Budget Breakdown: An Oregon Retreat Revamped for $135K Channels Nautical Wes Anderson Vibes
In the tiny community of Cape Meares, a DIY couple turn an unassuming shingled house into a maritime-inspired getaway.
In the tiny community of Cape Meares, a DIY couple turn an unassuming shingled house into a maritime-inspired getaway.
Kelly and Ty Milford weren’t actually house hunting when they decided to call the number on the "For Sale" sign to ask about the skinny, three-story, cedar shingle–clad charmer they’d come across on a walk that rainy afternoon. It was 2018, and the couple were vacationing in Cape Meares, one of the few secluded spots left on the Oregon coast within an easy drive of Portland.
"We were just completely taken with how beautiful, quaint, and quiet it was," she says of this enclave by Tillamook Bay, which has a population of 80. "There’s wetlands, the bay, and the ocean all in one place, dunes to hike around, a lighthouse you can walk to. We loved that we could let our dog off the leash—there was hardly anyone around, even on spring break."
| $1,061 Septic | $8,539 Plumbing | $15,858 Paint, Carpet, Tile, & Other Finishes |
| $3,515 Electrical & Lighting | $9,386 Structure & Decking | $8,701 Appliances & Wood Stove |
| $5,897 Landscaping | $72,871 Furniture, Casework, & Decoration | $8,962 Lumber, Hardware, & Building Materials |
| Grand Total: $134,790 | ||
Dusk falls in Cape Meares, Oregon, where the Pacific Ocean meets Tillamook Bay.
Unlike many of the older, adjacent homes with weathered facades and musty, waterlogged interiors, this one dated only to 1998. After making a successful offer of $310,000, Ty and Kelly focused on making it their own. "With our kids growing up quickly, we had been wanting a place to escape the hustle of our day-to-day lives, but be near enough to Portland be able to get away for weekends to just slow down," says Ty.
The three-story, cedar shingle–clad house is just two blocks from the beach.
Photo: Ty Milford
"It was well built, but the walls were beige, there was old linoleum and carpet, and the kitchen and bath needed some remodel work," Ty recalls. "It clearly had lots of potential and was within our budget range, even if it needed a healthy dose of love."
The owners of a classic, midcentury-modern house in Portland designed by noted architect Saul Zaik, the pair also appreciated that this modest, 1,500-square-foot residence wasn’t too precious. "There was nothing sacred that you couldn’t touch," Ty explains. "Basically, we kind of had a clean slate to put our own touches on it."
Doors on either side of the ground floor, including a Dutch door in front, fill the house with fresh air—much to the approval of Nora, the Milfords' Goldendoodle.
Photo: Ty Milford
The couple didn’t necessarily set out to act as their own general contractor for The Cape, as the home is called—nor to be the primary landscape designer and laborer. But in a less populated coastal area, Ty quickly found it sped things along and saved money to go the DIY route.
"I hired a plumber, an electrician, and a carpenter in Portland for the built-ins, and I sourced all the lighting," he says. "It wasn’t a huge space, so it wasn’t too daunting to do the rest ourselves. There were moments where it was frustrating, but not too monumental of a task."
Custom wood cabinetry and white subway tile complement the existing wood ceiling and floors. A ship's bell, at right, contributes to the nautical ambiance.
Photo: Ty Milford
See the full story on Dwell.com: Budget Breakdown: An Oregon Retreat Revamped for $135K Channels Nautical Wes Anderson Vibes
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