Home
Read More ›
Mid-century Modern Homes
Mid-century modern houses are architecturally en vogue—so much so that in Seattle, people are willin
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
Can Alaska Kelp Help Washington Crops Beat the Heat?
A Ketchikan company is working with WSU researchers to see whether its kelp-based biostimulant can help grapes and berries withstand environmental stress.
From the floatplane, reddish-brown kelp traces the edges of the small islands between Ketchikan and Prince of Wales Island like brushstrokes on the surface of the water. Up close, on a rare 70-degree July day in Alaska, the kelp is glossy and beautiful, though the wind coming off the water makes it nearly impossible to…
PlantCon Is Coming for Seattle’s Windowsills
The nation’s largest gathering for houseplant lovers makes its Pacific Northwest debut this August with 200 booths, hands-on workshops, and a DJ.
My house is full of plants, enough that I’ve lost count. Houseplants have the same suspicious math as tattoos: One is rarely the final number. I propagate cuttings in jars of water, regularly rearrange corners of the house in pursuit of better light, and like to imagine the entire collection is improving the air. That…
Noir Lux Lights Up Fourth Avenue
The Seattle candle brand’s new two-level pop-up brings workshops and community gatherings downtown through September.
It’s often said that good things come in threes, and for Colina Bruce, founder of the lifestyle and home fragrance brand Noir Lux, that’s certainly proving true. With a flagship shop in Belltown and an outpost in Ballard, Bruce is rounding out a Noir Lux trio with the opening of the Noir Lux Collective on…
Better Together: This Take on Co-Housing Emphasizes Quality and Community
The 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…