Snapshots of a Well Loved Home

December 29, 2011

20111229-045311.jpg We bought our house on Vashon Island over 10 years ago, from a former Mayor of Seattle. Magical is a word folks have used when they visit. The house is set amongst the very tall trees, on 2 very quiet & private acres, steps from the beach.

20111229-050312.jpg The house and grounds were neglected, and were just waiting to be brought back to life. The house had not really been lived in, in quite some time.

20111229-050525.jpg He had painted the house red, and had a huge flagpole installed in the front yard. Maybe there was always a flag flying when he was in residence. We decided Americana would be the prevailing design concept.

20111229-050832.jpg Ticking stripes, denim, slipcovers, painted floors–all things meant to evoke comfort. Open shelving, tableware at the ready, and always a well-stocked bar.

20111229-051222.jpg Collections abound. White pottery, seashells, artwork–all things we love.

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20111229-051646.jpg The above painting is of the beach in front of the Wells cabin in Southold, on the North Fork of Long Island, where we stay each August.

20111229-051921.jpg Comfort and visual interest are key.

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20111229-052445.jpg WestWard was featured locally in the magazine, Seattle Homes & Lifestyles. It was then noticed by my now dear friend, writer and editor, Jane Dagmi, and photographed beautifully by Grey Crawford and written about by Jane for Country Living magazine. That lead to a story in an international edition of House Beautiful.

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20111229-053441.jpg It was also highlighted on HGTV’s, Small Space, Big Style, and I picked up a Northwest Design Award for the interiors. I laugh as I type all the above, because if you could have seen the house before we bought it (we know some of our friends thought we were crazy), the idea of it ever getting any design coverage would not have been in the cards. It just took a whole lotta love, a ton of work & vision–all things we have enjoyed tremendously along the way.

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Tomorrow, snapshots of the studio.