Sustainable Sanctuary

Originally built in 1909, owner and craftsman Sam Omeechevarria bought this Portland bungalow in 2015 for what he thought would be a fix-and-flip project. The house was in rough shape; the roof sagged and the entire place needed to be gutted to the studs. But Sam saw the potential and liked the location just a block away from a sprawling 87-acre park and a short stroll from a quaint yet bustling commercial center.

What he did not foresee, however, was having a baby.

“That changed everything for me,” said Sam. “The experience of having a child made me realize that I didn’t just need a house, I needed a sanctuary.”

A sanctuary is exactly what he built over the next five years. Sought out for his woodworking, finish carpentry, and sustainable practices, Sam spared no detail for his own home. He first opened up the floor plan and bumped out the walls to install extra dense pack cellulose to make the property extremely insulated. He found unused space in the ceilings and increased the head height. Wood was reclaimed from a nearby demolished house to create intricate, one-of-a-kind stained trim found throughout the house.

High performance windows, heat recovery ventilation, ductless mini-splits, and a wood burning stove help keep the internal environment comfortable throughout the warm summers and cold winters. It scores an impressive 10 out of 10 on the US Department of Energy's Home Energy Score, a rarity for a house of its vintage, and ensures that operational costs are minimal.

The use of space is impressive and the open floor plan and high ceilings complement the human-scaled size coming in just shy of 1,500 square feet. Natural light beautifully accents the mill work on each of the three levels of the home. There are two bedrooms and one bathroom on the upper level, the living space and third bedroom or office on the main level with a full bathroom, and storage and laundry area on the lower level.

What transforms the space is the fluid indoor/outdoor living. The kitchen unfolds onto a porch perfect for the outdoor BBQ. The back porch is more like an art installation with reclaimed wood and detailed metal railings. It is inviting spaces like these that help unlock the true magic of life in the Pacific Northwest regardless the season.

No sanctuary would be complete without areas for play and hobby. Situated on a large corner lot the property has a garage that is an ideal spot for crafts, woodworking, or storage. Raised garden beds overflow with seasonal vegetables and a child's play structure beckons the light hearted. A tall peekaboo fence is accented with torii gates and window openings which gives one the sense that they are safe yet still connected to the close-knit neighborhood.

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This property is now on the market through the firm Latitude | Regenerative Real Estate, MLS #21154323.