Craftsman Charm Meets Modern Function In This Seattle Home

“Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful,” said William Morris in 1880. The British Arts and Crafts design luminary’s simple tenet would reshape the meaning of home across the Atlantic at the turn of the century, where American Craftsman residences blossomed in booming cities like post-Gold Rush Seattle. Built in 1912, one such Mount Baker abode still channels this ethos today, showcasing the lasting allure of craftsmanship and natural materials with its original fir millwork, stained glass windows and brass light fixtures.

One step through the paneled foyer “just drew us in,” recalls owner Paul Santarelli of the family’s first tour inside. “We’ve always been attracted to historic things with lots of character,” adds his wife, Leslie. Despite the dwelling’s beauty, some elements needed to be updated to better suit the needs of a growing family. They knew a thoughtful renovation would restore the home’s pragmatic Craftsman spirit for a new century—a belief shared by architects Lance Hayes and Jeff Pelletier as well as interior designer Hyrel Mathias. “It was important for us to preserve those details while making it functional for a young family,” Mathias says.

With general contractor Brad Wageman on board, the team first strengthened existing features, repairing damaged woodwork with new-growth fir that “was a good match, allowing the wainscoting and built-in casework we added to blend in seamlessly,” Wageman notes. Charming period elements were maintained as well, including the original radiators, ornate brass switch plates and even the powder room’s old- fashioned pull-chain toilet.

More service-oriented rooms, however, required further intervention. “There’s a distinction between how such spaces were used historically and how they’re used in a more modern context,” Hayes notes. The kitchen, he adds, “is a bigger part of our daily life than in the past, so we wanted to facilitate that new type of relationship.” A previous renovation had split the layout with a diagonal counter that restricted cooking and left little room for gathering. Hayes streamlined the room, placing more cabinetry and counter space around the perimeter and installing a central island for family breakfasts. Despite its amenities, the refreshed kitchen retains its original architectural heft. New box beams on the ceiling and fir paneling on the island match the existing millwork, while reproductions of historical subway tiles were used for the backsplash and custom range hood. “That was very intentional, as we wanted the new parts to feel like they were always there,” Mathias says. “These are historical notions that we reassessed and reused throughout,” Hayes adds.

On the second floor, these principles helped create a reimagined floor plan, with subtle shifts making way for a new primary suite complete with a private bath, walk-in closet and cozy reading nook. Fresh elements—like the bathroom’s clawfoot tub, fir wainscoting and tile mosaic floor—have a rich materiality to seamlessly blend with the existing features. “The fixtures here are all unlacquered brass, because the more you touch them, the more they patina and feel original to the house,” Mathias notes.

Rooms also became a dialogue between past and present as Mathias mixed vintage pieces and archival patterns with more contemporary designs. “I love that juxtaposition of old historic architecture with modern furnishings,” she explains. In the dining room—fittingly enveloped in an iconic William Morris wallpaper—she paired a 1960s John Stuart table with sculptural armchairs and carefully matched the modern chandelier’s metal tones with the original light fixtures.

New pieces also reinterpret traditional materials in fresh ways, like the living room’s armchair framed with a Mondrian-like grid of caning. Keeping the kids in mind, textiles are plush but practical, blending durable performance fabrics with eclectic accents of shearling and velvet. Mathias unified everything with hues from the home’s existing palette: rich dark woods along with jewel tones inspired by the original teal tile surrounding the living room’s fireplace.

Keeping true to Morris’ vision, the refreshed Craftsman abode is designed to gracefully evolve alongside the changing needs of its occupants. And the Santarellis enjoy putting its well-made endurance to the test. After all, “It was never meant to be a museum,” notes Paul with a smile. Filled with toys and the laughter of their children, he says, “This home is a family home.”