Houzz Tours
My Houzz: Northwest Home with a Mountain View
See how an Oregon couple mixes old and new in their dream home in Lake Oswego
Driving through the narrow, tree-lined streets of Lake Oswego, Oregon, you might miss this stunning French country-style home on top of Iron Mountain. The traditional home sits on top of a ridge, giving owners Joan and Nick Johnson a breathtaking view of Mt. Hood and Oswego Lake. “We get up every morning, and we sit outside and we watch the sun rise,” says Joan.
Designed by architect Rod Graham, Nick and Joan had their dream home built five years ago this month. The home sits on top of iron mines dating back to the 19th century. The mines are now covered with boulders, but remnants of Lake Oswego’s historic mining days surround their property.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Nick and Joan Johnson
Location: Lake Oswego, Oregon
Size: 7,000 sq. ft., three-story detached house with 4 bedrooms
See more Houzz Tours
Designed by architect Rod Graham, Nick and Joan had their dream home built five years ago this month. The home sits on top of iron mines dating back to the 19th century. The mines are now covered with boulders, but remnants of Lake Oswego’s historic mining days surround their property.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Nick and Joan Johnson
Location: Lake Oswego, Oregon
Size: 7,000 sq. ft., three-story detached house with 4 bedrooms
See more Houzz Tours
Joan and Nick like the sense of community they feel in Lake Oswego. Joan says she feels like she's on vacation in her own home — 365 days of blissful vacation.
The grand entry welcomes guests with beautiful, radiant heated hardwood flooring that continues throughout the home. Walking through the entry to the back patio offers a commanding panoramic view.
The simple blue-and-white color scheme seen in the dining room is found throughout Joan's home. She has always enjoyed this color combination, along with red as an accent color. The furniture comes mostly from antique stores in Palm Springs, Calif. and on the East Coast.
Nick and Joan's home is the perfect balance of masculine and feminine. Joan has done all of the decorating herself, with the exception of a few helpful hints on paint color. Joan mixes the old with the new and says, "I don't like to buy new usually, but sometimes it's hard to find what you're looking for. These days I wait until I find exactly what I want."
Twenty years ago Joan purchased her first expensive piece of furniture. "I have loved that red sofa forever. It's getting tired and needs to be recovered, but I can't make myself do it. I don't know if I have the guts to go red again," she says.
The kitchen is Joan and Nick's favorite room. From behind the kitchen island they can take in a beautiful panoramic view of nature. The flush-mounted refrigerator is disguised as cabinetry with molding and hardware. A few of the drawers in the kitchen also have this unique feature. One offers freezer space, another a small second refrigerator, and a third a warming drawer. In addition, the kitchen features two dishwashers and a pasta faucet above the stove.
A second dining table has leaves which extend to make plenty of room for visiting family and friends to take in the view.
The kitchen pantry features a collection of Spode Italian blue antique transfer glassware. Joan was thrilled to have her collection displayed with built-in cabinets, not only for its beauty, but because it is now easily accessible when she needs it.
The spacious, open-concept room is the perfect spot in the house for entertainment or a lazy Sunday afternoon. Whoever's the chef can interact with guests while cooking up a storm in the kitchen.
The guest room has a cozy seating area for a good book and a cup of tea. Each of the four bedrooms has a similar area for sitting back and relaxing.
This painting is an important piece for both Nick and Joan. Nick's great grandfather was the captain of a Swedish ship called Molodez. An artist in England used to sit on the pier and paint boats as they came in. He would then sell his paintings to the captains. The painting came to Nick and Joan in the mail from Sweden one day after the last of the Swedish heirs had died.
Joan found this apothecary medicine cabinet at an antique store while visiting her daughter Kristi at college in Santa Clara, Calif. Joan has been collecting demitasse tea cups for as long as she can remember and the cabinet became the perfect display case for her collection.
Kristi will always have a home away from home at her parents' house in this vibrant, spacious bedroom.
On a beautiful, clear Northwest day, you can see Mt. Hood and Oswego Lake from Joan and Nick's patio. It is here that they spend most of their leisure time, just taking in the view.
The only thing left on their home design to-do-list is some landscaping. Joan was inspired by an image of a home in British Columbia, and wants to landscape down the hill with sedum ground cover and lots of narrow pathways. Until they do, Joan and Nick will continue to enjoy their daily cups of coffee on the back patio (at times with heaters), overlooking the view.
More:
Between Sea and Sky on Raft Island
Comfort and Elegance for 5
Victorial Style, Built for Fun
See more Houzz Tours
More:
Between Sea and Sky on Raft Island
Comfort and Elegance for 5
Victorial Style, Built for Fun
See more Houzz Tours