The story goes that the design brief for the overhaul of this 1965 home on a stunning site in Lake Oswego could be condensed to two words: “fabbo paddo.” In the ensuing remodel by Emerick Architects and Right Angle Construction, that tongue-in-cheek phrasing was interpreted into an embrace of the home’s midcentury swagger combined with a modern sensibility (including a new kitchen, updated bathrooms, and Tesla power wall). The exceptional results have since been profiled in Dwell, and are now on the market for a cool $7 million.

What doesn’t necessarily come through in listing pictures is how the 6,398-square-foot home sits on its steep waterfront site, which has 213 feet of lake frontage, plus its own dock and boathouse. Positioned as it is on the tip of a peninsula, this siting translates into incredible views and privacy.

Floor-to-ceiling glass capture those views of treetops and water at multiple turns, whether in the private office off the foyer or wrapping corners in the primary bedroom, cantilevered dining room, and both ends of the living room.

"The whole idea is that it’s a vacation," architect Melody Emerick told Dwell of the house in 2020, and that’s exactly what it feels like. And it's one that comes with a downstairs “party room” with built-in bar and adjacent outdoor lounge, a kitchen wall that opens up to a covered exterior grill setup, and five bedrooms, as well as an extra bunkroom for guests.

The split-level layout is ideal for hosting. It balances group areas, like the living room with its multiple seating areas and two built-in sofas, alongside places to steal away, like the primary bathroom. There, the original sunken terrazzo soaking tub was preserved, and complemented by an interior window that accesses the lake views.

That’s just one of the many ways that architect and builder blended old and new to great effect. Elsewhere, rugged basalt walls extend from inside to out, as does the tongue-and-groove hemlock ceiling, and the original walnut paneling was replicated to encase additional rooms. Other period appropriate details, like studded wood doors, original swag pendants, cork accent walls, and the curving built-in sectional that mirrors the rounded fireplace, bring authenticity, while finishes like the waterfalling stone of the kitchen counter and handcrafted tile in the bathrooms—six in total—put the modern right where you want it.

Listing Fast Facts

• Address: 15530 Diamond Head Rd, Lake Oswego, OR 97034
• Size: 6,398 square feet, 5 bed/6 bath
• List Date: 6/7/2023
• List Price: $7,200,000, with $349/month HOA dues
• Listing Agents: Justin Harnish and Errol Bradley, Harnish Company Realtors

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].