A Little Pink Portland Cottage Is Cute Inside and Out
Name: April Christenson, husband Mike, and two cats Liz Lemon and Maeby)
Location: NE Portland, Oregon
Size: 609 square feet
Years lived in: 9 months, owned
My husband Mike and I (along with our two cats Liz Lemon and Maeby) moved from Omaha, Nebraska, to Portland, Oregon in 2015. We initially downsized from a 2400-square-foot house in the suburbs to a one-bedroom apartment in downtown Portland. After renting for a couple of years, we decided we wanted to own our own place again. We liked the freedom of apartment living (i.e. less housework and maintenance), so we started looking at condos, but when I stumbled across our 1910 bungalow “Little Pink,” it was love at first sight for both of us.
What is your favorite room and why? Our favorite room and the place where we spend most of our time is the main living area. Before we saw the house in person, I was afraid that it might feel too small at just 600 square feet, but the high ceilings and large windows on all sides make it feel so bright and airy. Our cats also love all the light this room gets–you can usually find one or both of them napping in a sun ray.
If you could magically change something about your home, what would it be? The previous owners renovated the living room, bedroom, and bathroom when they purchased the home in 2013. The only room that has not been updated is the kitchen, which has some pretty rough cabinetry, red countertops from the ’70s, and linoleum flooring. A kitchen renovation is on our to-do list for sure!
What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? One of the newer items in our home are floating nightstands that my husband built for our bedroom. While we downsized houses, we upsized to a king-size bed with storage that takes up most of our bedroom. We had to get creative with nightstands so my jack-of-all-trades husband custom built these to fit our space perfectly.
Most of the furniture in our home is secondhand, vintage, or locally made. I’m a Craigslist addict—our bar cart, record stand, dining table, large oak shelf in our living room, and couch were all Craigslist finds. Our coffee table was made locally and purchased from What’s New? Furniture in Portland and our mid-century modern lounge chair and nesting side tables are from Hawthorne Vintage Modern in Portland.
Any advice for creating a home you love? For me, vintage and pre-loved objects and furniture make a space feel warm and cozy. Also, keep items around your home that remind you of loved ones—especially if you are living far from home!
Thanks, April!
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