There’s no house I’d rather renovate than one that’s been in the same family for years. When a house is turned over from one family to the next, with each family comes new ideas, styles, and a new set of renovations. Over time there is often little of the original character left, and what is there is masked by designs from each decade and each new owner.

So when we discovered this 1945 ranch had been owned by the same family since about 1950 and they did not do updates every ten years, we jumped on it.  Added bonus- it was a solid  house and the family maintained it well over all of those years. Here it is: 8603 NE Dyer St, Portland, OR 97220

And here is what we did. Starting from the outside, we knew the roof needed to be replaced, but weren’t anticipating having to remove three layers first. We replaced the roof, and removed the large drop arm awnings and dated barred glass door. Any time I see bars over window and door and large awnings, I always remove them. This is a safe neighborhood, and there was a great solid wood door behind those bars which you really couldn’t see. The awnings, while they kept out some of the heat, they also kept out light which now comes shining through these great midcentury windows.

The living room had rare wooden vaulted ceilings for this era of house. We freshened up the space, replaced the carpet, got rid of the wood paneling from the walls, and added a large, new modern light fixture.  This room now feels completely inviting, and one you want to hang out in.

The dining room was centered in what I would consider the walkway from the front door. We removed the chandelier, added a flush mount modern light fixture, and moved the dining area in front of the window which overlooks Rocky Butte. Under this carpet we discovered white oak hardwood floors. With some sanding and a few coats of polyurethane, they turned out better than new. What you see here is the natural color of the wood. No stain needed.

Oh this kitchen…while cute (and who can resist that horse rocker), it lacked functional space. The refrigerator was in front of the sliding glass door, and kitchen overall needed more storage. We swapped the fridge location and the coffee bar (and built a smaller one), and made room for a new large pantry. We kept and restored the solid wood cabinets and added butcher block counter tops to warm it up. With new appliances and the benefit of a dishwasher, this kitchen functions much better.

The master bedrooms, and all the bedrooms for that matter, are gleaming with the new refinished floors and a fresh coat of paint. These light fixtures were original and in good shape, so of course we kept them. You may notice wall cadet heaters were in all of the rooms. That’s how the house was heated. We opted for a major upgrade with all new ducting and a high efficient furnace. No more electric heat.

The bathroom layout worked, but it felt small and was dark. We brightened it up with white walls and wall tile, added a large mirror and some stylish, bold blue floor tile.

The exterior is one of the highlights of the house. It sits on almost a double lot, with a spacious front, side and back yard. There’s even RV parking for the adventurous spirits. The patio is inviting, and neighborhood is pretty quiet for how busy Portland has become these past several years. This house is solid and beautiful, and ready for the next family. No renovations needed.

If you want to see more of this house, it’s for sale now. Check it out here: 8603 NE Dyer St, Portland, OR 97220