Of all the times I've driven down Skyline, I've never been on this road, and what a discovery! Lined with interesting houses, many with an expansive territorial views towards the coast range and sitting up at 1000 feet one feels like you can see forever. The home also enjoys a wooded view towards the back of the house, as well as a sloping lawn on this third acre lot. This 1942 home has a nice mix of traditional and mid century touches. The dining-living room area enjoy a view, as well as the kitchen and its nook. Pretty much every finish is newer and of good quality. In a surprise touch, the spacious master is on the lower level, but the windows on two sides let in plenty of light. A country feel minutes from the city. $560,000
Council Crest
I've seen this home from the street, and had no idea how beautiful it could be from the exterior. Apparently the owner was an architect and one can tell the difference as soon as you enter the door. The pictures, unfortunately, do not do the home justice. The view from every window has been calculated like a picture frame towards beauty, whether towards the city, a patio, or water feature. Though the home was built in 1990, there are parquet floors in the living room, lending a feeling that the home has been there much longer. An amazing entertaining area is built separately from the home with a lovely patio in between with walls of glass on either side. If you have entertained an idea of a contemporary home, I've never seen anything quite like this and I would love to visit it again. $850,000
Arlington Heights
This was one of my favorite listings in the last few weeks of touring. This Dutch Colonial is set on a quiet street in Arlington Heights, and is laid out nicely and move-in ready. Several french doors open to patio and deck space on the main floor which gives a feeling of elegance to this home. The home makes good use of its 2696 square feet with it's three bedrooms upstairs and a fourth down next to a family room with a small kitchen. The downstairs is not as finished as the upper living areas and there is a bit of slanted floor action on the top level- Still, this home has a great feeling and seems well priced at $650,000
Portland's Montmore
With no through streets, the small neighborhood of Montmore adjacent to Bridlemile is a virtual cul-de-sac. This home sits at the edge of the major loop and backs to a green space, affording lots of privacy. Though the living room with it's floor to ceiling fireplace and ample windows is a wonderful space, the heart of the home seems to lie in the spacious kitchen. Two large angled skylights fill the room with light, one over the cooking area, and another over the eat-in kitchen table. There is currently a free standing island, but one can imagine a built in island, and updating the tile would give the room a lot of wow factor. The master is another great space and features a sliding door onto the deck. One imagines waking up and taking in the beauty of the trees first thing in the morning. With a laundry room/pantry located on the main floor, one can enjoy doing laundry without going into the nether reaches of the home. For the best of both worlds, a path connects this home to the Bridlemile community and would make an easy walk to the well regarded elementary school. Bonus, Montmore has a community pool. 4 BR 2.5 BA Well priced at $499,950
Oak Hills
Rare as hens teeth, this townhome in Oak Hills is one of only twenty-four in a community of 650 homes on 40 acres. I've never been in a townhome that feels so much like a single family home. With it's 1600+ square feet there is ample room for both a family/great room and a living room. Choose from the eating bar or enjoy a more formal meal in the dining area. The corner unit gives both light and privacy and the home is also situated beautifully on the lot with few other homes looking back at you. A slider opens from the great room to the most darling landscaped patio- a place to let Fido out or barbeque in summers. Upstairs are three generous bedrooms, including a very large master. What a well thought out floor plan- and all across the street from the community pool, tennis, and pathways of Oak Hills. Low HOA's. $247,750
3/3 Homes for $399,000
Who would have thought just a few years ago that you could have bought a home in Portland Heights in this price range? This home really tugged at me, and it was my personal favorite of my tour. It sits up above many of the surrounding homes with mountain views towards the east. One can easily enjoy the view from a large deck off the dining area, but the deck itself looks capable of holding quite a large dinner party, a hammock, or whatever your cup of tea is. There is ample glazing on this side of the home to take in the light and views from the living room as well. One fireplace opens between both the living room and dining area, a great architectural feature. With glass block by the doorway and many period features, this home could well be hipped up or Dwelled up by a discerning mid century lover and turned into quite the showplace. Entry into Ainsworth and Lincoln schools makes this cosmetic fixer a great opportunity- just reduced by $100,000. $399,000
2/3 Homes for $399,000
The second home on this tour is on SW Burton, a wonderful street on the top of Sylvan Hill that holds some very special mid century homes, one of which was featured in the Street of Eames tour. This home, despite it's penchant for blue both in and out, has a great curbside appeal with the crisp lines created by the extra wide eaves. This home is on a .46 acre lot, similar in size to other lots on the street, many of which also drop down towards a forested area, though this home has some yard space. The price reflects that updates needed for most people- as I mentioned, a blue theme runs through the home. A quick search will show that the home is surrounded by other pricier homes and may show a return for the money invested. 3 BR, 2 BA 2790 sq ft. $399,000
1/3 Portland Homes for $399,000
I viewed three homes today in SW close in Portland listed at $399,000, or right below the $400,000 point to give an idea of the values in the area. The first home was this one on Jamieson Rd. which had some lovely features including a remodeled kitchen with Corian counters. The kitchen shares a space for an informal eating area, but this could also double as a great room. There are 3 bedrooms above grade, with a fourth and a family room below. Standout features are the living room, spacious enough for two seating areas adjacent to an outside deck- very much an entertaining layout. The master is also quite spacious with a walk in closet and bath. there is over 2000 sq ft on the first floor alone, over 3,000 total- and you can easily feel the difference in the room sizes. One will have to look past the carpet under which hardwoods lie, and a somewhat busy road, but this home has great possibility. $399,900
Raleigh Park Atomic Ranch
This home I recently listed created such a buzz in the realtor community it drew 70 brokers to the professional open house. What's so special? Rarely do we see a midcentury in such pristine condition. And not pristine condition of a home that wasn't so hot to begin with- we've all seen those. This home was obviously custom built with high end materials, sited beautifully on a .38 acre lot in a great neighborhood.
So many features were marveled over on the tour- the honeycombed glass on either side of the main doorway is not only beautiful, but functional. The glass panels swing out to allow fresh air in- and then hidden screens pull down over the space. The living room fireplace is a graceful curve of wood. Beyond the fireplace is a floor to ceiling window that takes in the sunny level backyard. The kitchen is completely original with it's white masonite walls trimmed in metal. Most cabinet doors are rounded. A rounded built in cabinet repeats the shape above in glass display shelves. Beyond that is a restaurant style booth with an industrial glass table top and a stainless riveted base right of of a rocket ship. The booth is surrounded by a wraparound window.
Two of the four baths are pristine masonite with glass block windows- the colors are neutral- not the burgundys and aqua blues one might expect in a vintage bath.
The house is currently decorated with a vintage eye, but the home could go Dwell very easily for a super sleek mid century modern look. $459,000
Check out the photos and pass on to your mid century loving friends. Contact me for a private tour. More pictures.
Vista Hills
This neighborhood continues to be very much sought after, even in today's market. Many of Vista Hill's ranch homes are completely intact and well cared for, and though suburban, have great access to the city and commutes. The lots are large, and it's streets are wide and quiet. This home on Hawthorne is a good example of the solid 1950's construction on a half acre lot with plenty of areas for gardening. While modest from the curb, the home holds over 3,600 square feet. Built in a time where parents were not as concerned about the proximity of the bedrooms, there is a generous master on the main which includes a separate study. The laundry is also located on this level. The other three bedrooms are adjacent to a family room which also has daylight ranch access to the swimming pool and the surrounding yard. $614,900
Mt. Tabor Modern
Perfect example of a modern 2008 home that fits in beautifully with it's more established neighbors on the east side of Mt. Tabor. Built with sustainable construction practices, this four bedroom home has a layout suitable for many different lifestyles. It was obviously designed with a lot of care. While three bedrooms are on the second level, the fourth bedroom below grade could easily work as a teenage hangout or a guest room. The finishes are modern, yet warm and have a sense of whimsy. Two decks invite you to enjoy the Mt. Hood views.
Pricy for the square footage, but very appealing. $795,000
Laurelhurst English
This home is by far the most generously sized and graceful English style home I have ever viewed in Portland. Facing Laurelhurst Park, the home has an imposing street appeal. I was struck immediately on entering by the large, sunlit living room which also faces the park. Around every corner, I was pleasantly surprised. The owners chose to improve the kitchen with a tasteful mix of modern touches- stainless steel subway tile on the backsplash and onyx countertops meshed well with the tin metal ceiling.
The layout on the main includes a intimate and private study.
All the baths, and there are two full and two half baths, have been updated with an eye towards respect for the original 1920's period yet with modern materials- always understated and of fine quality. There are four (hard to find) bedrooms upstairs, with one of the children's bedrooms featuring the most charming little sink and miniature bathtub. Currently, one of the larger bedrooms is being used as a family/media room, though the basement also offers an area for a rousing game of ping pong.
This home is well taken care of with numerous updates and would make a fine home close to many east side urban delights. $825,000
Laurelhurst Fixer
This Laurelhurst home has a tremendous curb appeal on one of the more quiet areas in the neighborhood. The home is being sold as part of an estate after 70 years of ownership- usually an "as is" proposition unless there is a roof or sewer line issue. The interior requires quite a lot of work, with the bathrooms and kitchen having seen better days many days ago- however, if purchased at the right price the home could prove to be a good future investment. $479,000
Burlingame SW Portland
This cute as a bug bungalow in the Burlingame area of SW Portland has made very good use of it's square footage. This starter home's main floor has both a front living room as well as a small area off the kitchen that could be a media area or a good place to keep an eye on small children while one cooks dinner. The upstairs has three bedrooms together, suitable for a smaller children. The 24 x 14 garage was converted to a shop/studio, so currently the parking lies under a carport- but who do you want to have the space? You or the car? $349,900
SW Portland's Broadmoor
The area in Raleigh Hills known as Broadmoor is a very small area which only makes the few homes that become available all the more coveted. Virtually all the homes here were built by a builder known as Baumann, Baumann's home are stately ranches on generous lots and are known for their timeless layouts, and sturdy craftsmanship. There are very few infill homes in this area, and it is largely intact from the 1950's, most of the homes having fastidiously maintained landscaping and golf ready lawns. This new listing is a Baumann classic and offers a great room off the kitchen that both enjoy views of the large private backyard. Three bedrooms are on the main and the lower 700 square feet are currently being used as a studio, but would very likely be a family or play area for the next owners. A great home that has stood the test of time. $850,000
Portland Heights
Not your usual Portland Heights area home, this super contemporary style was designed by Skylab Architecture- the same designers as the cutting edge Doug Fir Lounge and Departure Restaurant and Lounge. The home features a main floor of 2200 square feet- all of it in kitchen, dining and living spaces. Living spaces, plural, as there are at least three distinct areas that could be repurposed depending on the lifestyle of the owner. The master suite occupies the top 1000 square feet with a lovely soaking tub that enjoys the city view. The bottom/entry floor holds what could be two bedrooms or a bedroom/office with another full bath. The home has a 3,000 bottle "wine bungalow" for those people that can actually manage to not drink everything as it comes into the house and an elevator to help one navigate between the floors. $2,865,384
Greenhills of Portland
The exclusive Greenhills area of Portland opened a 2006 home that not only has a superlative address, but a generous size of 5,000 square feet. It puts one in mind of a European villa, especially with the lavender in bloom and the lush landscaping surrounding the home. The ceilings on the two main floors soar to at least 15 feet and the corresponding windows let in light, while the home's setting and landscaping offer privacy. The third level would make a perfect nanny's quarters or play room. $1,795,000
Arlington Heights
One of my favorite homes on this week's tour was this little 1937 Tudor home in Arlington Heights. Tudors are not usually my favorite style as they can sometimes feel dark with their smaller windows, and sometimes their interiors can feel a little "cut up". This home defied my expectations as the current owners have brought in a lot of recessed lighting as well as having ample natural light. Virtually everywhere I looked there were thoughtful and tasteful updates. Starting with the kitchen with it's lovely backsplash, pot filler next to the gourmet gas range and lovely light countertops. This is not one of those faux kitchens with take out pizza boxes in the fridge.
The floors on the main are wide plank white oak, the living room is ample enough for two seating arrangements, and off the kitchen and dining room lies a 50 foot mahogany deck overlooking a treed area that is perfect for morning coffee and entertaining. Three bedrooms share the upstairs with an updated bath, and then a downstairs with a second living area, small kitchen and another bath that could serve as a family room, office space and/or guest suite. A lot packed into it's 2097 square feet. Well priced at $539,000
Portland Heights
Perched over the city with sweeping views, this premiere listing is perfect for the purchaser that wants a penthouse feel with the privacy of a detached home. Architect Bob Thompson, designer of the Nike campus and Fox Tower completed this home in 2001. A sexy, fortress-like stainless steel front door contrasts gorgeously with vintage Portland street cobblestones at the entrance. You almost can't imagine how stunning the 220 degree city view is to experience. An exterior lap pool appears to be hovering on the edge of the city. No expense was spared in the finishes throughout the 7,500 square feet: clear maple floors, Arclinea custom cabinetry, extensive carrara marble, hydronic floor heat, and integrated sound impart to this home a feeling closer to LA than Portland. The architect even designed the stainless steel hinged doors on the homes gas fireplaces. $4,850,000
The Gregory: Pearl District
The Gregory was at the forefront of the condominium market in the Pearl District, and there is nothing else like it in terms of style. The Gregory wasn't just some slapdash construction, looking as if it might have actually been built during the Art Deco era rather than 2001. This unit is one of the largest available right now at almost 2500 square feet. Most of the square footage is used in the main living area, which looks onto a 500+ foot terrace that wraps around two sides of the building with a west hills view. The units owner, a designer- has updated all the finishes which compete evenly with any recently finished condo in the city, nicely mixing beautiful finished surfaces with a semi-industrial feel. Two prime parking spaces. Could be a bit high at $1,470,000