Musician Stephen Malkmus and artist Jessica Jackson Hutchins sold their longtime Northeast Portland mansion for $1,072,875 in late September and are now living in their hometown of Chicago. In addition to the legacy of creative work they leave behind, they strive to reflect “a fusion of old and new, East and West, functionality and fun,” as described in the real estate listing. This includes a 1927 Old Mediterranean-style house with a central turret remade by.
“It’s a very nice house,” said Niki Rondini of Portland Proper Real Estate, who represented the couple in the transaction. “Stephen and Jessica did a great job managing the unique architectural features.”
Malkmus, who has worked with Pavement, Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, the Hard Quartet, and as a solo artist, purchased the 8,276-square-foot property in the Laurelhurst neighborhood in 2001. Over time, the interior of the three-story arched house changed. Doorways, decorative woodwork and preserved classic features have been enriched by a colorful makeover that reflects the expressive vision of both artists.
Jackson Hutchins is known for her vibrant, collage-like fused glass sculptures, and one aspect of her statement sculptures was unveiled earlier this year at Adams & Allman in Portland’s Pearl District. Gallery and the Frye Art Museum in Seattle.
Jessica Helgerson, an interior designer based in Portland and Paris, guided some of the finishing touches. “I have fond memories of spending time in their home,” said Helgerson, a family friend. “It has all the designs and is very nice.”
Musician Stephen Malkmus and artist Jessica Jackson Hutchins sold their longtime home in Northeast Portland on September 27, 2024. portland proper real estate
Bold paint colors and dramatic wallpaper (one with giant green leaves nearly as tall as the sunroom’s perimeter windows) cover the lath and stucco walls. Contemporary light fixtures hang above the original hardwood floors. A wood-burning fireplace wall extends to the crown molding in the living room, and a refinished cast iron radiator is the centerpiece in the formal dining room.
The home has 4,402 square feet of living space, including a primary suite with a Juliette balcony and bathroom with heated floors and a handcrafted Japanese bathtub. There are two more bedrooms and two bathrooms on the second floor.
The updated kitchen features custom cabinetry, shelving, and banquettes painted Farrow & Ball’s India Yellow. “The finishes are a combination of warm natural wood and marble, creating a sophisticated yet fun space,” Rondini said.
A streetside xeriscape garden features irrigated flower beds, while backyard landscaping, flagstone patios, and stonework create a private outdoor area. The finished basement was used by Malkmus as a practice space, and Jackson Hutchins converted an oversized garage into a heated artist’s studio.
Vanity Fair reported that Malkmus and Jackson Hutchins will move to Chicago in July to teach painting and drawing courses at the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC).
artist’s residence
Mediterranean houses, especially turrets, were a fascinating backdrop for Malkmus’ music videos.
Malkmus and guitarist/vocalist Scott Kanberg formed Pavement in 1989 in the Central Valley town of Stockton, California. Although the band never had a No. 1 hit, their most popular song of the 1990s, “Cut Your Hair,” peaked at No. 1. 52 in the UK charts — their cultural heritage is secure and continuing. Malkmus’ vocal style was mansplained in the “Barbie” movies, which made $1.5 billion.
TikTok belatedly discovered Pavement’s B-side “Harness Your Hopes,” and it’s the band’s most-played song today, with over 170 million streams on Spotify. In its review of Pavements, Alex Ross Perry’s new rock documentary/biographical hybrid that made its American debut at the New York Festival last week, Rolling Stone called Pavements “one of the greatest indie rockers of the 1990s.” called “Group”. The premiere, attended by Malkmus, followed a one-off show in New York that may or may not be the band’s last.
According to historical records, one of the home’s first occupants was Mabel Ella Hovensack, who married Fred Dale Weber, a chief electrician for the Oregon Insurance Rating Bureau in Portland, in 1909. It was Weber. They also owned the Mediterranean-style Morado apartment building. It is now The Glenden in northwest Portland and is listed on the city’s Historic Resources Inventory. The couple lived in this house together until Fred Weber’s death in 1947.
— Additional reporting by Janet Eastman and The Oregonian restaurant reporter and critic Michael Russell. Eastman covers design and trends. Contact me at 503-294-4072, jeastman@oregonian.com and follow me at X @janeteastman.
