Federal Avenue Residence in Seattle, Washington by Mutuus Studio
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Located on one of Seattle’s most celebrated residential streets next to historic Volunteer Park in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, this Georgian Colonial Federal Avenue Residence has been newly restored and fully reimagined. Now, with its bold use of greens and blues inspired by the surrounding landscape and with nature literally at its back door, the charming grounds and sunroom invite nature inside, resulting in a moody, rich interior where past and present meet harmoniously.
The homeowners had lived on the same street, a few short blocks away and had toured the home when it came up for sale. They immediately fell in love with the symmetry and proportions of the home, which reminded them of a late grandmother’s residence. Originally built in 1921, the large, 8,200-square-foot home features rich detail and high levels of craftsmanship, which appealed to the new owners as they imagined a blending of history and contemporary living.
Furnishing the five bedroom, six bathroom home was a considerable undertaking. The importance of sentimental connection and spirit was not lost on the designers as they carefully sorted family heirlooms and reworked pieces to fit with the new aesthetic, carefully integrating treasured keepsakes and sentimental objects alongside a newly curated selection of vintage and custom furniture, lighting, and accessories.
Sustainability was important to the clients and thoughtful care went into salvaging materials and re-purposing them whenever possible: former marble countertops became nesting tables in the living room and walnut from the niche became an entry bench. “We place a high value in honoring the hard-worn patina of the materials we find and look for new possibilities for their continued use,” notes architect Kristen Becker. “We strive to envision full environments, where everything is considered,” she Becker.
The heart of the home—the kitchen—was carefully remodeled. A built-in niche for the family table and entry hall were designed to make the functioning of their daily life both beautiful and functional. Adding a central wood butcher-block island, visually warmed the room. The design team left no detail unconsidered and worked to develop custom furniture, lighting and objects down to the smallest detail, even cladding the clients’ coffee machine with spalted-maple wood and leather. The kitchen cabinet hardware and appliance handles are inlayed with ebony. Custom, hammered copper and brass lights designed and crafted by the design team are present throughout the house.
The star of the home is the sunroom which features bold fern-patterned wallpaper, providing a playful but grounding atmosphere. Grandmother’s chairs, recovered in a linen slipcover, are paired with a vintage de sede sofa found in Switzerland. Silk and wool rugs, extra soft for small crawling children, and soft leather de sede poufs with nesting side tables by Gianfranco Frattini provide a subtle sophisticated vibe, while also being practical. Custom Mutuus Made plant shelves and an entry bench were made from salvaged walnut leftover from the banquette and adorned with wrapped leather accents.
The client had an appetite for bold blues and greens and didn’t shy away from embracing rich dark colors and bold wallpaper prints. The dark blue Farrow and Ball dining room invites conversation with the contrast of fluffy vintage Italian Gianni Moscatelli dining chairs surrounding the dark walnut Finn Juhl dining table. The cast-glass Ochre Gaia pendant hovers over the table with heirloom glassware in the glass cabinets. A special treat are the custom Mutuus Made knobs for the glass cabinets that are inlayed with poppy seeds harvested from the clients’ dried flower arrangement in the front hall.
Reusing existing materials from the house was a theme throughout. A marble slab was repurposed to make two nesting coffee tables with copper legs for the living room. Mahogany slabs from the previous kitchen were repurposed to create a custom entry bench with Japanese-inspired details. A custom sit/stand desk was fabricated in close collaboration with the client to precisely fit his work needs. Attention to detail was omnipresent with custom round brass floor registers throughout the main floor of the house. No detail was overlooked. Everything was crafted to enhance the lives of the family and the rich harmony of the home-scape.
Project team
Architecture and Interiors: Mutuus Studio
Contractor: Ursus Homes
