My second Ken Birkemeier home! (The first one was yesterday's post.) Architectural Heritage Center Kitchen Revival Tour XIII, April 16, 2011

Built in 1949, as a Mid-Century Modern/Ranch/Cape Cod, also known as a Transitional home that combines elements of those three styles. It is in the Beaumont-Wilshire neighborhood and very close to the other Ken Birkemeier on the tour.





From the booklet: This kitchen is a nearly intact example of a mid-century Birkemeier kitchen. Birkemeier was a "hands-on" builder who took pride in personally designing stylish and functional kitchens for each home he built. Perhaps the most striking feature of this kitchen is its original hexagonal tile counter. The powder-blue tile color anticipates 1950s Modern. (An aside, it looks more like sea foam green to me, but I wasn't there when it was purchased, so who knows?) The backsplash tiles are the same color but are rectangular shaped "subway" tiles. Notice too the sweeping curve at the end of the counter. This late "Streamline-Moderne" feature is echoed in the shelving bracketing the kitchen window, and in the curing dining room wall just outside the kitchen door. Birkemeier loved to include curved features of all sorts in his houses: notice additionally the wavy "scallops" at the top of the kitchen walls.

Other kitchen features include the complete set of original cabinets, a stylish "pass-through" opening between the kitchen and dining room, and the natural wood finish on the exterior kitchen door and associated trim. The original floor has been replaced with a new layer of Marmoleum. This is an entirely appropriate replacement material as many original Birkemeier kitchens of this ear were fitted with linoleum floors.


If you enjoyed the blue tile counter, be sure to ask the hosts to show you the blue and pink tile downstairs bathroom. With these colors together with the original plumbing fixtures and bathroom cabinets, you will magically be transported back to 1949's view of the "House of Tomorrow."


I can't remember ever seeing a fireplace surround (or whatever you call it) like this one. I really like it's mellow, warm beauty.

My first ever Ken Birkemeier house! Architectural Heritage Center Kitchen Revival Tour XIII, April 16, 2011

Backstory: On Saturday, April 16, those of us who purchased tickets got a map and a descriptive booklet that we could use between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. in order to find nine houses and then tour their kitchens (and most of their first floors as well as get a peek at a basement or two). Because I went to the Post Office, the PSU Farmers Market and Freddie's first, then took everything home to put it away and eat a bite, I didn't pick up my map until about noon. I knew what I wanted to see for sure, so I checked my map and drove off in my Zipcar.


Here's the first house I visited, a Mid-Century Modern home in the Alameda neighborhood, designed and built by Ken Birkemeier, who according to the booklet "...is known for quirky, innovative, and cutting edge designs and today his architectural works of art are drawing increased attention and appreciation." He built this particular house in 1951 to be his own home. The front door is up the stairs that you can just see the bottom of there in the carport to the right of the white car.

Here's more of the text from the booklet. "The kitchen in the Birkemeier family reflects Birkemeier's originality. Although the original countertops have been removed, the backsplash and kitchen bar still retain their original tile. It's still easy to see the pattern and colors that reflect Birkemeier's style. The kitchen also retains its original cabinetry, providing an opportunity to see the quirky and fun features Birkemeier included in his designs. In the lower cabinets are two large Lazy Susans, and in the upper cabinets there are two smaller ones. Birkemeier was known for making creative use of otherwise dead space. Although this kitchen is not completely original, many of Birkemeier's creative and original design touches are still evident and this lovely home holds an important place in Portland's architectural design history."






There is one of these in each corner of the lower cabinets along the outside wall--fantastic.


Here is a photo of one of the corner Lazy Susans in the upper cabinets.


There are four outlets in the wood trim around the ceramic tile--the fourth one is out of sight at the right end of the counter. How fabulous is that--and the lady of the house told me each of them works!


This built-in cabinet is across from the main part of the kitchen. Notice the curved wall above the doorway!


The dining room. Another splendid view. The blue puffs on the counter are four of the booties given out when we got our maps and booklet--slipped over our shoes, they allowed us to protect the floors and rugs.


A portion of the living room. Can you believe that view? I just wanted to stand there and look and look, but time was ticking away.


I suppose this is a den. I forgot to ask the lady of the house. It's such a great shape. Those windows are fantastic!


Another view of the den.


How about this unique railing on the basement stairs? I like the quirkiness of it!


The original bar, still in the basement.


The view from the edge of the deck that is outside the living room windows.


Almost all of the stairs that go back to the carport.

Please come back tomorrow to see another fine home. Thanks!