Remodeling history

When the Street of Dreams comes to Lake Oswego in August, the 65-year-old Shaw House will be its centerpiece

Marylou Colver of the Lake Oswego Preservation Society walked across the wood floors and past the paneled walls of the historic Shaw House back in July, examining the details of the mid-century modern home that was then up for sale.

Designed by Portland architect John Yeon and built in 1950 for Lawrence Shaw of Modoc Lumber Company, the home at 12800 Goodall Road had undergone several alterations and add-ons over the years, but the integrity of the house was still intact, Colver said.

When Brian Bohrer of Cornerstone Construction Services toured the house last fall, though, he had a different experience.

You could see ceilings leaking, said Bohrer, who co-owns the company with his brother, Jeff. You could see exterior softness and windows leaking.

The house, which is undergoing a luxury remodel as part of the 2015 Street of Dreams in Lake Oswego, lacked the flashing, ventilation and tempered windows needed to meet modern code requirements, Bohrer said. And as he and his crew began to peel back the homes outer paneling, they discovered rot throughout the house.

Going layer by layer, the crew stripped the home to its studs.

To local preservation advocates like Colver, the skeleton of the historic home which was featured in Classic Houses of Portland, Oregon, 1850-1950, by William J. Hawkins and William F. Willingham is a shocking sight. To Bohrer, the deconstruction is evidence that his team is committed to keeping the home, rather than tearing it down to rebuild even if that means investing in a $1 million remodel.

The goal was to save the house, and thats exactly what weve done, Bohrer said. You can build new houses for less than what weve spent to remodel this house.

This years 40th annual Street of Dreams at The Highlands in Lake Oswego will focus on detailed craftsmanship rather than sprawling mansions, according to Rachel Trice, vice president of marketing, membership and events for the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland.

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Remodeling history