Oregon homebuilder Bob Vetter wanted a scenic spot to construct a handsome single-level house where he and his wife could age in place with ease.
Vetter, who has designed and built more than 70 homes for other people, considered every detail for what he thought would be his last home.
He subdivided a large parcel of land he owns in unincorporated Oak Grove, on the east side of the Willamette River and south of Portland. The new house is on a lot where Forest Creek flows through the backyard on its way to the river.
The U-shaped floor plan wraps around a private courtyard. From the courtyard, you can see bigleaf maple, oak and other native trees along the creek, plus a wild hillside and greenbelt beyond.
The high-ceilinged living and dining areas with glass sliding doors are on one side of the shaded, secure courtyard, and the primary bedroom is on the other side.
Consistent with his low-maintenance goals, Vetter planted water-wise, seasonally colorful landscaping.
While the finishing touches were being made to the three-bedroom house, however, the couple changed their minds and decided to sell the property instead of moving into it. They realized they really want to live in downtown Portland near the
Portland Art Museum and travel.
Listing broker
Jacob Sanchez of Next Generation Real Estate is holding an open house from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
The move-in ready, new home will appeal to “people who value thoughtful design and quality, and who don’t want the headaches of replacing old wiring, plumbing or roofing that often come with older homes,” Sanchez told The Oregonian/OregonLive.
Sanchez sees the potential first owner of the house as someone who wants natural surroundings, “peace, quiet and a bit of a woods, stream, hillside feel rather than an urban-city center home.”
The location is outside the bustle of Portland, he said, but four miles from shops and restaurants in Southeast Portland’s
Sellwood-Moreland neighborhood.
“This home offers seclusion without being remote; a compromise between suburban and semi-rural living,” he said.
A meadow was created to serve as a large infiltration basin to manage stormwater. Energy-efficient features as well as structural and earthquake engineering were also part of the design.
A Builder’s Home is a Culmination of a Long Career
Feature walls are clad in tiger-stripe maple or candleflame birch plywood, both with decorative wavy lines known as flames. Bob Vetter
Vetter retired from his company,
Gizmo Properties, after more than 45 years of work ranging from new home construction to remodels, mostly in the San Francisco Bay area and some in the Portland area.
The Oak Grove home, he said, represents the culmination of what he has learned about design, including detailing and finishes, as well as building codes and efficient construction.
Hardwood planks, plywood and tile he collected over his long career were incorporated into the new house he describes as having elegance and light.
All window sills are made of figured maple. The most prominent ones feature birdseye maple, a rare variation with small, circular “eyes” scattered across the surface.
Feature walls are clad in tiger-stripe maple or candleflame birch plywood, both with decorative wavy lines known as flames.
The house has hardwood and tile floors, a chef’s kitchen and lots of storage.
A passionate gardener for decades, Vetter also wanted landscape that was aesthetically pleasing and easy to maintain. The large boulders he installed will be covered in moss over time.
