1948 Streamline Moderne time capsule house, Portland, Oregon
Posted by: • January 12, 2011
Gretchen spotted this glorious 1948 time
capsule home, which was recently for sale (now sold) in Portland,
Oregon. The house was listed by agent Kathryn Madison, these amazing
photos — which Kathryn took – were originally featured on her blog Go Beyond the Ordinary.
This house is particularly interesting in how it seems to bridge the
Streamline Moderne and mid-century ranch eras. On the outside, it’s
pretty ranch-looking, although you can see some hints of international
streamline style. Inside, it’s a Streamline Moderne wonderland —
starting with this incredible kitchen. .
Photo above courtesy Kathryn Madison. The Frelinghuysen-Morris house, which Matt and I visited this past summer, is classic, pre-war international moderne style.
Whoever designed this Portland house — especially the interior — was
following that style. What is “Streamline Moderne”? Think: Luxury
vintage railcar, with sleek, smooth, rounded edges. Hey — vintage
Airstream trailers were Streamline Modern. “Mid-century Modern” as we
know it today, on the other hand, has a different look. See the Wikipedia page on Streamline Moderne.
Note, it says that Streamline Modern houses were less common that
Streamline Moderne commercial buildings…. The real estate listing says
the house got some updating 1980, so I’m wondering if the clapboard
siding was added then, and covered something more atypically Streamline
Moderne – stucco exterior? In any case, the interior is PHENOMENAL!
Living room fireplace: Moderne. Like the prewar Heywood-Wakefield lines. Photo above courtesy Kathryn Madison.
Note the wrap-around windows… Photo above courtesy Kathryn Madison.
Here’s
the fireplace in one of the bedrooms. This decorative use of birch
plywood paneling, finished with a simple gloss, was something that was
promoted in the pre-war period. It was “modern” in the sense that it
downplayed ornamentation (in contrast, say, to Victorian frou-frou.) Photo above courtesy Kathryn Madison.
Simple
birch sheet (I presume it’s birch, I could well be wrong) was used
throughout the entire room, as you can see in this bedroom. Photo above courtesy Kathryn Madison.
The banquette, or built-in dinette, in the kitchen. The table base and glass top are new, I believe the listing said. Photo above courtesy Kathryn Madison.
Pick
your jaw up off the ground. Like I said: This is like the inside of a
private rail car. Notice the masonite (or glass?) panels on the ceiling.
The floor has been redone — but impeccably. Notice also, the tile
countertops, with contrast bullnose tile edging. I’m thinking all that
tile work has been redone… Photo above courtesy Kathryn Madison.
The craftsmanship to accomplish this, back in the day, was amazing. Photo above courtesy Kathryn Madison.
I’m
suspecting that those are 12″ square Carrera glass or Pittsburg Glass
tiles on the wall. That was haute design for prewar bathrooms. Doesn’t
this house just glow! Photo above courtesy Kathryn Madison.
And
in this bedroom, notice that little window. Again… almost like whoever
designed this, designed luxury steamships before. It’s akin to a
porthole window, another signal of Streamline Moderne… Photo above courtesy Kathryn Madison.
Where else on the internet do they get so excited about steel casement windows with fluted glass? Photo above courtesy Kathryn Madison.
Or the inside of old front doors? Photo above courtesy Kathryn Madison.
A welcoming front door in a red-orange….Hey, I’ll call it orange — the Retro Renovation Color of the Year 2011. Photo above courtesy Kathryn Madison.
Photo above courtesy Kathryn Madison. Vintage Nutone door bell with…
…
integral clock. Sigh. Such simple, perfect beauty. I read an interview
with Marilyn vos Savant — you know, the smartest person in the world, or
at least thought to be at one point — a few years ago. In Parade
Magazine. Something she said really stuck with me. It was in answer to a
question along the line, “What is it that you think about?” She said:
“Wisdom, and beauty.” I think that is right, I really do: Wisdom, and
beauty. Photo above courtesy Kathryn Madison.Read more: 1948 Streamline Moderne time capsule house, Portland, Oregon — Retro Renovation
