The hub of the Seattle home was redone for a “sweet young family with two girls, who were two and five at the time of the project,” says Nelson. “They love to cook and have family meals together, so materials that patina naturally and stand up to kids were important to them.”
Warm, welcoming, and lived-in were the overall design goals. “They wanted the spaces to feel timeless and bring in elements from the original 1920s style. We kept with original millwork and architectural details and materials that would have been available during that time as well,” she explains.
Nelson describes the quiet color palette as “warm, neutral, and grounded.” In the kitchen, the tongue-and-groove backsplash and walls lend texture alongside Carrara marble countertops. A white fireclay sink with an unlacquered brass faucet are among other distinct details.
Natural materials enhance the mostly neutral palette. “We find that when clients want to stay mostly neutral in a space, texture is super important in bringing in life and warmth to the room,” says the designer, who kept to woods that play well together—white oak floors, butcher-block countertops, and a reclaimed-pine dining table with a custom stain.
The dining room selections make it a place to sit and stay awhile. “The handmade, reclaimed-pine dining table is the focal point in this space,” says Nelson. “We also sourced a timeless Windsor spindle chair to coordinate with the overall look of the room.”
Post remodel, these spaces are classic, traditional, and warm. “We took inspiration from English kitchens, using natural materials and adding lots of texture . . .” says Nelson. “We also included a lot of vintage in this home to feel as if it had always been designed like this.” For instance, the vintage pendants above the island came from France via Etsy. Other fixtures were locally sourced, like the sconces above the sink and the linear dining pendant, all with similar finishes.
Mother Nature provides ample daylight. “Our clients wanted to bring in as much natural light as they could and felt they had a good amount of privacy without window treatments, so we did not include them in the dining room or kitchen,” says Nelson.
In addition to the classic structure, the designer had another advantage with this project. “This is actually the second time I have worked with these amazing clients. The first home we remodeled was a midcentury,” she says. “When they came to me again and let me know they had purchased a Dutch Colonial, that was exciting to me because they felt that this home was more their style and they really wanted to lean into the timeless bones of the home.”
Now their new surroundings feel just right. “They love it!” says Nelson. “It was dark and heavy before . . . we really opened up the space and lightened the overall feel in the home, which fits their family style so much better.”
