Mid Century Modern Rambler, Full Remodel, West Seattle, Seattle, WA

Turning Back Time – A Tale of Two Mad Men – Design & Decor

The Living Room

David and Kevin started remodeling houses with their first home in 1993, a 1911 Arts and Crafts Bungalow in Long Beach, California that had been neglected for 20 years. They were facing an enormous project to make it livable and which they were uncertain about tackling. While stripping out the previous bad remodels, they soon discovered the task at hand was not only doable, but a whole lot of fun. After months of intense and detailed work, they managed to restore their home to its original 1911 glory and were left to marvel at what they had accomplished.
A succession of houses followed that required varying degrees of work, a 1913 “true” Arts and Crafts Bungalow, a severely compromised French Farmhouse, and eventually, a brand new modern condominium in West Hollywood. It was while living there that they began buying mid-century modern furniture to adorn the condo with. These pieces became the cornerstones of their current Seattle mid-century house and as you will see, are completely in their element in the new digs.

The Theater

When Kevin got the job at Amazon as Manager of Music Purchasing, the two of them began searching for a home in Seattle with a water-view being an essential factor. They were also attracted to the mid-century modern and ranch homes that were on the market at the time. Having spent many vacations in Palm Springs where this style was abundant, Kevin and David had grown a deep appreciation for the architecture in much the same way as they had been drawn to mid-century furniture and art.

The Kitchen

David and Kevin decided to open up the space by removing all the walls and room dividers in the kitchen, dining room, living room, and TV room. By doing this they were able to expand a small kitchen and take advantage of the view from kitchen. They also added an opening in the wall between the office and the main living space so, from the office situated in the back of the house, you can see all the way through the house and out the front window. The original master bedroom and bath were small, so they decided to use the downstairs recreation room to create a large master bedroom, walk-in closet, master bath and sitting room.

The Office

This ‘daylight rambler’ was built for the original owners in 1955. The architect was Roland R. Wilcken and the house had never changed hands until David and Kevin bought it in 2010. The floor plans, left in the basement, revealed a house virtually untouched since it’s inception. As was typical of homes in this period, the plan called for lots of walls and room dividers, which made it seem compartmentalized. Although they really liked some of the mid-century details, the house felt very closed in and small.

The Bedroom

Making a list of all the items needed to complete each room, they included bathroom fixtures, cabinets and faucets, door hardware, vent covers, kitchen cabinets and appliances, flooring, tile, carpet, paint, etc. They visited local stores and searched the web for items and materials that had the mid-century sentiment that they were after. Looking for the best prices, they included using eBay and Craigslist for bargains on appliances. The tile for the kitchens and bathrooms was purchased from local stores. David and Kevin want their house to feel comfortable and inviting. They’ve accomplished this by using warm colors in the upholstery fabrics, creating cozy seating areas, and making sure that some of their wall paint colors contain yellow and orange tones. The lighting comes into play here too, with all of the lights in the house being on dimmers, and by using warm and illuminating bulbs.

Bedroom with a View

Their home has become very personalized by displaying objects and art that they love and have collected over the years. The painting by Dominic Bourbeau titled “Kolby Kat” hangs in the living room and is one of David’s favorite and most recent Etsy purchase – the colors and style fitting beautifully into their Mid-Century surroundings. The adored ceramic Jonathan Adler fox that perches high on the fireplace brick, was a Christmas gift from Kevin; and their coveted 1909 Weller fish vase was purchased at a pottery show in Pasadena, CA about 14 years ago. Falling in love with the unusual pattern of an almost human face on one of the fish, it reminds David of a scene in Monty Python’s “The Meaning of Life”.

Outdoor Deck

It’s All In The Details

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