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.
puddletowncheryl says
I don’t know about the roof having been changed. We have lots of these storybook houses in Portland with similar asphalt roofs. I always think of them as Hobbit roofs. In fact “Grimm” used a house in the woods (creepy) similar to this one on their first episode giving it a Black Forest feel that’s in keeping with the Little Red Riding Hood flavor of the show.
Aleta says
puddletowncheryl, yes, I agree – i think the asphalt is an original design with the Storybook houses – and i so LOVE the show ‘Grimm’!
Rose says
We just bought a house in Grand Rapids MI that was owned by the same family for 59 years. It hadn’t been touched a hair. We ripped up old yucky red carpet two hours after closing and hardwood was underneath. The sad part is in the upstairs, the son had the bedroom floors refinished and they are all light wood colored now when the rest of the house is a much darker stain including the hallway outside of the bedrooms. 🙁 It was wallpaper in every room which I adore, but had to remove some of it. The sunroom was a similar bright wallpaper to this kitchen and my MIL adored it. I say it because it was not my favorite and in my defense I love original rooms, but I wish the homes came with all the furnishings instead of being sold off in estate sales that I then frequent to find items perfect for my home. 🙂 I kept strips of every type of wallpaper and plan to put them in frames along with the original blueprints of our 1929 home.
We only have one small pink bathroom that is off the kitchen and in rougher shape. I adore our black and white upstairs bath though. Soo perfect. This pink bathroom is amazing!
I would love to send in pics and get feedback. I love keeping things vintage, but also feel a bit overwhelmed at the prospect of decorating such an older home since I am new to the process. I want to respect the integrity of the home, but still make it my own. I promise no boring beige!!!
Speedmaster says
Very cool find!
Kim Mulligan says
Wow, gotta say too bad about the 70’s “improvements” but we are all guilty of that before your not-so-old house becomes retro.
Thanks to Bill for the background. I’m a former tile setter and I love to hear the old timers tell it like it was. My 1949 cement basement floor was signed by the concrete guy that was active in the area at the time. Had an old timey home inspector told me it was a good thing to see his initials in my basement. Bought the home and haven’t looked back! Love the pride in craftsmanship, it might not be in style for a while, but if you wait it out, it will be recognized! Long live the pink bathrooms!
Frank says
This house reminds me of some of the Storybook homes built in LA in the 1920s.
nina462 says
I think I’ve found the blueprints for this house, in my 1927 Home Builders Catalogue Co. of Chicago. It’s called the Coghlan –
it matches pretty much with the exception of the window frames.
If I could figure out how to scan & upload this, I certainly would! I’ll have to work on that for you all.
pam kueber says
cool! hey: take digital photos of the blueprints – same as a scan! thank you!!!!!
nina462 says
Pam – I’m going to send some scanned pics to you. Stay tuned.
Debra Bennett says
Hello Nina,
I am very interested in the scanned or digital pix of the model that you believe this house is patterned after. I have tried to find it online to no avail. We plan to renovate a kitchen in a home of this era.
Thank you,
Debra
Jordanna says
I ADORE the exterior. Just flat out have always loved Storybook-style (the cutesier end of Tudor) homes.
Interior-ally speaking, the wood floors are amazing. The leaded glass cabinets HAVE to stay, and I am not even a pink person but I love the bathroom.
The kitchen/breakfast room, I love the colour scheme. I am a little torn on whether to go more Tudor/storybook/”1920s-sugar-adorable” (<–not a real decorating term) in there, but I think in either case I would have to keep yellow in there. It would not feel honest to take the sunshine out of that kitchen.
I like the neutral-colour-damask of the upstairs bedroom, the one that looks like white-on-bone or slightly beige on my monitor? Very in keeping with modern tastes, more could be found to spread that look around, maybe downstairs too.
Just a wonderful house.
I get why the maintenance wouldn't appeal to an older home owner, but I'd love to put in a more floral foundation planting, maybe with some roses. Or at least more whimsically shaped shrubs, a couple spiral topiaries maybe, bring out the fairytale feel, and a window box of geraniums under the arched front window.
I love this house.
pam kueber says
Hey, “1920s-sugar-adorable” (or, 1930s-sugar-adorable) sounds like a great decorating term to me! I hereby anoint it thus!
Janet says
That attic room – I’m curious about what the material on the ceiling is. We might assume it is drywall, but if it’s older it could be a type of fiberboard.
Sherree says
I love it! From that great attic room all the way down the rumpus room in the basement.
I agree with Lynn; I want to have a Christmas cocktail party down there complete with an aluminum tree 🙂
Lynne says
I would LOVE to have a party in that basement! Everyone would have to come dressed in period appropriate clothes, and I’d serve the fashionable cocktails and appetizers from the time and play good old 40’s -50’s music. If only…..
Craig B says
I thought the same thing when I saw the photos of the rec room. Fill it up with appropriate vintage furniture and accessories, then throw a theme party. Rye would be the drink of choice.