Mid-century Modern Homes
Mid-century modern houses are architecturally en vogue—so much so that in Seattle, people are willin
By Seattle Mag April 18, 2012
This article originally appeared in the May 2012 issue of Seattle magazine.
Epitomized by the work of influential California architects Charles and Ray Eames and real estate developer Joseph Eichler, mid-century modern homes took root in Seattle when the city was expanding beyond its core into neighborhoods such as Magnolia, View Ridge and West Seattle. “The mid-century design was a move away from traditional, compartmentalized floor plans,” says local real estate agent Mark Potvin (gbk.com) “and into more open plans that make small homes feel bigger.” The emphasis here is on function rather than fanciness, with simple lines, small bedrooms (intended only for sleeping) and plenty of windows to bring the outside in.
“These houses flow like we live today—less formal, more comfortable, more organic,” Potvin says. “And the beauty of this 60-year-old design is that it lends itself easily to remodels. It doesn’t take much to make a classic midcentury modern home feel contemporary.” As in many cities, these houses are currently in vogue in Seattle. “People will pay a premium for midcentury homes,” says Potvin. “They’re the darlings of the market.”
Magnolia
List price: $1,545,000
Square footage: 3,100; 5 bedrooms/2.5 bathrooms
Year built: 1956
Property size: 9,408 square feet
Property taxes: $9,514
Bonus: Beachfront property with views of the Ballard locks, boats and sea life
Date listed: 2/2012
Seward Park
List price: $949,000
Square footage: 4,362; 5 bedrooms/4.5 baths
Year built: 1951
Property size: 11,837 sq ft
Property taxes: $7,174
Bonus: Updated brick rambler with views of Lake Washington and a meticulously landscaped yard
Date Listed: 2/2012
Blue Ridge
List price: $1,700,000
Square footage: 4,373; 5 bedrooms, 2.75 baths
Year built: 1951
Property size: 10,018 sq ft
Property taxes: $10,543
Bonus: Fully remodeled with a black-bottom swimming pool and Zen garden
Date Listed: 1/2012
Note: Some or all of these homes may have sold since publication. Listings and data courtesy of Zillow (zillow.com).
Follow Us
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 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
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
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…