Portland Design Build Remodeling Blog
Browse our blog for home design trends, ideas, and inspiration for your next remodeling project. Cooper Design Build is located in Portland, OR.
Aging in Place: Designing Your Home for Independence, Comfort, and Artistic Expression
Future-Proofing Your Home Remodel: A Comprehensive Checklist for Future Upgrades
Embracing the Hues of Tomorrow: A Look at 2024's Color Trends in Interior Design
Portland Home Remodeling: Expectations vs. Reality
Embarking on a home remodeling project is often filled with excitement, fueled by the glossy...
Starting a Remodel with COOPER Design Build: Our Clients’ Most Frequently Asked Questions
Embarking on a home remodeling journey is as thrilling as it is intricate. With visions of pristine...
Why Spring is the Best Time to Plan a Major Remodel
Sometimes our remodels can be the start of an adventure that we have been perfecting and planning...
10 Things to Look for in a Fixer Upper
Chip and Joanna Gaines are all the rage talking about fixer uppers and restoring older homes. If...
How to Care for Your Natural Stone Countertops
Natural stone countertops are a beautiful and durable addition to any home. Whether you have...
Let’s Have a Chat: Q+A, FAQs & More with COOPER Design Build
Venturing into a home remodel can be both exhilarating and daunting. Clarity, trust, and mutual...
Preparing Your Home for a Remodel: Full Guide
The magic of turning a house into a dream home is only partially about the bricks and mortar. It’s...
Fall Home Maintenance Tips for 2023
As the leaves start to change and the air becomes crisp, it's time to gear up for the fall season....
Extend Your Portland Living Space Outdoors to Improve Your Life and the Value of Your Home
It’s time for coffee on the back porch, gathering around the fire feature, grilling tasty treats,...
12 Best Portland Neighborhoods to Invest in a Remodel
Your location is one of the few things you cannot change about your home without a move. Choosing...
How to Get More Cost Value Out of Your Portland Remodel
Remodeling your Portland home is not only an opportunity to enhance its aesthetics and...
Find a Dream Home Design Aesthetic for Your Portland Whole-Home Remodel
Embarking on a whole-home remodel in Portland, Oregon opens up a world of possibilities to...
Timeless Bathroom Designs for Your 2023 Remodel: Finding Your Style
In a world where trends come and go, designing a bathroom that stands the test of time is a...
Outdoor Sanctuary: Elevate Your Outdoor Living Space with 10 Features
As the weather warms up, many homeowners want to enhance their outdoor living spaces for relaxing,...
Working with a Design-Build Company? Avoid These Common Mistakes
Deciding to do a home remodel is one of the biggest decisions you can make as a homeowner because...
Ask a Designer: What Trends Are Here to Stay in 2023?
You’re ready to update the look, feel, and perhaps, function inside your home. It’s time to study...
How Much Does a Whole Home Remodel Cost in Portland?
You love your location, but you're ready for a home that supports your needs and style. The...
Why Should I Choose COOPER Design Build as My Portland Home Remodeler?
When your living space is too cramped, and you’re craving an addition or sick of battling with a...
How Much Does a Primary Suite Remodel Cost in Portland, OR?
Sick of living in someone else’s idea of luxury from a bygone era? When your primary suite isn’t...
Age-in-Place: Remodeling Your Kitchen & Bath For Your Forever Portland Home
More than three-fourths of Americans over age 50 say they want to stay in their own homes as they...
What to Expect When Remodeling Your Portland Home
You can’t stand cooking in your kitchen one day longer! Your bathroom tile is bumming you out....
Securing a Home Remodeling Loan: What Are My Options?
You love your home and neighborhood, but it may not fit all of your needs and tastes. The bathroom...
How Light Bounces Off Design: The Benefits of Designing a Home with Natural Light In Mind
Let there be light! Humans are happier, healthier, and more productive when they receive enough...
14 Kitchen Remodeling Trends That Are Becoming Outdated in 2023
No one wants to build a kitchen so “of the moment” that it looks dated within a few short years....
Design 101: Let’s Talk Tile for Your Portland Home Remodel
Few building materials cover as much ground as tiles. Easy to clean and versatile (pun intended),...
7 Winter Activities Near Portland, OR
The temperature is dropping, and you’re climbing the walls. Don’t go stir-crazy at home; plan a...
What’s the Difference Between a Contractor and a Design Build Remodeler?
Choosing a capable builder is the number one most important thing you can do to set your home...
Is Your Portland Home Ready to Host for the Holidays?
Preparing for the holidays is a whole affair. There are guests to invite, presents to buy, meals to...
Remodeling Your Portland Home with Storage in Mind
People love stuff: food, clothes, tools, decorations — you name it. Stuff helps us accomplish our...
Go Local With These 10 Portland Furniture/Design Stores
Are you in the market for furniture in the Portland area and not sure where to go? It turns out...
Can I Have a Modern Home with Textured Walls?
When it comes to the look and feel of your walls, a modern smooth wall texture has been the...
8 Practical Upgrades That Will Add Value to Your Portland, Oregon Kitchen
You look around your kitchen, and all you see are needed improvements. Scratched cabinets and...
What You Need to Know About Building an Addition in Portland, Oregon
Building an addition is one of the most significant home improvement projects you can undertake....
How to Bring Your Historic Portland Home into the 21st Century
Modernizing a historic home is a delicate dance. You must strike a balance between bespoke...
4 Reasons to Remodel Your Outdoor Living Space
Outdoor living space is a luxury. It invites you to slow down, disconnect from the daily hustle,...
Building an Addition to Your Portland Home: Ideas, Tips & Costs
Throughout life, what you need out of your home changes as you and your family grow. The problem is...
Bathroom Design Trends in 2022: What’s In and What’s Out
Imagine yourself in a large, sumptuous spa. You’re soaking in a bubble-filled bath, maybe listening...
Design-Build: Answers to Your Frequently Asked Questions
Despite being a relatively new concept, design-build has risen to prominence in recent years and...
How Much Does a Home Addition Cost in Portland? [Updated April 2022]
Feeling crowded in your small home? Dying to do something with that unfinished portion of your...
14 Must-Haves for Your Primary Bathroom Remodel in Portland, OR
Technically, the only things you need in your bathroom are a toilet, sink, and a shower or tub, but...
Whom Should You Consult First When Planning a Home Addition?
When you’re planning an addition to your Portland, Oregon, home, it’s best to take a team approach...
Four Mistakes to Avoid When Remodeling Your Historic Portland Home
Portland, Oregon is a city brimming with a rich past and, if you own a historical home, you have...
Creating a Budget for Your 2022 Portland Home Remodel
Setting a budget isn’t fun and it isn’t glamorous, but it is critical to starting your home remodel...
Home Remodeling Design: What's In and What’s Out for 2022
The start of a new year is an opportunity to take a fresh look at your home and at your life. It’s...
How to Design a Timeless Kitchen for Your 2023 Remodel
Kitchens are quite the investment and planning a remodel is hefty work — especially if you want...
5 Questions to Ask When Planning a Home Addition in Portland, OR
Maybe your family is outgrowing your home and you don’t want to move, or you bought a small house...
Full-Service Remodeling in Portland: Our Design-Build Process
When you are ready to undertake a major remodel or addition to your Portland home, you will be...
Smart Technologies to Add to Your Next High-End Portland Home Remodel
It seems like everyone these days has a smart home. If you’re starting to feel left out, you should...
Essential Features of a High-End Home Remodel
With a high-end renovation, the sky's the limit. You can rip out walls and change the entire layout...
Portland Kitchen Remodeling: Cost, Tips & Inspiration
Everything you need to know about remodeling your kitchen in Portland in one place.
Ask Cooper Anything Q&A: Your Remodeling Questions, Answered By Us! (August 2021)
What IS The Ask Cooper Anything Q&A Series? We asked our community to anonymously send us any...
How Long Does a Whole Home Remodel Take in Portland?
If you want to live in your dream home, but don’t want to move, then a whole house remodel the...
Should You Hire an Architect For Large Home Renovation Projects?
When homeowners first start thinking about a larger home renovation project like a whole home...
9 Popular Home Styles in Portland OR
Going on a drive through Portland’s neighborhoods is like taking an architectural trip back through...
Your Guide To Basement ADUs in Portland, OR
Sometimes, the best project for your home isn’t something for your use only. Building a space that...
8 Ways to Renovate Your Basement in 2021
Wondering what to do with your basement next year? Wishing you could solve all your space problems...
Remodeling Ideas for a Post-COVID World
You may not have known that the beginning of the year would change your life in so many ways. With...
7 Ideas for Your Portland Attic Remodel
When you start to search for extra space in your Portland home, sometimes the answer is right above...
Is It Worth It to Remodel My Attic?
Most home renovation projects seem like they would be easy choices to make. The attic is often one...
15 Kitchen Pantry Storage and Design Ideas
If you’ve got the space, and the stuff to fill it, a walk-in pantry is a nice luxury to include in...
7 Tips to Communicate Your Style to a Design-Build Remodeler
Do you know that scene in Cinderella — the one where the Fairy Godmother taps her wand and turns...
The Best Portland Neighborhoods to Invest in a Remodel
Though Portland, Oregon, has gained a national reputation as a trendy, if quirky, place to live,...
Top Questions to Ask a Custom Home Builder [and their References]
The choice of a custom home builder can have lifelong consequences — you want your Portland dream...
Go Local with These 12 Portland Furniture/Design Stores
Are you in the market for furniture in the Portland area and not sure where to go? It turns out...
12 Smart Home Technologies for Your Next Remodel
Technology is becoming more and more sophisticated by the day. If you're planning on remodeling...
Portland Kitchen Remodeling: A Complete Guide
We’ve been thinking quite a bit lately about the various elements that go into a kitchen remodel....
Selling Your Home in Portland? These 5 Renovations Will Help
As you design a custom home for your family or a major remodel, it’s hard not to think about how...
Kid-Friendly Home Remodeling Ideas
Not every Portland-area house is designed to accommodate children, so if you’re fortunate enough to...
Energy Efficient Home Building & Remodeling Tips
Portland, Oregon’s chilly, wet winters make weatherization and energy efficiency indispensable for...
How Much Does it Cost to Remodel a Basement in Portland? [Updated June 2020]
A basement renovation can take any number of forms, from the relatively minor framing of a couple...
Warm Weather vs. Cold Weather Remodeling Projects
In the same way that gardeners brighten the dark, rainy days of winter by poring over brightly...
Tips for Designing the Perfect Outdoor Kitchen in Portland
You live in Portland, Oregon, a beautiful city in a beautiful setting. Your home already...
Designing the Perfect Dining Space
The perfect design of the dining space in your Portland, Oregon, home depends on your lifestyle....
Designing the Perfect Outdoor Space
The perfect outdoor space is a place where you love to be. And it’s going to look different for...
What’s the Best Time to Begin a Remodel in Portland, Oregon?
Asking, “What’s the best time to begin a remodel?” is a bit of a loaded question. It brings to mind...
Planning a Master Bathroom Remodel? Establish These 8 Things First
Taking the plunge, so to speak, into remodeling the master bathroom in your Portland home? Make...
5 Fun and Practical Kitchen Bump Out Ideas
Sometimes you want a little more space in your home, but you don’t want to go through the cost and...
Bring Your Home Remodel to Life with These 6 Apps
The final reveal on your home remodeling project is always a treat. But there’s no replacement for...
Remodel, Move or Buy New: How to Decide
You’ve got a home that you aren’t happy with, and you’re trying to make the best decision to solve...
What Should You Look for In a Remodeling Contract?
When undergoing a major remodel or renovation with a professional construction company, you will...
9 Things to Think About While Planning a Whole House Remodel
Is your home in need of a major overhaul? Are you thinking that this time, you’re really going to...
Should You Build a Second Story?
At COOPER Design Build, we have made many Portland homeowners happy with whole-house remodels that...
Designing a Home Gym (That You'll Actually Use)
There’s no shortage of excuses why we don’t do what we know we should do—such as exercise. So when...
A True Transformation: Inside this Whole Home Remodel in Portland
Sometimes a house needs to be more than it is. In that case, a whole house remodel might be the...
Remodeling Your Kitchen for Maximum Storage
In certain areas of the house, who doesn’t want more storage? The kitchen is a major gathering...
Your Guide to the 2020 Tour of Remodeled Homes in Portland
Update: Following the event guidelines recommended by Oregon Governor Kate Brown this morning and...
How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost in Portland? [Updated July 2021]
How much would it cost to remodel the kitchen in your Portland, Oregon, home? Depends on what you...
5 Ways to Make Your Remodeling Project a Success
Happy New Year! It's a new year and you might be considering a new remodeling or renovation...
10 Kitchen Design Trends Already Trending in 2020
It’s January and that means that the kitchen design prognosticators are out in full force! Of...
Home Improvement Tax Credits: What You Need to Know [Updated for 2019]
Most home improvements don’t earn you deductions or credits on your federal or Oregon income taxes,...
8 Home Design Trends for 2020
This time of year, homeowners who are thinking about remodeling are often curious about which new...
4 Tips for Holiday Entertaining in Portland
The arrival of the holiday season often ushers in fun holiday festivities. Here are 4 tips for...
Inside this Luxury Remodel in Lake Oswego
Most homeowners don't think of a whole home remodel as a relaxing experience. And yet, "relaxing"...
Adding a Custom Wine Cellar to Your Home in Portland
The international recognition of Oregon as the producer of world-class wines over the past four...
14 Secrets to a Luxurious Bathroom Design
The master bathroom in your Portland, Oregon, home can be so much more than just a utilitarian...
Outdoor Oasis: One Lake Oswego Family is Ready for Summer
COOPER Design Builders took advantage of an acre of level, undeveloped land behind this home in the...
Stay Organized with Houzz During a Renovation
If you’ve spent any time on Houzz.com, you’ll know how great Houzz ideabooks are for gathering up...
Worth the Splurge: What to Include in Your Fine Home Renovation
Opinions vary widely about which items are worth splurging on when planning a high-quality remodel...
What's the Best Flooring for a Portland Basement?
Ever driven by a street with curbs full of water-damaged items after a big rain? There’s no way...
Finding the Perfect Vanity Lighting for Your New Bathroom
There are many factors to consider when planning the lights for your new bathroom, from...
Thinking Ahead: Remodeling for Spring Curb Appeal in Portland
As anyone who has ever bought or sold a house knows, curb appeal is huge. But even if you’re not...
Inside this Stunning Lake Oswego Remodel
What could be more satisfying to a builder and a homeowner than removing layers of the ’70s and...
11 Interior Design Themes to Consider for Your Portland Remodel
Remodeling a Portland home with a tired or muddled design? Drawn to certain looks but not sure what...
Remodeling Details: Where Should I Put the Laundry Room?
If you’re planning a major remodel of your Portland, Oregon, home, you might have the distinct...
8 Elements to Consider When Designing Your Floor Plan [Plus 5 More for 2019]
When thinking about the floor plan for the remodel of your Portland, Oregon, home, you should take...
Pacific Northwest Design Influences for Your Portland Home
Whether you’re building a new home in the Portland area or contemplating a remodel, it would be...
The Ultimate Guide to Remodeling in Portland
The process of remodeling a home in the Portland area encompasses so many factors and involves so...
Design Trends for 2019
If 2019 is the year you plan to remodel or add onto your Portland, Oregon, home, you’ll want to...
Featured Project: Neo-Traditional Whole-House Remodel in Portland
This handsome home on the banks of the Willamette River in the leafy south-Portland suburb of...
Is Open Plan Living the Right Design for Your Home?
Maybe it’s a need to feel connected with busy family members who are away from home all day and...
Keeping Your Home Safe: Going Above and Beyond During Construction
There is a certain level of trust that must be given between a homeowner and their contractor. As a...
7 Things to Consider Before Beginning Construction
A home remodel or addition is a major endeavor with countless moving parts, and it just doesn’t...
Managing Your Remodel: A Beginner’s Guide
Let's assume that you are planning to hire a skilled general contractor or design-build...
The Contractor Interview Process: What You Need to Know
You’ve decided to go ahead with your home remodel or addition, and now it’s time to choose a...
Finding the Best General Contractor in Portland: What You Need to Know
How would you go about finding the best general contractor in Portland? Here are some tips to help...
The Dos and Don’ts of Remodeling in NE Portland
NE Portland is home to some of our favorite neighborhoods. We've helped homeowners reimagine and...
Preparing for a Basement Remodel in Portland
All major renovation jobs require significant advance planning, and a remodel of the basement in...
Mediterranean Home Remodel Wins Portland Remodeling Award
This 5,000-square-foot Mediterranean-style home was designed and built in 1926 by architect Robert...
Trendy vs Traditional Design for Portland Home Remodels
The one constant thing about fashion is that it’s always changing. The trends in home design and...
Preserving the Best of Your Historic Portland Home During a Renovation
If you own a historic home in Portland, consider yourself lucky. Yes, an older house comes with...