Learn about the restoration of an 1890s Victorian cottage in Portland, Oregon, USA

Availability

  2025 

 Min stay requested: at least a week

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    We live in Portland, Oregon in an 1884 Victorian house that we restored ourselves. We've taken on a new challenge saving and restoring an 1890 Victorian cottage. We love Portland and the Pacific Northwest and try to enjoy it all - the people, the places, the events. We absolutely love living here. Among the things we like to do are hiking, cycling (short to century), canoeing, going to festivals in big and little towns, taking in movies and plays, touring gardens, hanging out in the hammock, gardening, being part of the distilled spirits scene. And, of course, we like old house restoration.

    We also love to travel and to meet people from around the world. In the last several years we've hosted over 100 people. We've had such a good time with all these helpers and couchsurfers. In fact, it was a couchsurfer who told us about their experiences with Workaway and convinced us that being a Workaway host would be another good way of opening up our home and connecting with other travelers in an even deeper way.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    General Maintenance
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    We hope to introduce you to life in the Pacific Northwest of the USA and its many dimensions.

  • Help

    Help

    For 2025 we will have projects both on our own home, the 1884 home shown in our profile picture as well as the 1890 house we moved. We are looking for those who like to do exterior and interior paint preparation and painting. In addition, someone with experience or interest in designing and installing a drip irrigation system for our garden would be appreciated.

    We are restoring an 1890 Victorian cottage. The house was moved 2 miles from its original location in order to save it from demolition. There are many things we must do to restore the house. These include interior framing of the second floor to create bedrooms and a bath; recreating an 1890's kitchen; recreating an open back porch and restoring the front porch including stairs and railings; refinishing woodwork; plastering and repairing plaster; general carpentry and finish woodworking; interior and exterior paint prep work and application; and landscaping. We also would like to chronicle the restoration. We have a bit of video to work with that captures the house move and the beginnings of the restoration.

    We also have ongoing maintenance on our 1884 home. This included painting, fence repair, landscaping and the like.

    With this range of work to do, we can probably find something for nearly anyone to do. It would be best if you have some carpentry or building maintenance skills. But more than anything, come with a willingness to help, have fun with us, and enjoy helping to preserve part of Portland's history.

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    English: Fluent

    This host offers a language exchange
    This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
    You can contact them directly for more information.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    In exchange for helping with this restoration, you will stay with us in our already restored 1884 Victorian. 1-2 helpers will share their own room with one comfortable full size bed. There is a bath that, for the most part, is yours, but shared if we have other guests. We are a nonsmoking household - no smoking in or around either house. We remove our shoes when in the house. We share meals. Kim is an omnivore, Roy is a vegan so most meals are vegan. It is best if you either are vegan or are interested in exploring veganism. You can expect a clean and neat house, but we're not neat freaks; just don't be a slob yourself. There is WiFi you can use and a TV if you want to watch something. We do have an indoor cat who will want to check you out. We are not able to host other pets.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    We are 3-5 minutes from public transportation, on lots of bike routes and near the Alberta Arts District and the Mississippi Avenue area. Portland is a great home base for just about anything there is to do in the Pacific Northwest - cool neighborhoods, coffee, skiing, windsurfing, wilderness backpacking, winery touring, hiking, drinking beer, music. And you are more than welcome to take day trips with us or maybe we even plan a longer trip somewhere. But even if you want to enjoy the Pacific Northwest on your own, just get out there and enjoy!

    We're happy to help others learn or sharpen their English, but we'd also like to learn or sharpen our skills in other languages - Spanish, Japanese, German, French.....

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    Two

Host ref number: 486427337617

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Photos

The image depicts a charming white Victorian-style house with a covered porch, featuring a gable roof and ornate details, set against a serene backdrop.
The image depicts a couple standing on the porch of a house with a sign announcing their relocation, set against a backdrop of a partially boarded-up residence.
The image depicts a house being transported on a flatbed truck, with workers and a red truck visible in the foreground. The house is white with a black roof.
The image depicts a two-story house with a gray roof, wooden siding, and a covered porch, situated on a street with a tree and grassy area in front.
A man is working on a wooden panel in a room with tools and materials scattered around, likely engaged in a DIY project or renovation.
The image depicts a woman engaged in outdoor construction work, utilizing a power tool on a wooden surface amidst scattered tools and materials.
The image depicts a porch railing with a Greek key design, attached to a yellow house with a black handrail and a window in the background.
The image depicts two individuals working on a house, with one standing on a ladder and the other on the ground, both engaged in a task.
The image depicts a woman painting a wooden post on a porch, with a workbench and ladder nearby, set against a backdrop of a house and street.
A person is working on a project, likely crafting or building, with a table and tools visible, surrounded by a neutral background, conveying a sense of creativity and productivity.
The image depicts a man engaged in laying pavers on a patio, with a focus on the construction process and the surrounding environment.
The image depicts a two-story house with a wraparound porch, featuring a staircase, railing, and windows, set against a gray sky.
The image depicts a bedroom with a floral wallpapered wall, a wooden bed, and a dresser, featuring a lamp, a vase, and a painting on the wall.
The image depicts two men standing in front of a scenic lake, surrounded by trees and mountains, with a serene and natural atmosphere.

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