Looking for a Mid-Century

We like Mid-Century design because it's smart, light, bright, open and spacious. After living in NYC for 15-20 years the last thing we wanted was small rooms, small windows and low ceilings. It didn't take long looking at a dozen or so houses a week to become a bit jaded and soon walking through a house took on the urgency of finishing a workout.

Being Portland we saw a lot of Rummers and they had some nice ideas but they were often on the smaller side and rarely had a the two car garage that I wanted. When we finally saw the Saul Zaik house we eventually bought it was easy to see why there were so many real estate agents cards on the counters and no offers. It resembled your grandfather in a Members Only jacket and checked Vans - or, as our architect Ben King would end up saying, "It's a great house once you scrape the 80's off it..."

Being a short sale we made a low offer and kept looking thinking that the house would be our backup plan. Our offer was accepted by the previous owners and then we waited. And waited, and waited. For almost 6 months before the bank accepted our offer and we finally closed in January.

So, this blog will be for friends and family and the wayward souls who might be looking for some insight into what may await them if they decide to take on restoring a mid-century home and specifically a Saul Zaik home.

What we know of the house is very little and yet maybe a bit more than most get. Saul Zaik designed the house for Mr. & Mrs. Stanley M. Arthur and the plans are dated 24 April 1956. When we first looked at the place we found the original blueprints in a closet and I hid them away for fear someone might steal them.

For my first post I think I'll start with some photos from the listing and maybe my first visit.

The back of the house has a very private yard.

The big free standing fireplace was a real draw to us.

The floor had a step in the middle which mystified us. 

The beautiful cedar ceiling was white washed and the beams painted white but that lighting...

The house was suffering a real identity crisis and the tub inspired the telling of an 80's yuppie joke: "How many yuppies does it take to screw in a light bulb? Yuppies don't screw in light bulbs - they screw in hot tubs!" Umm, there's another hot tub on the deck!