The Value of a Realtor with an Architecture Background

A common trait of realtors is that real estate was likely not their first career. Many of our agents here at Living Room started their careers elsewhere; education, architecture, advertising, the service industry. This mix of experiences and expertise is what makes us unique and allows us to bring diverse value to our clients and transactions.  

I feel fortunate to have started my career in architecture. When I reflect, I realize how many congruences there are between the two professions and the immeasurable value that background has afforded to my business and my clients.  

  • Design Insight: Architects possess a deep understanding of spatial design, aesthetics, and functionality. This expertise enables them to evaluate properties with a discerning eye, recognizing potential for renovations or improvements that can add value to a property. This insight can also be a game-changer when identifying aspects of a property that may pose issues in the immediate, or have potential for headaches in the future. 
  • Project Management: Architects are well-versed in managing complex projects, from conception to completion. This project management experience is invaluable during a complex transaction, preparing a listing for market or guiding a client through a remodel or repair project.
  • Visualization: Architects excel in visualizing spaces and communicating their ideas effectively through drawings and models. This skill is essential to helping clients envision the potential of any space.
  • Problem-Solving: Architects are adept at finding creative solutions to design and construction challenges. This problem-solving mindset is extremely valuable when unforeseen issues frequently arise that require negotiation between many parties.

Whether you’re building or improving a space with the guidance of an architect, or you find a turnkey home with the support of a realtor – you must have a defined vision and a blueprint for execution. An architect literally creates that blueprint and a realtor procures the space that fits all of the criteria – but all of the minute details and how each piece fits together to form the whole is always front-of-mind for both professions. The use of that space is what drives us. And our ability to listen, prioritize and advise our clients is how we actualize the vision. 

Architects and realtors help people create one of the most beautiful and sacred spaces in our lives: our homes. Make sure you work with a real estate professional you trust. If you can find someone who also offers unique skills, knowledge, and vision – that’s priceless. 

The Salerno ~ Spacious 1 Bedroom

The Salerno ~ Spacious 1 Bedroom

2325 NE Flanders St #20 | Portland, OR 97232

Offered at $325,000 | ML #2268415

1 Bedroom | 1 Bath | 983sf | HOA Dues: $378/mo

Spacious One Bedroom at The Salerno. Rare ground level 983sf unit. Historic Mediterranean with gorgeous period finishes, architectural details, hardwoods, tile & millwork. Set in a quiet neighborhood just a few blocks from restaurant row. Formal entry, dining and large bedroom with multiple closets and separate storage unit. Meeting space, laundry, private courtyard, established community.

 

Photo Slideshow

Just Listed! Irvington English Tudor

2833 NE 13th Avenue

Portland, Oregon, 97212


Originally built in 1930, this classic Irvington Tudor stands out among the eclectic mix of architecture found throughout the neighborhood. As you approach the home, it immediately draws you in with the enchanting landscaping and brick vestibule. Beyond the front door, you’ll discover the perfect blend of old-world charm and new-world design. The dining and living room feature the original leaded glass windows, period lighting, oak hardwood floors, a welcoming gas fireplace, and original cast iron stair banisters. Walk through the dining room to find the gourmet dream kitchen featuring original built-ins, a breakfast nook, granite counters, a new Liebherr stainless steel refrigerator, and a GE Café range. The main floor boasts over a thousand square feet and features a bedroom with a custom-built Italian Murphy bed and an updated bathroom. Moving upstairs you find two amazing dual primary suites and a flex space that can be used for a home office, reading, or yoga. On the north side of the upstairs, you will find the main primary suite with an expansive walk-in closet and bathroom. On the south side of upstairs, you will find the second primary suite with a claw foot tub and heated floors. Each bedroom is generously scaled. As you head back downstairs beyond the main floor is the home’s third level. This area has been completely finished to include a fourth bedroom, full bathroom, a family room with a gas fireplace, a laundry area, and storage. The downstairs is also home to a new high-efficiency furnace, newer plumbing, and updated electrical.
After touring the entire 3,200 square foot home, step through the backdoor into the comfortably landscaped backyard, which features a glass awning, patio seating, dining areas, and a gas barbecue and smoker. The home also features a Rachio smart digital outdoor sprinkler system, Nest fire, outdoor speakers, Indow window inserts, automatic blinds in offices, and a smart-enabled Lennox Air Conditioner. The two-car detached garage also gives you plenty of room for your dream shop or workspace. All this comfort and charm is conveniently located close to neighborhood cafes, restaurants, and shops on Fremont and Broadway.

OFFERED AT $1,165,900

4 BEDROOM | 4 BATH | 3,253 SQFT

MLS# 21319291 | TAXES: $10,935.67

Exploring Irvington

The historic Irvington Neighborhood is in NE Portland bordered by the Sabin, Alameda, Eliot, King, Grant Park, Sullivan’s Gulch, and Lloyd Center neighborhoods. The boundaries of Irvington are;  Fremont St. to the north, Broadway St. to the south, 26th Ave to the east and 7th Ave the west.

The Irvington neighborhood is built on the Donation Land Claim of 1851 granted to William and Elizabeth Irving. Encouraged by growth of Portland’s east side, fueled by the streetcar, the Irvings descendants partnered with other investors, Thompson, Hughes, Brazee and Prescott to file a land plat and develop the area in 1887.

The neighborhood boasts some of Portland’s most beautiful and well preserved historic homes. Stunning examples of Victorian, Craftsman and Colonial Revival architecture grace the neighborhood. These homes were designed by some of Portland’s most significant architects including, Ellis Lawrence, Albert E. Doyle, Raymond Hockenberry, Frederic Bowman, David L Williams, Josef Jaccobberger, and John Virginius Bennes. For more on the history of Irvington, check out Irvington’s neighborhood association page – Historic Irvington.

When exploring the neighborhood, be sure to stroll in and out of the neighborhood streets to take in all of the architecture and the mature street trees. Irving Park is at the NW corner of the neighborhood featuring: dog off-leash area,paved paths, baseball field, softball field, soccer field, splash pad, basketball court, tennis court, volleyball court, accessible restroom, nature patch, picnic tables and a playground. Also at the NW corner of the neighborhood, is one of Portland’s favorite consignment shops – ReRun.  For lunch, brunch or dinner and a little retail therapy, visit the southern border of Irvington, Broadway Street, for shopping and culinary delights.

All images from Irvington’s neighborhood association page – Historic Irvington

How to Tour Iconic Midcentury Homes in 2020

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most traditional in-person home tours have been canceled or postponed. However, the changing times have allowed for innovative virtual 3D tours of historic mid-century homes and they’re happening all over the country. Here is a list of tours that I personally enjoy!

First and foremost, some noteworthy tours hosted right here in Portland by Restore Oregon, a local preservation organization. They were founded in 1977 as the Historic Preservation League of Oregon. Restore Oregon takes care of places that make Oregon special—churches, historic homes, neighborhoods, and much more. From now until July 26th, they are virtually hosting their 10th annual Mid-Century Modern Design Series, which is their largest educational and fundraising event of the year.

Tickets are  $50 and can be bought here through July. The ticket grants access to a 360° Virtual Home Tour of the Pacific Northwest’s three most celebrated mid-century homes. These iconic homes include:

1938 Sutor House

Photo courtesy of dwell.com

The virtual tour starts off with the revolutionary Sutor House, which is one of the most iconic examples of the developing Northwest Regional Modernism Style. It was designed by renowned architect Pietro Belluschi, the leader of the Modern Movement in architecture. Built-in 1938, it is located in Portland’s Southwest Hills on Skyline Blvd. Key features include curved zebrawood walls, natural materials, abundant light, and fine craftsmanship; all elements that have made Belluschi so renowned. Remarkably, each owner of the home has kept the house as original as possible out of respect and in homage to Belluschi.

1937 Watzek House

Photo courtesy of oregonlive.com

The monumental Watzek House is the second house on the virtual tour. It was designed in 1937 by Portland architect John Yeon, one of the early practitioners of the Northwest Regional style of Modernism. Located in the Southwest Portland hills, it has stunning views of Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Hood, and the Tualatin Valley. The house perfectly blends into the surrounding landscape, which was strategically planned by Yeon. The house instantly became an icon of the Modernist movement. Today the Watzek House is managed by the University of Oregon’s John Yeon Center for Architecture and the Landscape.

1953 Copenhagen House

Next, is the Copenhagen House which was designed by Portland architect, Walter Gordon, in 1953. Located in Lake Oswego, it is another great example of the Northwest Regional style. The house has all the standard mid-century modern characteristics such as an open floor plan, floor-to-ceiling windows, and an extension of outdoor space. A feeling of privacy and seclusion was retained despite having close neighbors, which is created by careful landscaping.

To learn more about this tour, click here.

Wingspread

Photo courtesy of wingspread.com

If you are interested in free virtual 360 degree home tours, there are a few that are being offered by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. The foundation was established in 1940 by well-known modern architect Frank Lloyd Wright and is committed to the preservation and stewardship of Wright works and collections.

You can check out their Wingspread building, located in Racine, Wisconsin, which was once the home of Herbert Fisk Johnson, Jr. of SC Johnson. They host private events and conferences, and as of 2018, offer space to businesses and organizations for their meetings and retreats. The virtual tour features the Wingspread Great Hall and gives viewers an opportunity to learn and appreciate the iconic design and history of this 14,000-foot building.

To view their virtual tour, click here.

Taliesin West

Photo courtesy of azbigmedia.com

Taliesin West is the first Frank Lloyd Wright property that was made available online for free using the new 3D immersive technology. Located in Scottsdale, AZ, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a National Historic Landmark. Blending in with the desert, it was built and maintained by Wright himself and his team. In this virtual tour, you can wander the living room and the hallways that are filled with structural desert masonry or go to the bridge to view the desert landscape.

To check it out, click here.

Whether you are interested in learning about architecture or just looking for inspiration for your own home, don’t miss out on these unique 3D virtual opportunities!

 

Contact me to find your mid century dream home:
Marisa Swenson – Specializing in Modern Home Sales
971-285-7955
modernhomesportland.com

House Crush! From Portland to Peru

WE ABSOLUTELY LOVE HOUSES!

Take a look at this week’s house crush! And for fun, we’ve decided to add a spotlight on housing from around the globe for inspiration!

PORTLAND HOUSE CRUSH

PERUVIAN HOUSE CRUSH

Love what you see, let us know and we can share more!


★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 star Google rated – 5 star Yelp rated – 5 star Zillow rated
Willamette Week Best Of Portland Nominee 2016 + Runner Up 2017

About Us:
Over the course of their professional partnership, Aryne + Dulcinea have helped over 200 clients prosper in their new lives. During this time, they have prided themselves in their top-notch selling abilities, with homes outperforming market standards, consistently exceeding list price while most of their listings sell in under 7 days. Whether you’re looking to buy or sell, Aryne & Dulcinea will work in collaboration to guide you in investing in your future and reaching your real estate goals.

Just Sold: ARCHITECT DESIGNED NORTHWEST REGIONAL STYLE STUNNER

SW Fairview Circus

PORTLAND, OREGON 97221


Magical is the best way to describe this gorgeous home and it cast its’ spell on its’ new owners before we could get it onto the market! The minute they saw it they knew that it was their forever home. I had the pleasure of representing the sellers of this special home. It is still fun to look at and see the architectural treasures that are found throughout our incredible city so I wanted to share it with you, enjoy! If you are looking for your magical midcentury, get in touch!

Built in 1955, this NW Regional style home was custom designed by Scott & Payne architects for
the Montgomery family. The living room showcases the lush forested lot the home sits on with
large floor to ceiling windows. The vaulted wood ceilings and beautiful exposed beams paired
with rich wood walls throughout the main enhance the interior connection with nature. A large
central fireplace, warm cork floors, wood crafted built-ins and vintage fixtures round out the
living area. Entertain in the lovely dining room connected to the kitchen for ease while featuring a second fireplace and a wall of windows. The expansive lower daylight level features a large family room, bedroom and full bath. Enjoy the large outdoor patio entertaining area protected by the deep gable overhang. Located on almost 3 acres of forested land that borders the Arboretum, filled with trails and nature only minutes from the city center.

Marisa Swenson – Specializing in Modern Home Sales
971-285-7955
modernhomesportland.com

Event: Architectural Heritage Center Lecture on Architect Philip Johnson

 

If you love modern design, chances are you have heard of the Philip Johnson designed glass house. This iconic home was completed in 1949, built in New Canaan Connecticut and it immediately put Philip Johnson on the map to begin his career as an architect.  This Saturday, the Architectural Heritage Center will host a lecture by Jim Varner examining the work and life of Philip Johnson that you will not want to miss.

When: December 8, 10am-11:30am

Where: The Architectural Heritage Center – 701 SE Grand Ave Portland, OR 97214

Cost: $20 general or $12 for AHC Members

Purchase tickets here pre-registration is recommended

 

 

From the AHC website:

“Philip Johnson (1906 – 2005), was one of the more influential American architects and architectural critics of the 20th century. But before Johnson had even designed his first building, he served as the first director of the Department of Architecture and Design for the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. During this time, he introduced several notable European architects to the United States including Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier, coining the term “International Style” along the way. Johnson was also known for his ongoing critique of American architects, in particular Frank Lloyd Wright.

Our presenter, Jim Varner, examines the extraordinary life and work of Philip Johnson, winner of the very first Pritzker Prize for Architecture and a Gold Medal from the American Institute of Architects. In addition to a survey of noted Johnson designs, along the way you’ll also learn about Johnson’s time in 1930s Germany, as well as his involvement right here in Portland, with the selection of Michael Graves’ design of the always-controversial Portland Building.”

Marisa Swenson – Specializing in Modern Home Sales
971-285-7955
modernhomesportland.com