The 1905 Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition was a turning point for Portland’s development, igniting interest in the nascent city, a population boom, and subsequent buildings to accommodate all the newcomers, from apartment houses to foursquares and grand mansions. Between 1882 and 1914, the King’s Hill district in Southwest, just south of West Burnside, was a hot pocket for affluent citizens to build grand homes “on the hill,” many of which were designed by prominent local architects to capture stunning views of the city and mountains.

Sitting high above Cactus Drive, a little spur off of Burnside, the Lippitt House was part of that wave. Julius Lippitt was a German native who migrated to San Francisco and then moved to Silverton and to Colfax, Washington, to open general stores in both locations. By 1906, Lippitt had relocated to Portland and four years later bought this sloped lot in King’s Hill, while he engaged in banking and real estate. He tapped the well-known firm Whitehouse and Fouilhoux to draw up plans for a stately Colonial Revival, a style popular at the time, and the home was finished in 1916.

Today, Lippitt’s house still presents a traditional façade to the street, from the color scheme—classic black and white—to the columned entrance portico at the front door and the symmetrical window layout, each double-hung finished with its original wood shutters. An asymmetrical side wing to the left was part of the original architect’s plans, and creates room for the butler’s pantry on the main floor, and a lovely sunroom in the upstairs primary suite.

Thanks to a top-to-bottom renovation recently completed by Portland General Contracting, following a much-needed sale last year, the home looks much the same as it did when it was completed for Lippitt in 1917—not counting the kitchen and baths, of course—as so much of its original character was kept intact during the remodel. That character can be felt in moments big and small, from the high ceilings and gracious proportions of the rooms to the many preserved historic details, like the plaster-troweled crown molding in the dining room, which required a specialist to repair.

After moving through an entry vestibule, the main floor is anchored by a center hall. An arched pass-through frames the staircase at the rear, with a powder room tucked at the back. To the right is the living room, with tall glass doors that flank the fireplace and lead to an exterior patio shaded by a huge sequoia tree. The adjacent dining room still has its leaded glass built-in cabinets in each corner.

To the left of the hall, find a family room, the kitchen, and butler’s pantry, the latter behind a swinging pass-through door. The circular layout is ideal for entertaining, as is the way several rooms can be kept open to each other, or closed up with the original glass doors.

The crisp black-and-white palette from the exterior is continued inside, with inky notes acting as a counterpoint to the white walls and trim. The powder room is covered in charcoal Venetian plaster, and the black cabinetry and counters in the butler’s pantry contrast with the kitchen’s white custom cabinets, large serving and prep island, and sunny storage niche.

The upper two floors continue with the historic-meets-modern intent. A good portion of the 1,706-square-foot middle floor is dominated by the primary suite, which has a sizable walk-in closet and luxe en-suite bathroom with walk-in shower and soaking tub. The other two bedrooms on this floor share a new bathroom, while the top floor has three more bedrooms and a bathroom, as well as a bonus room and a few cozy nooks and crannies formed by the dormers.

There’s not much yard to maintain, but the sweeping views from so many points make up for that—with even Mount Rainier visible from the top floor. Plus, the location earns a Walk Score of 91, as the public stairs down to Zupan’s in the Alphabet District are just across the street, and in the opposite direction, sprawling Washington Park not much farther.  

Listing Fast Facts

• Address: 2331 SW Cactus Dr, Portland, OR 97205
• Size: 6,224 square feet, 6 bed/3.5 bath
• List Date: 6/15/2023
• List Price: $1,750,000
• Agents: Connor McWilliams and Sophia Maes, McWilliams Maes Realty @ RE/MAX Equity Group
• Stager: Greylyn Wayne

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].