Wilsonville Craftsman Rebuild - Rupp Family Builders

Project Overview

This project was personal and close to our hearts. When the Wasenmiller family approached us to rebuild on a specific lot in Wilsonville, we were thrilled because our team had admired the property’s original homes for years. We have a deep appreciation for classic Craftsman architecture.

However, admiration does not build houses. The goal was to honor the spirit of the original structure while engineering a completely new, high-performance home on the existing foundation. Our team managed the full scope. This included demolition, structural engineering, and the complex rebuild to deliver a home that captures the soul of the past with the efficiency of the future.

The Client's Journey

Great builds start with great collaboration. The client, Kristie, came to us with a distinct vision, and our in-house design team worked to translate that dream into a buildable, code-compliant reality. Throughout the process, Kristie and her son Charlie were true partners in the design. They brought the inspiration, and we applied the technical oversight and craftsmanship Rupp Family Builders is known for. The result proves that when a builder’s expertise backs a client’s vision, the outcome is seamless.

Project Challenges

Rebuilding on a legacy property requires more than just design skills. It requires complex problem-solving. We faced and solved specific challenges:

Engineering the "Old-New" Integration: Building a modern structure over an existing foundation is technically demanding. We had to engineer specific footprint additions and ensure the new load pathways aligned perfectly with the original base. This expanded the home’s layout without compromising structural integrity.
Cohesive Finish Selection: With a diverse palette of materials—walnut, white oak, and fir—the challenge was ensuring visual cohesion. It took dedicated work to "nail all the finish choices" to ensure the custom cabinetry, flooring, and accents worked in unison rather than competing.
Hiding the Tech: The goal was a vintage aesthetic, but the requirements were modern performance. The challenge was to integrate advanced insulation and heating systems so they remained invisible. This allowed the classic Craftsman details to take center stage rather than the mechanics that make it work.

Where Craftsmanship Meets Performance

True luxury is a home that lives as well as it looks. We focused on creating a space that is visually striking while delivering measurable efficiency.

Unseen Efficiency: We utilized advanced building envelope techniques to maximize thermal retention. The result is that the entire house remained at approximately 65 degrees through the winter using just a single 220-amp space heater.
The Best of Both Worlds: The living room features a classic wood-burning fireplace engineered for whole-home heating capability. We enhanced it with a gas log lighter for modern convenience.
Curated Material Palette: Achieving a cohesive look with mixed woods is difficult. We carefully balanced custom walnut cabinets, white oak floors, and fir accents to create warmth without visual clutter.
Artisan Touches: Custom tiles on the fireplace and coffee bar serve as the final detail to showcase the precision of our tile setters.

A Shared Vision, Beautifully Realized

The finished home is a success in both style and function. It stands as a timeless structure that respects its roots while delivering modern energy standards. The thoughtful combination of classic materials and custom details creates a space that is both elegant and welcoming. From the initial demolition to the final cabinet install, this project showcases the power of a shared vision executed with professional discipline.

More importantly, it delivers on the original promise: a high-efficiency structure built on a classic foundation.