. “Lopez Island is a pretty strong through line in her life,” Emily says. “It’s airy and it’s misty, but it is also grounded and earthy and not fussy.” Emily brought that feeling into the kitchen through the use of lighting, textures, color, fixtures and materials while designing a full kitchen for a family that loves to cook. The end of the island is tailor-made for appetizers and drinks while the kitchen prep happens closer to the sink. Architect Emily Wu left the kitchen lounge open to accommodate the family’s small children and pets. “I love using the mudroom. I bring roses or dahlias in from my garden and cut and arrange in vases before I have even removed my garden clogs,” says LuAnn Wu.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTcxMjMwNg==