This article appears in print in the November 2019 issue. Click here to subscribe.

Many of the grand old houses in Seattle’s historic Denny-Blaine neighborhood have a tale to tell, and for one Seattle couple (who wishes to remain anonymous), their home’s story features prominently in the husband’s childhood. So, when the couple decided to remodel the familial home, a two-and-a-half-story 1910 Tudor mansion that formerly belonged to the husband’s parents, they turned to architecture and interiors firm Hoedemaker Pfeiffer to assist in the delicate task of preserving its legacy while making it their own.

Geometric shapes were used throughout the home, like in the modern dining room chandelier

To both lighten the home’s overall mood and visually organize its first floor, firm partner Tim Pfeiffer removed several of the Gothic-style pediments that adorned the space, leaving only those above major entry and exit points to the room. In the living and dining rooms, Pfeiffer chose furnishings in a pale, neutral palette, lending a more contemporary feel to these spaces, where the homeowners spend a great deal of time with their two young kids. Though the bulk of Pfeiffer’s work focused on lightening these rooms, the couple’s affinity for bold artwork and pops of color mean that the overall effect is never boring.

Colorful artwork helps modernize an old home