East End Renovation

Similar to many three-story tenement houses on Portland’s East End, this house had a small kitchen, so MA Builders opened up the wall between the kitchen and dining rooms using a structural beam to carry the weight from above. This open-concept design created flow between the two spaces and made the whole unit feel more airy and spacious. Some of the particulars involved removing undesirable cabinets, countertops and loose tile flooring as well as adding new features and special items like salvaged tin ceilings as backsplash and sustainably-produced Forest Stewardship Council cabinets.

The hidden gem of this project was the discovery of a beautiful Douglas Fir floor under layers of linoleum and tile. We were able to sand down and bring back the original kitchen flooring to its former glory (with character added over the years). One section of the counter was marble which had fossils embedded throughout. With the addition of the eco-friendly cabinets, a cabinet-depth refrigerator and a wine cooler, the clients are able to enjoy their cooking and dining experiences even more.