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Before & After: A Serene Renovation Saves a Portland Midcentury From Shag Carpet and Pink Linoleum

When Brooke and Tobi Probst’s wedding was cancelled because of the pandemic in 2020, the couple decided to elope and buy their first house together instead. They wanted something historical that hadn’t already been remodeled, so they jumped at the chance to purchase a 1956 midcentury designed by architect Victor Greb in the Concordia neighborhood of Portland, Oregon. "It was the only midcentury we looked at, because they were selling pretty quick," says Tobi.

Brooke and Tobi think this house sat on the market for a little longer than most because it hadn’t been spruced for the listing photos, which might have scared off other buyers. "When we walked in, I think Tobi was even a little bit doubtful," says Brook. "He saw the shag carpet, and all the dark wood and pink linoleum, and was a little terrified—but I saw the wood beams and the vaulted ceiling, and felt there was so much potential."

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