Mid-Century Rambler

This West Seattle Mid-Century Modern has classic bones—exposed timbers, wood ceilings, and shoji screens—but struggled under unfortunate remodeling decisions by previous owners. Removing a massive trellis at the front of the house allowed light inside and opened up views to the water. A new color palette inside and outside brightened up the interior and gave the modest home a graphic punch. Among many quirks, there was no fridge in the kitchen and the sink was across the room from the dishwasher, so it required a down-to-the-studs renovation with custom walnut cabinets. Mid-Century Moderns are coveted but known for their energy inefficiency. To make the house more sustainable, double-pane insulated glass replaced single-pane glass, LED lighting replaced incandescent, and a heat pump replaced an inefficient oil-burning furnace. Outside, gravel replaced large paved areas for rainwater permeability, and drought-resistant plants took the place of the lawn.