Tour a Storybook Seattle Tudor That's Filled With 1920s Details
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."
For the couple who bought this classic brick Tudor in Seattle’s historic Broadmoor golf community, the pedigree was only part of the draw. Built in 1929 and designed by architect J. Lister Holmes, the 3,5o0-square-foot, three-bedroom home with two offices and a playroom had plenty of space for their growing family. “It was important that we honor the history of the home and all its original charm while updating for a modern family with refined taste—and also ensuring it felt like home,” designer Allison Lind says.
They also wanted to preserve its original Art Deco details while incorporating the textures and colors of their native India. The balance comes through in the open kitchen, where rich golds and blacks, along with hardware sourced from their home country, ensure it’s authentic to both worlds and their lifestyle. This “clean” kitchen, as Lind dubbed it, which was previously the home’s formal dining room, provides a beautiful backdrop for the living room. She turned the original cooking space into a more closed scullery where they could cook their favorite dishes without worrying about staining the counters.
The rest of the two-year renovation consisted of smaller, subtler updates. “Although the husband works in tech and both clients live modern lives, filling the house with gadgets wouldn’t have felt right,” Lind says. “Our refresh was designed to respect the inherent charm within the walls, not replace it.” For example, she turned a full bath off the entryway into a spacious powder room with an arched niche that echoes the architecture. She also resisted the urge to carve out a large mudroom and instead created a landing zone with a coat closet to contain clutter. Other than that, it was mostly paint touchups.
As a result, character radiates through the original leaded glass windows and wood beams. “The home feels like it’s out of a storybook,” Lind says.
Exterior
“We didn’t want to alter the original design, but the painted portions needed touchups,” Lind says, “so we selected a deep green-black that was very similar to the original color.” Paint: Night Watch by Sherwin-Williams.
Foyer
Lind wanted to create a bold design moment here that looked and felt as if it could be original to the home. Two-tone tile floors were her answer—they blend beautifully into the solid charcoal ones in the kitchen beyond. The beams and baseboards are original to the home and were previously painted chocolate brown. A coat of black paint sharpened them up. Wall paint: Natural White by Sherwin-Williams.
Living Room
The original fireplace and built-ins with arched doors cabinets were in dire shape, so they got cleaned up and painted. Lind added the Phillip Jeffries cork wallcovering to highlight them and “create a dramatic depth at the end of the elongated room.”
Kitchen
Side niches discreetly hold spices and cooking oils. A backsplash and range hood paved in octagonal zellige tile by Zio & Sons x Clé makes for a glamorous focal point. Paint: Rookwood Shutter Green (island), Sherwin-Williams. Counter stools: vintage.
Powder Room
Lind designed the arched sink niche to look as if it could be original to the home. To reallocate the rest of this space, which had been an awkwardly located full bath, she turned the shower into a water closet. Tile: Clé. Wallcovering: Holly Hunt. Lighting: Currey & Company.
Primary Bedroom
The client’s mother, who’s an artist, hand-painted the mural. “We had originally planned for a mural wallpaper here but felt a personal touch from her mom was far more valuable,” Lind says. The French doors open onto a Juliette balcony that overlooks the tree-lined backyard and golf course beyond. Bed: Noir.
Primary Bathroom
The parents-to-be needed a soothing, spacious retreat. Lind opened up the previously choppy layout to create a modern, more functional space with an easy flow and more room to relax. Tile: Ann Sacks (walls), Daltile (floor).
A wet room with walls paved in Ann Sacks tile makes the most of the square footage and natural light.
Nursery
“We designed this room while the client was still pregnant,” Lind says. “It was so incredibly special to think about how the family would use the space.” The Sanderson Pamir Garden wallpaper with its Persian garden motif feels fantastical. Paint: Rookwood Blue Green and Natural White, Sherwin-Williams.
Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.
You Might Also Like
