Who We Are

Our passion for history, craftsmanship, and the beauty of vintage homes in the Portland area shines through in everything we do.

We are old house nerds.

We geek out on original woodwork, built-in details, and the perfect rafter tail.

The Tudor, the four square, the bungalow, the craftsman – they are all old friends near and dear to our hearts.

Some clients have called us forensic architects…a new superpower, perhaps? We’ll take it.

We believe in maintaining the architecture and character of our old Portland neighborhoods.

We are great teammates.

We take our time through our design process to ensure the end project will fit your lifestyle to a tee.

All our projects are thoughtfully custom.

We talk shower habits, midnight snacking needs, homework routines. No detail is too small.

After design, our production team executes our design vision, while also providing on-site recommendations and solutions.

The bottom line; we’re the kind of teammate you and your home want to have.

We are creatures of habit.

We run a tight ship.

We believe consistency and communication are the keys to a successful remodel.

Our communication and quality of work do not waiver, no matter the type of project.

We create a plan, detail it with you, and systematically deliver – time and time again.

You might even miss us when we’re gone.

Now Meet Our Team

Our story: It all started 25 years ago with a love of historic Portland, and an attic office space. And as they say, the rest is history.

1996

The Beginning: With a passion for Portland’s historic and older homes, Wade Frietag starts Craftsman Design and Renovation out of the attic of his 1905 Craftsman style home.

2004

Leaving the Nest: A bigger team and increased work leads to CDR ‘leaving the nest’ and establishing new offices on SE Division street. The Craftsman Design team continues to grow and expand to take on more projects.

2012

The Growth: CDR offices are established above Rejuvenation on SE Grand Street in Portland. With shared values of quality craftsmanship, classic design, and excellent customer service it is a perfect match.

2015

The Move: The team moves to SE Belmont Street, in the heart of Southeast Portland. Surrounded by older homes and neighborhoods (as well as great coffee shops to keep the team fueled) this location feels like home.

2021

The Present: Our team continues to be guided by our passion for older homes, and preserving the landscape of Portland. We believe in maintaining the integrity of these beautiful homes, while updating them for today’s living.