Oh my glorious time capsule. An absolute charmer of a house: a 1938 Romantic Revival Tudor… in Portland, Oregon… a Hansel and Gretel time capsule house… for sale… from the first owner… who moved in 1939 or 1940. That’s, like, when we first met Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz. Yes, a house holding the memories of just one family for more than 70 years. And, as we often see with these time capsule houses — this one is in impeccable-looking shape. The floors are gorgeous. The woodwork, plaster, fireplaces, lighting, bathroom — all preserved. Yes, there was some redecorating in the late 1960s or early 1970s, and maybe those kitchen cabinets aren’t original, but oh my, flower power wallpaper included, this is a sweetheart of a house. Over-the-rainbow super thanks to listing agent Thomas Cale of John L. Scott Real Estate, and to photographer Seth at 360PDX.com for sending me these photos and giving me permission to show and archive photos of this beautiful house here. Photos? There are 15 more, so start scrolling!
According to agent Thomas Cale, it seems that construction on this house started in 1938, but the house was not likely finished for a year or two. That puts just one family in the house for at least 72 years. Wow!
Above: Art tile piece at the top of the fireplace. Here’s the story Thomas got from another agent: Back in the day, each mason doing fireplaces like these had his own “signature tile” to crown his work. This peacock (?) would have been used solely by one craftsman, and the other craftsmen would have respected his exclusive use of it. This looks to me like classic art tile. Bungalow Bill, what do you think of this claim? And what about this tile?
Prompt a.m. update: Bungalow Bill (a faithful reader! Thank you, Bill!) immediately responded with info on this tile:
The tile was made by the Batchelder Tile Co of Los Angeles (1909-1932). A single tile could have been purchased or an entire pre-planned surround, which I suspect this was. I don’t know about a signature tile for a tile setter, I suppose that may be more likely in more grand installations.
The house reads more 1920?s to me. The niches in the rooms, with the exception of above the fireplace, could have been used for a telephone.
I dig that mint green band of tiles against the pink in the tub.
Here’s another story Thomas conveyed: The nook above the fireplace, and another similar nook in the hallway between the upstairs bedrooms, were installed specifically to hold religious figurines. Prayers would be said to them.
According to the listing, the house includes three bedrooms, one bathroom (yes: pink), hardwood floors, a finished basement with fireplace, wet bar, and utility room. As you will also see in the photos, there are some seriously scrumptious architectural details — coved tray ceilings (am I use the correct term?), arts and crafts fireplace, original lighting, and even a lovely original rug. The listing says the home is “just blocks to Portland’s Alberta Art district and only minutes to downtown.” The house just came on the market this week, the listing price is $365,000.
Thomas believes that the wall cabinet doors — the ones with the leaded glass — are original to the house. Or the doors are. But he believes the original cabinets were replaced with these, in the 1970s or so.
Am I crazy in love with this kitchen nook, with the wild flooring reaching up to the wild wallpaper, with gold valances batting their eyelashes?? You bet I am. Thomas said that 20 people came through the house the first day it was on the market (Tuesday). He said about half of them liked — or even loved — the wallpaper. He was surprised. I told him: Don’t be, vintage wallpaper is “in”!
Of course there is a pink bathroom. Would there ever be a doubt. Remember: There were pink bathrooms before Mamie Eisenhower. Just not as many as after, because there was not much home construction during the Depression years. Thomas says that when this house was built, it was all farmland across the street.
Here’s the time capsule basement. Look at the wallpaper! The floor! The knotty pine wet bar! Reports from the family are: There were some great parties held in this room.
Look at the width of those knotty pine panels. Oh, Thomas, remember how I told you about my other website, SaveThePinkBathrooms.com? I forgot to tell you about my other other website, KnottyIsNice.com. This house has multiple selling points, here in the Retro Renovation Nation.
The other side of the basement. Dig the old sink. Thomas says it’s made of concrete. Yum.
I think Thomas told me that in the upstairs bedrooms, there had been shag carpet. When they pulled it up, this is what was underneath. This floor has not been refinished. It was pristine. I also like that door, and I’d love to see a close up of the doorknob and escutcheon.
Thomas says all the wallpaper in the house is just a single layer. It’s old. These folks did not see a need to change it. Most all the lighting in the house is original, too. )I am not so sure about the lights in the kitchen prep area….)
Above: If I’m understanding Thomas correctly, there is another floor tucked way up top. This rug is original. FANTASTIC!
I would love to see photos of this house with its original roofing. I bet it was all Hansel and Gretel cedar shingles. Thomas has dubbed the house “Tudor” and I think that’s fundamentally right, but I’d also put it into the American Romantic Revival tradition. I didn’t go pull out my field guide, but it was during the 1930s that we saw these sentimental housing styles recreated in homes built across America. What a heartwarming house. We are all keeping our fingers crossed, Thomas, that the new owners love it as much as we do — without making too many changes. This story made me so happy. xoxo, Thomas and Seth!
Link love:
- See the listing for this lovely time capsule house here.
- Many thanks to listing agent Thomas Cale of John L. Scott Real Estate for permission to feature these photos from his listing and for all the great info.
- Thanks to Seth at 360pdx.com, for the photos and permission.
- Alystar, big thanks to you, too, cuz you had this on your facebook.
P.S. Portland sure has some beauties. Remember this 1948 Streamline Moderne time capsule stunner we saw last year?
P.S.S. I was up really late writing this. I will fix typos in the morning.
All material as published in this story is copyright RetroRenovation.com 2012.
Wendy M. says
It’s just wonderful! I love that there is so much color, pattern and texture. I hope the backlash from the current “greige nation” will be lots and lots of color!
This is the neighborhood my grandparents lived for about 20 years (from the early ’40 to the late ’50’s) so the pictures of this house look much like the pictures from theirs.
Diane in CO says
What a charmer. When I first saw the exterior pic I would have bet $100 that was in Denver; we have dozens of home that look just like that, sidewalk and everything! And in my neighborhood, too.
My home is a two story version, built 1935, and I have the original spec book from the builder. We call them English Revival, not Tudor which I reserve for homes with the half-timbering on the exterior. My kids in Portland, I have noticed, use the term “tudor” for homes I would never call tudor! Perhaps there are regional differences of opinion….
We have so many of the same features of the Portland house including the art tile and those arched NICHES! I REALLY don’t think they were for “religious objects” – I have never ever heard that before. We have one on the tile stairway that has an old iron and glass light wired into it! We didn’t care for the out-of-scale niche over our fireplace and we have it covered with a large framed painting. There’s a really deep niche in our front hall – all have clay tile “sills” as do our windows.
The linoleum in the basement of the Portland house is wonderful!
Amanda says
My house has a lot of similarities to the Portland one as well, and it’s bugged me for some time now that I wasn’t sure what kind of house it was. I really didn’t think it was a Tudor, now I know it’s probably an English Revival. Thanks Diane!
Ann J says
Love it. Thanks for posting.
Bryen says
I was wondering about the ceiling in the second to last photo (the one with the original carpet) – what era is that style from? What is that style called? We have a simliar ceiling in the house we just purchased – upstairs, in the living room and above a drop ceiling in the kitchen.
AS says
I don’t the name of the architectural style, but I have seen it in homes with Dutch and German influence.
With respect to this house, and FWIW, my understanding is that in the depression builders included an unfinished attic space so that when the owners had the money they could expand the home. This is why you will sometimes see a home with a “one and a half story.” Given how large this home is, however, the attic may have been built out from the beginning.
Lastly, I don’t have a great view from the pictures, but I think maybe the kitchen cabinets are original and were de-painted and stained. You might be able to tell from the grain. If it is tight-grained, it is likely old growth wood (aka “a keeper”). I think only the counter tops were re-done.
pam kueber says
Thanks, AS. I very much agree that these homes — and this includes well into the 50s maybe even the 60s — often had unfinished attics and basements that could be finished later by the owners, when they had more money or when they needed the space.
Mimi says
What a great house! Unfortunately, only about 2% of the people will actually appreciate it! I’m sure it will hear that it needs “some serious updating” and “granite here and stainless there”. Ugh……makes me sad to think! I pray that whoever buys it will leave it alone. It’s just awesome!!
pam kueber says
Yes, Mimi, we sure hope it finds a sympathetic owner. It’s in Portland, Oregon — a great preservationist city. I know I wrote a lot so maybe you didn’t see it, but real estate agent Thomas Cale said that on the first day the house was on the market, about 20 folks came through at and at least 1/2 of them liked or loved the wallpaper. That’s a great sign!!!!
Chris says
Oh wow! What a great place!
One note: regarding the niche above the fireplace — I have a catalog from about 1934. It is maybe for Pittsburgh Glass or something. But it is advertising its products in the guise of a decorating guide/magazine. There is a small feature on the niche as a wonderful showcase for “objets d’art.”
I come from a long line of Catholics, so I can certainly see the BVM (Blessed Virgin Mary) 🙂 up in that niche over the fireplace. If the house was built specifically for a Catholic family, I could believe that the niche was for religious statuary.
But I do know that those little features were also done just to be beautiful. I really wish I had a couple in my house! I definitely want a phone niche!!!!!
Thanks for this article — loved it! LOVE the time-capsule houses!
Lola82 says
The niche above the fireplace is most likely for a mantel clock. We have the same fire place and the mantel clock fits perfectly in the niche.
lynda says
Very nice, and just think of all the money they saved in 70 years of not remodeling!
Rick says
Wow! It looks small on the outside, but the rooms look huge; and beautiful wood floors when shown. The basement diamond door reminds me of an old style elevator door. The dryer with the small window looks to be a Hamilton Beach; my folks had one, but that was 50 + years ago. Really dig the red black tile & yes, the knotty pine. Looks to be a telephone niche between the kitchen dining area and the ? formal dining area. Would be fun to look through the owners photo albums and see room backgrounds from all those years!
BungalowBILL says
The tile was made by the Batchelder Tile Co of Los Angeles (1909-1932). A single tile could have been purchased or an entire pre-planned surround, which I suspect this was. I don’t know about a signature tile for a tile setter, I suppose that may be more likely in more grand installations.
The house reads more 1920’s to me. The niches in the rooms, with the exception of above the fireplace, could have been used for a telephone.
I dig that mint green band of tiles against the pink in the tub.
pam kueber says
I knew you would know! THANK YOU, Bungalow Bill!
pam kueber says
I’m going to ask if they have a close up of the fireplace…
Frank says
Yes, that is definitely Batchelder tile. It if very popular in older homes here in Pasadena.
Lola82 says
Bungalow Bill,
I live in a similar house with a fireplace that has this tile surround without the beautiful art tile at the top. I as just wondering if you knew how I could polish the tile. In the last few years that have become chalky and dull looking. They look dried out.
Any suggestions?
Diane in CO says
Lola82 — this morning I was able to access an archival digitized copy of an old Batchelder Catalog, because I now realize all my tile and fireplace, mantle, stairs, are Batchelder (Thanks BungalowBill!). The catalog had text on cleaning and oiling their tile. I can’t cut and paste from the PNG copy I made of this info so I will give you the condensed version here:
“CLEANING: To remove mortar after tile is set use muriatic acid, 1 part acid to 6 cups or more water. Results are better when applied with a rag. Then rinse thoroughly with clear water to remove excess acid.
OILING: When work is dry apply RAW linseed oil to the entire surface immediately rubbing dry with “cotton waste” (ed. whatever that is…). NEVER use boiled oil or any gummy preparation. Then it says “Keep figure tiles free from oil and dirt.” (Does that mean don’t oil those???)
FINISHING: The application of a coat of ordinary uncolored floorwax thinned with turpentine is desireable but not necessary. The wax should be applied and rubbed dry immediately with cotton waste. Do not polish.
Lola, I hope this will give you some guidance straight from the horse’s mouth!
Lola82 says
Diane you are awesome. I’ve been looking at these tiles getting chalkier and chalkier for years and wondered what I could do about it. I tried a little lemon oil on a corner once but it just soaked in and didn’t make a difference. I’m going to follow these instructions, the floor wax makes sense too. Thank you so much
Janet in CT says
What a gem! I absolutely love it but for one thing; that upper cabinet doesn’t match the tapered lower one across from the stove. Maybe they were short people but I would guess the average person would whack a shoulder or head on that corner all the time. Funny they didn’t match it to the lower cabinet to prevent that but maybe they weren’t custom made and that upper piece wasn’t available back then. The flower wallpaper is pretty stunning and although I am pretty conservative when it comes to wallpaper, I would find myself struggling with the question of keeping it or replacing it. Amazing how the owners kept it up so beautifully, even the bathroom! It is my dream house!