Whole Home Remodel in Cornelius, Oregon
From Closed to Connected: How a 1970s Ranch Became a Home Built for the Next Generation
A Home That Had More to Give
This Cornelius ranch had been in the family for decades, built by Eric’s grandfather and passed down with all the love and memories it holds. When Eric and Meagan inherited it, they saw its potential and came to us with a clear vision: open it up, let in the light, and make it ready for the young family they were growing.
Location
Cornelius, Oregon
Timeline
14 weeks
Complexity
Complex
Finish Quality
Cost-Effective
“I would recommend THE Remodel Group over and over again based on our experience with this design firm. We love our new home and are so happy we hired them to complete our project. It was an incredible process to watch, and they ultimately shaved off 4 weeks to the original timeline, which is unheard of in this industry.”
— Meagan, Cornelius
An Award-Winning Transformation
This project was recognized by Oregon Home Magazine’s 2025 Structure + Style Awards as the winner in the Major Home Remodel: Under $300,000 category. The judges described it as “a dark, closed-off ranch rich with generations of memories awakens in light and flow. Thoughtful remodeling fuses heritage with modern living, weaving function, luxury, and warmth into a home that embraces the grandson’s young family and invites new stories to unfold.”
When the Walls Were Closing In
- A Closed-Off Layout: The kitchen was cut off from the dining room and living areas by a series of walls, leaving the space dark, cramped, and disconnected from the rest of the home.
- Structural Complexity: Three of the six walls separating these spaces were load-bearing, meaning every decision had to be engineered precisely to keep the home safe while opening it up.
- A Furnace in the Wrong Place: The existing garage, where the furnace lived, limited our ability to fully open up the space, disrupting flow and taking up valuable square footage that the family needed for everyday living.
- A Home That Wasn't Ready for Growing Children: With a toddler and a second daughter on the way, Eric and Meagan needed durable finishes, easy-to-clean floors, and open sightlines to keep an eye on their kids.
A Blueprint Born from Both Beauty and Structure
Working with Studio Coop Architecture, who handled the site plan, permitting, and structural plans, our team took on the finish plans and saw the structural challenge as a design opportunity.
By recessing three glulam beams into the ceiling and incorporating two load-bearing columns directly into a statement island, the engineering became invisible, and the space transformed into something airy, warm, and completely intentional. Standard, in-stock cabinetry, locally sourced tile, and carefully coordinated scheduling kept the project on track, so the family could settle in before their new baby arrived.
The Details That Make a House Feel Like Home
An Island Built Around Life
A single quartz slab, custom-notched around wood-wrapped columns, turned a structural requirement into the most-talked-about feature in the kitchen, big enough for homework and meal prep, refined enough for dinner with guests.
Open Sightlines for Peace of Mind
With six walls removed and three glulam beams recessed cleanly into the ceiling, the kitchen now flows naturally into the living room and dining room, giving Meagan a clear view of her children no matter where she is in the space.
Light That Changes Everything
Energy-efficient windows, paired with the new sliding window, flood the once-dark ranch with natural light, making every room feel larger, warmer, and more welcoming.
A Corner Wood-Burning Stove
The dark, oversized stone fireplace that once dominated the room was replaced with a corner wood-burning stove, saving space and adding the kind of cozy, gathered warmth this family had been looking for all along.
More Project Features
Large Single-Bowl Kitchen Sink
Selected for easy cleanup and everyday use, it handles everything from washing produce to filling oversized pots without a second thought.
Laundry Relocated to the Garage
Moving the laundry out of the living space freed up room inside the home and gave the family a more practical, organized layout.
Stain-Resistant, Durable Flooring
New flooring throughout the main living spaces and bedrooms was chosen to withstand kids, dogs, and daily wear and tear without sacrificing style.
Floating Wood Shelves
Two custom floating shelves, wrapped in the same wood and stain as the island columns, carry the kitchen's design language across the north wall, adding warmth and display space without bulk.
Furnace Relocation to Garage
The team cut the concrete slab, installed a new plenum, and rerouted ductwork to relocate the furnace out of the existing garage space, freeing up the area that had been limiting our ability to fully open up the home.
New Side-Entry Garage Door
A new entry door was cut into the existing foundation stem wall and reinforced with a structural header, a detail that improved both daily convenience and home functionality.
From Generations Past to the Life They're Building Now
What started as an inherited ranch with closed walls and dim rooms became a light-filled, connected home ready to hold a new generation of family stories. Eric and Meagan moved into a space that finally matched their life, completed two weeks ahead of schedule, just in time to welcome their new daughter home.
Ready to Love the Home You Already Have?
Your home has more potential than you might think, and we'd love to help you find it.