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.
TappanTrailerTami says
One other side note….I think the attic room was finished possibly at a later date (mid to late 40’s) based on the carpet and wonderful birch paneling. Birch wasn’t really all that “in” until the popularity of travel trailers began – most of the 40’s through 50’s/60’s travel trailers had that wonderful glowing birch interior. It would seem that it may have come into vogue inside of homes as well.
TappanTrailerTami says
Oh, my! What a great house! The 20’s through 40’s are my favorite time frames for just about anything, so this just fits the bill. I’d feel pretty compelled to backdate the kitchen and nook to it’s original time frame (don’t shoot me!). LOVE that knotty pine basement, and if I could find the attic rug today, it would be in my living room! That is exquisite!
Chris says
TTT — Triple T — T cubed 🙂
You and I are soul sisters when it comes to favorite time period.
Pretty much anything from that era I would eat up with a spoon. And lick the bowl clean!
🙂
TappanTrailerTami says
T Cubed, that’s pretty funny!……yes, we could be soul sisters for sure! The bulk of everything in my house is from the 20’s-40’s, with the exception of a few items pre 20’s and a few post 40’s. The only thing I am missing is the authentic depression era house to go with all of it.
Marie says
Ditto to most of what you said….the concrete slop sink in the basement also makes me think 20s might be right. My folks own a 1920s house in the Chicago area and have one of those double basin concrete sinks in their basement too.
Janet says
My childhood home in Oregon was built right after WWII. It had a double concrete utility tub in the basement, just like this. It was not soapstone. Oh, to have it now!
Amarissa Parker says
LOVE the fact that this house was obviously loved and taken care of. That blue and white bedroom is gorgeous, and I adore that pink bathroom!!
Annie B. says
That kitchen nook makes me deliriously happy. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more cheerful room in my life.
June Cahill says
I LOVE the kitchen! The oranges/yellows – and the floor is my FAV color – kind of a olive-y, lime-y/yellow! If I were to have breakfast in that nook, I’d feel I was wrapped in retro! What a way to start the day:)
The tile band around the tub – it looks to be a muddled grey/black? Maybe just my monitor – but whatever it is, it’s gorgeous – and the pedestal sink looks to be original and so CLEAN! Thanks for the morning eye-candy!!!
Amanda says
Regarding the niches – my house (built in 1940) has them. One looks to be purely decorative, but the other one was for a phone. My neighbor’s house has a big long one in their front entryway that houses their doorbell (it has the long pipes hanging from it).
Very lovely house!
Quentin says
Hi Pam,
Thanks again for another fantastic story. It’s this type of thing that keeps me coming to your site every day. When I look at these pictures they just make me happy. I’d loved to have known the people who so lovingly cared for their charming, colourful home.
SusanD says
I agree that the kitchen was probably re-decorated in the late 1970’s. I had similar colors in my kitchen when I married in 1979. The colors could lift my mood instantly no matter what else was happening in my life and I had the same feeling when I saw the picture.
I love the house and love seeing how the owners made some decorating changes, but preserved the great features of the house. Too bad I live in Southern California or I would be seriously tempted by this house!
pam kueber says
Hey, that kitchen is pretty over the top fabulous 70s. This reminds me, before we get any strong reactions from folks whose eyeballs just can’t take it (which we understand may happen cuz color affects us all differently): Reminder, everybody: Be nice, and kind hearted in the way you say you don’t like something. The people who put this kitchen in surely loved it.
Tip: Asking myself the following question has become my litmus test when I am smart enough to think (and I still slip, I assure you!) before I comment about someone’s choices — and especially if they have not asked for my opinion.–>
“Would you say this to their face, if you had just met them, and they invited you, proudly and all friendly-like, into their house for the first time for a house tour?”
Julie Bergmans says
I like your take on being polite about the update. I am not in love with the update, and respect that at some point, the owners felt the need to improve their kitchen – times being what they were, it was the height of chic.
I think that perhaps the best way to phrase it is that while many of us who are preservationists will love everything else about the entire home, it is likely that if someone with our taste buys it, the kitchen will likely be taken back to something more closely resembling the original.
At which point, if it were me, I would be asking about photos from the family. Kitchens are photographed a surprising amount – when a woman made her first Thanksgiving turkey or with kids helping making cookies, showing off a brand new appliance, which was very exciting in that era.
There’s plenty of approaches to saying “I don’t love it” that are not impolite.
A.W.Richards says
Man that kitchen is… busy. Either the wallpaper or the vinyl flooring would have to go. The two together would just make my head hurt.