This building is an icon, and it was important to preserve and embrace the history of it. Originally built in 1949 as the base station for the Skiway tram, the Thunderhead Lodge was developed into staff housing and then into condos in 1979 - where time stood still. Named for the infamous bus that climbed to Timberline, we celebrated family fun and prioritized comfort and hosting.
We reoriented the kitchen to face the windows and used the footprint of the previous hallway for laundry and an owner’s closet. We positioned the doors for symmetry and leaned into tile as a way to add depth and carry the color of the iconic paneling throughout the home. We installed custom milled fir in a ‘cloud’ over the island to add interest and connect this space to the huge fir timbers we uncovered just outside.
We wanted to be rooted in mid-century, but more modern than “mountain motif”. With research, we found inspiration in a vintage news reel - the tram driver wore a shearling bomber jacket as he sat amidst the powder coated metal, tweed seats and chrome of the Cloudliner coach. We used historic imagery throughout and layered 50s vintage decor items (altimeters, canteens and even a vintage steering wheel) to nod to the Cloudliner’s dashboard.
The original kitchen only used half the footprint available for workspace, with a long hallway behind it. The bifold closets were replaced with deep pull out pantries and we used shallow cabinets for charging and guest books where the bar notches in so that the symmetry of the cabinets is preserved.
FSP :
STYLE DEVELOPMENT
SPACE DESIGN
GC COMMUNICATIONS
MATERIAL SELECTION
FIXTURE SELECTION
FURNISHINGS
DECOR
PARTNERS :
General Contractor: PDX Remodel
Flooring: Good Wood Wood Goods
Cabinets: Cutting Edge
Photos: Robb Farrington
PROJECT NOTES :
The dark wood paneling is iconic to the building and we felt it was important to preserve it and let it contribute to the design. The wood paneling on the beams was another story - can you believe these beautiful timbers were covered?!
The white oak flooring is milled in Portland from offcuts. I love how they simulate warehouse flooring and create an industrial feel.
