Paris Meets the Pacific Northwest in This Modern Family Home

A Washington native, homeowner and designer Katie Hackworth nevertheless draws her inspiration from European houses and New York City’s classic brownstones, whose high ceilings, paneled walls, and ornate millwork inform much of her work. “I’ve always wanted to create a modern home with layers and historical details. The surrounding houses here are very conducive to that,” she says. Four years ago, when she landed a coveted piece of real estate in the Seattle suburb of Medina, she got her chance. Serving as both architectural and interior designer, she set out to build from the ground up, imbuing the house with a sense of history and patina.

Here, Hackworth and daughters Gracie, 13 (center) and Sadie, 11, pose against black lacquered front doors. The step and lintel are acid-washed concrete. Hackworth wanted to include a NYC-style vestibule, so the doors open to a space with paneled walls and rich green cement hex tiles.

Hackworth snuggles with Stuart, one of her two rescue dogs, on a favorite armchair. “This room is all about comfort—plush seating, a soft rug, and a round table for propping up feet,” she says. Juliet Chair in Vintage Flax, $3,105; ciscohome.net. Three-Arm MFL-3 Standing Floor Lamp in black, $575; franceandson.com. Copeland Cocktail Table, $2,495; jaysonhome.com. Current No. 2 print by Jessica Cantlin, pricing available upon request; winstonwachter.com.

A vintage chair and Paul McCobb dresser paired with a Jessica Cantlin print above make for a serene nook. Platforms No. 2 print, pricing available upon request; winstonwachter.com.

Antiques, firewood, and a hand-turned Nickey Kehoe pendant light contrast ornate millwork. "I try to build houses that will age gracefully—like old homes with etched marble and scratched-up wood floors," says Hackworth. "Authentic materials develop a beautiful aging that I welcome.”

A wall of cabinetry conceals a small washer, dryer, and folding table, along with hanging storage and pullout drawers. “It’s very helpful in organizing—or at least hiding—all the chaos that comes in and out of our home,” Hackworth says. Paint in Sea Glass CSP- 735, from $40/gallon; benjaminmoore.com.

For the island that anchors this all-important space, Hackworth selected a 3-inch butcher-block countertop with the end grain facing up. (“I prefer the checkerboard over the typical linear pattern,” she says.) The expansive workstation is designed for entertaining and being present throughout the day with her daughters. Island paint in City Shadow CSP-60 by Benjamin Moore, from $40/gallon; benjaminmoore.com. Antique stools; bdantiques.com.

In the dining room, two furniture splurges—an oval Saarinen table and the set of T-chairs scored from Nickey Kehoe—earn minimal buyer’s remorse from Hackworth. “I’ve had my eye on both for a decade, and neither lose their value over time,” she says. Saarinen Oval Dining Table, from $5,606; dwr.com. Tile in Bordeaux C3-41, $28/sq. ft.; mosaichse.com. Brass Pendant light, $625; workstead.com.

A metal dresser and a rattan bed look particularly fresh against blue floral wallpaper. “I like designing kids’ rooms that don’t feel kitschy or contrived—but rather like the child who’s living there,” says Hackworth. Dalston Rose Wallpaper in cream/navy, $214/roll; houseofhackney.com. Carved Rattan Bed, from $1,798; anthropologie.com.

At the top of the stairs, just off the girls’ bedrooms, Hackworth designed a book-lover’s dream retreat, including a built-in banquette piled with pillows in colors and patterns pulled from the rest of the house. Paint in Crisp Linen CSP-305, from $40/ gallon; benjaminmoore.com. Pouf 26" Round Ottoman, from $870; ciscohome.net. Wall Lamp, $775; workstead.com.

Crackled subway tile is met with delicate floral wallpaper and a vintage chest for linens. The painted cement floor tiles alternate between the two accent colors: dusky rose and brick red. Victorian Star wallpaper by Cole & Son, $123/double roll; wallpaperdirect.com. Casa tile in Guava/Maroon; marrakechdesign.se.

The deep navy bed and crisp linens balance fanciful wallpaper. A vintage school chair, serving as a side table, dials down the pattern play. Washed Wood Bed in indigo, from $1,298; anthropologie.com. Rippled Stripe Organic Duvet Cover in ivory with black, from $298; coyuchi.com.

The tile in the master bath has old-world charm that echoes the vintage rugs in the main living spaces. Hackworth designed the steel-and-glass shower door, which imparts “a time-worn industrial element,” she says. “And the layered drapery acts as a calming pause to an otherwise eclectic master bathroom.” She painted the exterior of the claw-foot tub black to help modernize the traditional feature. Tile in Jardin, $28/sq. ft.; mosaichse.com. Yale Small Sconce in Vintage Brass, $990; arteriorshome.com.

“I think it can take up to a year, at least, to create something that feels like an authentic expression of yourself and your style,” says Hackworth, who routinely hangs up inspirational images pulled from magazines in her workspace. “I’m always curating my house.”

A tufted John Derian sofa in rose opposite a simpler mustard-colored one adds depth to a neutral living room. Says Hackworth, “The scale of the pieces works well together, but the combination is far from expected.”

Above all, insists Hackworth, her home is a real family residence. “I don’t mind the rings and stains on the marble or the scratches on the hardwood floor under our dining table. Nothing is off-limits to my girls, and we truly live in each room.” The ultimate compliment? “People often ask if this is a remodel of an old home,” she says with evident pleasure. Bachelor Sofa, from $6,315; ciscohome.net.

DESIGN Katie Hackworth, Architectural Design + Interiors; katiehackworth.com.