WELCOME BACK TO PRICE POINT, where we look at two very different homes at around the same price point. This month, we’re setting our sights at around $750,000. For that price, would you rather have a modernized farmhouse in Piedmont, or a finely detailed vintage Craftsman in North Tabor?

House 1: A Crisp Remodeled Farmhouse with Separate Apartment in Piedmont

This Piedmont neighborhood home was originally built in 1908, but a recent top-to-bottom remodel has given it a crisp new look—and more bathrooms. In addition to a suite of new finishes that draw on a Scandi vibe of pale woods and white walls, there’s an all-new layout, including the basement finished into a mother-in-law suite.

From the exterior, you’d be hard-pressed to tell that much has changed, as the home retains its tidy front-porched façade, although the coat of white paint and sharp black entry door hint at the new interior. Now, the entry opens into the combined main rooms, all with airy nine-foot ceilings, wide-plank wood floors, and white walls and simple trim. An L-shaped kitchen is positioned in the rear corner, with easy connection to the backyard, a plethora of storage, quartz counters, and island for guests to congregate while the cook is working.

The new layout is nicely apportioned, with two bedrooms and a full bathroom on the main floor, and a primary suite upstairs. The bathrooms all boast new tile, vanities topped with quartz, and, in the primary, a luxe walk-in shower.

Downstairs is a 793-square-foot mother-in-law suite with its own entrance. There, two bedrooms share a bathroom, and there’s a full kitchen and living area, making this floor a solid rental opportunity if it's not occupied by family.

Out back, there’s a big expanse of grass for lawn games and summer barbecues, though it's just a short amble over to Dekum Triangle and all its yummy food options, as well as the Retro Game Bar, so people can get their game on any time of year here.

Listing Fast Facts

• Address: 6623 NE Garfield Ave, Portland, OR 97211
• Size:  2,241 square feet/5 bedroom/3 bathroom 
• List Date: 8/3/2022 
• List Price: $769,999
• Listing Agent: Leah Dowling, Living Room Realty 

House 2: A Finely Detailed Vintage Craftsman in North Tabor

Walking through this North Tabor Craftsman, with so many of its original details around every corner, is to delight in the artistry and craftsmanship of its era. Built in 1913, this appreciation starts at the façade, adorned with a covered porch and connected trellis, and trimmed with an Arts and Crafts–style railing.

Inside, find a plethora of rich woodwork, bordering doorways, windows, and lining the ceiling. Lovely intact built-ins, some with leaded decorative glass, frame the fireplace and the threshold between the living room and dining room, and form a buffet beneath a window in the latter. 

The kitchen has been updated for the contemporary cook, but doesn’t look out of place in comparison to the rest of the house, thanks to subway tile walls, custom Shaker cabinetry up to the ceiling, and a gorgeous Aga range. Those are all balanced with a handy peninsula breakfast bar that creates more prep space and a spot to sit.

There’s a powder bathroom on the main floor, while upstairs, the three bedrooms share a full bathroom. The latter stays true to the reigning aesthetic as well, with classic black-and-white tile, a clawfoot soaking tub under the window, and a tiled arch entry to the shower.

The wood built-ins also continue up here, with our favorite being a window seat tucked into a wood-paneled nook lined with bookshelves, and the small stained-glass details set into the brackets that frame the alcove.

At 7,840 square feet, this is a generous lot, with two outbuildings already in place for any prospective gardeners, and a great lawn bordered by plenty of mature trees to foster the feel of a private enclave.    

Listing Fast Facts

• Address: 5901 NE Davis St, Portland, OR 97213
• Size:  2,549 square feet/3 bedroom/1.5 bathroom 
• List Date: 11/4/2022 
• List Price: $750,000
• Listing Agent: Kevin Caplener, Windermere Realty Trust

Final Notes

These are two Northeast Portland homes with similar square footage and built within five years of each other, but they offer very different lifestyles.

Thanks to the addition of the mother-in-law suite, the Piedmont farmhouse is essentially two homes in one, and with that comes the prospect of passive income or multifamily housing. This could be ideal for close-knit extended families who want to live closer together but still have some separation and privacy. Some buyers will also love that there’s a full bathroom for every floor.

While the North Tabor Craftsman is set up for single-family living, it still has fantastic nooks and crannies, like the gardening buildings and reading nook, to allow family members to steal away for themselves. The only drawback is that primary suites are a modern invention, so you won’t find one here, but the right buyer won’t mind sharing.

And the Craftsman’s rich original details are downright drool-worthy—we didn’t even point out the living room ceiling!—so perhaps this comes down to a simple question. What sparks more joy, the farmhouse’s modern palette of pale woods and white walls, or the Craftsman’s historic artistry?

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.