They say that old houses come with surprises, and this one in Irvington might have more than most. But don't worry: After a top-to-bottom remodel in 2017, with design-build firm Arciform (design personality Emily Henderson's local fave) and interior designer Arlene Lord, these are more delightful discoveries than anything else.

Take the study, which is just off the foyer, and which Arciform called "one of the most special rooms we've ever seen." In it, find quarter-sawn white oak wainscot and a tiled fireplace, with the original dumbwaiter nearby, restored and tucked behind a glass door. Look up, and there are beautiful neoclassical plaster moldings surrounding a swirl of modern wallpaper. Pull a knob on the built-in desk, and a hidden bed comes out, ensconced in its original cast-iron, still with the maker's mark on it.

The home was originally built on a double lot in 1915 by Herbert Stemler, the owner of a typewriter company, who also dabbled in Irvington real estate. For the exterior, Stemler opted for Prairie School style, known for its low-pitched roof and deep overhanging eaves, as well as the thick columns on the porch, all the better to emphasize its strong horizontal lines. Prairie School style originated in Chicago and its suburbs, and boasts none other than Frank Lloyd Wright as its most famous practitioner, yet is a bit of a rarity in Portland.

Stemler and his wife, Addie, bought and sold real estate—there's record of them buying six lots from the Irvington Investment Company for $9,600 in 1908—and occasionally built a house on speculation. Per the listing agent, this house was meant to be a showroom of sorts, to display the many features they could include, from the pull-out bed, decorative ceilings, leaded glass front door, wood inlay floors, and even a butler bell in the dining room that still rings.

It was just such details that were restored in the remodel, which was estimated at around $1 million dollars by The Wall Street Journal. The project also refreshed the kitchen and three bathrooms, so that anything new, like cabinetry or a shower, seamlessly blends in with the old. (Except, of course, the kitchen's Blue Star range, Liebherr refrigerator, and Miele dishwasher; all appliances are happily quite modern.) Outside, the yard received a sunken conversation pit with its own brick fireplace, dining area, trellis, and gardens.

Upstairs, there's four generous bedrooms, one with an almost 100-square-foot dressing room, while the downstairs has surprises of its own. There, the 1,344 square feet was transformed into a modern, loft-style setting, complete with polished concrete floors, a wet bar made of reclaimed wood and exposed metal, and a bunk room and full bathroom. The wine room is temperature-controlled, and the media room with Dolby Atmos theater "feels like a cave," says the owner. The only thing that could make it better is if the vintage Donkey Kong machine conveys.

Listing Fast Facts 

• Address: 3303 NE 22nd Ave, Portland, OR 97212
• Size: 4,556 square feet/5 bed/3 bath
• List Date: 4/15/2026 
• Price: $2,490,000
• Listing Agent: Carrie Spurlock, Spurlock & Co.

Melissa Dalton is a freelance writer who has focused on Pacific Northwest design and lifestyle since 2008. 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].