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Home / The Museum of Mid Century Material Culture / time capsule homes

Five vintage pastel bathrooms in this lovely 1942 capsule house — Portland, Oregon — 13 photos

pam kueber - Updated: August 12, 2017

Retro Renovation stopped publishing in 2021; these stories remain for historical information, as potential continued resources, and for archival purposes.

Portland-time-capsule-with-five-pastel-bathsTour-a-Time-CapsuleWow. Not one. Not two. Not three. Not four. Yes: Five beautiful time capsule bathrooms in this 1942 house — just listed for sale — in Portland, Oregon. I received a call from real estate agent Susan Cassidy this evening, and on hearing the story, we rushed these photos on to the blog. It seems very unusual, to me, to see so many bathrooms in a house from 1942 — deep in the midst of the war years. And they are like a veritable catalog of the colors in vogue. Which color bathroom would you choose? Let’s look at more of the photos from this house — and you can take our quiz to see if we have a favorite. Oh, yes, and there’s more to this house than the bathrooms, of course: A beautiful, charming exterior… lovely moldings… and a knotty pine basement with built-in bar. 13 photos in all — and a large-size slide show at the end –>

We are rushing this story to press (so to speak) tonight … and it’s late … so we’ll keep the commentary short (for now) and let the (fabulous) photos tell the story… Let’s start with the charming exterior, I guess I’d call this a Tudor (?)… I want to say Dutch Colonial, but the roof line is wrong… anyway, kind of Tudor, kind of Colonial:

1943-brick-colonial-house-exterior1940s-brick-colonial-house-ext brick-doorway-entrance-1940s-cape-codAbove: Yikes, the brickwork around the entry way is phenomenal. Here’s the listing information:

This home was designed by Richard Sundeleaf and is full or rich detail. Spacious and inviting. The original features include gorgeous 1940’s baths, large master suite with sitting area, 2nd master on the main, classic “mad men” style rec room, hardwoods throughout, built ins, and lots of light. Storage everywhere, 2 car attached garage and sun room.

  • Price: $859,000
  • Year built: 1942
  • Traditional 2 story, Lap siding, wood, attached garage, full basement – partially finished, corner lot.
  • Sq. Ft.: 6,458
  • Bedrooms: 5
  • Full Bathrooms: 5
  • Interior Features: Dumbwaiter, Garage Door Opener, Hardwood Floors, Laundry, Wood Floors, Solar TubeExterior Features:Fenced, Garden, Patio, Storm Window
  • Kitchen Appliances:Down Draft, Built-in Dishwasher, Disposal, Pantry, Free-Standing Range
  • Fireplace Description:Wood
  • Number of Fireplaces: 3

1940s-pink-ceramic-tile-bathroom-and-dressing-area 1940s-pink-ceramic-tile-bathroomdental sinkBathroom #1 is pink and pink… Update: Listing agent tells me that, not visible in the photo above, there is a “dental sink” — see my story about dental sinks here. 
pink-and-black-vintage-bathroom-1940s-ceramic-tileBathroom #2 is pink and black…

vintage-black-and-white-ceramic-tile-bath-1940sBathroom #3 is white and black…

vintage-pink-and-blue-bathroom-ceramic-tile

Bathroom #4, pink and blue…Hey, remember Nora’s pink and blue bathroom — original owner in her original bathroom!?

yellow-and-black-ceramic-tile-vintage-bathroomBathroom #5 is yellow and black….

Which vintage bathroom is your favorite?

 

 

 

Oh… and we’re not done yet. Keep going:

Knotty-pine-den-with-fireplace knotty-pine-office-with-parquet-floors knotty-pine-paneling-in-rec-room-basement knotty-pine-rec-room-with-sputnik-light-and-fireplace

Many thanks to real estate agent Susan Cassidy for calling with this spectacular listing — and for giving us permission to feature these gorgeous photos for our forever-archive. Let’s find this house a buyer!

Links:

    • Listing – this house for sale
    • Susan Cassidy, Keller Williams. Note, if you are interested in this house, you can call Susan direct at 503-545-4950.

.

Tips to view slide show: Click on first image… it will enlarge and you can also read my captions… move forward or back via arrows below the photo… you can start or stop at any image:

1943-brick-colonial-house-exterior
1940s-brick-colonial-house-ext
brick-doorway-entrance-1940s-cape-cod
1940s-pink-ceramic-tile-bathroom-and-dressing-area
1940s-pink-ceramic-tile-bathroom
vintage-pink-and-blue-bathroom-ceramic-tile
pink-and-black-vintage-bathroom-1940s-ceramic-tile
yellow-and-black-ceramic-tile-vintage-bathroom
vintage-black-and-white-ceramic-tile-bath-1940s
walk-in-closet-off-master
entry-way-with-original-vintage-woodwork-and-door
1340s-dining-room-with-original-woodwork
living-room-1940s-original-woodwork-doorway
vintage-sitting-area-bay-windows
living-room-with-bay-window-and-fireplace-1940s
knotty-pine-den-with-fireplace
knotty-pine-office-with-parquet-floors
kitchen-eat-in-area-white
white-laminate-kitchen-wood-floor
white-laminate-kitchen
bedroom-beige
bedroom-with-built-in-shelves
bedroom-with-steps-into-sitting-room
built-in-shelving-around-fireplace-in-bedroom-vintage
vintage-bedroom-wood-flooring
walk-in-closet-with-built-in-shelving
bedroom-with-wood-flooring
childs-vintage-bedroom-with-dollhouse
office-with-wood-flooring
knotty-pine-rec-room-with-sputnik-light-and-fireplace
knotty-pine-paneling-in-rec-room-basement
basement-play-area
laundry
rear-exterior-of-1940s-cape-cod-brick
vintage-flagstone-patio
flagstone-patio-vintage-back-yard
garden-and-back-yard
arbor-swingset-vintage
back-porch-lined-with-mossy-brick-vintage

CATEGORIES:
The Museum of Mid Century Material Culture time capsule homes

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180 comments

Comments

  1. Maureen says

    February 13, 2013 at 7:33 am

    Heart, heart, heart. Except the kitchen and the light bar over the sink in the Black Tile Bathroom. [u*** word etc edited – pam]

    • Beth says

      February 13, 2013 at 9:08 am

      I noticed that light bar, too. Seemed so out of place.

  2. jeanne says

    February 13, 2013 at 7:16 am

    Oh Em Gee! It looks like money was no object when building this house. The bedrooms all seem good sized, too! Those bathrooms are perfection. Me want that dressing room attached to the pink bathroom. It’s all so fabulous! I’ve never seen wood trim like the living room/entry area before. When I have more time I need to go back and savor every photo. It’s a tile extravaganza!

  3. Carole says

    February 13, 2013 at 2:55 am

    If there’s ever an open house I’ll have to go and see this one! It’s way too much square footage, but would love to see inside. 🙂

    • pam kueber says

      February 13, 2013 at 8:29 am

      Yes, I would go to the open house and stay a long long time!

  4. puddletowncheryl says

    February 13, 2013 at 1:43 am

    Eastmoreland, the area it is in was already an old established neighborhood by the forties. There are fabulous houses from the very, very late 1800’s.

  5. Paula says

    February 13, 2013 at 1:33 am

    Wow, this is an amazing house in one of the best family neighborhoods in Portland! We raised our family in Eastmoreland and it was wonderful.

  6. Lauryn says

    February 13, 2013 at 1:30 am

    Oh my, oh my, oh my. Unbelievable … the bathrooms are bigger than our bedroom! Adore the yellow and black bathroom but had to vote for the pink pink one because of that fabulous bath alcove. Thank you for sharing, Susan Cassidy!!

    • Janice says

      February 13, 2013 at 10:00 am

      That’s what won me over too – that pink bathtub alcove. I actually pictured myself stepping out of the bath and toweling off. I want to be rich and move to Portland so I can buy this house!

  7. Dana Kay says

    February 13, 2013 at 1:27 am

    Absolutely beautiful!! Wowsers!!

  8. tammyCA says

    February 13, 2013 at 1:17 am

    Oh, my…my heart stopped with this house…what a jewel. I voted for the pink, pink,pink bathroom but I love them all. Couldn’t somebody buy this house and turn it into a B&B so we can all enjoy it? Sigh.

    • Sarah says

      February 13, 2013 at 1:25 am

      I love that idea!!! I hope someone takes you up on it!

  9. Nita@ModVintageLife says

    February 13, 2013 at 1:04 am

    Love all five of those bathrooms! I hope someone buys it that appreciates them.

  10. Lora Jabot says

    February 13, 2013 at 12:42 am

    Love, Love, Love!!! 😉

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