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

Better Together

Better Together

This Seattle project presents an out-of-the-box model, where investors are also residents, and the design focuses on longevity and tenant retention—not profit.

Growing up in rural Detroit, Chad Dale spent many after-school and weekend hours playing with neighborhood kids in an open lot near his house. It’s an experience he always hoped his children would have someday, but by the time he became a father in Seattle, land was at a premium: either already developed or prohibitively…

A Different Kind of Mattress Store
Sponsored

A Different Kind of Mattress Store

Photos courtesy of Bedrooms and More. If you’re looking for the best mattress shopping experience in Seattle, the right choice often comes down to materials, transparency, and expert guidance – not just price or brand names. Bedrooms & More specializes in natural and organic two-sided mattresses and offers a no-pressure showroom environment where customers can…

Joint Effort

Joint Effort

Rooted in the Northwest craft tradition, Mory Homes offers thoughtful furniture and storage solutions with an architectural point of view.

After more than a decade as the executive director of  local lighting company Graypants, one of the cofounders, Jonathan Junker, decided to return to his architectural roots. In 2019, he was raising a family on Bainbridge Island when he opened his namesake studio. At first, Junker enjoyed the holistic approach to residential design; a few…

Your Land, Your Legacy: A New Way to Build at Suncadia
Sponsored

Your Land, Your Legacy: A New Way to Build at Suncadia

For those who believe that where you live should reflect how you live and how you’ll be remembered Suncadia invites a deeper kind of ownership. It’s an opportunity to create a home that is entirely your own, on some of the most desirable homesites in the Cascades, while benefiting from the ease, support, and long-term…