One couple loved their 1950s era home, and they wanted more of the same When Robert and Amanda Nathan started searching for their first home in Portland, Oregon, they saw lots of Craftsman options?but the one that resonated with them (and that they purchased) has roots that are more Joseph Eichler then Greene & Greene.
?There?s no shortage of Craftsman options in Portland,? says Robert. ?We looked at many of those, but the one that really spoke to us was this midcentury home. We hadn?t been in that mindset at all, but we loved it because it was different.?

Left: Before the remodel, the entry was a long, dark hallway. Architect Risa Boyer designed a wooden screen to replace it. Right: The Nathans chose to replace a coat closet with a wet bar. Boyer created one that looks like a piece of midcentury modern furniture. Terrazzo floors replace dark walnut floors.
The low-slung house they purchased wasn?t designed by an architect when it was built back in 1950. However, Risa Boyer (the architect who was tapped to help them with the latest remodel) says the influence of a midcentury developer is evident. ?The Eichler influence can clearly be seen here,? she says. ?It?s a similar style, even though the climate doesn?t really lend itself to it.?
One similarity: a compact footprint. When they bought the house, it contained two bedrooms and a single bath. After living in it for half a dozen years, the couple decided to add some square footage. Even thou...