When Veneta residents Chris and Megan McGowan lost their beloved home in an electrical fire back in the summer of 2017, they were stunned and horrified. Losing a house they had lived in for years, as well as a lifetime of possessions, was devastating. But once the smoke had cleared, they decided to turn this tragedy into a purposeful transformation.
“It was an opportunity to start over, to do something that represented us,” says Megan, an accountant. “We wanted to build a house that was comfortable for the both of us.” Chris, a teacher at Willamette High School, echoed that sentiment, adding that he and his wife loved the Veneta property and were eager to start rebuilding.
The McGowans wanted something that was a mix of mid-century and industrial modern, yet also warm and inviting. “We did have priorities,” Megan says. “We needed space to entertain, and we had to have a dog door.” They decided to bring their homebuilding project to 2form Architecture, where they worked closely with owner and founder Richard Shugar. “Richard had great designs,” Chris says. “His vision was grand and that’s what we liked.”
Construction on the two-story home began in mid-2018 and was completed the following year. The 1,300-square-foot dwelling, situated on two and a half acres just outside of Veneta, features an extended concrete deck and an open floor plan with two bedrooms — the master bedroom is a loft that consumes the entire upstairs — plus two bathrooms, a massive stone fireplace, and a U-shaped kitchen with all the bells and whistles. The ceiling peaks at 28 feet, and the living room entrance has two sets of double doors that let in tons of natural light and allow for incredible forest views. And then there’s the windows. “Richard recommended black fiberglass window frames, and I don’t think I had ever seen that before,” Megan says. “But they’re beautiful. They look like paintings.”
Building a new house can be challenging, but the McGowans credit Shugar with making the process flow gracefully. “We had a very interactive relationship, and we were part of the whole process,” Chris says, noting that he and Megan constructed the staircase. The steps were made from old school desks and are accented by an ornate steel wall, otherwise known as a balustrade divider, that Chris (a skilled metalsmith) welded himself.
Another aspect of the home is its amazing acoustics, Chris says. He plays the bassoon and Megan is a violinist, “so we wanted good acoustics. This is a great place to play music.”
The house is also extremely well insulated. The ductless heating and cooling pump is “very simple” and “all you need to heat this place,” says Chris.
Megan says she loves the home’s windows and their spectacular views. “I enjoy watching storms and watching snow fall, and I love opening the front doors in the morning and doing yoga on the deck.” As for Chris, his preference is definitely the kitchen. “I’m a cook and I really like my kitchen and my cooking space,” he says.
Shugar says he truly enjoyed having the McGowans as clients. “The design went smoothly, and we worked well together,” he says. “They were looking for a home that was a reflection of who they are,” and the team at 2form offered “suggestions and recommendations.”
Shugar says his primary focus as an architect is to design homes as though they’re jewelry boxes, not shoeboxes. “Jewelry boxes are made from good materials that are well-crafted and tailored specifically for each client, and shoeboxes are for people to put all their stuff in.”
With the McGowans, building the jewelry box “was a collaboration, and it was enjoyable,” Shugar says, “especially when you see the clients are happy.”
Resources
Architecture | 2fORM Architecture, 2-form.com
Landscape Architecture | Lovinger Robertson
Builder | Stonewood Construction, stonewoodconstruction.com
Cabinetry | Distinctive Wood Kitchen and Bath, distinctivewoodkb.com
Masonry | Creative Design Masonry, creativedesignmasonry.com
Electrical | 360 Electric, 360-electric.com
Roofing | River Roofing, riverroofing.com
Steel | Gibson Steel Fabricating, Inc., gibsonsteelbasins.com
Tile and Counters | Stone Works International, Inc., stoneworksintl.com
Insurance | Farmers Insurance, farmers.com
