A 600-Square-Foot House in Portland Aces Scandinavian Secondhand Style
Name: Linda Miles and five chickens! Aretha, Joni, Whitney, Dolly and Robyn
Location: St. Johns Neighborhood — Portland, Oregon
Type of home: House
Size: 600 square feet
Years lived in: 11 months, owned
Can't-Miss House Tours Straight to Your Inbox
Keep up with our latest house tours each weekday with our House Tour of the Day newsletter
Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: I work for an international education nonprofit. Like many of us during the pandemic, I realized my little apartment in an expensive city wasn’t working for me anymore. I wanted a yard and to be closer to family. My home is one of the oldest in the neighborhood, originally owned by a Portland shipyard manager.
I love the simplicity and energy efficiency of this small home and feel honored to live here. I’ve had to do everything on an extreme budget, so almost everything you see has been bought from neighbors on OfferUp or at Swedish secondhand stores.
It’s a bonus that I now can see my ski hill (Mount Hood) and that the PNW is just magical. This year my thumb is getting greener, and I’m building out a backyard ceramics studio. I like to live in a calm environment where I’m not dependent on devices and the internet. I like to “un-smart” everything. I believe that everything that I need already exists in the world and there’s no need to buy anything for my home that is new.
Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Secondhand, homemade, and Scandinavian
What is your favorite room and why? My backyard studio! It’s the last room that needs my attention and it has so much potential for play. I can’t wait to build out a home ceramics studio!
What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? I picked up free windows from a neighbor for an upcoming project. I’ll be building my own greenhouse. I also go to the Portland Rebuilding Center for my “treasures”!
Any advice for creating a home you love? Fill your home with things that remind of people and places that you love.
This submission’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
Share Your Style: House Tour & House Call Submission Form