The Carousel House at Council Crest
3332 SW Fairmount Lane, Portland, Oregon 97239
Photos: Justin Jones Media
Styling and Staging: Jica Interiors
Today in the Studio
“The Carousel House” was commissioned by the Wyse family in 1969 and has remained in their care ever since. Designed by architect Marjorie Wintermute, one of Portland’s pioneering female architects and an alumna of Pietro Belluschi’s office, together with landscape architect Barbara Fealy, one of the Pacific Northwest’s most celebrated designers, the home captures a moment when modern architecture and landscape design were rooted in both innovation and sensitivity to place. The earliest plans came to life around the Wyse table, sketches spread out, martinis in hand, conversation carrying on late into the evening.
Wintermute drew inspiration from Frank Lloyd Wright, shaping a roofline that is both bold and considerate.
Its low horizontal planes echo Wright’s Prairie ideals, while its clerestory towers draw natural light deep into the living spaces. At the owners’ request, the roof was designed to preserve the view for the neighbors behind, an architectural gesture that reflects not only artistry but also thoughtfulness. The three octagonal ceilings, distinct, light-filled structures that radiate outward like a carousel, give the house its enduring name and an unmistakable sense of motion and style.
Inside, the home carries the warmth and character of its mid-century origins. Three fireplaces anchor gathering spaces, while wood paneling, custom built-ins, and clerestory light bring texture and intimacy. The kitchen retains its original cabinetry — efficient, playful, and designed to make cooking a joy. The great room, crowned by one of the octagonal ceilings and encircled by clerestory windows, gathers light by day and glows by night. Two decks extend the living areas outward, opening the house to the trees and to amazing valley views, visible from both the upper and
lower levels.
The grounds were shaped as thoughtfully as the architecture. Barbara Fealy, among the first women elected Fellows of the American Society of Landscape Architects, brought her signature vision to the property. Terraced plantings, layered greenery, and leafy privacy frame the house with a sense of harmony and quiet drama, echoing Wintermute’s architectural philosophy.
With three bedrooms across more than 4,400 square feet, the floor plan was designed for flexibility, family living, guest quarters, or creative pursuits, with every space oriented toward light, nature, and connection.
This is a home of rare continuity. Built for one family and held by them for more than five decades, it carries with it a history of pride.
For its next owner, The Carousel House offers not only a residence, but the opportunity to continue a legacy, one that bridges modern architecture, celebrated landscape design, and the enduring values of thoughtfulness and vision. An adjacent view lot is also available, extending both the possibilities and the story of this remarkable property.
Built in
1969
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