Designers Aaron Belchere and Taralyn Thuot were photographed in their Southeast Portland home after putting the swanky midcentury modern on the market. "We go weak in the knees for wood vaulted ceilings and stone fireplaces," Thuot told listing broker Deb Kemp.
Photos of the property at 7221 S.E. Madison St. in the Mount Tabor neighborhood were posted on Zillow, Redfin and other real estate marketplaces on Sept. 12, and an offer was accepted four days later. The asking price: $850,000.
Inside, expansive windows reach from the ceramic tile floors to the tall, pitched ceilings. Bright colors, abstract textiles and captivating contemporary art complement a sandstone fireplace wall, built-in wood cabinets and other timeless natural elements.
"I think having such natural elements built into the architecture offers a really unique opportunity to be more modern and conceptual and colorful in the rest of the space," fashion creative director Thuot said. "The juxtaposition is where the magic lies."
Two levels hold 2,638 square feet of living space: Upstairs is the living room, dining room, galley kitchen, two bedrooms and a bathroom. The lower level, which Kemp said can be used for guest stays or a rental, has a separate entrance to the second kitchen, dining and family rooms, two bedrooms, office and second bathroom.
Belchere, a Nike creative director, spoke about natural light filling the home and indoor-outdoor entertaining on the deck with views of the city and Mount Hood. There is also a covered patio and a hot tub.
The couple are the second owners of the house, built in 1962 on a 4,791-square-foot lot. When they moved in nine years ago, the dwelling needed new floors and a design direction. An air conditioner was set in the middle of a dining room wall, and there were other eccentric features, Thuot said.
Today, the home's minimalist, nature-evoking architectural style is enhanced by modern furnishings and décor. "The design brings both style and comfort, creating a home that feels both elegant and welcoming," said Kemp of Deb Kemp Realty.
"When I imagine the person who would fall in love with this home, I think of the original midcentury design philosophy -- how, after World War II, there was a huge shift toward simplicity, comfort and more spacious living," Kemp told The Oregonian/OregonLive.
Architects started creating homes with post-and-beam framing, open floor plans and big windows to bring nature inside, she continued. "As Aaron explained, good design became accessible to everyone, and the younger generation just embraced a more relaxed, laid-back way of living," Kemp said.