Houzz Tours
My Houzz: Warm and Inviting Bungalow in Portland
Newlywed couple layers in their own eclectic mix of vintage and mid-century modern style
Right in the center of their bustling Brooklyn neighborhood in Portland, Oregon, newlyweds Joseph Palazzo and LeeAnna Rappleyea create a bright and welcoming home using an eclectic mix of original art and secondhand finds. And with a plethora of restaurants, cafés, and coffee shops at the end of their shady street, the location can’t be beat. The couple takes advantage of all aspects of city living, including the 10-minute bike commute into downtown Portland, but their urban retreat feels miles away from it all.
“Our realtor showed us over 120 houses before we finally settled on this one,” says Joseph. “We loved it as soon as we drove by.” They instantly saw the charm in the 1904 bungalow and knew that with a little sprucing up, the house would make a perfect home.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Joseph Palazzo and LeeAnna Rappleyea
Location: Portland, Oregon
Size: 1,500 square feet; 2 bedrooms, 1 bath
“Our realtor showed us over 120 houses before we finally settled on this one,” says Joseph. “We loved it as soon as we drove by.” They instantly saw the charm in the 1904 bungalow and knew that with a little sprucing up, the house would make a perfect home.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Joseph Palazzo and LeeAnna Rappleyea
Location: Portland, Oregon
Size: 1,500 square feet; 2 bedrooms, 1 bath
Joseph and LeeAnna's first major purchase together was a new custom designed sofa. It was made to their specs and hints at the couple's mid-century modern aesthetic. The orange chair is a recent purchase from their favorite retro housewares store, Vintage Pink, and they particularly like how the low profiles of both pieces help preserve the openness of the living room.
Sofa: Helsinki style from Sofas By Design
Chair: Vintage Pink
Sofa: Helsinki style from Sofas By Design
Chair: Vintage Pink
The couple's handiwork can be found throughout the house; this handcrafted coffee table is a perfect example of their inventive spirit. They found a large flat stone in their yard and added a sturdy base from another table they purchased on Craigslist to make an interesting and useful piece. The rough edges of the table are a playful contrast to the geometric pattern of the nearby wall art.
Another delightful corner of their living room features an airy, vintage chair the couple purchased at a secondhand shop, and a Japanese print that once belonged to LeeAnna's grandfather. "We like keeping things visually clean," Joseph says.
This past summer, Joseph and LeeAnna were married in the garden of their home. As part of the decorations for their wedding day, they made large paper pompoms and hung them from the ceiling. They loved the festive and breezy look so much that the pompoms now have a permanent place here.
One of the things that first attracted them to their home was the connection between the outside and the indoors. With large, original wood windows around every turn, the views of the garden are prominent, and the greenery serves as a backdrop for the entire space.
The couple brings even more of the green indoors by filling their little sunroom with houseplants and foliage.
Though they've been happy with almost every aspect of the house, the elongated layout has posed a few design challenges. Both the front and back entrances are on the same east-facing wall, so they've had to create sitting and television-viewing areas wherever possible. "This is really the only way the furniture can be arranged in this room," says Joseph.
There is a seamless flow between the rooms. The pale green-and-red color scheme is carried from the living room into the dining room, as is the mid-century modern influence. LeeAnna bought this dining set years ago, before the couple married, and though it fits in with the rest of the décor, they say they are on the lookout for something different.
Joseph and LeeAnna are both passionate about cooking and when they're at home, they spend most of their time together in the kitchen. The space is full of old-fashioned charm, and the original paned-glass cabinet doors give them an easy way to creatively display their pretty dishes and serving pieces. LeeAnna painted the cabinets white and kept the existing hardware intact.
There are hardwood countertops throughout the kitchen, and though they're not sure which of the previous owners to thank for putting them in, Joseph and LeeAnna are grateful for their style and practicality. They say the only thing missing now is more counter space.
As avid cooks, they take full advantage of their ample garden plot, as well as the nearby natural food markets, for fresh vegetables and organic produce. Access to healthy food is one of the many things they love about their city.
Their wonderful garden provides them with more than just food; it also gives them a beautiful place to sit and relax throughout the year.
The rest of their yard is full of architectural details, including these stairs that lead up to a wisteria-covered gazebo on top of the home's sunken garage.
Like many in the neighborhood, Joseph and LeeAnna's home is full of history and character. They've artfully put their own mid-century spin on the 107-year-old home, and the finished space couldn't be more warm or welcoming.
Joseph and LeeAnna at home.
More Houzz tours:
Fuss-Free Venice Beach Bungalow
Kerrie Kelly's California Style
Lola Nova's Small Space, Big Life
Sunny Update for a California Bungalow
More Houzz tours:
Fuss-Free Venice Beach Bungalow
Kerrie Kelly's California Style
Lola Nova's Small Space, Big Life
Sunny Update for a California Bungalow
After much experimenting, they landed on just the right color combination: bright white with a touch of green for the walls and neutral cream for the trim. The end result is fresh and dreamy, and is the perfect complement to the rich orange-red tones of the couple's décor.
Paint colors: Shell Tint and Desert Mirage by Miller