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2002 Home Tour

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2107 NE 14th Ave.
A Late-Victorian Jewel-Box of Fine Wood Craftsmanship

John C. Kennedy, a prosperous lumberman, built this home for his family in 1902.  Kennedy was the Secretary and Treasurer of the Oregon & Washington Script Land & Timber Company, and with a penchant for fine woodwork and an abundant source of supply in Oregon, he filled his house with richly detailed molding, reminiscent of the earlier Victorian era.  

The beautiful restoration of this home has been a 4-year project by the current owners, one of whom is a former employee of Rejuvenation -- and both of whom are "Old House" aficionados.  Every room finds restored period details, from the painstakingly restored coal-burning fireplace to the master bathroom on the second floor. 

Especially stunning is the assembly of fireplace mantel and staircase in the living room that combines the traditional turned spindles of the mantel with a marvelously fanciful staircase newel post which resembles a stylized tree trunk.  These details contrast with the sober, Colonial Revival style columns of the entryway, and demonstrate the Victorian taste for eclectic and playful juxtapositions of styles.

As most homes of the period would have been, this one is furnished with a mix of Victorian and Mission/Arts & Crafts period furnishings.  The redwood burl-topped table in the living room is crafted in Mission style, but was hand-made in recent years by one of the owners, whose father gave her the piece of burl from his days as a logger in the forests of California in the mid-20th century.  Also notable is the Morris-styled wallpaper from Bradbury and Bradbury in the dining room, another crossover element spanning the Victorian and Craftsman eras.  Another delightful feature is the balcony/sleeping porch above the main entrance, as shown in one of the detail photographs.

The prior owners of this great house were 40-year residents when they reluctantly sold it to its current owners. Judging from the current owners' fondness for their home, they may start a competition in house tenure!