This Seattle penthouse renovation drew inspiration from the Puget Sound

Minimalist hallway with floor-to-ceiling white oak cabinetry, black pull handles, dark tile floor, and a patterned runner rug leading to a white entry door

❤️ Would you like to save this?

We'll email this article to you, so you can read it later!

By saving, we'll email this post to you for later. Unsubscribe anytime.

Loop Penthouse was reimagined by the luxury architecture and bespoke residential design firm Wilson-Haus as their personal residence in Seattle, Washington. 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.”

DESIGN DETAILS

ARCHITECTURE Wilson-Haus
INTERIORS Wilson-Haus
LIGHTING KMJ Design Inc
STRUCTURAL PCS Structural Solutions
ELECTRICAL & 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)

Staircase foyer with dark-painted steps, slim black metal handrail, an ornate antique French commode, and layered black-and-white framed artwork

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.

Aerial view looking down a dark staircase with a slim metal handrail, a blurred figure ascending, and an orange-wheeled bicycle leaning at the bottom

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.

Open-plan living room with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a rooftop terrace, a gray sectional sofa, wall-mounted flatscreen TV, and a canoe on the dark accent wall

“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.

Living room with large gray sectional sofa, black round coffee table, striped rug, dark shelving unit, and an antique wooden canoe mounted on a charcoal accent wall

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.

Dining area with a reclaimed wood table, curved cream upholstered chairs, and an antique wooden canoe displayed on a dark accent wall above low shelving

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.

Kitchen and dining area with dark cabinetry, stainless steel countertops, reclaimed wood dining table, cream barrel chairs, and a diagonal steel stair structure

For the finishes, the couple drew inspiration from the Puget Sound. The lower-level floor is an inky-black porcelain tile punctuated by a blackened steel plate at the entry foyer, leading to the steel-clad stair.

Open-plan interior showing the mounted canoe above built-in shelving, a white office chair at a steel-topped desk, and a dark kitchen beyond a structural steel staircase beam

“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.

Dark kitchen with matte gray cabinetry, open shelving, stainless steel range hood, and a bold structural steel stair beam cutting diagonally across the space

“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.

Dark kitchen detail with matte charcoal upper cabinets, brushed stainless steel lower cabinets and countertop, and fresh pink peonies on the counter

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.

Primary bedroom with white linen bedding, dual Tizio desk lamps, tall white oak wardrobe wall, and open view to the freestanding tub and dark accent wall beyond

“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.”

Close-up of white oak wardrobe panels with slim black handles opening to a bedroom with city views and a freestanding tub

What We Love About This Home

It’s not often we get a look inside a designer’s own home, and this one does not disappoint. Dan and Sandra Wilson took a tight budget and an apartment that looked, in their own words, like a Miami nightclub from the 80s, and turned it into something genuinely personal and considered. We love the lower level most of all, the freestanding tub set open in the bedroom, the 15-foot closet doubling as a headboard, the whole floor functioning more like a well-loved hotel suite than a conventional apartment.

Tell Us: What do you think of Dan and Sandra’s decision to place the soaking tub in the open bedroom rather than behind closed doors? Is that a detail you would embrace in your own home? Let us know in the Comments below!

Note: Be sure to check out a couple of other impressive penthouse apartment tours that we have featured here on One Kindesign in Seattle: Striking remodel of a penthouse apartment overlooking the Seattle skyline and Minimalist penthouse apartment overlooking the Seattle skyline.

Bedroom suite overview showing light oak headboard wall, dark nightstand, sculptural mannequin in the study nook beyond, cream armchair by floor-to-ceiling windows

Home office nook with charcoal walls, a gray metal desk, white Eames-style office chair, abstract wire artwork, and a weathered mannequin torso sculpture

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

Moody primary bedroom corner with dark gray walls, freestanding white soaking tub, black lounge chair, and tall candlesticks against a large mirror

Before The Renovation

Living space with electric blue, crimson, and purple walls, epoxy-finished concrete floors, a two-sided fireplace, and curved track lighting above

Lower level with bold purple and blue painted walls, polished concrete floors, industrial steel mesh staircase, and track lighting on the ceiling

Colorful kitchen before renovation featuring glass block island and backsplash, red and blue painted ceiling panels, stainless appliances, and cone pendant lights

Floor Plan

Architectural floor plans for floors 8 and 9 of the penthouse, showing the bedroom suite, bathing area, and dressing room below, and the kitchen, dining, living, and terrace above

PHOTOGRAPHER Kevin Scott

One Kindesign has received this project from our submissions page. If you have a project you would like to submit, please visit our submit your work page for consideration!