Modern With a Hint of Glam in Seattle – Apartment Therapy
House Tour: Modern With a Hint of Glam in Seattle
by Mackenzie Schieck | July 6, 2016
Name: Lauren and Jason
Location: West Seattle — Seattle, Washington
Size: 1,792 square feet
Years lived in: 3-1/2 years
The first time I got a look at Lauren and Jason’s super chic West Seattle townhome, I was a guest at their 2016 Oscar party. I climbed the stairs, turned the corner into their kitchen, and bam! It was all Great Gatsby up in that place. Metallic balloons, champagne cocktails, and assorted gold-flecked things made my eyes do a little dance (the Charleston, obviously)—everything just seemed to glow and sparkle. Once I stopped gushing over the perfectly executed glitz and glam in the kitchen, I started in on the living room. Specifically, the wall of framed, gold-dipped feathers that hung in a perfectly even grid on the main wall—a DIY, to boot.
Between an eclectic range of art, fun wall colors that make accent colors pop, and a rooftop deck that would bring out the diva in anyone—”I’ll just be on this white couch, here. Be a dear and fetch me a cocktail”—Lauren and Jason have done an impeccable job infusing their home with a distinct personality. (Not to mention, their decor seems to highlight the cuteness of their three sweet kitties who were not the least bit camera shy.) But it when it came to the living/dining area, they decided to bring in the experts. A writer and senior digital editor at Seattle magazine, Lauren traded freelance copywriting services with Beth Dotolo and Carolina Gentry of Pulp Design Studios who, in exchange, worked their interior design magic.
While the living area is definitely the showpiece of the home, I found myself ooh-ing and ahh-ing just as much at the remaining rooms as I wound my way up the stairs. I was 100% ready to book myself a stay in their powder blue guest room, currently occupied by Jason’s son Riley, who is enjoying a post-school year visit from out of state. (Guess I’ll have to wait my turn.)
So, when you already have legit decorating chops yourself, when and why might you want to enlist help?
“Designers have access to ideas and things that would never occur to me,” Lauren explained. “And we weren’t sure how to approach the living room. Everything was really grey and monochromatic. We really liked our furniture, but wanted more texture and pattern. At the same time, I’m afraid of pattern—I just didn’t want to screw it up.”
And the thing about decorating big spaces like this three-story home (four if you count the entryway)…it’s a ton of work! At a certain point you want it done, but done well. Bringing in designers meant they could finish things up and start loving every room in their home sooner than later. It was like putting an exclamation point (or two) on the really beautiful work they had already completed. An exclamation point in the shape of a bold-colored, gold-dipped feather.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Our Style: Eclectic, modern, mid-century, and a dash of Hollywood Regency.
Inspiration: We essentially let Beth and Carolina of Pulp Design Studios run wild in the living room and dining room. We wanted a layered, pulled together look that was sophisticated, full of patterns and texture, and eccentric in that no one else’s space would ever look like ours. In the master bathroom, I went for a relaxed, coastal feel and I wanted over-the-top girly for my office.
Favorite Element: The bone inlay coffee table is a showstopper, and we adore the wall coverings up the staircase.
Biggest Challenge: Beth suggested the hand chair for our living room and at first I wasn’t sold on the idea. Jason was. I was afraid it would be too odd, but it’s true when they say, “trust your designer.” She knows way more than I do, so that’s what I did and I couldn’t be happier with the hand chair. It usually sparks some sort of conversation when friends come over.
What Friends Say: Those feathers! Everyone comments on the feather art behind the sofa.
Proudest DIY: Beth suggested these gorgeous framed feather art prints, but all together it would have been upwards of $5000. So, we went the DIY route. I scored the gold leaf dipped feathers on One Kings Lane and then we bought the frames from Ikea and mounting board at a local art supply store. Thanks to Jason’s painstaking attention to detail, they turned out fantastically.
Biggest Indulgence: Probably the two gentlemen’s chairs, which were a Christmas gift from Jason four years ago. He surprised me after I had spotted the pair during a photo shoot at an antiques shop in Dallas. And the coffee table.
Best Advice: Trust your designer and don’t be afraid to take risks with your design. What’s the point if you can’t have a little fun in your decor?
see the home tour article & see the project.
