Architecture Wednesday: Portland Storybook Home

This home—listed at $1.9M—was originally designed by renowned architect Wade Pipes and has recently been enhanced with over $500K in high-end upgrades; perched high on a hillside, and  flooded with natural light, it offers breathtaking views of four volcanoes—Mount Tabor, Mount Scott, Mount Bullard, and Mount Pitt—and Portland’s iconic bridges and is within walking distance of Forest Park.

The living room with its cozy wood-burning fireplace & bookshelves is the perfect gathering space for memorable parties and is accented by new matching French doors that open to the outdoor space and the views. The kitchen is a showpiece, boasting locally sourced handmade walnut cabinets & countertops & complemented by 200-year-old reclaimed terracotta flooring from France; the adjacent butler’s pantry with a refrigerator and freezer drawers is the ultimate smoothie and coffee bar. The main level also includes a striking new half bath with House of Hackney wallpaper. The sunroom was re-envisioned with all-new heated Moroccan tile floors, French doors & built-in shelving.

Upstairs are four bedrooms, two full bathrooms, and a laundry room with access to the third floor flax space, perfect for another bedroom, family room, office, or play area. The remodeled lower-level apartment—ideal for an au pair or extended family—features an exterior entrance, new concrete floors, a fully stocked kitchen, bedroom, its own laundry area, bathroom, living room and wine cellar!

Meticulously landscaped outdoor spaces include all-new limestone pavers and a 700-yr old fountain from Andalusia! Additional upgrades include a new electrical panel, 220V wiring on Summit for EV charger.

One quibble? The kitchen feels disjointed with part of it being walnut counters and deep green tile backsplash—which I love—and then stone tops on the kitchen counter and white appliances; half the room is dark, and half bright. Another quibble? That garage, down the hill, behind the house, with an apparent tunnel staircase that leads up to the basement level, feels a little escape from Alcatraz to me. But the garage is wired for EV and has ample storage for bikes & strollers.

One thing I like, though I know some of you don’t, is a wallpapered ceiling; shoot me.

As always click to emBIGGERate…

Dwell

Architecture Wednesday: Historic Highlands 1927 English Tudor

This enchanted compound in the desirable Historic Highlands Landmark District in Altadena includes a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom 1927 English Tudor main house and a newly renovated 1 bedroom, one-and-a-half bath contemporary ADU—formerly the carriage house.

You enter the main house into a spacious living room with wood-burning brick fireplace, contrasting beamed ceiling, textured plaster, and original iron windows with integrated metal screens. North-facing windows frame views of the San Gabriel mountains while French doors open from the adjacent dining room to a private, sunny courtyard patio.

Original detailing and character have been retained throughout the home including built-ins, decorative tile in bathrooms, and hardwood floors. The coved doorway of the dining room lead to the family room with a fireplace as well as a contemporary kitchen with high-end appliances, gleaming wood, glass-fronted cabinetry, hand-inlaid counters, and a charming breakfast nook. The three bedrooms and two baths, with original tiling, along one side of the home while out back the former carriage house was remodeled into a modern ADU.

The first floor of the ADU is made up of a skylit living room, an open-plan kitchen, and a large full bath with a walk-in shower. Upstairs is a spacious and well-organized one-bedroom, office nook and half bath with large windows showcasing the surrounding Oak trees, the back garden, vine-covered pergolas, and mature trees.

Two homes for the price of one, with great income potential; the home was listed for $1.85M but sold for $2.1M.

As always click to emBIGGERate …

Unique California Property