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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (March 13, 1980)
The House That Jackie Built By Kathryn H Boyle Many women i.ave decorated the interior ol their homes. Some have made their own draperies, others have wielded a paint brush or have hung wallpaper to beautify their dw elling place. Only a few have started to build a house, beginning with an architect, blue prints and a plot o f ground. Still fewer women have selected building contractors, then have planned and finished the in te rio r decoration theme com pleting the process o f making a house into a home. One woman who has just done all that is Jacquelyn Brown, wife ol Leonard Brown, a Howard Univer sity mechanical engineer employed by Portland General Electric Com pany for the past ten years. Brown has been with PGE at Boardman, at the Trojan installation and now he is in the downtown Portland office. Mrs. Brown, a home economics graduate o f Pratt Institute, says, " I have helped my husband through tw o experiences in b u ilding two other homes for us during our IX years o f marriage. We decided together that it is now my turn to take this responsibility.” The “ house that Jackie built” sits in comfortable elegance in the cen ter o f 1 */ j acres o f green and leafy woodland - just five minutes by car from Leonard's downtown office. “ I wanted a house,” Mrs. Brown told us, “ that would give each one in the family complete privacy, and yet allow for entertaining too. When we found this land available in an established neighborhood o f homes comparable to our plans, Leonard turned it all over to me." A ll o f it, she was asked. “ Oh, Yes. Well, nearly all,” Mrs. Brown laughed and conceded. “ He did at tend to clearing the land for con struction as the place was thick with spruce and maple trees and under brush. I selected and ordered m aterials. I worked closely and regularly with the major contractors and I certainly was present for daily supervision o f work done by work men. I would not accept inferior workmanship and had them replace any work that did not come up to specification.” E xterior ot the B row n’ s house uses wood, lots o f double glass, rough stone and tile roofing. “ We used a two-story format with decks on both levels to the rear. They overlook the little brook that edges our property,” Mrs. Brown pointed out. From the Brown’ s large private driveway and turn-around, a few steps take the visitor to a stately oaken double door, with handsome brass fittin g s , opening in to a gracious entrance hallway. Inside, the simplicity and clean lines under score an Oriental and African am bience. I he three bedrooms on the main floor all have use o f outside decks. Placed at one end ol the L-shaped house, the livin g room , w ith its beautiful fireplace o f white Georgia marble, also has access to the deck. The dining room and the k it chens, with its own fam ily living room, form the heart o f this ex pressive house. The family room has its own fireplace, shelves lined with books and plenty o f com fortable D H u T N — r 4. p a M rs . B ro w n chats w ith g u es t, C o n s ta n c e B erry, in c o rn e r of spacious living room. Fresh Fryers Pederson's Oregon Crown Whole (Cut-Up lb. 78*) lb. O«n. M ih Brtaltfai« Cartai 68« Golden Grahams... 15 « Hi-Country Regular or Naturai Apple Cider 1 9°* tody Efcorto FrM ttorw Hatvo, or Sikod The House that Jackie B uilt’’ - the home of the Leonard Brown fam ily. Shurbs w ill be planted in springtime seating. This is the room where Derek and Patrick, the sons ol Mr. and Mrs. Brown, often study while “ mom” prepares dinner. The kitchen a lfo rd s the home economist lull advantage of equip ment to plan and prepare food for a family snack or for a banquet. Most appliances are built-in. A thermador self-cleaning oven (big enough to cook a 26 lb. turkey) alternates with a microwave oven by a turn o f a switch. There is a 4- burner stove with a barbecue grill and an in lra -re d lighting arrangement Io keep foods warm for late comers. Spice cabinets are spacious and tine china is stored in easy pull-out drawers. Dishwasher, disposal and trash compacter are all there, as well as the "Cadillac” ol regrigerators, a “ Sub-Zero," built in to the service side o f the kitchen. U tility room in the service center houses the big washer and dryer units. It also provides extended space for Mrs. Brown’ s kitchen o f fice, as well as her sewing machine and ironing board. An inter com over Mrs. Brown's desk keep her in touch with every room in her house. In the master suite, attached dressing room and bath are in beige satin tile . The master bath in “ Mexican sand" offers a sunken tub with gold fittings and a built-in whirlpool. Recessed lighting is used here. C olor accents are coral and turquoise. ?. anamiK.M 1 S in H u a im h *’’ t wnaMMS» - A spiral staircase, centrally situated, undulates in a long slow spiral to the lower level. Heavy car peting and recessed floor-lighting gives security on the stairs. Downstairs are three bedrooms and three baths. Derek, who is a 14 year old student at Jesuit High School, has chosen one o f these rooms and Patrick, aged 9, a 3rd grade student at Sylvan elementary school, has another. Nearby is a game room for the boys and their guests, and downstairs there is also a large party room w ith its own fireplace, mini-kitchen, and bar. With 6,000 square feet to heat in winter, and to cool in summer, Mrs. Brown assisted in the building effort by installing his own generator, fibre glass insulation and a heat pump with a "back-up” gas furnace keep power bills under co n tro l. During the past severe weather, the Brown’ s power bills were kept to about $100.00 a month for their fir st winter in (heir new home. Would they do it again this way? Both nodded in agreement. Would she do it again? Is it likely to happen again? Mrs. Brown stepped closer to her husband’ s side and with his arm encircling her, she responded: “ knowing my husband who likes to build, and remembering my own creative pelasure as the house took shape. I ’ d say “ Yes” - more than likely.” $|35 $2«’ „7 9 ‘ Peaches Facial Tissue Kbonox A u o rttd Colon ffs D erek B ro w n , Jesu it H igh School fresh m en , gives pointers to brother Petrick, third grader et Sylvan School. Portland Observer M erch 13, 1980 Page 7 «>„75* Pork Roast Boneless $ Froth Shoulder Butt Cut lb. 1.08 Ground Beef. . . . s1“ Spare Ribs sxn*............ ’ 1“ Loin Chops ............. ’1“ Chuck Roasts ary»..... J1” SE 20th b D IVISIO N SE 72nd b FLAVEL NE 15th b FREMONT W BURNSIDE a t 21st SAN RAFAEL - 1910 NE 122nd Forest Grove 2329 PACIFIC Oregon City 878 MOLALLA Candy- 1051 SW 1st LLOYD CENTER « J L® ,O N 3966 SE POWELL NE 74th b GLISAN HILLSBORO 900 SE OAK T R DOQDQI L L Pacific Citizen Power o f the Week 1 - i . 11 Kitchen is erranged for easy preparation and serving. (Photos: Richard J. Brown) Working with you . . . Ray Baker makes up to a hundred talks each year prim ing the minds of young people who may have an inter est in learning the carpenters trade. His time is availa ble to any group that wants first-hand information about a craft of vital importance to the construction industry. Shop departments of this area’s high schools regularly benefit from Ray’s generous contribution of time. Prac tical discussions on just how to find opportunities in the carpenter's trade, what to expect in wages and many other details are helping many young people choose their careers wisely. Baker is a union business agent, typical of the many carpenters who donate time and expert advice for the benefit of the community. Working for you . . . We’re Building the 20th Century . . . In Many Ways. More than the mere supplying o f mortgage money, Lincoln also provides the knowledge, id f the courtesy which the organization, and speeds each transaction from application to completion o f financial art angements DISTRICT COUNCIL of CARPENTERS (United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners) Rance Spruill has a commitment to youth, especially to those who are experiencing problems with the present education system. Director of the Albina Youth Opportunity School for the past twelve years, Spruill has built the alternative school from a maximum of twenty high school age students to nearly one hundred high school and middle school students. The program, which provides education for young people who are not benefiting from public schools or who have been suspended or ex pelled, is funded through federal, school district and private money. Spruill is a graduate of Jefferson High School and Portland State University. Community activities include membership on the Multnomah County Juvenile Justice Committee, the POIC Personnel Committee, the King Neighborhood Association Board, the M SD Criminal Justice Committee, and he is treasurer of the Sporting Life Gun Club. Hobbies include hunting and sports. Spruill is committed to the economic, social and educational growth of the community. Pacific Power BROUGHTTO YOU BY Head Office: u j i o S.W. First, Beaverton Fourteen branch offices for your convenience 2828 S.W. Corbett I Portland, Oregon 97201 I 227-3291 4^.-a- ■ t* »
