Transformations

Before & After

Home Remodels

Real results beat perfect pictures.

That's why we share authentic before-and-after sliders from recent Studio Garrison projects, from a single refreshed fireplace to a full luxury remodel. Some are polished reveals, some are honest progress shots, and every one is proof of what a clear plan and steady execution can do. Browse the transformations below, then picture what's possible in your own home.

From Dark & Dated to Bright & Open

The Project:

This historic Portland penthouse kitchen was wrapped in heavy Tuscan-style dark wood and travertine, handsome once, but dim and dated. The owners wanted light, minimal and modern.

What We Did:

Swapped the dark cabinetry for white Shaker cabinets, stone counters and polished nickel, then reworked the layout for light, relocating the fridge, adding an island seating nook, and opening the wall to the living room.

The Result:

A bright, gallery-like kitchen, all white, stone and warm metal, that feels far more open and floods the penthouse with light.

Historic Portland penthouse kitchen remodel, before dark Tuscan wood cabinets.
Historic Portland penthouse kitchen remodel, after bright white Shaker kitchen with stone counters, by Studio Garrison.

From Tight Kitchen to Family Hub

The Project:

This 1950s New Canaan ranch had been adapted over and over for a growing family. The kitchen was lovely but tight, short on room to cook, gather and seat everyone.

What We Did:

Expanded the footprint, opened the kitchen for flow, added a built-in banquette, and specified custom cabinetry and luxury finishes throughout.

The Result:

A spacious, light-filled kitchen that finally fits the family, warm, gathering-first, and a world away from the cramped original.

1950s New Canaan, CT ranch kitchen remodel, before: tight original kitchen.
1950s New Canaan, CT ranch kitchen remodel, after: expanded luxury kitchen with banquette, by Studio Garrison.

A TV Room Becomes a Dining Room Again

The Project:

This 1930s Lake Oswego traditional had been remodeled many times, and its original formal dining room had been demoted to a TV room, leaving no real place to gather and entertain.

What We Did:
Returned the room to a true formal dining room with built-in glass-front cabinetry and a bold jewel-tone palette, and reworked the adjoining kitchen and mudroom for better everyday flow.

The Result:
A gracious formal dining room again, warm and jewel-toned, sitting right off a refreshed kitchen, ready for everyday meals and real entertaining.

1930s Lake Oswego, OR home remodel, former TV room restored to a formal dining room next to the kitchen, by Studio Garrison.
1930s Lake Oswego former TV room prior to remodel.

Order and Storage, Finally

The Project:

This classic Rummer house had great midcentury bones but no real storage or sense of order, especially around the dining room.

What We Did:

Built in dining room storage that brought a sense of order the home never had, then layered the living room with iconic pieces including navy blue velvet chairs and all new dining room furniture.

The Result:

A calm, collected living and dining space with new built-in storage and standout furnishings, true to the home's Rummer roots.

Living room of a classic Rummer house prior to remodel.
Living room of a classic Rummer house looking toward new dining room built-ins, with navy blue velvet chairs, Beaverton OR interior design by Studio Garrison.

A Closed-Off Kitchen, Opened Up

The Project:

A classic 1950s Portland ranch had a closed-off, dated kitchen, cut off from the dining and living rooms and short on light, typical of the era’s compartmentalized layout.

What We Did:

Removed the walls between kitchen, dining and living, added beams and a skylight for daylight, and built a two-tone walnut-and-white kitchen, keeping and refinishing the original wood floors.

The Result:

A bright, open, two-tone kitchen that became the heart of the home, warm walnut against clean white, connected to the living and dining spaces and the patio beyond.

1950s Portland ranch kitchen prior to remodel with dated closed off features.
1950s Portland ranch kitchen remodel, before dated closed kitchen, after open-concept walnut-and-white kitchen, by Studio Garrison.

Classic Portland Kitchen: Smart Island Addition

The Project:

Traditional white kitchen with great bones needed better workflow and family gathering space.

What We Did:

Designed custom L-shaped island with integrated banquette breakfast nook, preserved existing perimeter cabinets and range.

The Result:

Additional prep space plus connected dining that takes advantage of beautiful tree canopy views.

Bright kitchen with white cabinets, a marble backsplash, and a dining area with a round table, windowed double doors, and wooden floors.

A Warmer Fireplace and Built-Ins

The Project:

The family room had good bones, a brick fireplace flanked by wood bookcases, but the look was dated and the built-ins lacked polish.

What We Did:

Added a painted applied mantel for cleaner lines, and refreshed the flanking bookcases with new finishes, hardware and adjustable sconce lighting.

The Result:

A warm, library-like family room, traditional character with contemporary polish, anchored by an updated fireplace and styled built-ins made for gathering.

A Basement Bar That Does It All

The Project:

The lower level of this contemporary Portland home centered on a dated wet bar with no real purpose, an underused basement disconnected from how the family lived.

What We Did:

Reimagined the dated wet bar into one flexible zone for entertaining, fitness and hobbies, light oak cabinetry, quartz counters and layered lighting, with flood-smart construction for the basement.

The Result:

A bright, spa-like lower level that flexes from entertaining to workouts to hobbies, calm, organized, and finally as polished as the rest of the house.

Portland SW Hills basement remodel, dated wet bar.
Portland SW Hills basement remodel, dated wet bar transformed into a multifunctional lounge, fitness and entertaining space, by Studio Garrison.

Luxury Vail Bathroom Oasis

The Project:

Gold-and-wood bathroom redefined for modern luxury.

What We Did:

Demolished walls, replaced travertine with Carrara marble slabs, added lit tub platform and ceiling-fill fixture.

The Result:

Spa-like retreat with dramatic materials and architectural detailing.

An outdated bathroom in need of a remodel.
A modern bathroom featuring Carrara marble.

A Dated Condo Corner, Transformed Into a Vibrant Retreat

The Project:

This 1973 Palm Desert condo had great potential, but felt stuck in time: beige carpet, dark wood furniture, and no sense of place or personality.

What We Did:

Cleared the dated furnishings and reimagined the room around a commissioned artist mural with bold botanical shapes and a vivid desert palette. Layered in vintage-influenced seating in forest green and cream, a slate-blue dresser as the TV console, and coral drapery panels that echo the mural's energy, creating a TV niche that feels like a destination.

The Result:

A vibrant, personality-packed sitting room that captures the condo's retro spirit and desert location, equal parts bold art installation and comfortable retreat.

1973 Palm Desert condo living room prior to remodel, dated dark wood armoire and beige carpet.
Palm Desert condo TV niche after remodel, bold botanical mural with curated vintage seating and wall-mounted TV, by Studio Garrison.

A New Kitchen Around the Same Window

The Project:

The kitchen was dated and didn’t work, and with the sink and window locked in place, the layout options were limited.

What We Did:

Kept the sink and window in place and rebuilt everything around them, new rift-cut oak and painted cabinetry, a mixed quartz-and-walnut island, and box beams to match the living room.

The Result:

A serene, light-filled kitchen in warm oak, walnut and quartz, re-planned around the original window, with the home’s beams, fireplace and floors honored alongside all-new everything else.

Dated kitchen prior to remodel.
Kitchen remodel keeping the original sink and window, new rift-cut oak and walnut layout with a mixed quartz-and-butcher-block island, by Studio Garrison.

A Forgotten Laundry Room, Finally Worth Noticing

The Project:

The laundry room in this Portland home was purely functional and showed it: dark oak cabinets, a cluttered countertop, and nothing to suggest it had been thought about at all. It was the kind of room you moved through quickly.

What We Did:

Replaced the dark cabinetry with sage-painted beadboard wainscoting and added a bold botanical wallpaper above. Swapped the old countertop for clean white quartz, installed a matte black undermount sink with an oil-rubbed bronze faucet, built out the window surround with painted millwork, and hung a custom Roman shade in a coordinating leaf print.

The Result:

A laundry room that feels intentional and finished, layered with pattern, grounded in sage and warm neutrals, and detailed enough that it holds its own alongside the rest of the home.

Portland laundry room before remodel, dark oak cabinets and cluttered countertop.
Portland laundry room after remodel, sage beadboard wainscoting, botanical wallpaper, matte black sink and custom Roman shade, by Studio Garrison.

What These Transformations Share

Each project demonstrates our approach: understand what's working, identify what needs to change, and create solutions that feel intentional. Whether it's designing hidden storage that keeps spaces guest-ready, removing soffits to open up a kitchen, or transforming a basement into an entertainment hub, the best renovations solve real problems while enhancing how you live in your home.

Client Spotlight

“I've had the pleasure of working with Garrison and his team for several projects. The latest project was a remote cabin (interior and exterior), located 2+ hours outside of PDX, and it was a pleasure having Lindsey and Jon on the team. They are forward thinkers with excellent communication and are always pleasant to interact with. I am again pleased with the work product and professionalism of Studio Garrison.”


— Michael Hass, Multiple Home Renovations

Read more ★★★★★ reviews on Google Business

Ready for Your Transformative Project?

From kitchen workflow improvements to luxury bathroom retreats, we're equipped to handle projects of any scale.

Next Steps:

Whether you're dreaming of a beverage center that impresses guests, a breakfast nook with killer views, or a spa-worthy bathroom retreat, we're ready to make it happen.