This historic landmark home in Seattle, Washington was in need of an overhaul on the second level, undertaken by Michelle Dirkse Interior Design. The homeowners requested that the new design of their 4,800-square foot home look like a haunted mansion. This was a request that the designers had never heard of before, but were eager to undertake. In addition to this unique style request, the owners wished to have as many of the building and decorating materials be as sustainable and vegan as possible.
The designers completely re-developed the floorplan for the existing five-bedroom, three-bathroom layout. By relocating walls with the help of a structural engineer and converting one of the bedrooms into an appropriately sized master bathroom, the new floorplan served the clients as they needed. With no plans to have others live in the home with them, we were able to convert two rooms into a large art studio with a lounge area.
Interesting Fact: This historic home was purchased in 1889 by Judge James T. Ronald. He renovated and expanded it into a neoclassical mansion by 1904. The Judge served on the King County Superior Court for 40 years, before retiring in 1949 at the age of 94! The property was sold during the Great Depression, later serving multiple uses, a boardinghouse, a daycare, and a drug rehabilitation center before being named a historic landmark in 1976.
It was eventually passed into the hands of its current owners, both of whom are artists. Due to this home’s long history, the rooms were oddly divided. Much of this home had not been updated and there was plenty that needed repair from decades of renovations.
Another room in this home was converted to a den, one to a dressing room and the last to the master bathroom. The former small master bathroom was converted to a bathing room with a hidden secondary laundry area. The designers also integrated windows into the new bathing room by following the Landmark Preservation Board approval process.
The majority of the furnishings and decor pieces were antiques and all of the pieces were vegan. The homeowners placed great value on this despite the necessary time to procure the items. The result is an eclectic combination of Victorian and rustic pieces that met the owner’s functional, stylistic and ethical goals.
Above: The antique chair was recovered in fabric from Timorous Beasties.
What We Love: This stunning historic landmark home renovation project offers a haunted house vibe that is simply amazing. The designer did a beautiful job of preserving the charm of this home while catering to the owner’s lifestyle needs. We are especially loving all of the attention to detail, turning ordinary to extraordinary… and that stunning bathroom!
Tell Us: What are your overall impressions of the renovation of this home? Do you think the designer was successful in creating a haunted house feel for the clients? Please share your thoughts in the Comments!
Note: Have a look at another incredible home tour that we have featured here on One Kindesign that is a landmark home renovation: Brilliant renovation of a multi-level Landmarked townhouse in Brooklyn.
Above: The wall paint color is Benjamin Moore, Townsend Harbor Brown HC-64, in an eggshell finish.
Above: The owners of this historic landmark home are both artists who desired an art studio in their newly renovated upper level.
Above: This dramatic master bedroom features Ralph Lauren Ashfield Floral wallpaper in the color Tobacco. The homeowners opted for wallpaper on all four walls, wanting their home to feel inspired by history.
Above: The entire space was once a bedroom and now it’s a spacious bathroom of 168 square feet, which includes a water closet. There is also a separate bathing room in the former teeny tiny bathroom. The wall paint color is Dakota Shadow by Benjamin Moore, eggshell finish.
Above: The vanity is a vintage furniture piece with a marine seal added to the wood. The medicine cabinets are the Main Line Merion by Robern.
Above: The vintage towel rack was found on eBay.
Above: The matte subway tile is from Daltile. Cascade Glass is responsible for the fabrication of the shower glass design. The plumbing fixtures are from Signature Hardware. The shower size is 7’x4′.
Above: Off the main bathroom is a bathing room, which has a total of 70 square feet. This stunning vintage clawfoot tub features a rusted exterior, which was sealed to protect from further rusting. The interior was refinished. The curtain hardware was sourced from Kirsch. Wall paint is Greenwich Village 445 | Benjamin Moore.
Photos: Aaron Leitz
Above: A before photo of the “Coral Sofa Room”, which was part of the transformation into a new expansive master bath.
Above: This floor plan shows a section of the second floor prior to the extensive remodel. A bedroom previously existed in this layout, which is now a spacious bathroom. The designer removed the wall in the hallway to open the space up and create a water closet. Two bathrooms on the lower section of the floor plan were remodeled into a bathing room and a guest bathroom. Three windows were also added into the bathing room for natural light. See below for the new floor plan layout.
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