4523 SE Tibbetts St, Portland, OR 97206

The Treehouse is an exceptional new build carved into a unique lot surrounded by multiple majestic trees. With cues from Swiss modern design and the alpine cabins often found in the mountains of the Pacific NW, the steep roof pitches and wide overhangs reflect the tall trees and large canopies around them. Devoid of unnecessary external ornamentation, and wrapped with only a singular product, the home initially presents itself as a simple homogenous silhouette among the trees. Only as you ascend the cascading concrete stairs into the main courtyard do the beautiful textures of the vertical cedar, the subtle cantilevers and the 2-story volume on the north end start to reveal the complete shape and the intentionally understated details of the home.

The interior is equally stunning with European white oak floors, beautiful woodwork, caseless doors and windows, handmade cabinetry, smooth walls, and modern hardware. Expansive glass and 7 skylights bring the view of the trees inside the home and create a rare forest-like setting in the middle of the city. A gorgeous ribbon of rift-sawn white oak weaves its way though the center of the home via the stacked half-turn stairway. Every surface, fixture, and detail has been hand selected to create an exceptionally clean and unified theme. The clear grade flooring features a matte finish and is free of knots and just the right tone to create a warm and delicate texture underfoot without overpowering any of your furnishings, artwork, or decor.

The spacious kitchen features grain-matched walnut cabinets and white quartz countertops striking a perfect balance between color, texture, and lightness. The 36 inch dual-fuel Bertazzoni range offers optimized options for all your cooking and baking needs. The central island with waterfall sides provides seating, storage, and a beautiful uninterrupted work surface for food prep or entertaining. The adjacent dining area offers access to the entertainment patio and the double sliding doors frame the wonderful maple tree at the property’s edge.

Featuring up to 5 bedrooms and 4.1 baths, this 3500 SF home offers an incredibly flexible layout. If you work from home, the large office on the ground floor features its own exterior entrance and an ensuite bathroom. This space can also be used as a bedroom or guest suite. The second floor gallery can accommodate up to 20 feet of desk space with a full wall of windows and an open lightwell to the third floor and a skylight above. The third floor offers a beautiful vaulted space under the tree canopies suitable as a family room, media room, workout room or studio. A full bath and a wet bar augment the functionality of this floor and a strategically placed pocket door can be closed to create another complete guest suite in conjunction with the adjacent 5th bedroom. 

The primary suite is isolated from the rest of the home by a large vestibule with solid core doors on each end and sound-deadening insulation in the walls. The dramatic angles of the merging roof slopes is mirrored on the interior before opening up to the 14 foot ceiling height. A solar black-out shade on the skylight closes at the touch of a button. The bathroom features a step-down wet area eliminating the need for a curtain or glass walls. 2 shower heads can use be used together or independently. Heated floors and a humidity-sensing fan will automatically rebalance the temperature and moisture levels. Twin Italian ceramic sinks on Zebrano wood cabinets provide plenty of storage and add just the right amount of warm texture against the muted grey and white tile work. The Toto toilet can accept any of their Washlet seats and an electrical plug has been installed for this purpose.

Top of the line Mitsubishi HVAC equipment is discreetly installed throughout the home. Seven thermostats allow for fully customized temperature control. With an upgraded insulation package, high-efficiency heating & cooling, high performance glass, and an Energy Star water heater, this home attains an impressive Home Energy Score of 8 reducing its carbon footprint and utility costs to those of a traditional home half its size. A hot water recirculation system on a programmable timer has been installed to ensure that all fixtures receive hot water quickly and water is not wasted waiting for it to reach the desired temperature. A low voltage panel has been provided in the mechanical room and category 6 ethernet cable has been distributed throughout the home.

The exterior siding conceals an elaborate rainscreen design that provides continuous ventilation behind the siding and roof sheathing. All windows and doors have black clad aluminum exteriors and the gutters have stainless steel screens installed for the ultimate low-maintenance exterior. The unsightly gas meter and electrical meter base have been cleverly hidden in a dedicated corral and even the electrical mast itself has been secreted behind the siding so as to not spoil the clean look of the street-facing facade. The oversized single car garage has been prepped for a level 2 car charger inside and a staircase built into the driveway provides easy access to the home from the street via a sheltered doorway.

With a Walk Score of 80. This home is close to multiple food cart pods, coffee, shops, and Portland’s Restaurant Row on Division street, The Hawthorne and Division/Clinton districts are an easy bike ride away. This is a quiet low-traffic street with ample parking and bike friendly streets. 95 new plants have been strategically placed and a full drip irrigation system including the parking strips will ensure their future growth. A Gold Coin Scotch Pine tree has been planted in the front and its pyramidal form will provide brilliant golden yellow winter foliage against the black background of the home’s siding. Landscape lighting circuits have been installed around the perimeter and can be expanded to fit your needs.