Happy Valley house offers midcentury modern style with new construction for $1.6 million

Imagine the style cachet of living in a swank midcentury modern home while benefiting from seven decades of energy-saving building advancements. A new house in Happy Valley is modeled after the glass-walled, single-level dwellings popularized by developers Robert Rummer in Oregon and Joseph Eichler in California, but without the small kitchen and bedrooms.

From the eggplant-painted double front doors to the mod Malm freestanding lilac fireplace in the dining room, the 2,877-square-foot house has all the endearing aesthetics of the optimistic Space Age era: sleek lines, vibrant colors and enduring elegance, says listing agent Darby Britton of Works Real Estate.

“It feels like you are living in Palm Springs,” she says of the house designed for easy indoor-outdoor living on a 0.38-acre lot at 12071 S.E. 162nd Ave. The asking price: $1.6 million.

The cedar and stone used on exterior walls are repeated inside with exposed wood ceiling beams and stone surrounding the living room fireplace. Energy-efficient Pella windows as well as skylights in the 15-foot-tall ceilings draw in natural light. Here, the great room, a concept introduced in the 1950s, has a see-through wood slat partition dividing seating areas.

The open kitchen is a welcomed upgrade from midcentury modern’s galley kitchens. Carrara marble counters and backsplashes were selected to complement midcentury modern-style slab wood cabinets. Features to meet contemporary needs and desires include a large island and peninsula, stainless-steel appliances and designer fixtures like aqua-colored glass pendant lights. Built-in shelves, a bar and pantry with a beverage fridge create more storage spaces.

Another improvement over 20th-century construction: The house has two primary suites, allowing for multigenerational living with a separate door outside. The en suite bathrooms have heated tile floors and walk-in showers with Carrara marble and gold hardware. There are two more bedrooms, a third bathroom and laundry room.

Who would love this new residence? “People drawn to midcentury modern, design-forward single-level homes with clean lines, open spaces and a blend of indoor-outdoor living,” Britton told The Oregonian/OregonLive. “This style often attracts those with a taste for minimalist aesthetics and a desire for a home that feels timeless yet modern.”

— Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072

jeastman@oregonian.com | @janeteastman