Don’t be fooled when you turn on NE Russet Street. Yes, it’s pretty much an alley dominated by an automotive repair shop to one side, but behind a cedar fence and bamboo thicket sits this artsy and rustic cabin, feeling much removed from all that. Originally built in 1923, over the course of its life the house has been a family residence, a music recording studio, and, most recently, a successful, fully licensed Airbnb rental going for an average of $208 per night. (It’s actually zoned commercial.)

The gated drive provides off-street parking and an initial layer of enclosure that seems to enfold the house and separate it from its setting. There’s a front deck, painted green and wrapping a towering tree near the entrance. That and the thick, staggered cedar shake siding give the whole place a storybook feel, only reinforced by the interior details, which include thick plaster walls, exposed wood and brick accents, and two mushroom-shaped doorways that are very hobbit hole.

One of those mushroom-shaped doors, complete with wood shelving surround to emphasize its shape, leads to the main bedroom, which has wood-clad walls. Through the second portal and down a few steps is a smaller sitting room, rumored to be where the bands set up their instruments and record.

In contrast, the living room has a vaulted ceiling with three skylights. This leads to the cozy dining room, with a lower ceiling, freestanding gas stove set against a brick chimney, and sliding glass door to the yard. Three rooms radiate off of this one, including the bathroom, kitchen, and a second smaller bedroom with built-in window seats on two walls.

The recent owners gave a lot of love to the place with their updates, including new tile in the kitchen and bathroom, as well as a hot tub in the backyard, without spoiling the rustic cabin charm. Judging by the Airbnb reviews, they aren’t the only enamored ones, as guests call the home an “unexpected treasure” that delivers the “full Portland vibe.”

Listing Fast Facts 

• Address: 424 NE Russet St, Portland, OR 97211
• Size: 1,365 square feet/2 bedroom/1 bath 
• List Date: 7/16/2024 
• List Price: $475,000 
• Listing Agent: Russell Clum, Cascade Hasson Sotheby's International Realty