Albee House
Portland, Oregon
This stately house was originally built for the then-mayor of Portland in 1912. Where once the unremarkable yard featured mostly lawn and a few heavily pruned shrubs near the house, now we have a lush and vibrant garden, warm and romantic in its riot of flowering plants. The long and narrow back garden has been transformed into a lush oasis where sounds of birdsong, buzzing bees, and gurgling water make the rest of the world fade away.
Designed while Courtney worked with SHWA Landscape Architecture, the house and garden were recently featured in Architectural Digest and episode 5 of Old Home Stories from Magnolia Network.
Interior Designer: Jessica Helgerson Interior Design
General Contractor: Dave Rush Construction
Landscape Contractor: Northwest Floriculture
Metalworker: Flux Design
Mason: Rael, Inc.
The grand, symmetrical front facade (perhaps a little stiff by itself) is softened by luxuriant beds of flowering shrubs in colors that echo the warm tones of the brick.
French Anduze planters seem to be proliferating of their own accord on the large front porch.
The back yard is divided into a series of outdoor rooms, from left to right: rose garden, knot garden, perennial walk, and greenhouse terrace.
The custom greenhouse, designed in collaboration with Mira Eng-Goetz of Jessica Helgerson Interior Design, is a year-round haven in the garden.
The original laundry sinks from the house's basement have become the focal point of the greenhouse.
The greenhouse doubles as a potting shed and butler's pantry serving the adjacent dining area.
The greenhouse's double doors open onto a generous terrace with both dining and lounge areas, with views to the rest of the garden beyond.
A custom steel pergola festooned with vines frames the view to the dining area.
A custom-made dovecote is one of many structures in the garden meant to welcome wildlife.
The pergola features a mix of flowering and edible vines, including table grapes, roses, passionflower, and wisteria. Market lights stretch over the terrace.
The back facade is the house is much more varied and playful than the front, and we've bordered it with a deep bed full of flowering shrubs and perennials.
The new back porch features metalwork inspired by the beautiful hand-painted wall motifs in the nearby living room, designed by JHID.
The main axis of the back garden is all about flowers.
The knot garden, in addition to being a lovely place to sit, is meant to be viewed from the formal living room above, and features delicate-looking steel furniture that allows rain and sun to reach the groundcovers below.
The limestone fountain, imported from France, is a favorite stopping place for the neighborhood birds.
The auto court doubles as a kitchen garden, with apple and fig trees espaliered against the fence, and pots holding herbs, berries, vegetables, and edible flowers.