Yesterday an artist who is preparing to sell her home posed this question to me:

It will be interesting to get your input on this place since my studio encompasses what would normally be someone else’s living room and dining room.

If you also relate to this question, chances are you are one of us creative types.

Here was my reply:

I’ve been sitting here smiling as I think about your living room and dining room. My own family room is dominated by a giant vintage drafting table – among other less traditional family/living room furnishings. The wood stove and French doors make it a great place to work. My home’s original living room is actually on the other side of the house and looks out over the meadow to the river. When this cottage home was built in 1938, the back of the house faced the road and the porch faced the river – like a modern vacation home faces the money view. Most of my friends never saw my original living room. Everyone gathered in the cottage’s kitchen so  eventually I made the living room into my bedroom. I treasure the fireplace, exterior door and old fashioned porch as my bedroom’s best features! I never tire of this view:

Selling The Artist’s Home -

A sculpture artist pal of mine worried about selling her Colorado home when they began thinking about returning to Portland. (True, she listed her home during a better financial market, but January 1st is not traditionally considered a good time to be presenting real estate.)

I always remember what her realtor said about her home, “Don’t worry. Even if they don’t understand it, most people are curious to see what art is being created in a space, and to see what art is collected by an artist.” My friend de-cluttered everything into boxes and stored them in the garage. She only removed one extremely large painting because it was very bright and dominated the room, but all other art work and projects stayed in place. They had a full offer, with a back up offer within a few days!

Just neaten up rooms and deal with artistic clutter the best you can. This isn’t absolutely necessary for photos, but for showings I will add;
Arrange an inviting nook in each room where the non-artist subconsciously feels the familiar comfort of whatever the rooms normal use would be, but feel free to leave the core of how you currently work and use the room. I think this invites a persons imagination to tour along with them – actively or subliminally (not everyone is on a personal level with their own imagination). Allow your home’s warmth and soul to light up these potential buyers.

Your home will stand out and speak to the right buyer. It is important to remember just as any other home, an artist’s home will not, cannot, appeal to everyone.

The hardest thing for me is to keep a flat surface empty! I somehow constantly pull out something I haven’t admired in awhile and I am always changing things up. It works for me, (and drives my minimalist friends to congregate elsewhere!)

I’m heading outside to enjoy this incredible Oregon morning . . .

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<iframe width=”640″ height=”480″ src=”http://www.youtube.com/embed/6dbtrQ2HxXg?rel=0″ frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen>

Contact Coldwell Banker Broker, Cher Tollefson for your personal tour. 503-539-8602

ML#: 12551927
List Price: $289,000
Addr: 24182 S SCHUEBEL SCHOOL RD
City: Beavercreek Oregon USA Zip: 97004

This immaculate ranch home, with 1.2 acres, is close to Oregon City and also only a short drive to Portland Oregon. New roof, new wood floors, new granite counters! The extra large new travertine stone tiled bathroom is newly done too. It has double sinks, a deep soaking tub, and a beautiful tiled separate shower. The desirable open floor plan looks out to a beautiful deck and large yard, complete with mature trees, gardens and pastures. Pastures are fenced & x-fenced. There is an attached finished double door garage, and for even more space there is a great 30×36 Shop with a separate drive.
(Note: this video suggests granite in the bathroom, but it is actually gorgeous travertine stone tiles. It is only the kitchen that has granite.)

Original music written and performed by RJ Ballard 971-404-8872, used with permission. Available for purchase at rjballard.etsy.com
www.rjballard.com

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- 2310 SF Custom Hand Crafted Home
- 2660 SF Shop/Garage with its own Furnace & Washroom
- Magical Storybook Red Barn
- Fenced Hen Run in the Orchard
- Brilliant Sunroom – Interchangeable Windows & Screens
- 5.35 Acres of Soothing Seclusion
- 4 Soothing Bedrooms ~ 3 Full Baths
- RMLS#: 12191162

Contact Coldwell Banker Broker, Cher Tollefson for your personal tour. 503-539-8602

In the owners words:

A short drive from the city, a long tree-lined driveway leads you to a home that is truly a quiet escape. Here you will enjoy five acres of solitude with large evergreen and deciduous trees, wild trillium, moss covered rocks and a small pond, enjoyed by many birds and wildlife, including a pair of great horned owls.

The house is fully hand crafted with custom wood windows, doors, cabinetry, and oak staircase. It also features wood and tile floors, and flagstone from Mount Hood on the porches, patio and walks. The efficient floor plan and high ceilings make this house feel much more spacious than its 2300 square feet. Multiple windows seem to extend the rooms into the beautiful landscape beyond the walls. A masonry fireplace with a lovely mantle is a focal point in the warm and inviting living room. The den is a cozy retreat featuring a built-in entertainment center, window seat and custom bookshelves of vertical grain fir. A bright sunroom off the kitchen makes a great second dining room on holidays, an art studio, or simply a lazy spot to enjoy a good book.

The second floor has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, including a master bath with Italian marble on the floors, wainscoting, and shower. It has a two-person bathtub and a French door leading out to a balcony with a beautiful view of the woods.

The property also has a spacious (2660 sq. ft.) garage and shop that is heated with oil furnace, has a half bathroom and a washtub. There is also a two story red barn that provides storage for lawn equipment and has a stall for goats or a horse and has a second floor for storage or art studio. Beyond the barn is a chicken coop, vegetable garden, a variety of berry bushes, a small orchard with ten fruit trees and kiwi vines on an arbor. There are trails that run through the woods, surrounded by ferns and wild flowers and the fire pit in the back yard is a great way to enjoy the evenings with family and friends. This is a very special home, ready for your memories to be made.
Presented at $795,000. RMLS# 12191162

Original music written and performed by RJ Ballard 971-404-8872, used with permission. Available for purchase at rjballard.etsy.com
www.rjballard.com

kris tabor photography creative home marketing cher tollefson rj ballard magic land acreage custom home for sale

BTW- If you enjoy living where you can stroll, hike, or dog walk, be sure to consider this beautiful home. This Olson Avenue neighborhood rests squarely in the middle of at least 6 large parks and natural areas! Olson Avenue is in the Childs Road/Stafford Road area of Lake Oswego so both I-5 and I-205 are very easy to get to. Just look at this map:

I seriously love this home’s bay window that makes up an entire dining room wall:

For more information or a personal tour, please contact Oregon Realty Broker Carrie Desoto, 503.309.6290.

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master bathroom, Kris Tabor photography, real estate, photographer, West Linn, Oregon, home for sale, Deena Kraft, Windermere

I am not surprised it was on the market for such a short time. This home was so fun to photograph. The homeowner was on site with the listing agent while I explored and clicked away. I could tell how much love had been put into the property. I think the master bathroom is the best and biggest I have ever been in! It was pretty difficult to shoot with all those reflective surfaces, plus the huge glass shower, large windows, angles, and extra mirrors. Whew! Pretty, pretty, pretty!

It was also challenge to photograph the exterior. That lovely privacy hedge works very well. Renting a crane wasn’t in the budget. It would have been great if the neighbor’s second story window had been accessible to hang out of. Instead we got creative using what was available . . . to even get this much of the front to show, I was carefully perched on top of realtor Deena Kraft’s vehicle with my camera up a pole! We could have really used a huge flatbed truck and a ladder for this shoot.

master bathroom, Kris Tabor photography, real estate,  photographer, West Linn, Oregon, home for sale, Deena Kraft, Windermere

For more information or a personal tour, please contact Broker Cher Tollefson at Coldwell Banker Seal, 503.539.8602.

Note: this homes Interior photos begin at 2:08

Come take a walk through the 23+ acres and soak up the private views of this stunning home. Even the cows and horses have wonderful views of Goat Mountain. I was also very impressed with the strong fencing that is well laid out over the land. Next to the home is a combination shop and horse barn. This parcel also boasts a second larger barn which is very well built for cattle and big enough to house large equipment and vehicles. There also is an intriguing rustic building that could make someone like me an exciting studio space. I can imagine starting my work day taking a walk down the private lane, watching the animals drawn to the pond, discovering birds nesting in a patch of growing Christmas trees, singing outloud as I wander to the studio, and getting to do it all over again on my way back to the daily activities of the family house. Ahhhh – sweet sighs!

Deena Kraft, Broker with Winderemere C&C can provide more details. 503-970-8889

Thanks for watching!

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For a personal tour contact Deena Kraft, Windermere Broker 503.970.8889.

Note:  I am always grateful when a homeowner offers photos of their home. I was able to incorporate many personal pictures into this video. After all, I am generally on the property once, twice, sometimes three times, so I cannot see all the love and moods of every season. This unique carousel home is such a home.  I could feel the love even though life changes have led the owner elsewhere . . . thank you dear homeowner for helping me tell more of your homes story.

And this was my favorite of the homeowner’s photos:

Look closely and you can see this is a double rainbow between the round house and Goat Mountain. Nice!!!!

kris tabor creative real estate home photography deena kraft oregon home for sale land virtual tour.

Yes, there really are fish this huge in Oregon streams!!!!!

Update:

Cher has moved to Coldwell Banker Seal, and this Gentleman’s Farm listing has also transferred to Coldwell Banker. Her phone number remains the same: 503-539-8602

Contact Cher Tollefson, Broker for more information on this 100 + acre home and property. 503-539-8602

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