Between 1959 and 1975, Robert Rummer built more than 750 homes in the Portland area. They are usually affectionately referred to as just “Rummers” by midcentury enthusiasts, and an estimated 300 of them are in the Eichler style, that being heavy on the floor-to-ceiling glass and exposed beams, with single-level floor plans that wrap an interior atrium. According to historians, market pressures eventually led Rummer to move into standard ranch-style construction, but that slim batch of Eichler-style homes has steadily drawn many fans, from Facebook groups to this year’s sold-out Rummer-focused home tour from Restore Oregon.

As previously discussed at Property Watch, there’s a large contingent of Rummer builds in Garden Home, and smaller pockets sprinkled elsewhere, like the cluster on this street in Beaverton’s Denney Whitford neighborhood. For Rummer fans, turning down the block and suddenly seeing the familiar canted rooflines is a little like stumbling on the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.

This listing, built in 1964 with 2,040 square feet, four bedrooms, and two baths, pairs many of the classic Rummer features alongside meticulous updates to a few key areas, starting with the exterior. Both the front and back yards have been overhauled with low profile, Japanese-inspired landscaping, which is a particularly good move in a house style that had a goal of bringing the outside in. It’s easy to imagine a summer meal with friends in the outdoor dining area. And equally, a cozy winter session in front of the fireplace, appreciating how the large windows frame the views. Even better: there’s a dedicated “sport court” in the side yard for a game of cornhole and a modern ipe fence provides a streamlined backdrop for the plants.

Inside, many of the features that are key to the original Rummer aesthetic remain, like the atrium just beyond the front door, as well as the cork floors, tongue and groove ceilings, and skylights. All the exterior walls received new window units, while the biggest change is to the kitchen. It’s been joined with the open-concept living and dining room, to flow around a corner into a new desk area and custom mudroom.

The attention to detail in the bespoke teak cabinetry—shout out to how all of the fronts are grain-matched—ensures that these utilitarian spaces feel more like furniture installations. Additional accents, like the Fireclay backsplash tile and the banana leaf wallpaper at the built-in desk, feel both fresh and era-appropriate.

As for the bedrooms, the primary suite also overlooks the serene backyard setting, while tall frosted window units were added to two of the other bedrooms to bring in more light and maintain privacy. “Live your best Dwell life,” write the listing agents, and they’re not wrong.

Listing Fast Facts

• Address: 7155 SW 105th Ave, Beaverton, OR 97008
• Size: 2,040 square feet/4 bedroom/2 bath
• List Date: 6/22/2023 
• List Price:  $997,000
• Listing Agent: Gabrielle Enfield and Lydia Hallay @ Working Magic Group, Living Room Realty
• Styling: Appetite Interiors
• Design-build: Chris Erickson

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. 

Editor’s Note: Portland Monthly’s “Property Watch” column takes a weekly look at an interesting home in Portland’s real estate market (with periodic ventures to the burbs and points beyond, for good measure). Got a home you think would work for this column? Get in touch at [email protected].