Houzz Tours
My Houzz: 2 Generations Unite in an Oregon Craftsman
For the love of a little boy (and a few chickens), a resourceful family creates a multigenerational home infused with graciousness
When they became parents, Deanna and Brian Pennock started to look into buying a home for their growing family. Their main goal was to be near their own parents, but they were also interested in trading their busy life for a more rural experience. Given the flagging economy and their desire to honor the changing needs of their extended family, they decided to give multigenerational living a try.
In 2010 they combined resources with Brian's parents to purchase a 1929 Craftsman home in New Bridge, Oregon. The house was in great condition and had a large unfinished basement. Deanna had seen it many times while visiting her parents, who also live in New Bridge. "Brian and I would drive by and say, 'Isn't that a lovely home?'" she says. "We were so lucky that it was for sale when it came time for us to buy."
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Brian and Deanna Pennock; their son Edison, 3; and Brian's parents, Marty and Gary Pennock
Size: 2,900 square feet; 4 bedrooms, 2 baths
Location: New Bridge, Oregon
That's interesting: The Pennocks have a chicken coop in their backyard, kept mostly for eggs. Two roosters and older hens are named after Union generals from the U.S. Civil War period.
In 2010 they combined resources with Brian's parents to purchase a 1929 Craftsman home in New Bridge, Oregon. The house was in great condition and had a large unfinished basement. Deanna had seen it many times while visiting her parents, who also live in New Bridge. "Brian and I would drive by and say, 'Isn't that a lovely home?'" she says. "We were so lucky that it was for sale when it came time for us to buy."
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Brian and Deanna Pennock; their son Edison, 3; and Brian's parents, Marty and Gary Pennock
Size: 2,900 square feet; 4 bedrooms, 2 baths
Location: New Bridge, Oregon
That's interesting: The Pennocks have a chicken coop in their backyard, kept mostly for eggs. Two roosters and older hens are named after Union generals from the U.S. Civil War period.
SG: What's your favorite room?
DP: The front room. I wanted a formal living room focused on sitting, conversation and books rather than TV and play toys. One of my favorite pieces in this room is the green velvet fainting couch. I found it at Windfall Antiques in Baker City. Leo, the owner there, is lovely to work with.
DP: The front room. I wanted a formal living room focused on sitting, conversation and books rather than TV and play toys. One of my favorite pieces in this room is the green velvet fainting couch. I found it at Windfall Antiques in Baker City. Leo, the owner there, is lovely to work with.
Heirloom pieces are mixed with thrift store finds to create a sitting room reminiscent of a bygone era. Deanna says her personal aesthetic was deeply influenced by her grandmother's home, which also had a cozy sitting room.
DP: The organ came from my maternal grandparents. My great-grandfather Root, who I hear was a fine tenor, would have been influential in its purchase back in the Midwest in the early 1910s.
DP: The organ came from my maternal grandparents. My great-grandfather Root, who I hear was a fine tenor, would have been influential in its purchase back in the Midwest in the early 1910s.
SG: Tell me about your decorating philosophy.
DP: In my heart, I'm a traditionalist. I want to create an environment that leads relationships in a particular direction: away from fast and stressed and plugged in, and toward slow and ease filled and in touch. Remember the farmhouse in Anne of Green Gables? I related to Anne when she had her friend over and wanted to give her a proper lunch and cordial. Hospitality is important to me.
MP: I love what Deanna has done with our home. She has an incredible eye. This is Deanna's dream.
DP: In my heart, I'm a traditionalist. I want to create an environment that leads relationships in a particular direction: away from fast and stressed and plugged in, and toward slow and ease filled and in touch. Remember the farmhouse in Anne of Green Gables? I related to Anne when she had her friend over and wanted to give her a proper lunch and cordial. Hospitality is important to me.
MP: I love what Deanna has done with our home. She has an incredible eye. This is Deanna's dream.
One of the main selling points of the home was a large unfinished basement, which the family renovated to create a living space for the younger Pennocks and their son, Edison. The basement now consists of two bedrooms, a bathroom, a home office and a family room.
Bookcases: Billy, Ikea
Bookcases: Billy, Ikea
The basement bathroom is an exciting departure in style from the rest of the house. Barn wood walls and corrugated metal siding give this space a wonderful rustic feel. The new double sinks from Ikea mix well with corresponding vintage items, like the blue soaking tub.
Bathtub: Prairie City Antiques; tub faucet fixture: Vintage Tub & Bath
Bathtub: Prairie City Antiques; tub faucet fixture: Vintage Tub & Bath
SG: Your proudest homeowner moment?
DP: The downstairs bathroom. We love it. We told our contractor what we wanted, made a few key decisions about the look, and in the end it was a crazy but executable idea that really worked! One thing this house has taught me is to trust my instincts. While my home is certainly not unified, it's still holistic.
DP: The downstairs bathroom. We love it. We told our contractor what we wanted, made a few key decisions about the look, and in the end it was a crazy but executable idea that really worked! One thing this house has taught me is to trust my instincts. While my home is certainly not unified, it's still holistic.
The bedside lamps in the downstairs bedroom are from Pottery Barn. "They were certainly an indulgence," says Deanna. "But I love them, and they're heirloom quality."
Paint: High Country, True Value
Paint: High Country, True Value
SG: Where are your favorite places to hunt for home goods?
DP: Give me some antique stores and a triple latte and I'm good for the whole day. We have some great ones here in Baker County, including Windfall Antiques, Random Resales, Halfway Whimsical and JD's Mercantile. If you don't live in a metropolitan area, you really can't create a pure style. One has to have access to the market to do that. I guess I'm lucky that I have eclectic tastes and feel well served by consignment stores and antique malls.
DP: Give me some antique stores and a triple latte and I'm good for the whole day. We have some great ones here in Baker County, including Windfall Antiques, Random Resales, Halfway Whimsical and JD's Mercantile. If you don't live in a metropolitan area, you really can't create a pure style. One has to have access to the market to do that. I guess I'm lucky that I have eclectic tastes and feel well served by consignment stores and antique malls.
SG: Tell me about your woodstove.
DP: It's a Fisher Papa Bear stove, circa 1970s. I got it out of a neighbor's shed. It's not as efficient as the new models, but it's effective in heating about 90 percent of our home. We really like the look of it, and it met our budget requirements. Someday we'll update.
DP: It's a Fisher Papa Bear stove, circa 1970s. I got it out of a neighbor's shed. It's not as efficient as the new models, but it's effective in heating about 90 percent of our home. We really like the look of it, and it met our budget requirements. Someday we'll update.
Edison's bright and cheery room is decorated with road signs and Thomas the Tank Engine paraphernalia. Deanna chose the Kura bunk bed from Ikea to create more floor space for playing.
MP: One of my main reasons for living together was Eddie. I wanted to really know my grandchild and watch him grow.
Paint: Soft Twilight, True Value
MP: One of my main reasons for living together was Eddie. I wanted to really know my grandchild and watch him grow.
Paint: Soft Twilight, True Value
SG: If money were no object, what would be your next home improvement project?
DP: A kitchen remodel. I'd like to remove the wall between the kitchen and the mudroom to open up the space a bit. I love the look and usefulness of a Depression-era kitchen.
DP: A kitchen remodel. I'd like to remove the wall between the kitchen and the mudroom to open up the space a bit. I love the look and usefulness of a Depression-era kitchen.
A vintage kitchen hutch is tucked away in a small nook and provides much-needed storage for bowls, pots, baking goods and cookbooks.
DP: We found this beautiful hutch, which we refinished, at Halfway Whimsical in nearby Halfway, Oregon.
DP: We found this beautiful hutch, which we refinished, at Halfway Whimsical in nearby Halfway, Oregon.
SG: What did you do to make the home yours?
DP: The living room was painted in a dark color and carpeted. The first thing we did was return it to a neutral palette and pull up the carpet. The hardwood floors were hiding below, so we had a local company come in and refinish them for us.
DP: The living room was painted in a dark color and carpeted. The first thing we did was return it to a neutral palette and pull up the carpet. The hardwood floors were hiding below, so we had a local company come in and refinish them for us.
The home's built-in dining hutch was one of the features that initially caught Deanna's eye. The woodwork combines a Craftsman shape with uncommon Victorian details, like the carving at the top of the central columns.
The yellow dining room walls have an evocative patina, which provides the perfect background for vintage artwork. Deanna fell for this lovely painting at a yard sale in the nearby town of Richland. It's called "Lady with a Harp" and was done by L. Campbell Taylor in 1937.
DP: We're actually planning to repaint this room — something in the blue-gray family. I love the gold, but I'm not satisfied with it in that space. Maybe your pictures will convince me otherwise!
Paint: Savannah, True Value
DP: We're actually planning to repaint this room — something in the blue-gray family. I love the gold, but I'm not satisfied with it in that space. Maybe your pictures will convince me otherwise!
Paint: Savannah, True Value
The central dining room is the heart of the home and provides space for family meals, morning conversations over coffee and space for Eddie's art projects. Deanna replaced the existing lighting fixture with a circular candelabra from Pottery Barn.
Marty's bedroom is painted bright white and receives soft light from west-facing windows. Marty is an ace on the sewing machine and quilted her own bedding. Her ornate wooden four-poster bed shares space with vintage owl artwork.
SG: Do you have any advice for those who are interested in multigenerational living?
DP: You have to look to the future. Be patient with yourself, with others and with the space. Willingly and cheerfully make compromises. And if you're in a rut, don't worry. The space will eventually say something to you even if it's silent right now. It's the same with people, I suppose.
Houzz call: Do you live in a multigenerational home? We want to see it. Tell us about it in the Comments, too!
SG: Do you have any advice for those who are interested in multigenerational living?
DP: You have to look to the future. Be patient with yourself, with others and with the space. Willingly and cheerfully make compromises. And if you're in a rut, don't worry. The space will eventually say something to you even if it's silent right now. It's the same with people, I suppose.
Houzz call: Do you live in a multigenerational home? We want to see it. Tell us about it in the Comments, too!
Deanna Pennock: For Marty, I think this house was love at first sight. For me it was the package deal — the piece of land it sat on and the two front rooms. I wanted a home that would allow a garden and pastured chickens. I knew this was a home that could sustain a family. And I knew the space would function well as a multigenerational home.
Marty Pennock: I love the people here. We have more friends here than we ever did in Texas. We lived in Killeen before moving here in 2010. The views are awesome and change with the seasons. It's a beautiful place.