When this house in the Mount Tabor neighborhood last went on the market in 2019, the listing described it as “one-of-a-kind” and “enchanting.” They weren’t wrong. Built in 1936 on an oversize lot at the corner of SE Salmon Street and 60th Avenue, it’s perched high above the intersection and reveals itself only as you walk toward the park, just two blocks up.
It’s then that we get to see the home’s lovely stretcher bond brick facade, glimpses of a circular bay window on one side, several arched doors, and a trellis running along a bit of the front facade. Now, after a full-gut remodel that included every inch of the yard, that original charm is still intact, merged with a healthy dose of design inspiration from Mérida, Mexico, and Marfa, the tiny Texas town that draws artists and influencers alike thanks to artist Donald Judd.
Guided by creative owners, the remodel was extensive, including a total structural retrofit that replaced the plumbing, electrical, and water meter, and added more earthquake resilience. The previously unfinished basement was converted into a family room/third bedroom, with a fireplace, nearby half-bath, and separate entrance.
Upstairs, the Mérida influence is perhaps most apparent in the replastered walls, all done by hand for a soft, curving finish that extends into the coved corners of rooms, across arched openings, and in the pared-back living room fireplace. The existing mahogany floors and trim were joined with custom walnut cabinetry in the kitchen, and white oak in the bathroom.
The main floor is 1,890 square feet, but with two bedrooms and a shared bathroom there’s room to roam in all of the living spaces, most likely to cozy up by one of the many windows. You could do yoga in the preserved circular bay in the living room, have a coffee at the little outdoor seating area off the kitchen, or relax in the soaking tub that sits beneath a window overlooking the garden…