Inside a Charming Seattle House Filled with Vintage Pieces and Plenty of Color

Having a client who isn’t afraid of color is a treat for most designers. It’s a fun opportunity to get creative and playful with design. That was the case for Jessica Nelson and her clients, a family of four which includes a daughter, son, Bernese Mountain dog, and Ragdoll cat. “The clients were very open to color (which got me so excited) so we really leaned into playing with color and pattern,” Jessica says.

Carina Skrobecki/Cass Photo

The 3,200-square-foot Seattle home with four bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms originally had tight, small spaces, which didn’t quite work for the family’s needs. “This family loves to cook so we wanted to prioritize space in the kitchen with a connected breakfast nook and easy access to the backyard,” Jessica adds.

Carina Skrobecki/Cass Photo

Carina Skrobecki/Cass Photo

So Jessica and team reworked the kitchen, powder room, and breakfast nook layout completely so the family could have more functional and open space for the family to enjoy cooking. The kitchen color palette was based around the Lacanche range that the client had to order two years in advance, which Jessica says was a fun statement piece to build around.

Carina Skrobecki/Cass Photo

Carina Skrobecki/Cass Photo

“We also totally reworked the upstairs floor plan resulting in three beds two baths up, which is the perfect floor plan for a family of four,” Jessica says. “This includes a kids’ bath and spacious primary suite at the front of the house to take advantage of the views.”

Carina Skrobecki/Cass Photo

For the design and decor, Jessica kept the family’s love of vintage, travel, and color in mind. “They wanted the home to reflect them and their collected treasures,” she says. “They also love a combination of traditional and more modern so we had a ton of fun pairing some less conventional finishes together to get an eclectic playful feel.”

Carina Skrobecki/Cass Photo

A good portion of the clients’ furniture were family heirlooms, so they refinished and recovered the pieces to give them a second life. The home features so many interesting vintage finds, which really warms the space and gives it character.

Carina Skrobecki/Cass Photo

And Jessica and team had a lot of fun playing with color and pattern, but were very deliberate with where and how to include those details. “We were careful to lay out the home in a way that doesn’t feel like ‘Skittles,’” Jessica explains. “We thoughtfully pairing mostly blues and greens with pops of warmer tones here and there. like the Hermès orange kids’ bath and the red House of Hackney powder bath that is anchored by a rich navy wainscoting.”

Carina Skrobecki/Cass Photo

Along with the vintage pieces, color warms up the space, too. “Painting the walls, trim and ceilings always elevates the room, enveloping you in a beautiful swath of color as you enter. I find myself being more drawn to spend time in rooms with pattern and color and I think these spaces do just that, draw you in to want to spend time there,” Jessica says.

Now the home is a vibrant, sophisticated, and playful. But best of all, it’s more functional for the family and their interests, including cooking!