1909 Historic Capitol Hill: Honoring the Past While Designing for the Future
Built in 1909, this timeless home is located in Seattle’s Capitol Hill historic district. The house features gorgeous architectural details from the turn of the century including carved moldings, custom wood cutouts, and hand-made tiles. Tasked with a complete renovation for a family of eight, we prioritized thoughtful space planning and a smart, modern layout. In order to honor the historic home, we renovated the kitchen, powder room, and restored the butler’s pantry with period details—each room thoughtfully curated to ensure aesthetic beauty inspired by the home’s original style. The furniture and light fixtures selected throughout the home are simple and elegant, allowing the detailed architectural features to shine.
Living Room, 1909 Capitol Hill
Kitchen
The kitchen was previously remodeled in a style that departed from the home’s historic period, and its original layout lacked both the functionality and space for a family of eight to gather.
Kitchen before renovations
To ensure the new kitchen design was functional, we paid great attention to appliance placement, storage, and flow. We also incorporated elegant, modern touches to elevate the space:
Casement Windows & Patio Doors
We designed these features so that they would flood the room with natural sunlight, creating a bright and inviting atmosphere.
Calacatta Marble Counters + Unlacquered Brass Hardware
A combination chosen for its timeless charm and sophisticated appeal.
Herringbone Patterned Wood Floors
These floors add both warmth and texture to the space to create a classic yet contemporary look.
Box Beam Ceilings
A subtle architectural detail that brings character and depth to the kitchen.
Terra-Cotta Mosaic Backsplash
This beautiful backsplash by Ann Sacks was positioned behind the Bertazzoni range to create a striking focal point. These tiles introduce color, pattern and visual interest, enhancing the kitchen’s unique personality.
Behind the scenes TSD renovations
To bring these ideas to life, we created a rendering for our client so they could fully visualize the potential of their redesigned space.
TSD rendering turned into design
Butler’s Pantry
Adjacent to the kitchen, we created a charming Butler’s pantry designed with period details in mind. The space is saturated in a rich sage green, complemented by floral wallpaper. Instead of opting for modern cabinetry, we chose a classic curtain detail to add a touch of vintage charm and authenticity to the space.
Butler’s Pantry, 1909 Capitol Hill
Library
The library already featured an original, hand-made tile mosaic around the fireplace, which inspired the foundation for our design. We loved how the tile served as both an excellent conversation piece and an ode to the home’s historic charm.
Library, 1909 Capital Hill
To pull the space together we added playful patterns, cohesive colors, textures and decor throughout the space.
Wallpapered Ceiling
Since the library had minimal wall space due to wood carved built-ins and windows we decided to wallpaper the ceiling to draw the eye upward and make the space feel more dynamic.
Patterns & Textures
To introduce a dynamic mix of textures and patterns we upholstered an armchair in a classic plaid fabric, enhancing the library’s handsome and inviting character.
Shelf Decor
To take advantage of the beautiful built-ins and create the library we filled the shelves with books, family pictures and memorabilia that suited the space.
TSD team decorating Library shelves
Powder Room
Similar to the library, our inspiration for the powder room design was drawn from original architectural details, like brass push-button switch plates and outlets.
Powder Bathroom, 1909 Capitol Hill
Aged Brass
We chose an aged brass mirror, sconces, and vanity base and faucet to match the original brass plates.
Marble Sink
The Calacatta marble sink is by Restoration Hardware. Its gold veining throughout was perfectly suited for the aged brass and golden hues of the powder room.
Wainscot & Wallpaper
The wainscot features “Idris” by Ann Sacks, a handmade, hand-glazed and hand-cut terra-cotta tile crafted using traditional Moroccan clays and glazed pigments. We finished it with a marble liner and complemented it with a botanical wallpaper that highlights the rich tones of the brass and Calacatta marble.
Hexagonal Tile Floor
To add contrast to the patterns and textures of the space, we tiled the floor in a beautiful hexagonal tile, also by Ann Sacks.
This historic Seattle home, and it’s setting in the charming Capitol Hill neighborhood, provided endless design inspiration. The intricate architectural detailing set the stage for a memorable and creative design process! Learn more about our 1909 Capitol Hill Historic Residence.