Seattle Tudor Revival Receives Charming Makeover
To update the Tudor Revival home in Laurelhurst, it was painted in a crisp white accented with black trim to match the metal windows. The Union Lighting and Furnishings lanterns reference historical precedents but have a pared-down appearance that hints at the mix of modern and vintage elements within.
To fit a homeowner’s big, bold statement pieces into her new Seattle Tudor revival required some visual sleight of hand by designer Lisa Staton.
Since the home had so much character, the challenge was preventing the transitional and modern Scandinavian furniture from competing with the beamed ceilings, arched doorways, elaborate window and door trim, angled nooks and arched inset windows.
To start, an alabaster white was painted inside and out. The architecture of the interiors now recede enough into the background to allow for some design sass, yet still maintain the character of the 86-year-old house. The design team also lightened up the color of the oak floors with a clear, natural coat to help it recede.
In the living room a brand-new custom soapstone fireplace mantle changed the scale of the room enough to allow for the deep-blue Italian sectional and French antique chairs. “Creating the bold, modern, but elegant and simple fireplace was the key and allowed the large-scale furniture to feel correct in proportion and visual strength,” the designer says of the decision.
Because a previous remodel made the home’s layout choppy, builder Scott Johnston cleared up the flow, even down to removing wall sconces that prevented a clear path down the narrow hallways. Today the house retains its age-old appeal, yet sings in a fresh new way. Says Staton: “We wanted to give the house warmth, character and tradition, but with a crispness to it.”