Loops Penthouse by Wilson-Haus in Seattle, Washington
- May 3
- 3 min read
When Dan and Sandra Wilson, both designers, first walked into the apartment, they were already familiar with the building, and they were intrigued by the listing images. “It looked like a Miami nightclub from the 80s” they recall. “The views were outstanding, and the rooms were flooded with daylight. But the finishes were dated and eccentric, which is an understatement.” Dan turned to his wife and said, “we have to buy this.” Every surface was covered in bright finishes including wall coverings, various sheet metals, and copious amounts of glass block. “We were on a tight budget, but we could see the potential. It would be an exercise in addition by subtraction.”
After celebrating the purchase, the couple set about stripping away the visual noise to allow the generous windows to frame the views beyond. Set in the heart of Seattle’s thriving historic district, the 1,325-square-foot apartment occupies the top two levels on the south-west corner. Historic brick buildings that were born from the Great Seattle Fire define the foreground views, contrasting against the neutral interior palette.
High ceilings and simple volumes allowed the team to experiment with several layouts until they agreed to embrace an open, if somewhat unconventional plan. “I wanted a traditional bathroom and walk-in closet,” Sandra recalls, “but Dan had other ideas and thankfully he was persistent.” Inspired by hotel suites they’ve enjoyed abroad, the couple envisioned the lower level as a multi-purpose space that could serve several functions throughout the day.
“We wanted a versatile space where we could be together. Placing the tub in the open bedroom changes the social dynamic of the room”. It’s also a nod to the couple’s appreciation for bathing culture they’ve enjoyed during their time traveling in Asia. Rather than the traditional pairing of a tub, shower and toilet, a black on black CH25 Easy Chair by Hans Wegner flanks the tub where the couple can sit and talk.
The only partition on the lower level is the 15-foot-long custom closet, which doubles as the headboard. The couple notes that the open plan allowed their pair of Boston Terriers to chase each other endlessly, which was a key design consideration. The project derives its name from the loops the dogs would run until exhausted.
Upstairs, the kitchen, dining and living room culminate in a 200 square foot exterior terrace. Wide engineered wood floors set a warm tone accentuated by the 14-foot-long antique canoe mounted on the wall. “We think of the lower floor as our pied-à-terre and the upper level as our cabin retreat” they noted.
For the finishes, the couple drew inspiration from the Puget Sound. The lower level floor is an inky-black porcelain tile punctuated by blackened steel plate at the entry foyer, leading to the steel-clad stair.
“We thought a lot about the tide and coastal location, and how many beaches form a natural color gradient as you move up from a shoreline.” The dark floors on the lower level represent the bay, and the design carries the dark line around the perimeter cabinetry as a metaphor for the way the rock bulkheads and wood pilings patina along the piers of the Seattle waterfront. The complementing light-stained casework is designed to evoke a driftwood feel and foreshadow a modern beach-cabin vibe on the floor above. Like with the master bathroom, the couple took an unconventional approach with the kitchen.
“We couldn’t afford to replace everything, so we worked with what we had and reconfigured the existing refrigerator drawers and stainless steel cabinets.” The result is a kitchen that’s dominated by counter space instead of an upright refrigerator and wall cabinets.
The couple notes that although Dan has designed custom homes for clients around the world, the Loops Apartment was his most important project so far.
“This project taught me to embrace constraints, to think unconventionally, and take some risks. More importantly, it gave me great empathy for being a client. Building a custom home can be an intense process with so many choices. Going through it firsthand has made me a better partner in the client and designer relationship.”
Wilson-Haus design team
Principal: Dan Wilson
Design collaborator/client: Sandra Wilson
Project team
Architecture: Wilson-Haus
Interiors: Wilson-Haus
Lighting: KMJ Design Inc
Structural: PCS Structural Solutions
Electrical and Low Voltage: Lander Electric
Mechanical: WSP
Contractor (Phase 1): Dyna Contracting, Inc
(All scope except 8th floor casework, HVAC)
Contractor (Phase 2): Thomas Jacobson Construction, Inc
(8th floor casework, HVAC)
Photography: Kevin Scott
Vendors & Manufacturers
Kitchen cabinets: Baywood Cabinets LTD
Roller shades: Penthouse Drapery/Mechoshade
Porcelain tile: Architectural Surfaces (formerly Pental)
Metal fabrication: Ballard Sheet Metal & Mayer Designs, Inc
Wood floors: Kentwood
Plumbing fixtures: Seattle Interiors
Tub filler: Fantini Rubinetti, Aboutwater Collection
Tub: Blu Bathworks
Appliances: Albert Lee/Miele
Paint: Benjamin Moore
Oak veneer: Querkus by Decospan
Area rugs: Perennials
Lighting controls: Vantage
Door frames: Fry Reglet Minimalist
Sofa: Camerich
