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Editor’s Note: Portland Monthly’s “Property Watch” column takes a weekly look at an interesting home in Portland’s super-competitive real estate market (with periodic ventures to the burbs and points beyond, for good measure). This week: a not-so-rustic log cabin on the outskirts of Salem. Got a home you think would work for this column? Get in touch at [email protected] .
Just in case last week’s Property Watch profile of the modern farmhouse on Skyline Ridge got everyone in the country mood, here’s another contender: an updated log-cabin-style home on two acres outside Salem. Originally built in 1993, surrounded by farms and fields, this home has all the hallmarks of a good old-fashioned cabin, with some stylish present-day amenities thrown in.
The log cabin is an ancient housing style, thought to be brought to the United States by the Swedes and Finns almost 400 years ago, so there are variations to be found. This particular home has a gambrel roof, which is often used in barn architecture, with wings off the front and back, and pronounced intersecting logs at the corners.
At the front, a proper covered porch stretches all the way across the façade, complete with porch swing. But of course, the interior aesthetic is defined by the construction. Inside this home’s great room, which hosts the living, dining, and kitchen, hefty timbers compose most walls, extend across the ceiling, and act as supports in the open plan.
A central staircase, with split logs for the tread and metal balusters, is a means to separate the spaces from each other but still allow for easy flow. Cozy up beside the wood-framed windows in the living room, or set up an office in the opposite corner—there’s a nice amount of space to stretch out here.
A bright turquoise bookcase lines one wall of the dining room, a complementary and welcome contrast to all the wood. Opposite that, the kitchen has matching bright blue cabinets, sleek charcoal counters, and a stone tile backsplash. A wood-paneled dividing wall allows it to be connected to the other areas, yet keeps the sink and its dirty dishes more or less out of sight.
A 2018 remodel, possibly the source of the front and rear dormers added to the gambrel, expanded on the original considerably, adding two bedrooms to bring the total to four, as well as a 450-square-foot covered back patio space to barbecue with friends.
Still, all the necessary trappings of country life remain, including a chicken run and a 24-by-24-foot pole barn with power. Equally important, the well and house have been wired for a generator, ensuring backup during storms. Should you want to go for a scenic drive, this is the place to start, with easy highway access and nearby wineries, as well as downtown Salem less than 10 miles away.
Size: 2,138 square feet/2.05 acres, 4 bedroom/2 bath
Listing Agents: Kimberly Hosmer, Realty One Group Prestige
Melissa Dalton is a freelance writer who has focused on Pacific Northwest design and lifestyle since 2008. She is based in Portland, Oregon. Contact Dalton here.