Columbus Blown Off Course

On September 28, 2011 By Fred KingIn Alameda street, Blue Sky, boat, Houses, Portland, Thoughts1 Comment

The true story emerges: Columbus discovers mansion in NE Portland. The indigenous population of the Sabin district confiscated the Santa Maria and placed it on a mansion rooftop on Alameda St. Columbus was later discovered locked in the media room of the mansion, forced to watch Western movies on a 55″ LCD TV.

House for a Non-Human

On September 22, 2011 By Fred KingIn Houses, Portland1 Comment

Even the bird houses near Alameda St. are a cut above your average aviary fair. This one looks like it needs some TLC.

Alameda House

On September 22, 2011 By Fred KingIn Alameda street, Houses, Portland1 Comment

This house was a bit neglected a few years ago. New owners gave it a little curb appeal. One of the larger homes on Alameda St. in NE Portland.

Mike’s House: Update

On September 16, 2011 By Fred KingIn buildings, Houses, PortlandLeave a comment

I think this is the fourth update on Mike’s house and probably the last exterior views I will take. The exterior is now finished and Mike is working mostly in the interior. My next update, with luck, will show the interior.

Skinny Houses

On August 20, 2011 By Fred KingIn Alberta Street, Houses, Portland2 Comments

On a lot that originally had one house a developer constructed two of these ‘skinny houses’. The location is just one block north of Alberta St., NE Portland.

Neighbors in N.E. Portland

On August 19, 2011August 19, 2011 By Fred KingIn Houses, PortlandLeave a comment

These two houses are only a couple of blocks from each other. Eclectic neighborhood.

Mike’s House: Update#3

On August 1, 2011 By Fred KingIn Houses, PortlandLeave a comment

Mike’s house is now painted and he is in the process of installing new windows. The color of the house was selected from a collection called “Classic Houses”, I believe. I can’t recall the paint manufacturer, but it is one of the major companies that offers colors to use on older homes.

Green Book

On July 16, 2011July 16, 2011 By Fred KingIn buildings, Houses, PortlandLeave a comment

Mike’s House

On July 13, 2011July 13, 2011 By Fred KingIn Houses, Portland1 Comment

Mike in his truck talking on the phone. I didn’t get a chance to talk with Mike the last time I was in Portland. I did notice that he had finished painting the new porch. I would guess more work is going on inside the house. Next time I hope to venture in and take photos, if Mike is okay with that.

Mike’s House: Update

On June 22, 2011 By Fred KingIn buildings, Houses, Portland1 Comment

Mike hard at work ( until I stopped by to talk ). The house now has a new porch and columns, dormers upstairs, new furnace, plumbing. Mike said he is about four months from completion and is a little over budget. The wiring needs to be replaced, new windows as well as new sheetrock for the interior ( original was plaster and lath ). Mike let me in the basement to take a look at how it will work, with refinished cement floors, rooms for entertainment, etc. I think he said he hauled out 3 3 yard dumpsters of debris, etc from the basement alone. Things are really moving along, though. It has been fun to follow this major rebuild from the begining.

Update: Mike’s House

On May 26, 2011 By Fred KingIn Houses, PortlandLeave a comment

It has been a while since I posted something about Mike’s house in NE Portland. Since the last posting he has punched out some dormers upstairs, painted ( probably primer) the outside and removed the old front & back porches. I haven’t been inside the house, but my guess is that it is mostly gutted. The dormers are a good way to increase usable square footage and not really add much to the cost of renovating.

John Mellancamp Wrote a Song….

On May 7, 2011 By Fred KingIn Capitol Hill, Houses, SeattleLeave a comment

John Mellancamp wrote a song about a house like this.

Favorites

On March 20, 2011March 20, 2011 By Fred KingIn Houses, PortlandLeave a comment

One of my favorite homes in NE Portland.

Mike’s House

On March 17, 2011March 18, 2011 By Fred KingIn HousesLeave a comment

Just an observation about this photo: Photography is basically all about light, presence and absence of light. I struggle to get just the right light in an image with every shot. This particular image, of Mike’s renovation in progress, was taken at dusk so I don’t know how much that plays into the light equation. That said, I think this is one of my best in terms of light. When enlarged the light looks so real I feel I am right there looking at the house. I really think the qualities in this photo, in terms of light and color, is what I am striving for with every attempt at a photograph. I shot this photo with a 70-200mm Sigma 2.8 lens set in manual mode.

Steps

On March 17, 2011 By Fred KingIn Alameda street, Houses, PortlandLeave a comment

Sun of ….

On February 18, 2011February 18, 2011 By Fred KingIn Art, Houses, SeattleLeave a comment

Carving near the entranceway of a home on Beach Drive in Seattle,

Solar Panels and Cisterns

On January 17, 2011 By Fred KingIn buildings, Houses, PortlandLeave a comment

Cisterns & solar panels on a house in the Sabin Area of Portland. Most of the yard is devoted to either garden or chickens. Amazing what can be done in an urban environment.

Houseboats & Moorage

On December 27, 2010 By Fred KingIn buildings, Houses, marina, Seattle1 Comment

Houseboat on the Duwamish River, adjacent to what used to be the 14th St. Bridge.

Modernity

On October 28, 2010October 28, 2010 By Fred KingIn buildings, Houses, Portland1 Comment

In a neighborhood of mostly bungalos, four square and other types of craftsmen-like houses is this new construction, complete with an array of solar panels.