The Studio

Location
Portland, OR

Size
710 SF

We love our office.

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Modern home office exterior with dark wood siding, metal roof, and landscaped entry framed by autumn foliage.

Steps from the house, yet a world different from home life, this home office raises the bar for remote work life.

Detached home office set within a wooded landscape, featuring dark vertical siding, a pitched metal roof, and a curved driveway approach.
Aerial view of a wooded residential property showing the main house, detached home office, and winding driveway set among mature trees in autumn.
Modern detached home office with dark vertical siding and a standing seam metal roof, set within lush autumn landscaping and tall evergreen trees.

The home office is carefully situated to command attention once on site without being overly noticeable from the street. It is a quiet addition that complements the architecture of the 1954 ranch house without copying it. Similar but different, it is a single story structure with a gable roof, extended eaves, and board and batten siding.

From the house, we often catch neighbors strolling by and stopping to admire the building. The landscape was expertly designed by our friends at Bothwell Landscape Studio.

A diagonal ipe boardwalk leads to the front door, while a simple alcove shields it from the weather.


A standing seam metal roof conceals eight inches of rigid insulation and the rain gutter. As it tapers to the leading edge, it creates a sharp profile that accentuates the triangular shape of the building.

Close-up of a warm wood entry door at the detached home office, set beneath a metal roof overhang with dark vertical siding and surrounding ornamental grasses.
Detail of the home office exterior showing dark vertical wood siding, a steep gable roof with metal cladding, and a narrow window set into the wall, framed by tall ornamental grasses.
Detail of the home office roof showing standing seam metal panels, dark vertical wood siding, and layered planting with tall grasses against a wooded backdrop.
Long view of the detached home office with dark vertical wood siding and a standing seam metal roof, set within layered autumn planting and a wooded backdrop.
Close-up of the detached structure’s exterior with dark vertical wood siding, a recessed window with trim, and surrounding natural plantings.

The stained cedar changes color depending on the sun’s intensity and position: sometimes warm and light, sometimes dark and somber. Hidden beneath the cladding is a rain screen and exterior insulation that improves the energy use in the building in all seasons.

Detail of the structure’s gable end showing dark vertical wood siding and crisp metal trim against a partly cloudy sky.

The cladding intentionally reconsidered the common pattern of board and batten siding. By varying the batten depths, syncopated shadow lines give the building visual texture. A hairline joint between boards further catches the light. The pattern is subtle but adds complexity to the otherwise very simple home office detailing.

Detail of dark-stained vertical wood siding showing varied grain, texture, and subtle tonal variation between boards.
Floor plan of a modern home office layout with dual workstations, a central meeting table, built-in storage, and adjacent powder room.

Few openings face the street or forecourt. Instead, large windows open to the surrounding forest, preserving privacy and allowing ample natural light. Desks surround the perimeter of the space, with the conference table centered in front of the picture windows.

Woman standing in a bright, minimal kitchen holding a mug while a dog sits attentively at her feet.
Open, light-filled studio workspace with two people at desks, a central meeting table, and walls covered in drawings and inspiration images.

The interior is skylit and bright with much of the decoration and energy coming from the work that happens inside.

Meeting area within a bright studio workspace featuring a central table, upholstered chairs, and surrounding storage and pin-up boards.