Launchpad For Year Round Outdoor Fun!

Tucked in at the base of the Mt. Hood National Forest in Estacada, this beautiful Thomas Heights home provides the perfect balance of open space, desirable amenities, and access to nature.

Open Living Area

The main floor greets you with an incredible great room illuminated by numerous windows that bring a sense of tranquility as they seemingly allow the trees to envelop you. Soaking in that feeling as you warm yourself by the gas fireplace on a cold rainy day is an experience that gives the word home a new meaning. Simply enjoying your coffee or unwinding from your day on the covered deck can make you feel like you’re at a getaway in the woods. The balance between nature and home is palpable here.

You’ll be ready to for cozy weekend brunch or hosting large gatherings with the chef’s kitchen featuring gas appliances, a sizable island, quartz countertops, farmhouse sink, tiled backsplash, and pantry. Before we leave the main floor we can’t overlook the full bathroom and a bedroom that could easily flex as an ample office space.

Upstairs three well appointed bedrooms share a full bathroom and a separate family room gives plenty of space for everyone in the home. The primary suite is filled with light, has a spa-like en suite bathroom with soaking tub, double sinks, and a walk-in tiled shower. From there you enter the expensive walk-in closet with direct access to the laundry room. The design details in this home create a flow of functionality that many builders and architects overlook.

This community has the vibe of modern Scandinavian farmhouse meets Pacific Northwest Mountainscape, a truly flattering combination. The development is made of up 33 homes and has given priority to preserving the natural areas, retaining over 7 acres of green space within the community. Greentown homes is known for designing energy efficient homes with luxury amenities, using sustainable materials, and thoughtful finishes, as their standard.

MLS# 22375707 | Taxes: $5179 | Lot Size: .18 Acre

Header Photo by Dale Nibbe on Unsplash

Enchanting Multnomah Farmhouse

Enchanting Multnomah Farmhouse

8235 SW 30th Avenue | Portland, Ore 97219

Offered at $775,000 | ML #22577043

5 Bedrooms | 3 Baths | 2,883 SF | 0.33 Acres

Enchanting Multnomah Village farmhouse with guest suite, set on an incredible 1/3 acre lot. Vintage details; hardwoods, millwork, clawfoot, covered front porch. 3 levels above grade with 5 bedrooms, open kitchen/dining with sitting areas, private deck overlooking the amazing yard. And wow, the gardens… an oasis of mature plantings, raised beds, natives & bountiful fruits ‘n veg. Only 3 blocks to Multnomah Village amenities, cafes, restaurants.

Matterport Tour

Boise Eliot Farmhouse

Boise Eliot Farmhouse

3021 NE Rodney Ave | Portland, OR 97212

Offered at $625,000 | ML # 21417280

3 Bedrooms | 1.1 Baths | 3,040 SF | 50 x 100 Lot

Boise Eliot Farmhouse. Vintage charm throughout; high ceilings, hardware, lighting, original millwork & mouldings. Wrap around front porch for morning coffee. Remodeled kitchen and dining area with pantry. Laundry on the main. Unfinished basement potential. Generous yard spaces for gardening & entertaining, established beds and storage shed. Blocks from restaurants, grocery, brewery, cafes, parks & Dishman Community Center.

Photo Slideshow

Alberta Arts Farmhouse

Alberta Arts Farmhouse

5132 NE 14th Place | Portland, OR 97211

Offered at $599,900 | ML # 21167509

3 Bedrooms | 1.1 Baths | 1,997 SF

Alberta Arts Classic Farmhouse. Wrap around porch, vintage mouldings, flooring, hardware & lighting. Classic layout; 3 bedrooms upstairs, entry w/balustrade, formal living & dining rooms with high ceilings. Kitchen features working island, walk-in pantry and backyard access. Set up above the street on a private, sunny lot just a block from your abundant Alberta amenities.

Photo Slideshow

Optimism Leads to Achievement!

Congratulations to Chris and Hannah!

Part of what I love about my job is the opportunity to meet all kinds of people and help them through the shared goal of homeownership. It’s fascinating what comes up for people, what ideas they arrive with and how those ideas affect their journey. Hannah and Chris brought optimism with them to the home buying process and it made for a very smooth and very fun experience! They were open to ideas and trusted our input. They were a blast to check out houses with!

Hannah and Chris found a gorgeous remodeled home in St. Johns and sailed through the transaction like champs. We ended up running into a very uncommon snag along the way and they were open to creative solutions and ready to roll with the punches. Everything worked out great and I really appreciate their optimism along the way. Cheers!!

 

Sellwood Farmhouse

Sellwood Farmhouse

1566 SE Linn St | Portland, Ore 97202

Offered at $575,000 | ML #21699311

3 Bedrooms | 1.1 Baths | 1,428 SF + Bonus Studio

Sellwood Farmhouse. Vintage details – modern amenities. Blocks from grocery, coffee, shops, parks, bike routes. Updates to most systems, hardwoods and new carpets, tile work and charming moudlings. Kitchen with pantry, dining nook and backyard access. Gardens, entertainment spaces, established flora and bonus exterior office/studio. Three bedrooms upstairs – creates spacious main floor; formal dining room, broad living room, entry and storage.

PHOTO SLIDESHOW

Historic Queen Anne with Modern Style!

Historic Queen Anne with Modern Style!

910 Pierce St., Oregon City, OR 97045

Offered at $000,000

  3 BEDROOM | 2 BATH |  1,914 SQFT
MLS #21112023 | TAXES:$2,292

Please see listing for Covid-19 safety procedures.

Exquisite and stylish Queen Anne with historic appeal!  Swoon over the graceful curves and architectural details of the 1891 G. Storey House. This 3 bed/2 bath is teeming with authentic charm and modern amenities. Light-filled formal living and dining rooms with fireplace, soaring ceilings, and wood floors throughout. Fresh paint inside, with updated kitchen, mudroom, bathroom on the main, and stained glass windows. Beautifully landscaped yard with a pond, mature berry bushes, a greenhouse, and lots of great gardening and entertaining potential. Just minutes from downtown Oregon City, this is the home you have been waiting for!

Read about the history of this home – The George & Bertha Storey House

WHAT’S AROUND – WANT TO GO FOR A WALK? A NIGHT OUT ON THE TOWN SOUND FUN? NEED TO GRAB SOME GROCERIES?

      • Grano Bakery
      • Oregon City Carnegie Library
      • Black Ink Coffee + White Rabbit Books & Gifts
      • Oregon City Brewing
      • Corner 14 Food Carts
      • McLoughlin Promenade
      • Oregon City Main Street
      • Willamette Falls
      • Oregon City Municipal Elevator
      • Safeway
      • Market of Choice – West Linn
      • Mike’s Drive In
      • Singer Creek Park
      • The Highland Stillhouse Pub
      • Mi Famiglia Wood Oven Pizzeria

HOUSE HIGHLIGHTS + FEATURES:

      • Bright and beautiful turn of the century Victorian dollhouse
      • Luminescent stained glass windows in entry and stairwell
      • Updated kitchen with newer flooring, countertops, cabinets and appliances, and room to eat-in
      • Restored classic bath on main floor
      • Hardwood floors throughout main floor
      • 1 bedrooms, bonus room and full bath on main, 2 bedrooms and full bath up
      • Juliet balcony overlooking front yard
      • Large yard with mature landscaping, greenhouse, raised beds and a patio

 



About Us: Over the course of their professional partnership, Aryne + Dulcinea have helped hundreds of clients prosper in their new lives. During this time, they have prided themselves in their top-notch selling abilities, with homes outperforming market standards, consistently exceeding list price while most of their listings sell in under 7 days. Whether you’re looking to buy or sell, Aryne & Dulcinea will work in collaboration to guide you in investing in your future and reaching your real estate goals.

Just Sold: Eclectic Victorian Farmhouse

Eclectic Victorian Farmhouse tucked into one of Portland’s coolest neighborhoods.

Vintage and modern co-mingle to create a NoPo Victorian that feels both historic and fresh. Antique/reclaimed lighting, crown molding, custom bench seating and refinished original oak floors blend seamlessly with copious gorgeous updates throughout. The kitchen has beautiful new maple butcher block countertops, soft close drawers and doors, ceiling fan and custom-built wooden wine rack. One bedroom on the main floor with refurbished original wood doors and hardware, plus a large closet and built-in shelving. Unwind in the refinished vintage cast iron clawfoot tub in the knockout bathroom that also features premium tiles, custom vanity with gorgeous wood sink and large tri-fold mirror medicine cabinet.

Upstairs, the large landing area would be perfect for a playroom or office. The bright master bedroom has new carpet, ceiling fan, fresh paint and a walk-in closet. A second upstairs bedroom includes premium cork flooring, large closets and new ceiling fan.

 

Escape to the state-of-the-art home theater at the end of the day in the beautiful recently remodeled basement pre-wired for Dolby sound system and projector. Enjoy refreshments in the bar area. The lower level would also make a luxe ADU with its own bedroom with extra large daylight egress window, full bath with stylish modern shower and brand new front load washer and dryer. Plus, a large storage room with custom door and deep freezer perfect for canning the garden’s summer bounty.

Outside, the abundance continues with an extensive edible organic garden of apple, olive, pear, fig, persimmon, raspberry, chokeberry, huckleberry, a strawberry patch and so much more! Previous owners had chickens, ducks, rabbits and a beehive. Potential to create your own thriving urban farm with professional landscape design master plan that comes with the home! All brick for paths and patios were reclaimed from demolished North Portland homes. The fenced yard also includes a shed and plenty of space for off-street parking.

 

Rest easy thanks to extensive system upgrades to the whole house including new plumbing and electrical for future upper level bathroom, new hot water heater, radiant heated flooring in the basement, seismic straps bolted to foundation walls, among many other features.

 

Located between all the best spots on N. Interstate and Mississippi, this home is a perfect combination of timeless vintage design and modern Portland living.

1910 Farmhouse Meets Modernist Dream

1910 Farmhouse meets modernist’s open-plan dream!

It lives like a sprawling ranch home — boasting a huge open plan ‘great room’ with kitchen, dining and living room all rolled into one.

Two bedrooms flank the great room, whereas the en-suite main bedroom with oversized closet is quietly tucked in back. Remodeled throughout with modernist finishes, updated mechanicals (newer furnace, new Energy Star water heater), recessed can lighting, laminate floors, double paned Low-E vinyl windows, this home is absolutely move-in ready.

An open plan basement is ready for finishing with newer windows, sump pump (to be installed Sept 4), and egress potential.

Fully fenced and private yard with patio, gazebo (included in sale), raised garden boxes, enclosed RV parking, rolling gate, lawn, and mature Dwell-style landscaping. Running the length between two streets, the lot has entry from either side and access to double the friendly neighbors!

The home is poised in an established pockets of  historic 1910’s homes between Woodstock, Lents, and Happy Valley, so there’s seriously easy access to the full spectrum of shopping (from local to big box), take-out,(Cartlandia and dozens of other restaurants) parks (equidistant between Brentwood, Mt. Scott, and Glenwood where the Portland Pickles play!) a grade school (literally kitty-corner across Duke St) and the all important I-205 Freeway (the best freeway, IMO).

Matterport Virtual Tour

3beds, 2 baths, 2004 Sq Ft.
Listed at $419,000.

6429 SE 80th PL, Portland OR 97206
MLS# 20129211

 

 

Adventures in Real Estating: Selling During Covid

This dreamy South Tabor farmhouse of infinite possibilities just sold in the midst of covid panic at $52k over asking with 7 offers in just 3 days.  Many congratulations to my client — all his hard work getting this gem ready for market paid off big time!

Before covid began, we met to discuss how he could best prep his home for the market.  I always recommend scheduling a consult and walk through with your REALTOR® before embarking on home projects. This can save you lots of time and money, as we are able to identify which changes will have the greatest impact on your sale in the current market. In this case, most of the work was focused on the exterior, but inside, fresh white paint and top notch staging brought the house to life in a whole new way!

 

 

 

Here is the living, dining area and kitchen before…

 

 

 

 

 

And after!!

 

 

 

 

 

It was as if the whole house sprang to life! I remember walking through after it was painted and could practically feel the walls beaming and calling out for the next stewards of home.

view from South Tabor

One of the aspects I love most about this home is the SPACE! All kinds of spaces for all kinds of imaginable fun. Outside there is not only a nice sized grassy backyard + side yard perfect for garden beds, but also a hot-tub cabana, big locking bike shed and a carport with storage and workbench. Inside, the 3 bedroom/2 bath home also includes a den and office upstairs while the basement offers a finished bonus room, laundry area and unfinished space for storage or projects. But I think my FAVORITE space is the upstairs bathroom ~ clawfoot tub and Mt. Tabor views? Yes, please!!

 

My seller put a lot of love into creating a lush grassy backyard where an old blank deck lived before and added many sweet details and upgrades to the exterior to boost curb appeal and honor the 1910 vintage of the home.

When the time came to list, we had just hit the 1 month mark into this new covid reality and I offered my best advice on competitive pricing as things were still feeling a bit uncertain in the market of pandemic proportions. Covid protocol for all potential buyers meant current preapproval letters, masks, shoe covers and hand washing at the beginning and ending of each showing. No more than 3 people in the house at a time and 30 minute showings with 15 minute buffers. When the listing went live we had  immediate interest and within 48 hours over 40 showings were scheduled.  Three days later, my seller went pending with a solid offer that beat out 6 others at $52,000 over asking and stellar terms.

Throughout this transaction, both my seller and the agent on the other side were excellent communicators, easy to work with, and at the end of the day everyone wrapped up feeling really happy about the outcome. I am deeply grateful to my client for his ease in trusting my expertise and putting in the time and energy to give his house the best possible outcome in our market.

These are the stories that really light up my spirit: feeling the energy of a home brighten up with a little bit of love and elbow grease ~ the house that calls in its new owner like a match that was meant to be ~ clients’ joys of new beginnings ~ and navigating through unprecedented times with presence, awareness and clear communication. If you are curious about the market in these times, or are looking at buying or selling now or down the road, I am happy to chat over some socially distanced coffee or tea. Let’s connect!

Stay safe out there, be gentle with yourself, and take care of each other ~ we will get through this ❤️

 

 

 

Many Blessings,

Sarah

 

 

The Best Little Farmhouse in Tigard

The happy homeowners

When Amy first contacted me about a move to Portland from Colorado, I knew we were going to hit it off. We both had 4-year-old girls and a wicked sense of humor. I liked her immediately.

We then had a series of whirlwind house hunting trips when she came out to Portland for a few days at a time. I think we saw around 20-30 houses, all told. We wrote several offers that ended up in back up position, due to the fact that Amy still needed to sell her house in Colorado. One of those back up offers was the home that was to become theirs.

The sweet gift from the previous owners

When we first saw this home on a quiet street in Tigard, we fell in love. With that classic farmhouse style and huge wraparound porch, how could we resist? Once inside we saw that the kitchen and living room had been beautifully remodeled. Not to mention that the yard felt like it needed its own zip code it was so big. The perfect play zone for their daughter. Amy knew it was the one.

I can just picture them spending summers out on that beautiful porch, or enjoying the yard. I can’t wait to see photos of them all settled into their new home! Congrats Amy, Travis and Faye!

If you or anyone you know are looking to buy or sell a home in the Portland area, please contact Amanda Haworth at 503-453-7698 or amanda@livingroomre.com.

North Druid Dreams

This house really begs for you to come live the Portland Dream! This beautiful farmhouse in the Portsmouth neighborhood has been completely refreshed with new life-proof flooring, new carpet, fresh interior paint, stainless appliances and boasts a home energy score of 7! The front and back porches make a nice retreat and recent updates to the landscaping in the front and back yards ensure you’ll be ready to entertain next spring! The back yard is a true gardeners dream, there’s a  chicken coop for your babes to lay fresh eggs, a storage shed for all of those garden tools, raised beds with a drip system, and an amazing brick patio made with the repurposed brick from the home’s original chimney. Are you looking to sell your home in North Portland? There’s a good chance I’m your neighbor and would love to come chat about it!

Sweet Little Farmhouse in Overlook

Congrats to Matt and Michelle on making this sweet little Farmhouse their first home together!

It took time to find something move-in ready, bike-able to work and with a good layout, but it was always fun house hunting with these guys. And this was a challenging transaction for sure, but keeping cool and slowly working through all the little hurdles worked out in the end. Now these two coffee industry folks get to sip their perfect roast on the front porch and perhaps spread the coffee love to their lucky new neighbors.

Marvelous Montavilla Farmhouse

335 NE 79th Ave.

Portland, OR 97213

This charming farmhouse is a harmonious blend of original vintage details with modern updates. Lovely hardwood floors provide a warm, soothing ambiance to the main floor. The large, open kitchen is ideal for preparing meals or preserving the backyard bounty from the raised garden beds and fruit trees. The upper level boasts a spacious master suite and 2 additional bedrooms with high ceilings. The large fenced yard has a patio that is perfect for entertaining! Just a few blocks from the Montavilla farmers market, the Stark St strip of local shops, cafes and restaurants.

OFFERED AT $449,900

3 BEDROOM | 2 BATH | 2,322 SQFT     

Living Pretty in Oregon City

One of our favorite parts of this job is catching up with clients to see how they are doing in their new homes. We recently got to catch up with these two in Oregon City. They are truly enjoying their cozy updated 1910 farmhouse. Since moving in, they have been enjoying transforming the blank canvas of a landscape into lush fruitful gardens and enjoying discovering the Oregon City area. These two also recently got married – Congrats! We brought them a baby Japanese Snowbell with wedding bell shaped flowers tree to celebrate the occasion and help them add to their gorgeous garden project.

About Us: Over the course of their professional partnership, Aryne + Dulcinea have helped over 200 clients prosper in their new lives. During this time, they have prided themselves in their top-notch selling abilities, with homes outperforming market standards, consistently exceeding list price while most of their listings sell in under 7 days. Whether you’re looking to buy or sell, Aryne & Dulcinea will work in collaboration to guide you in investing in your future and reaching your real estate goals.

Awesome Ardenwald Farmhouse

The very best call a real estate broker can receive is a call from a buyer where they let you know they were referred to you and want to work with you and they already found a house they want to write an offer on. In real life though, it’s never quite as easy as that sounds. When my buyer Brittney called me in late April she and her family had fallen in love with a house in Brentwood Darlington they just saw at an open house and they wanted to put an offer in, but she didn’t have a broker yet. Thankfully I was available and I high tailed it over to the house to see for myself, and then right afterwards met with Brittney and her partner at a coffee shop to discuss.

Later that evening we wrote up the offer and submitted it. Since nothing is quite this easy, the offer was sadly rejected. But it wasn’t all sad news because just a couple of weeks later, Brittney and her family found a sweet farmhouse in the Ardenwald neighborhood of Milwaukie that was overall a better fit plus it has a gigantic park-like yard. And thankfully this time her offer was accepted. Inspections went smoothly and with a great lender, we closed on time. Congratulations Brittney!

First Time Buyers Fall in Love with Lents Farmhouse

Starting their Search

When first time buyers Adina and Caitlin started their search they wanted a condo. They were tired of living in a rental where the landlord didn’t keep up with repairs. So, they thought the convenience of not having to maintain the exterior possibly having a gym would be great. Starting their search Adina and Caitlin really wanted to find something affordable and start building equity. Their plan was to eventually, in 5-10 years, buy the big family house they really wanted.

The Problem with Condos

Many first time buyers have a similar story. They start out looking at condos because of the lower price. It makes sense at first, the low price, the ease of upkeep. It’s not until they talk with their agent and lender that they start factoring in the high cost of HOA dues and realize how the HOA costs affect their approval price. Once they realize the big impact those high HOAs have on their price, they consider widening their search to include other types of homes.

Financing Tip: Even condo listed at 280 may have a HOA payment of $400/month or so.  This means a buyer putting roughly 5% down would need to be pre-approved for 360-375 to actually qualify to buy it.

Adina and Cailtin (center) with Mel Marzahl, their agent (right), and Dawn Carter, their lender (left)

Change of Plans

This is predicament Adina and Caitlin found themselves in. They liked the idea of a condo for the ease of maintenance, but they realized they could pay the same amount monthly to buy a great starter home instead. When we opened up their search to include single family homes there were so many more options. In their price point some houses needed major repairs but they wanted something they could live in, and slowly fix up. A complete remodel is not in the cards for most first time buyers. We searched all over SE Portland and looked at every 2bd 700 sqft bungalow on the market, until this big, blue, beauty popped up!

The Happy Ending

They widened their search just a bit more. Including a few areas they hadn’t originally considered, like Lents. The house they found is a beautiful, 4bd, 3 story, neon blue farmhouse. It has a front porch made for a swing and summer evening hangouts. This house checked all their “must have” boxes, and more. The main floor was fixed up enough, they could move in, enjoy it but make changes slowly. It has a basement for an art studio, a big lot for gardening, and a whole upstairs level with two bedrooms, a sitting area, and space to add a bath and kitchenette.

Adina and Caitlin got everything they wanted 5-10 years from now, today. Their new house is a beauty that lives well for them in terms of style and financially. They plan to rent the private top level to travelling nurses for some help on the mortgage. After they start a family they’ll have room to grow for the kiddos. They will be the first to tell their friends to consider all their options when searching for a home. Because they know better than most that you might go from looking at 2bd condos in Multnomah Village or Lake Oswego, to 4bd farmhouses in Lents in a matter of a month or so.

CONGRATS on your first home Adina and Caitlin!

Adina and Caitlin on the front porch of their new home!

 

 

Winning Woodstock Farmhouse

Every now and then I get to work with incredibly easy clients and I have to pinch myself because they seem too good to be true. Hanne and Andrew fall into that category. They were referred to me by a long ago client, and when we met up to talk about working together, the process of buying a home and the kind of house they were looking for for their first home purchase, their needs were simple. They loved old houses, wanted at least a couple of bedrooms and wanted to be within easy biking distance (easy for them at least) from their jobs in inner East Portland and had a realistic budget. Shortly after we met and they got their pre-approval, I sent them all listings west of 82nd that were financeable and seemed to have some potential. I can’t remember how many listings I sent them- maybe 15-20, and by the next day they sent me back their comments and questions about all of them. One in particular looked intriguing to them- an old farmhouse in the Woodstock area. The house hit the market at the end of September, right when the market flat-lined for a few months. It was now mid-February and had been on the market for five months, seemed reasonably priced where it was at, and the photos made it seem like a cute house. Of course, the question arose of- what’s wrong with it?

To answer that question, we went to take a look. Inside the house was indeed cute! It had tall ceilings, a nice layout and a dreamy upstairs bedroom and den. It had carpet everywhere, but carpet is easy enough to change out. The house was built in 1907, back in the time before bathrooms inside the house were considered a home buyers must-have, so at some point, a bathroom was added to the house, right off the kitchen. For a lot of folks, wanting to have more of a separation between food prep and doing your business is a thing, but it didn’t bother Hanne and Andrew. Plus you can’t actually see the toilet from the kitchen. So the question was answered- really nothing was wrong with the house and Hanne and Andrew found themselves really drawn to the house. The next question was how reasonable would the bike commutes feel, so the next day, they rode their bikes there and back after work. The answer to that question was “reasonable!”. So with both burning questions answered- nothing wrong with the house and decent bike commutes, we wrote up an offer and the seller accepted right away. And that was the only house we looked at.

After their offer was accepted, I noticed in the DEQ LUST (leaking underground storage tank for those not in the know) and unfortunately there was an open file from 2012 where soil samples had been taken, and came back dirty. The soil samples were taken as part of the seller’s home inspection period, but unfortunately, and neither the listing agent or I could figure out how this could possibly happen, but having the seller remediate the dirty soil was not negotiated when the seller purchased the home in 2012. This is the number one item on my buyer’s repair addendum if they do soil samples and find evidence of a dirty tank. I won’t let any buyer of mine in good conscience purchase a home without having the leak cleaned up and a certificate issued stating the work was done to DEQ standards. And most agents are the same way, so how in this green earth the seller’s agent didn’t make a bigger deal out of it when she purchased the home will have to remain a mystery. So at the top of our repair addendum was having the seller get that leak taken care of. Unfortunately, when the remediation folks got in there to get the dirty soil out, the leak turned out to be a lot worse than anticipated. So after taking bucket loads of dirt from under the house (where the oil tank had been) they crew had to go back a couple more times to take more bucket loads. They eventually got all the dirty stuff out of there. We closed a couple of days late because of the soil clean-up, but the sellers are doing a 60 day occupancy after close while they go shop for a new home, so closing was pretty anti-climatic. In a couple of months I’ll get to see Andrew and Hanne again and hand them the keys to their new to them old farmhouse.

Affordable Remodeled Lents Farmhouse

Check out this sweet, professionally remodeled light and bright farmhouse.  It’s a just down the road from the all of the new development in Lents Town Center.

Character abounds with high bead-board ceilings and five-panel doors. The new kitchen cabinets, butcher block counters, double farm sink and beveled tile backsplash create a clean, inviting farmhouse kitchen.  And the master bedroom with double closets and slider to new deck give you more than you’d expect for a master at this price point. Double pane windows, high efficient furnace and laundry on main are nice added bonuses.

Plus, there’s an unfinished 300 SF attic ready for expansion when you are. Near the Springwater Corridor Trail, Max Green Line, and freeway checks all of the boxes for your commuting needs.

Are remodeled farmhouses your thing? I can’t take credit for the great work my clients did on this one in Lents, but family and I remodeled one in the Portland neighborhood of Montavilla in 2018. You can check out some before and after shots here

Bobby Curtis
Principle Broker
Licensed in Oregon
Licensed Contractor
CCB# 215071
503-502-3066

Original Montavilla Farmhouse Restoration

Montavilla is known as the quietly cool neighborhood in Southeast Portland. Centered on the commercial Stark/Washington couplet, the heart of it runs along SE Stark on what used to be street car tracks from 76th to 82nd.

Founded as Mount Tabor Village just before the turn of the century, its current name originates from an abbreviation used on that street car line: Mt. Ta. Villa. In addition to quietly cool people, Montavilla is home to shops, restaurants, watering holes, hardware stores, a university. In fact, Lonely Planet named it one of the “Top 10 Hot Hoods in the US you need to visit”.  It is also home to the latest farmhouse we restored at 505 SE 76th Ave.

Well, TECHNICALLY she’s across the street from the Western border of Montavilla, but she has been sitting at the foot of Mt. Tabor with her full attention staring down the heart of Montavilla for nearly 120 years. And she’s seen it all, believe me. Births, deaths, family gatherings, life before Country Cat, you name it. A huge tree even tried to take her down at one point but nevertheless she persisted. Persisted just long enough to welcome us in, so we could restore her to (most) of her original glory.

Whitewashed from top to bottom but still in really great shape, the exterior just needed a few standouts. So we maintained the original color and added black trim around the windows and to the large concrete posts. The roof had very recently been replaced, so we had to work with a trim color that worked well. Starting there, we quickly got inspiration for our interior color scheme. Not pictured here is the brand new roof we put on the garage, which had rotted all the way through to its joists and sill plates. Not very glamorous but very necessary. We added a fence and stone patio in the backyard for instant BBQ privacy/fun.

The living and dining rooms required the least amount of serious work. We restored the original wood floors, and added a fresh coat (or two) of paint to the ceilings, walls, and moulding. Tying in the exterior black trim color in with the stair risers and hand rail made a big impact.  And because there were no original light fixtures left in the house, we added period lighting that worked well with the era of the house.

The kitchen cabinets were original solid wood and in sturdy shape. All they needed was some freshening up. Staggered white 12” ceramic tile flooring was nicely accented with light gray grout, and we added maple butcher block countertops to warm it all up.

We made improvements to the TWO sunrooms off from the kitchen and master bedroom.  For many years these had been used as storage rooms, so little attention had been given to them. The windows hadn’t been used to look out of, and the sunlight coming in didn’t matter. Facing West, it was important we recreate these two rooms because they add so much charm to the home, and are very functional spaces.  Now these two rooms are the best places for languid summer afternoons with a good book and an even better ice cold beverage.

The main floor half bath and upstairs full bath got custom hex tile floors, efficient toilets, sinks and fresh paint. We also added all new water supply lines and sewer line to the house. Upstairs also got a brand new, gleaming subway tile surround. Very classic look for this beauty.

In order to gently nudge this old beauty in the 21st century, it was pretty clear early on that she’d need another bathroom. This had always been a family home and still now, she has room for more! Some spaces lend themselves easily to conversion. In this case, we converted the SE corner bedroom into the master bath and walk in closet, mixing vintage and modern. The 12” hexagonal tile pushes the design forward while an original clawfoot tub firmly (and very heavily) keeps it grounded in the turn of the century. The double vanity is a great mix of old and new, and the bedroom closet was easily turned into a private toilet room.

If you’re interested in checking out this MounTabor Village beauty, she’s still at the foot of Mt Tabor staring down Stark street, looking for new dwellers to call her home. You can check out the listing, price and see more pictures here.

And if you want to see Montavilla in all it’s glory, consider checking out the Montavilla Street fair on Sunday, July 29, 2018. More information here.

Bobby Curtis
Principle Broker
Licensed in Oregon
Licensed Contractor
CCB# 215071
503-502-3066[/caption]