3145 NE 16th Avenue Classic Bungalow with a Surprising Interior

This lovely bungalow is the first home that Archie Rice designed and built for himself after marrying his wife, Amanda, in 1914. By that time, he and his brother had already built many fine Irvington homes, several of them included on this year's tour. The gracious porch arches and wide stance of this house give it a solid, ground hugging appearance that speaks loudly of "home".  Especially striking about this house are the "battered" (e.g. sloping) porch pillars and curved stair balustrade formed in very rough brick.  These are characteristic elements of one of Portland's most controversial architects, Alfred Faber, who was reduced to selling bungalow plans in the years after 1912 due to the failure of one of his most visible commissions, the St. Francis Church.  Did Archie Rice acquire plans from Faber for his house?  Possibly, we know that the Rice family did build the designs of other architects.  This remains one of those fascinating puzzles of neighborhood history.

The current owners love the dazzling light and surprising spaciousness of the house. All of the renovations had been done by previous owners, so they simply needed to fill it with their eclectic mix of old and new favorite things. The Living room features an arched fireplace surround of glazed white brick, a Rice company signature, as well as a rosy wrought iron sideboard, which once stood in the waiting room of the owners grandfather's medical office in N.Y.

The music room is what sold the owners on this house. After all, it's not every house that has a room that seems custom built for a 6'4" long Steinway from 1918. A Victorian music stand with gaslight, a delightful family piece, stands in the corner.