English-Style in Seattle: A Couple’s Longtime Home Gets an Anglo Update
Spending all this time in our own quarters can’t help but lead to restless thinking—of making home improvements or of moving on. Today we’re spotlighting the longtime family home of a couple with grown children who felt very ready for a change but decided to stay put.
Their place, a compact 1915 carriage house in Seattle Capitol Hill, now has a fresh new look—full kitchen and bath remodel, included—thanks to local interior designer Heidi Caillier. Caillier is the one who suggested a timeless, English-accented approach: “British style works well in the Pacific Northwest because of the grayness. It’s all about making things feel cozy and welcoming—and like a shelter.”
Photography by Haris Kenjar, courtesy of Heidi Caillier Design.
Above: The 1,200 square-foot carriage house came with preserved original features, such as the brick fireplace and leaded-glass windows. “There’s a lovely quiet to the house, so we wanted to keep the finishes edited and simple,” says Caillier. “Much of what we did was matching the original features.”
The owners raised their children here and had “long toyed with the idea of upgrading to bigger quarters, but decided to sacrifice space for charm,” says Caillier. As was, the rooms were “very lived in and loved; well-maintained but in need of a refresher.”
Above: The furnishings are a careful mix of modern heirloom craftsman-made pieces and antiques, all selected for scale and comfort–and to look collected over time rather than matchy-matchy. BDDW’s Abel Sofa is the first thing you see when you walk in the door. It’s paired with Sawkille’s Penn Coffee Table and a vintage Tuareg mat found on Etsy.
Above: The walls and moldings are painted Benjamin Moore’s Mascarpone; for more, see Architects’ 10 Favorite Warm White Paints. The woods floors are the originals newly refinished.
Above: Tailored granny chic: custom-designed skirted armchairs upholstered in a Pierre Frey fabric.
Above: “We played around with how to open up the living and dining rooms and kitchen to each other without totally blowing out walls,” says Caillier. “Remaining true to the house, we decided to mimic existing archways to create a graceful opening that allows the kitchen to feel less isolated but still like it’s own space.”
Above: The dining table and chairs are Sawkille designs: the Springsteen Trestle Table, Senate Chair, and Dinner Stool.
Above: Fanciful old lamps—such as this samovar—with pleated fabric shades are another British homey touch. The custom lampshades are by Etsy seller Cruel Mountain. For more, see 11 Favorites: The Return of the Artfully Patterned Lampshade.
Above: The custom galley kitchen references designs by leading UK design firms deVol and Plain English. The cabinets and walls are painted the same color—Farrow & Ball’s French Gray—and have brass Ball Knobs and Massey Drawer Pulls from Rejuvenation that work well with the Waterworks gooseneck Henry faucet and Rose Uniacke sconces (a British import that they were able to order wired for US use).
“The crown molding mimics what exists throughout rest of house,” says Caillier. “We added new French doors and windows that match the original leaded-glass designs.”
Above: “Galley kitchens can be tricky,” says Caillier, “you have to add nooks and crannies or they can feel boring and sparse. I don’t always love open shelves, but this client has wonderful accessories, so I knew they’re work.” The counters are walnut.
Above: The Blue Star range is set in a niche with inset storage. The wall tile is from deVol.
Above: The fridge is integrated behind cabinet panels at the end of the range wall.
Above: In the compact bath, a custom pink vanity stands alongside a five-foot-long tub. Cle tiles, Drummonds sconce,