Nestled Into a Private Corner of Portland’s Urban Forest, This Glass-Walled Home Asks $2.5M
Tucked away at the end of a long and winding road in Portland’s beloved Forest Park—one of the largest urban forests in the United States—, 423 Royal Boulevard is located just minutes from downtown Portland but feels like it is miles away. Designed by award-winning Portland firm William / Kaven Architecture, the two-level home is designed to integrate into its sylvan surroundings.
The bold, black geometric facade of William /Kaven's Royal residence.
The back view of the home.
Defined by a dramatic, black geometric facade constructed from non-combustible Aspyre siding (to help comply with local fire regulations) and full-height expanses of glass, the 4,352-square-foot home features a spacious open floor plan with plenty of private nooks and attention to indoor/outdoor spaces. The home opens with a dramatic foyer that peeks into the main living area and is illuminated by clerestory windows. The great room is outfit with oak floors with elegant dark walnut inlay borders to define the spaces—one of William / Kaven's signature moves; a bold, dark-colored wood-burning hearth to anchor the living space; and stunning views of the surrounding forest thanks to wraparound full-height windows.
The open plan living space is composed of the kitchen, dining, and living room. A bold wood-burning hearth anchors the living space.
Two skylights brighten the open kitchen, which boasts bespoke, handcrafted oak cabinetry and a waterfall center island. The kitchen overlooks a dining table with Tom Dixon pendant lighting. The highlight of the space is the sliding glass pocket doors that disappear into the wall, fully exposing the room to its environs.
The home has been stylishly staged by local business, The Good Mod, that specializes in vintage furniture and custom pieces.
The kitchen features handcrafted oak cabinetry and two skylights overhead.
Just off the kitchen is a room that could be used as a home office or a media room.
The bathroom features a full bath with a special display for houseplants with its own set of glass doors to keep them dry while the shower is in use.
Another dramatic architectural move is the chunk of negative space that the firm carved out between the upper and lower levels. The negative space serves as a moment between the dining area and the extending living room and is defined by an elegant horizontal structural beam. It also serves to seamlessly integrate the forest into the home and to further enhance the indoor/outdoor living experience. "The opening between the two floors is one of our signature moves in a house," explains architect Daniel Kaven. "Where you can reconnect with two spaces that are vertical and also it sort of simplifies the mass across the elevation of the house on the second level. So you have this beautiful line across this nice modern horizontal piece and then this simplistic geometric cutout."
Other lovely indoor/outdoor moments include an expansive patio just off the living room, a large wraparound terrace set off by glass sliding doors in the master bedroom, and an additional private terrace off the second bedroom. The interiors of the home have been staged by The Good Mod, a local business that specializes in midcentury furniture and bespoke pieces. Scroll ahead for a look inside this Northwestern jewel, priced at $2.5M.
The firm carved out a chunk of negative space between the upper and lower level and the dining and living room that further enhances the home's indoor-outdoor experience.
The living room extends out into the forest into a sitting area that is wrapped with full-height windows. This space could also be used as an additional dining area.
The perfect corner to enjoy a quiet, private piece of the forest.
This view looks out on the negative space from the opposite angle. Note the ebony inlays on the floor which serve as an elegant way to define the space within the open floorplan.
A bench at the entry where clerestory windows fill the home with light. Tom Dixon pendant lighting adds a sculptural element over the staircase that leads to the lower level of the home, where the bedrooms are located.
The master bedroom is wrapped in walls of glass, including glass sliding doors that lead out to a wraparound terrace that has enough room for patio furniture.
The light-filled master bathroom features a deep soaking tub.
This side view of the home shows the large patio off the living room and above the master bedroom.
432 NW Royal Boulevard is currently listed for $2,500,000.
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