House Tour: Kirsten and Kyle’s Charming Portland Home

We gave you a sneak peek of Kirsten’s lovely Portland home in last week’s post, and now here’s the full house tour. The exterior is painted a rich gray and the porch is framed by oversized white corbels that give the entry a classic, welcoming feel. (House numbers have been changed to protect privacy.)

From a few steps back the façade reads as quietly elegant; we wish we’d seen it in full spring bloom, but even in this quieter light the architectural details stand out.

Inside, a small but smart entry sits between the dining and living rooms. It’s a compact, functional spot that Kirsten carved out of the layout. The built-ins were made by a local woodworker (a cost-saving, customized solution) and the oversized initial on the shelf is a striking Anthropologie find.

We couldn’t help but admire the paint choices—this living area is painted in Benjamin Moore’s Copley Gray—and that dramatic, oversized map mounted on the wall. The map adds personality and scale while grounding the space.

The wood-burning fireplace is fully functional and adds a cozy focal point. A patterned rug from Crate & Barrel is a practical pick here—its pattern hides occasional marks from ash or soot. Above the mantel, a mirror found on Craigslist completes the vignette.

A vintage wood chest repurposed as a side table—another Craigslist score—pairs perfectly with a colorful ikat chair from Urban Outfitters. Those unexpected pairings create a layered, collected look.

The coffee table was a group wedding gift from family, also from Crate & Barrel, adding a sentimental touch to the living room.

Across from the living area is the dining space, entered through a slightly arched doorway that softens the transition between rooms. A distinctive light fixture from Ballard Designs hangs overhead, lending an elegant yet casual vibe.

The dining room mixes simple black-framed artwork with a reclaimed wood table that holds special meaning: it was reclaimed from a barn in Kyle’s hometown of Sweet Home, Oregon. The paint color here is Quill by Olympic, a muted neutral that complements the wood tones and framed art.

For details about the framed prints and how they were sourced, Kirsten documents the story on her blog. The frames themselves were thrifted finds, and the small console behind the table is styled with thoughtful accents that feel curated rather than staged.

Kitchen and Eat-In Nook

The kitchen was once a narrow galley, but removing a wall opened it up and created space for a comfortable eat-in area. The wood countertop was custom-made by a local woodworker for a fraction of retail cost, and includes a spot cut precisely for the sunken cooktop.

Kirsten and Kyle experimented with multiple wall colors before settling on Benjamin Moore’s Rockport Gray, a warm putty tone that enriches the cabinet color without darkening the room.

The eat-in corner features a bold yellow poster and a cheerful yellow pepper mill that act as playful accents against the neutral backdrop. These pops of color balance the natural wood and painted cabinetry.

A small exterior door off the kitchen is reached by a short staircase. To dress up these steps on a budget, Kirsten used Benjamin Moore porch and floor paints in White Dove and Van Cortland Blue, along with a stencil to create an inviting, custom look.

Guest Room and Backyard

The guest room features a metal bedframe and an evocative old wood dresser with a weathered finish. What looks like an expensive, vintage piece actually came to Kirsten as a free hand-me-down; after stripping and sanding off old paint, she revealed a beautifully distressed surface. Drawer pulls are from Anthropologie and the wall color is Behr’s Pebble Stone.

The backyard is lush and green—thanks to Portland’s generous rainfall—and includes a small deck off the kitchen with a privacy fence and plantings that make the outdoor space feel cozy and secluded.

Overall, Kirsten and Kyle’s home blends thoughtful DIY projects, local craftsmanship, and well-chosen store pieces to create a warm, collected interior. Favorite details include the oversized map in the living room, the reclaimed dining table, the Ballard Designs chandelier, and the custom wood counter in the kitchen. The result is a comfortable, stylish Portland home with personality in every room.

For more on Kirsten’s paint selections and the full story behind each room, see her blog posts about paint colors and the house tour on her site. Now tell us: which detail is your favorite? The map, the wood table, the painted staircase, or something else?

Explore more than thirty additional house features in our House Crashing series.