Houzz Tour: Open and Modern Seattle Remodel

A dining room addition and an all-new kitchen were just part of a renovation that turned a Seattle home from outdated to modern

Vanessa Brunner June 13, 2012

Houzz Editorial Staff

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From cramped, dark and outdated to open, bright and modern, this 1950s Seattle home underwent a major transformation for a growing family of four. The couple, two local university professors, wanted space for their two young children, their beautiful art collection and their scholarly pursuits. Alison Hogue and Richard Floisand of Floisand Studio added more than 1,200 square feet to the home, reworking the floor plan and adding a new dining space and a basement while still maintaining the home's existing footprint and walls.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A pair of professors and their 2 young children
Location: Seattle
Size: 3,192 square feet; 3 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms
That's interesting: The home's original brick facade and footprint were maintained, despite the addition of more than 1,200 square feet.

Floisand Studio

Hogue and Floisand used soft wood finishes and light colors to keep the home feeling warm and comfortable. All the walls were painted white to highlight the clients' art and help light permeate through the entire home.

Floisand Studio

Art was a primary focus in this home. In the dining room, a large art wall was set above a low window that overlooks the backyard. The piece is framed by a section of the home's old exterior brick wall and lit naturally from a skylight above. The low window is a favorite sunny spot for the family's dog.

Floisand Studio

Hogue and Floisand used colorful Ikea cabinetry in the kitchen for a playful touch. To keep the kitchen simple and open, they installed floor-to-ceiling cabinetry on just the north end of the space.

Countertops: black absolute honed granite; backsplash: Carter Glass mosaics

Before Photo

Floisand Studio

Kitchen BEFORE: The home's original kitchen felt dark and restricted. Outdated upper cabinetry took up too much space and just didn't work with the home's new look. Because this is a family home, it was really important that the kitchen was open and connected to the dining and living spaces as well. There was also no island in the original space.

Floisand Studio

House numbers were placed on the home's front walkway to greet visitors into the modern and spacious entry.

Floisand Studio

The new floor plan was arranged to reflect a vertical circulation — a staircase in the middle of the home now connects the three floors to the main living space. Strategically placed skylights above the stairwell help spread light.

Floisand Studio

The scholarly couple wanted their home to have plenty of space to showcase their art collection and good, quiet spots for writing and research. A serene living room with a clear outdoor view provides the perfect place for reading and thinking. The stained alder stair railing creates visual separation between this space and the entryway. A waxed, hot-rolled steel fireplace surround adds texture to the austere walls.

Floisand Studio

Cedar siding was added to the exterior of the dining room to add richness and warmth to the exterior palette. The rest of the new addition is covered in gray-painted HardiePanel.

Floisand Studio

The family maintained the home's street-facing low profile so that the new structure would feel at home with the scale and size of the neighboring houses. However, they also wanted to enhance the home's southern view of Mount Rainier on the other side of the house. The second story of the house was designed with a sloped shed roof, which embraces the low profile on the street side but rises to the south and highlights the view on the other side.

Floisand Studio

Exterior BEFORE: The home's existing brick facade was kept as a way to save money on the new construction. The home's footprint is mostly the same, with the exception of the new additions. Hogue and Floisand were careful to choose a palette of affordable but durable materials that would play off the home's exposed brick walls.