The logo for archiform design restore and remodel

A Dreamer, a Problem Solver and a Shared Vision

Time is a funny thing when discussing the Bay House, a curved roof waterfront dream house that was inspired by both a medieval fortress and a dilapidated barn. 

A man and a woman are sitting at a table with a dog.

Designing a Home to Withstand the Elements

“I really wanted to build a home that could withstand winter here; the 80mph winds, the corrosive salt air, all those brutal elements,” said Richard De Wolf, co-owner of the 2420 SF, three-bedroom, three-bath rural home located on 12 acres on Willapa Bay, Washington. “And I wanted it to be handcrafted.”


Crafted it is, from the inception to the details. His wife and business partner, Anne De Wolf, had originally designed the entire home in the New England style, complete with white siding and a metal roof. This idea was scrapped the moment they drove past a rustic feed barn and inspiration struck. She rapidly began scribbling on a napkin and, within 24 hours, the pair were updating their permit applications. 

Riffing off of what Richard said, Anne adds, “We wanted a place that gets better with age.” All the decisions were weighed against how rough usage and elements would improve the materials. The original concept was an unforgiving style, but now anything we incorporated that is a bit rough is actually a positive.” She lists the many details that improve with time, “Stained siding. Unfinished floor planks. Galvanized roof. Even the overhang means no gutters to be filled with spruce needles.” 


She explains why this is so important. “It’s not meant to be a pristine or spotless home like you would imagine on a sunny beach. Our beach is interesting. The bay is a seaweed-filled, muddy, sandy beach located within an actual rainforest. There are ferns, grasses, and evergreens. We even have a wetland nature preserve behind us.”



This appreciation for the land and location shaped the design. Originally Richard wanted a stone home but quickly changed tack. He realized he’d have to truck-in rock, meanwhile he was literally surrounded by timber. “Land dictates architecture. A city is different with 50 x 100 lots, but not for property out in nature. Here you can let the wild talk to you. Ideas started flowing the moment we stepped onto the property. We wanted to use materials from the land. We considered the location, the sun, the hills, the weather. All of it has an impact.” 

Building with Local Materials: A Labor of Love


“There’s a lot of talk about green or environmentally sustainable architecture. It’s not new. It’s the old way. People use to only build with whatever local materials were available and did it by hand. So much of what we did to build this home has been done for thousands of years. We’ve only been working with plywood and 2x4s for the past few generations. I didn’t have to learn something new. I had to learn the old ways. There are a ton of books on the subject of timber framing and building with trees. It was like building a 16th century fortress.” 


As for the specifics, the De Wolfs were only limited by the size of the trees on the property, which they milled on site to their specifications. They stored the lumber on the property, stacking it high with sticking between each piece to aid in the drying process. 


They both agreed the property looked like a lumberyard as they felled, milled, cut, dried, and prepared the wood for their home. But they had a vision. Anne reminisces, “I wanted the simplicity of a rectangle, the drama of curved lines and a symmetrical aesthetic. The previous design that I worked on for years had so much compromise and fussiness. All it took was this moment of kismet. Standing in the pouring rain, looking at an old barn, the entire home design came together in 15 minutes.”


While Anne’s design may have come together instantaneously, the process of building was a testament to problem solving and organization. 


Take the lumber. Anne recounts the multiple piles of wood on their land. “We had a post station. A joist station. Rafter station. Decking station.” They took inventory of the framing lumber, roof rafters, floor joists, then added 10%. “We first had to clear the land where the house would sit. We labeled, felled, and stacked the trees. Once we had the logs, we made bonfires of the bark and branches, and then repeated this process over and over.” 


Custom Curves: Crafting a One-of-a-Kind Home

The method and means of building curves speak to the pair’s dedication to their joint vision. Anne explains how the curve creates a domino effect, “If you have a simple straight gable-end roof, there is a nice pitch, so water runs off. The flashing details can be purchased off the shelf. The sheetrock and lumber, gutters, and balustrade—all straight. But add in one single curve and everything must be custom.” She justifies the effort, “Richard doesn’t like sitting around talking. He’s a doer. So, all this work suited him.” 


On this Richard laughs and partially agrees. “If you’re doing it for yourself, time is relative. If we had to pay, the hours would be expensive. Curved work is double the labor, if not triple.”


Sustainable Architecture: Learning from the Past

Numerous accommodations and increased awareness were required. The barrel roof had to support a shallow pitch at the top yet shed snow and water. The sheeting was bent to the rafters, but the tighter the curve, the thinner the wood and the more layers that would be required. The beams were one particular element that Richard relished problem solving. 


He attempts to explain his process that includes a complicated, engineer-approved combination of rope, compass, and a chainsaw. The end results are arched timber frames that literally ground the entire home. The effect is profound. Altogether, it is a singular, one-of-a-kind dream home brought to reality through the talent and perseverance of both owners.

The details throughout the home bring the vision to fruition. Anne waxes poetic about the milk paint she used, “I love that stuff! You don’t have to prime; you just brush it on. Plus, it’s very forgiving. There are no mistakes—just sand it. Because it’s water-based, it can be more or less opaque and I love that you can see the wood through it.” Richard appreciates it for an entirely different reason, “It’s an early example of paint. It’s always been around.”


Being able to see the grain of the wood takes on more meaning in the Bay House. Because it’s not just the rough aesthetic one can appreciate, but the labor of love to create it, and the fact the couple who live in it are the ones who dreamed and crafted it from the very land it stands upon. 


This is local living taken to an art form.

Design & Build: Arciform LLC

Photographer: Sara Ligorria-Tramp

Photo styling: Emily Henderson Design


Specs:

* Stain at the exterior wood—Storm Stain; Category 3: color Headwall.

* Clad exterior windows and doors—Oil Rubbed Bronze

*  Wall paneling finish uno—Milk Paint by Lee Valley or General Finishes Color “Snow White” at ¾ paint ¼ water.

* Walls above paneling—Tinted Plaster

* Painted Trim—Dunn Edwards Color “Milk Mustache”

*  Primary bathroom shower tile—Zellige 4x4 “natural white” from Ann Sacks, Idris by Ait Manos

* Primary bathroom shower head/fixtures—Hans Grohe AXOR Montreaux

* Primary bathroom sconces—Hippo Hardware vintage.

* Primary bathroom vanity— Arciform

* Primary bedroom bed frame—Community Warehouse (used)

* Primary bedroom striped comforter, bedding—Casaluna, Target 

* Primary bedroom king comforter and linens—Casaluna, Target

* Primary bedroom lumbar pillow—Threshold, Target

* Primary bedroom milk paint on paneling—General Finishes

* Black guest bathroom wall paint –Milk Paint by Lee Valley or General Finishes Color “Lamp Black” with wax finish.

* Black guest bathroom sink—Vintage find through Rejuvenation with minor alterations to backsplash to fit between windows.

* Black guest bathroom towel “cart”—Restoration Hardware

* Black guest bathroom concrete tile floor—Granda Tile Stars & Crosses

* Black bunk bedroom (w/ perpendicular mattresses) quilts— Rejuvenation

* Black bunk bedroom sheets and shams—Target, faux leather lumbar pillow—Target

* Black bunk bedroom rug— Rejuvenation

* Kitchen backsplash tile - Zellige 4x4 “natural white” from Ann Sacks Idris by Ait Manos

* Kitchen faucet—Ann Sacks Idris by Ait Manos

* Kitchen range/cooktop—Blue Star—All appliances were purchased from Eastbank Appliances.

* Living room sofa—Scan Design

* Living room coffee table—made from logs from the site.

* Living room arm chair—Manor Fine Wares

* Dining table—Milled from trees from the site.

* Dining chairs—Windsor Workshop

* Dining area chandeliers—Ebay—salvaged from a church

* Sheepskin throws—Ikea and the blanket gifted from a friend.

* Puzzle table chairs/table/chandelier—Table from Bloomsbury Antiques; Chairs from an antique store in Seattle that is no longer in business; chandelier from Hippo Hardware.

* Tall bookcase near puzzle table—custom by Arciform

* Bird’s nest side table—Logs from site

* Bird’s nest rug—Ikea

* Sources for stained glass + any other salvage materials—Stained glass windows and doors by Bloomsbury Antiques; interior wood doors we had collected over the years from projects.

* Large Mahogany Window with integrated door—custom by Arciform

* Kitchen and pantry cabinetry– custom by Arciform

* Storm windows to make stained glass window insulated—custom by Arciform

* Wall paneling, casing, any trim—milled from wood from the site

* Walls that are not paneled—tinted plaster

* Brass sconces in Bird’s Nest—Big Ship Salvage

* Large Spotlights—Old Portland Hardware & Architectural

SEE MORE STORIES

February 24, 2025
Garages in Portland’s vintage homes carry a special blend of character and complexity. Whether you aim to breathe new life into a weathered structure, enhance it for today’s needs, or craft a fresh addition that honors your home’s historic roots, the process demands imagination and care. At Arciform, we draw on years of hands-on experience to guide homeowners through every step—design and construction—delivering results that feel both personal and enduring. Whether your Portland home is a Craftsman bungalow, Tudor, Four Square, or another timeless style, we get the quirks of older properties and the pride you feel in their unique stories. Here is what you need to know to begin with confidence.
February 22, 2025
Everything you need for a mudroom that blends functionality, organization, and style.
Lonesome Pictopia's Northwestlake wallpaper tells complex stories of Northwest nature and history.
By Anne De Wolf January 30, 2025
Explore how patterns, from bold wallpapers to architectural details, can tell stories, evoke emotions, and transform any space with a touch of creativity
By anne November 20, 2024
It’s an old story with a modern twist. You fall in love with a classic beauty. You can hardly see for the stars in your eyes. Hardly hear anything but your pounding heart. You can’t believe she’s all yours! And then you move in together. And the romance ends. Which is where this story begins. We Portlanders love our heritage homes, and we should! They’re charming, well-built, exhibit fine craftsmanship, have lots of stories to tell, and they’re...old. Meaning that they often come with problems and they don’t have many of the modern conveniences that we’ve come to expect. So how do you update your aging beauty without sacrificing its classic charm? We talked with Anne De Wolf, Principal Designer of Arciform for over twenty-five years, about the joys, occasional frustrations, and creative challenges of bringing an older home up to contemporary standards of comfort and efficiency. The Chain Reaction Challenge Although this article is divided into neat headings about electrical, plumbing, and other categories, your old house is proof positive that we live in an interconnected world. Remodeling can often be like a game of Whack-a -Mole, where upgrading one thing involves several other things in a chain reaction. Adding a dormer may first necessitate a new foundation or structural work. Installing new ceiling lighting and fans in your bath may reveal asbestos insulation (asbestos wasn’t banned until 1989) in the attic, with a hefty $15,000 abatement price tag.
Vaulted interior living room of the Edward Dimmit House in the Columbia River Gorge.
By anne November 20, 2024
Perched 800-plus feet above sea level along the scenic Columbia River Gorge is the Edward Dimmit house, built in 1932 for its namesake, one of the early 20th century’s most renown postcard photographers. 92 years later, this sturdy Eclectic Tudor house in the coniferous woodlands of Corbett, Oregon is home to two lighting designers and their pups. Getting Started Edward L. Dimmitt (1881-1963) joined Arthur B. Cross’ photography studio in Portland in 1916. Cross and Dimmitt specialized in scenic photography: the Columbia River Gorge, the then-new Historic Columbia River Highway (built 1913 - 1922) and other scenic landmarks. Selling them as postcards from their Model T, and later from a stand at Crown Point, the adventurous businessmen helped share the wonder of the Gorge with visitors and, thanks to the United States Postal Service, to postcard recipients across the world. Dimmit moved into this house with his wife around 1931. He served for 40 years as the caretaker of the nearby sandstone Vista House at Crown Point (dedicated in 1918). Vista House was not only a place to observe and pay tribute to the history and beauty of the landscape, but also a place for travelers to rest and refresh themselves while exploring the Gorge along the new highway.
By anne November 20, 2024
No man is an island, John Donne famously wrote. No company is, either. Arciform works with many sub-contractors, product designers, and industry nonprofits to achieve stunning remodels and restorations. In this edition of Arcifiles, we introduce you to three dynamic people, each of whom contributes to the creative energy of the design-build community in their own unique way.
SEE MORE STORIES
Share by: