A coffee mug and two candles with brass holders rest on a wooden dining table with contrasting dark dining chairs and a dark bench and cushion.

Purchased in 2017, this midcentury fixer in Portland, Oregon took Casework founder, Casey Keasler nearly five years to fully renovation. But unlike Casework’s projects, the home renovation was done on her own time. Casey purchased her 1966 Portland abode—which she affectionately calls the Ranchalow for its ranch-meets-bungalow design—and saw potential beyond its tired facade. Over the next five years, she transformed the mid-century time capsule into a Northwest sanctuary that echoes Casework’s design ethos and Keasler’s personal style. With complete remodels in the bathroom and kitchen—contracted by Keasler herself—the ambitious DIY project includes her personal touch in every room.

A tasseled woven rug rests on the hardwood floor of a kitchen with marble countertops, slab cabinet fronts, and appliances with brass accents.

“I believe doing the renovation work informs my design process,” says Keasler. “I have a greater understanding of what’s possible”

By performing a lot of the hands-on labor for her renovation, she gained a greater appreciation and respect for many of the trades she and the Casework team work with on a daily basis. There is an art and skill to renovations done well that a lot of people consider manual labor.

Flat-front kitchen cabinets underneath floating shelves holding a framed artwork and stacks of bowls and plates on a wall covered in square tile.

Grape tomatoes, scallions, and a bowl of diced lemons rest on a kitchen counter with wood cooking utensils, a bowl full of sea salt, and a pepper mill.

A woman with manicured nails thumbs through a recipe book which rests on the kitchen counter alongside half an avocado and other fruits and veggies.

Casework Residential Interior Design Portland, Oregon. An abstract wooden coffee table with a glass top sits in front of a sofa with cushions.

Keywords

GOLDEN HOUR

EASY LIKE SUNDAY MORNING

RANCHALOW

A sectional with cushions of different shapes and sizes sits in a corner opposite a wire and wood cabinet with ceramic vases, books and framed art.

thoughts about defining your personal style -

We are intentional as we develop the palette and vision and never do something because it’s on trend. Early on three key phrases are set to guide Casework projects. For her own home, Casey determined “golden hour”—the warmth and glow of that really beautiful September sunshine; “easy like Sunday morning”—home as a usable, comfortable, laid-back respite; and “ranchalow”—a color and materials palette that harkens to midcentury ranch homes and 1920s Craftsman bungalows.

Flowers in a square vase sit on a vanity below a dark metal framed mirror holding the reflection of a shower curtain, bath tile, and soaps and shampoo.

A room with painted walls and quilted bedding, a corduroy wavy pillow, and a nightstand with a drawer, a book, and a glass of water on a brass tray.

A single drawer nightstand with flowers in an earthenware vase and a folding clock sits in front of a headboard of a bed with plaid and quilted bedding.

Inspired by the midcentury built-in bedroom sets with headboards, bed frames and night stands all in one, casey made her own version using 3 materials.

Plywood, grasscloth and white oak trim were used to create a semi-custom headboard for the Ranchalow bedroom. The panels create a textural wabi-sabi vibe that balances with the limewash wall paint.

A room corner with a round wood table, a colorful vintage chair, a unique light fixture, a ceramic vase with green plant cuttings, and framed wall art.

A lamp with a brass shade sits on a wood sideboard behind a dining table with a platter of pear fruits and plums, a marble cutting board, and mug.

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Credits

Many hands make light work. That and a lot of sweat over the course of five years helped turn this fixer into the Ranchalow for Casey. Big thanks to Brooke Wade for bringing the cabinet details to life, including the custom finger pulls and cutouts that mimic the exterior breeze blocks. To Lucus Johnson for doing the technical venting for the range hood. To all the friends who stopped by with coffee, snacks or wine on some of the long work days. And to the One Room Challenge for providing a platform and opportunity for Casey to renovate her bathroom in 45 short days back in 2019.

Follow along #ckranchalow

Design: Casey Keasler

Photography: George Barberis

Interior Styling: Jorie Garcia and Casey Keasler

Press: Architectural Digest Clever