What makes this Oregon kitchen so bright and cheery? A light scoop

Sunset, Dec, 1984

What makes this Oregon kitchen so bright and cheery? A light scoop

The soft curve of a room-wide skylight scoop bounces diffused daylight into this kitchen. Even on the grayest of rainy days, the overhead windows provide enough natural light to make the remodeled kitchen seem bright and cheery.

The dramatic, 5-foot-high scoop runs diagonally across the house's flat roof. Its south-facing window side is 21 feet long; the ends angle inward at 45|, so the shorter back side measures only 11 feet. The curved end sections, based on a 5-foot-radius circle, are made of plywood over 2 by 4's; 2-by-6 joists join the sections. Since the opening interrupted a number of rafters, laminated beams were added below the rafters to span the room.

Originally the 19- by 31-foot space contained a kitchen, an extra bedroom, a closet, and a full bath. It seems very open now: the old walls were removed and the space divided between the expanded kitchen and a bath.

Core of the kitchen is a 4-by 8-foot island with storage and a cooktop on the kitchen side and a cutout section for stools on the other. Its burgundy laminate top adds a colorful contrast to the oak trim.

For underfoot comfort as well as appearance, hardwood flooring was installed on plywood sheathing over 2-by-6 sleepers. The new floor covers most of the original slab--only the corner containing a wood-stove and the bath is at the original level.

Architect Roy Ettinger of Lake Oswego, Oregon, designed the remodel for owners Cristi and Ken Rifkin.

Photo: Quarter-round light scoop orients four double-glazed windows to the south. Unit cuts diagonally across roof

Photo: Vaulted skylight brightens remodeled kitchen. Tongue-and-groove ceiling paneling and hardwood flooring follow scoop's angle. On other side of tiled wall behind woodstove is a small bathroom

Photo: Woodstove sits on level of original slab floor, now covered with tile. Surrounding oak floor in kitchen was built up approximately 6 1/2 inches