Skip to content

A Chic Seattle Mudroom Makeover

Interior designer Brian Paquette’s stylish solution for a slim Capitol Hill mudroom

By Seattle Mag February 17, 2014

0314innerspace

This article originally appeared in the March 2014 issue of Seattle magazine.

!–paging_filter–pBefore its recent remodel, the main entry point from the detached garage of this North Capitol Hill colonial was the kitchen. Common enough in most homes, but less than ideal for a geared-up, storage-poor family with a 1-year-old, and a dilemma that interior designer Brian Paquette sought to remedy. brimg src=”/sites/default/files/newfiles/0314_innerspace2.jpg” style=”float: left; margin: 10px;” height=”450″ width=”300″Paquette worked with the homeowners on the interior for their six month-long addition and remodel, completed last Halloween, which included the mudroom, the living room and a new master suite. Post-remodel, the family enters through a long, narrow mudroom, less than 4 feet wide, yet big enough to park a stroller. A deep closetnbsp; filled with all four seasons of outerwear anchors the space, and a long custom bench with cubbies and wall hooks sits opposite the backdoor, awaiting galoshes, diaper bags and other go-to items. em(Photo at left: Paquette balanced the homeowner’s penchant for a moody palette of an indigo-infused charcoal with creamy salmon tones found in a turned wood lamp (opposite) from West Elm (South Lake Union; a href=”http://www.westelm.com” target=”_blank”westelm.com/a) and a bone inlay mirror from Serena Lily ($295; a href=”http://www.serenaandlily.com” target=”_blank”serenaandlily.com/a) chosen for its nuanced array of neutrals. The framed print is by Hugo Guinness. Find similar at Watson Kennedy Fine Home (Downtown, a href=”http://www.watsonkennedy.com” target=”_blank”watsonkennedy.com/a)/embrbr“This project is completely attainable, yet disguised to look extremely custom,” says the Pioneer Square–based designer, who balanced less expensive pieces from big-box stores such as West Elm with more expensive elements, including hand-poured tile, customized wallpaper and antique pieces from his travels. “The clients had a specific color story that they wanted to tell—a gray/blue with a touch of purple—which was more important to them than the expense of the items,” he continues, and which provided cohesion throughout the house. “This was by far the img src=”/sites/default/files/newfiles/0314_innerspace3.jpg” style=”float: right; margin: 10px;” height=”450″ width=”300″most traditional home I’ve designed in Seattle,” says Paquette, who grew up in Newport, Rhode Island. “At its core, it’s totally comfortable and livable, great for kids and dogs, and completely functional, which is what traditional homes are based on.” brem(Photo at right: To add visual interest to an already durable floor, Paquette arranged custom matte tiles (Oregon Tile Marble, Georgetown; a href=”http://www.oregontileandmarble.com” target=”_blank”oregontileandmarble.com/a) in a herringbone pattern.)/embrbr/p

 

Follow Us

Blueprints for Building Community

Blueprints for Building Community

After tragedy struck a local restaurateur family, one of their daughters stepped in to complete the design for her brother’s unfinished home.

Although he was just 35 when a heart attack took his life, Khoa Pham’s imprint on Seattle’s international district was such that the city quickly designated April 21 as a memorial day in his honor. With his rescue pitbull, Pinky, by his side, Pham cut a colorful figure through Little Saigon and became well known…

Tuft Stuff

Tuft Stuff

Tuft Ruft turns fiber art into a social, hands-on experience in Pioneer Square.

It all started with a bout of pandemic boredom. Like many, when COVID-19 hit, recent graduate Carrie Xiao found herself stuck at home, with extra time on her hands. One day, while scrolling social media, she discovered tufting: a textile manufacturing technique that creates a garment or rug with a “pile,” or raised surface. After…

Collaborating Cultures

Collaborating Cultures

Looking to build a home to welcome family and friends, one Kirkland couple turns to a sister to design a modern house with influences from the wife’s Thai heritage.

For many years, when homeowners planned to build or remodel, architects and designers advised them to think first and foremost about resale value. From the number of bedrooms to the materials, appliances, and finishes in the kitchens and bathrooms, homes were often treated solely as an investment, with an eye to future sales. In recent…

Whale Of A Remodel

Whale Of A Remodel

The transformation of an Orcas Island home takes advantage of remarkable views

For many years, Apollo 8 astronaut Bill Anders entertained his Orcas Island neighbors with breathtaking acrobatics in his vintage airplane. Anders and his wife, Valerie, had purchased a five-acre compound on the isolated western edge of the island for its mesmerizing view, a subject he knew something about. As a member of the first human…