Pacific Grove, City of Homes, #13: Dr. C.L. Roe 1886

123 Forest Avenue

Between Ocean View Boulevard and Park Place
7 beds, 2 baths, 1,897 SF on a 3,726 SF lot
Built, 1890
Last sold, 1984

Built by a pioneering woman physician from New York during the Retreat era, this upright two-story American Foursquare home was one of PG’s first “big houses,” at a time the town was still a summer campground.

The farmhouse-like build, central brick chimney, and symmetrical window rhythm give the home a traditional feel but the home pairs that form with an exuberant color scheme: in this case, magenta siding, dark teal and pink trim and doors, turquoise stairs and fence, and more detailing in canary yellow and pink.

The bright colors amplify the boxy, geometric forms.

The colorful stairwell lead up to a large porch with space for seating, potted plants and art.

This is a great example of how a relatively modest historic structure can become visually iconic through paint, plants and a sense of style.

Three Things I Love About the Home

1. Built-in porch sociability, where a quick chat on the steps can turn into a gathering.

2. The large bedroom count make this house flexible for guests, home offices, or multigenerational living.

3. Color as massing enhancer: the bold palette draws your eye to the solid, box-like mass, giving it more presence on the block.