When we first saw the listing pictures of this midcentury stunner, we thought for sure the house was in a Palm Springs zip code, not Portland. This makes sense when you know a little about the history of the Argay Terrace neighborhood. It was developed between the 1950s and 1970s, with wide streets and low-slung ranches spread over big lots, and is, according to Restore Oregon, the largest tract of midcentury development in East Portland.

This home, built in 1962 and lovingly kept up by its owners, celebrates its status as an MCM time capsule, so much so that it’s hard to tell what’s original and what’s new. This starts with the seafoam-painted front door, which has a trim pattern that echoes the scroll of the original brass doorplates.

Inside, a slate floor entry cedes to the formal living room to the right. There, find all the era-appropriate accoutrements, including a vaulted ceiling with exposed beams; accent walls with wood paneling, mirrors, and grass cloth; and large windows facing the front and back yards.

Then there’s our favorite feature: the massive rustic rock chimney, which also forms a dividing wall with the entry. That rock is repeated in other spots in the house, including the downstairs entertainment zone—just wait until we get there—and accent walls in the front and back yards. According to the real estate agent, much of that rock was salvaged from the 2014 closure of Hollywood Bowl, and while we cannot independently confirm that, it certainly adds a layer of nostalgia that fits in here.

The plan proceeds to the left of the foyer, and remains steadfastly stylish all the way through, from the Formica counters and stained-wood cabinetry in the kitchen to the family room with curving built-ins, wood-paneled walls, and orangey-red, Malm-style fireplace. Sliding glass doors bookend the main living spaces, bringing in lots of light and connection to the yards, including a secret garden behind breezeblock on one side, and an alfresco dining patio with a second MCM fireplace on the other.

A hallway connects to two bedrooms, a hall bathroom, and a primary suite. The vaulted, beamed ceilings continue in all of the bedrooms, while the bathrooms maintain the pitch-perfect vintage vibes with their pale pink tile, dark wood vanities, and wallpaper.

Tucked behind a built-in planter in the dining room is a staircase that leads to the daylight basement. Of course, this is not a typical Portland basement, but the ultimate party pad. There’s a vinyl listening area, a lounge against the rustic rock wall, and a full bathroom with a custom, artist-commissioned plexiglass toilet seat. (Yeah, we’d never seen that before, either.)

Around the corner, find the bar with a dedicated tap line, and built-in benches surrounding the peach-felt pool table, which, yay, comes with the sale. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better than that, a glass door leads to the revamped pool, which has a “party ledge” for lounging in the water and lovely terraced concrete seating with custom, waterproof coral upholstery. Perhaps the new owners will list it on Swimply so the rest of us can partake?

Listing Fast Facts 

• Address: 13511 NE Klickitat Ct, Portland, OR 97230
• Size: 3,160 square feet/3 bedroom/3 bath
• List Date: 8/19/2024  
• List Price: $775,000 
• Listing Agent: Kristine Orlandi and Amy Walsh, Windermere Realty Trust

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].