Kitchen of the Week: Respecting History in a Seattle Bungalow
A designer uses an English-inspired palette in the kitchen to honor the style of the landmark Arts and Crafts home
Honoring history was the goal for interior designer Tammara Stroud when renovating this Seattle kitchen for a couple and their two daughters. Architect Ellsworth Storey designed the beautiful Arts and Crafts home in 1909 and it was designated a Seattle landmark in 1979. The goal of the project was to take a dysfunctional kitchen and maximize countertop space and storage in a way that complemented the charming original architecture. The project also included an adjacent butler’s pantry.
After: To compare this photo with the “before” photo, imagine turning 90 degrees to the left. The 150-square-foot footprint of the kitchen remained the same, but Stroud maximized its functionality. She moved the sink from where the range is now to a spot underneath a window on the left side of the kitchen. She wrapped two sides of the U-shaped kitchen with countertop, and the fridge remained in the spot next to the butler’s pantry.
“I always ask my clients to create an ideabook to share inspiration,” Stroud says. “These homeowners had a lot of vintage English looks saved, and green cabinetry was at the top of their list. This kind of look really suited this turn-of-the-century house.” The palette is a rich combination of honed Calacatta marble, green cabinetry, brass hardware and handmade hexagonal floor tile.
Stroud continued the marble from the countertops up the high backsplash. Marble in the kitchen isn’t for everyone, as there are more durable options. But the elegant natural stone was an era-appropriate choice for this home. The designer had a thorough discussion with the homeowners about the pros and cons. “My clients fully understood that etching would occur,” she says. “They were willing to embrace the natural patina of marble and welcomed the beauty only marble can provide.” The honed finish is more forgiving than a polished finish. And the marble is sealed and will require annual sealing.
“The Calacatta marble is warmer than other marbles,” Stroud says. The floor tile also anchors the room in warm tones, along with an antique rug. “This vintage rug was a serendipitous find — all the colors worked perfectly with the other elements in here,” Stroud says.
Paint colors: Chimichurri (cabinets) and White Dove (walls and ceiling), Benjamin Moore
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“I always ask my clients to create an ideabook to share inspiration,” Stroud says. “These homeowners had a lot of vintage English looks saved, and green cabinetry was at the top of their list. This kind of look really suited this turn-of-the-century house.” The palette is a rich combination of honed Calacatta marble, green cabinetry, brass hardware and handmade hexagonal floor tile.
Stroud continued the marble from the countertops up the high backsplash. Marble in the kitchen isn’t for everyone, as there are more durable options. But the elegant natural stone was an era-appropriate choice for this home. The designer had a thorough discussion with the homeowners about the pros and cons. “My clients fully understood that etching would occur,” she says. “They were willing to embrace the natural patina of marble and welcomed the beauty only marble can provide.” The honed finish is more forgiving than a polished finish. And the marble is sealed and will require annual sealing.
“The Calacatta marble is warmer than other marbles,” Stroud says. The floor tile also anchors the room in warm tones, along with an antique rug. “This vintage rug was a serendipitous find — all the colors worked perfectly with the other elements in here,” Stroud says.
Paint colors: Chimichurri (cabinets) and White Dove (walls and ceiling), Benjamin Moore
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A mix of metals — polished chrome faucet, satin brass cabinet hardware and aged brass on the milk glass vintage-style sconces — also lends a classic look. The cabinet pulls and knobs are timeless, and a few crystal knobs add a fun touch to the mix. “There are original crystal doorknobs throughout the home, so these picked up on that,” Stroud says.
The designer used inset cabinetry throughout the kitchen to match the original cabinets that had survived previous renovations. She preserved those existing cabinets, outfitting them with new hardware and paint. Deep drawers flanking the stove provide convenient storage for pots and pans.
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The designer used inset cabinetry throughout the kitchen to match the original cabinets that had survived previous renovations. She preserved those existing cabinets, outfitting them with new hardware and paint. Deep drawers flanking the stove provide convenient storage for pots and pans.
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The Calacatta marble extends up to meet the bottom of the windows and cabinets and up to the vent hood above the range. Stroud also added a matching marble shelf over the range for display. While the material is classic, the proportions of the backsplash and its seamless look with the countertops are a fresh touch.
The homeowners opted for a 36-inch stainless steel range to match their existing refrigerator, which was integrated into the design. “I usually leave appliance choices up to my clients,” Stroud says. While the kitchen design respects the home’s architectural history, it has an updated, layered-over-time look.
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The homeowners opted for a 36-inch stainless steel range to match their existing refrigerator, which was integrated into the design. “I usually leave appliance choices up to my clients,” Stroud says. While the kitchen design respects the home’s architectural history, it has an updated, layered-over-time look.
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This butler’s pantry photo shows a glimpse of the kitchen’s ceiling light, which also has a vintage look. “We didn’t want to use any canned lights in the kitchen, to maintain the historic feel,” Stroud says. Also shown is a panel-front dishwasher, to the left of the sink, and the original kitchen cabinets Stroud preserved just beyond the butler’s pantry entrance to the left.
As for the butler’s pantry itself, the homeowners love to entertain and wanted room to mix drinks and serve wine, in addition to the extra storage. Stroud provided a new countertop and cabinets under the window. There’s a wine cooler hidden beneath the countertop.
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As for the butler’s pantry itself, the homeowners love to entertain and wanted room to mix drinks and serve wine, in addition to the extra storage. Stroud provided a new countertop and cabinets under the window. There’s a wine cooler hidden beneath the countertop.
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Continuing the use of Calacatta marble, green cabinetry, handmade floor tiles, milk glass lighting and satin brass and crystal hardware ties the butler’s pantry to the kitchen. But the wallpaper makes it stand out as its own special space.
“My clients provided the type of wallpaper they liked and I pulled options accordingly,” Stroud says. “This one spoke to them the most whenever we presented it to them. It’s by House of Hackney, and they do a really great job of creating wallpapers that have that turn-of-the-century look we were going for.”
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“My clients provided the type of wallpaper they liked and I pulled options accordingly,” Stroud says. “This one spoke to them the most whenever we presented it to them. It’s by House of Hackney, and they do a really great job of creating wallpapers that have that turn-of-the-century look we were going for.”
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The butler’s pantry also has extensive storage for china, glassware and other kitchen items. These cabinets were existing, and Stroud had them painted to match the kitchen. She also outfitted them with new hardware. A hallway continues from the butler’s pantry to the dining area.
Also worth noting in these photos is the beautiful original wood trim that’s seen throughout the home.
Also worth noting in these photos is the beautiful original wood trim that’s seen throughout the home.
The dining area can be seen here on the right off the great room. This photo shows more of the home’s charming architectural details and lends a sense of how well the renovated kitchen and butler’s pantry fit into the house.
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Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their two daughters
Location: Madrona neighborhood of Seattle
Size: 150 square feet (14 square meters)
Designers: Tammara Stroud Design (interior design) and Andrea Ermolli (architecture)
Contractor: Joseph McKinstry Construction
Before: “The original kitchen had just one countertop area at the sink, and there was a small countertop space by the stove,” Stroud says. “It was very congested and tight. Working with architect Andrea Ermolli, the goal was to make it feel more expansive and make it more functional.”
Because the house is a historical landmark, the existing windows had to stay where they were. The windows still had their original wood trim, but it had been painted.
The space seen here through the opening is the existing butler’s pantry, and there was potential to make it better serve the family’s needs. The cabinets to the right of the opening are original to the house and Stroud preserved them in the new design.