Urban Nest is a special place. Not only do we help you buy and sell houses, but we also stay in touch long after the deal is done. We're here for all your real estate needs (Looking for a plumber? Need a general contractor for a remodel project?), plus a little extra. This summer we put together little kits to help you make the perfect ice cream sundae. The kits included chocolate caramel sauce & strawberry sauce from Confiterie, rainbow sprinkles, chopped cookies & creme topping, and two cute little ice cream cups & spoons. We created and delivered the kits to many of our great clients. We've gotten some rave reviews, but Rachel Freed got a special shout-out when her client Karen sent this great photo of daughter Ella, right about to dig in.
Life in Portland Blog
Urban Nest Design Tip of the Week: The Gallery Wall
The Surprisingly Simple Gallery Wall Look
In this series, we share simple DIY solutions for maximum design impact, brought to you by our very own Agent Andy Barlow.
Have you been wanting to create a gallery wall in your home but feel unsure how to do it? Here are some helpful hints: Look for pieces of different sizes, shapes, and depths, but don’t worry too much about sticking to a theme - just find pieces that speak to you. To save money: check out local thrift stores, garage sales, and Goodwill (if you take the time to dig you can find some amazing framed paintings for less than $10!). Having trouble finding smaller pieces? Use postcards - you can tack them up with a simple wooden tack or decorative pin, or frame them to give them some extra pizazz.
When it comes to the arrangement, I suggest starting with the biggest piece and building off that, but this piece does not have to be centered. Arrange the other pieces next, keeping anywhere from 1-4 inches between each piece depending on how big the wall is and how many pieces you have. There is no real wrong way to do this, but try to keep things balanced from one side to the other. If it helps, lay them all out on the floor first, or get some sheets of poster paper and cut the sheets into the same size as the art pieces. You can then tape the paper up on the wall to see what arrangement you like without creating any extra holes.
And if you don’t believe me that you can do this on a budget, here is proof! This wall cost less than $55!
Urban Nest's Design Tip of the Week is written by our own Agent Andy Barlow. He divides his time between real estate and interior design, meaning that he can help you buy a house and decorate it too. Ready to take the leap into a more comfortable space for you and your family? Get in touch with Andy here.
Agent Andy's House of the Week: 638 NE 72nd Ave
Mid-Century Charmer in Montavilla
In this series, Urban Nest's very own Agent Andy Barlow shares his favorite Portland home of the week. See stunning properties from all across town and pick up valuable insight from one of Portland's most discerning real estate professionals.
This week I was excited to find a midcentury home close-in on the east side of Portland for under $400k. Yeah, really! This house may look unassuming from the outside, but stepping inside you find a home boasting midcentury charm around every corner.
The first thing I noticed when walking in was the open floor plan and the beautiful wood-clad vaulted ceilings. The living room inside the entry is expansive and wraps itself along a fireplace and into the large kitchen (which has some really cool gold hardware). From there I walked into the dining room and found another living area complete with a fireplace and a large bar, which is original to the home.
Heading back through the kitchen and living areas (which I didn’t want to leave) there is a long hallway with three bedrooms and an updated bathroom. The wood-clad vaulted ceilings continue into the bedrooms, making each room feel taller and give each space character. The crisp white walls against the ceilings really make the space feel airy and spacious, yet so cozy that I’m already picturing myself living here.
It’s obvious the sellers have taken a lot of care in updating the home, while also keeping a lot of its original midcentury features. “When they decided to sell, they voiced their concerns about how difficult it is to find a good home for under $400,000 in the close-in Portland market,” Rachel Freed, the listing agent, told me. “After much consideration, they chose to transform their plain Jane rental into a beautiful space that a first time buyer could afford.”
My favorite part? The living area off the dining room. This would be my hangout spot - right next to the fireplace, the bar, and a sliding door to the backyard. (What more could you ask for?!) I also love the price on this, and what Rachel told me about the sellers. “They are all about creating community and connections and decided to ‘give-back’ to the community they know and love by turning a worn-out house into an updated mid-century charmer.” Doesn’t get much better than that.
Take a look at the full listing here.
Click here to learn more about working with us to find the PDX home of your dreams today.
Crusher Court Neighbor Spotlight: Dream Cakes
Catching Up with Our Neighbors at Dream Cakes
In this series, Urban Nest sits down with neighboring business owners in the new Crusher Court commercial building to talk shop about what makes their store or business fit so well with Portland.
Bespoke Wedding Cakes with PDX Flair
For those who haven't visited Urban Nest's new office location in the Crusher Court commercial building, read about our new space in this brand new renovated building from Guerrilla Development. The perks of our new office space don't stop at the innovative design, we're also blessed to have an incredible assortment of neighboring businesses, all of which (including Urban Nest) are owned by women. To celebrate this community, we'll be visiting and spotlighting each of our neighboring businesses here on our blog, starting with Dream Cakes.
Known for exceptional quality wedding cakes since 1994, Dream Cakes continues the tradition today with it's new owner, Johannah, taking over daily operations in 2014. We sat down with Johannah and her staff to learn more about their experience getting settled in the Crusher Court building.
UN: What do you love most about being a part of the Crusher Court business community?
We ended up being a bit of a rush when moving out of our previous space, and the process of moving in to Crusher Court turned out to be surprisingly simple and painless.
UN: What makes the Dream Cakes experience unique?
Everything is made in-house, custom, and never frozen. Also, there’s only three of us here, so it’s a very intimate experience.
UN: What is your favorite thing about Portland?
The business community. It takes time to become established, but I’ve been very grateful to be a part of it.
UN: What do you think makes your business a great fit for Portland?
Well, I make vegan cake, and all of the produce we use is local. Everything is hand made in small batches.
UN: Which part of town do you live in, and what do you love about it most?
I live in North East, near Life of Pie, and there's a kale salad there that I eat 4 or 5 times a week.
URBAN NEST PDX: WE KNOW PORTLAND!
Click here to learn more about working with us to find the PDX home of your dreams today.
Learn more about Dream Cakes on their website.
Agent Andy's House of the Week: 711 NE Randall Ave. #302
Historic Condo in Kerns
In this series, Urban Nest's very own Agent Andy Barlow shares his favorite Portland home of the week. See stunning properties from all across town and pick up valuable insight from one of Portland's most discerning real estate professionals.
This week I fell in love with a one bedroom condo in the Kerns neighborhood. This place may be small, but it’s mighty in everything that it offers - style, history, and location. And, at $255,000, it’s a pretty great price for close-in Portland.
Style wise, this place is bursting with vintage charm (picture rails, coved ceilings, built-ins, hardwood floors, hex and subway tiles, the list goes on and on). The layout is functional and offers tons of storage, and the big windows let in so much natural light that it just feels welcoming and homey as soon as you open the front door.
The vintage charm here is all thanks to the architectural history. Designed by Elmer Feig and built in 1929, the building is on the National Registry of Historic Places. Feig was known for creating a mash up of different architectural styles and there are over 80 of his apartment buildings all around the city.
As for the location, you'd be surrounded by tons of restaurants and bars (The Ocean row, The Zipper, Providore, Church, Dove Vivi, and literally over 30 more within a few blocks) and shops like Project Object, Leeward Surf, and Hollywood Vintage. It’s truly a happening neighborhood and you’d never be short on places to walk to.
“You could live a car-free lifestyle here very easily,” Wren Shiffler, the listing agent told me. “It has awesome transit access that allows you to hop on a bus and be downtown in 10 minutes. You’ve also got secure bike storage and could bike pretty much anywhere in less than 15 minutes.”
My favorite part? Location, location, location. This really is a PRIME Portland spot and the walkability to bars and restaurants is kind of crazy. And I can say from personal experience that these are some of the best bars and restaurants on the east side. Take my advice: tour this condo, grab lunch at 24th and Meatballs, and then do some shopping at the new Project Object and Leeward Surf. You won’t regret it.
Take a look at the full listing here.
Click here to learn more about working with us to find the PDX home of your dreams today.