Mount Baker Historic Craftsman

The initial scope of work zeroed in on the kitchen, which posed the most obvious problems in functionality and aesthetics. Chopped up by an awkward peninsula jutting into the space then bending at an angle, the kitchen’s main functional space was diminished by half. The other side of the peninsula housed a small built-in desk and makeshift additional storage.

Dark wood cabinets and an abundance of earthy brown tones in the other finishes made the room feel gloomy, stale, and uninviting — certainly not enticing as a family or social hub.

A small powder room off the kitchen also felt neglected by time, everything awash in the yellowing hues of old wallpaper, window treatments, and tile.

Whereas the powder room could be refreshed in place with updated finishes, the layout of the kitchen needed to be totally reimagined, combining modern conveniences and practicality with period elements. Without the awkward peninsula chopping up the room into “main” kitchen and “leftover” support space, the kitchen now feels unified in the entire footprint.

A large central island anchors the room, providing ample counter space for food prep and casual dining. White countertops, upper cabinets, and walls brighten the room. New coffered ceilings keep the kitchen sympathetic to the historic charm of adjacent spaces — but white paint helps neutralize them in a way that feels more contemporary and ensures the room feels full of light.

In the powder room, the historic, high-tank, pull-chain toilet was still in too good of shape to lose, so was salvaged and refurbished instead. For the sink, an antique wood cabinet was sourced and converted into a vanity, complementing the dark stained wood of the toilet and window.

Brass fixtures further bring an antique flourish to the space. An illustrative black and white wallpaper blurs the lines between modern and historic — the nautical print feels nostalgic, while the concept of a powder room statement wallpaper is in-line with current design trends.

Inspired by the kitchen and powder room, the homeowners were motivated to keep going and grow the scope to other spaces.

To continue the restoration of Craftsman details throughout the interior, fir paneling and trim details were added to spaces where they were likely removed in previous alterations. This created the continuity of a traditional base nodding to the history of the home, allowing the furniture and fixtures to modernize the design.

Other areas of focus were the transitions in the home, which presented an excellent opportunity to blend design styles. Transitioning into the dining room from the kitchen, the style leans Art Nouveau, with energetic, natural prints in deep earth and gem tones.

Original coffered ceilings with integrated antique light fixtures impart a sense of coziness in the space, surrounded by the warm tones of the natural wood finishes. Between the kitchen and dining room, an antique door original to the home features an artful stained-glass window matching the statement stained-glass window in the dining room.

In the living room, new furnishings and art introduce color and a more modern style to the space, partnering well with the original hearth and trim details throughout for a stylistic balance.

In the entry hall, original trim and accent light fixtures were repaired as needed. A new custom cushion fitted for the built-in window seat makes for an easy drop zone for a busy family’s comings and goings.

Upstairs, three bedrooms shared one bathroom, and two of the bedrooms shared access to a sunroom — with a growing family, one shared bathroom and the lack of a primary suite was proving challenging.

Luckily, the existing central hall was needlessly large, which offered the floorspace to strategically reconfigure the entry sequence to the bedrooms allowing for the creation of a true primary suite. Closing off the access from the smaller bedroom to the sunroom created a bedroom with more functional space for furniture and storage, to be used as the nursery.

Now fully incorporated into the primary suite, the sunroom functions as a private home office, tucked away and quiet. The shingled walls of the serene space are painted a deep teal — a fun, bold choice made possible by the abundance of natural light.

The color palette of the sunroom also aesthetically links this space to the rest of the home — the wall color is reminiscent of the living room hearth, and the deep jewel tones conjure memories of the dining room.

In the primary bedroom, removing an unused fireplace freed up space to add a shower in the bathroom. But rather than the walls enclosing the new shower forming an obvious bump into the bedroom, we extended the wall across the full depth of the room to create a cased opening for an opulent reading nook. Coffered ceilings, built-in bookshelves, and heavy curtains create a cozy retreat that could easily be mistaken as original to the home.

The eye-catching former hall bathroom — now part of the primary suite — is anchored at the exterior wall with a bay window. The two flanking windows featuring leaded glass detailing are original to the home, but the central window in the bay had been removed in a previous remodel to house a vanity mirror with sink and counter below.

With a pair of sinks located on the flanking wall, and built-in storage on the opposite, the space in the bay window became the perfect niche for a classic clawfoot tub. Intricately patterned hex tiling is true to the home’s traditional charm, and brass fixtures and dark wood paneling and trim add depth and gravitas to the bright space.

With the hall bath reinvented as a primary bath, a bathroom needed to be added to the second floor. Clever design solutions allowed our team to repatriate storage space, located awkwardly beneath the eaves, into the main area of the home to create a full bathroom.

New finishes, furniture, and furnishings throughout the bedrooms and hall tie each space together cohesively. With the trim painted white, the bedrooms feel cheery and full of light.

What began as a kitchen and powder room remodel grew into a commitment to restore and elevate this historic Craftsman into a home that balances modernity with the beloved, timeless elements of the Craftsman style.

The dedication to honoring the charm and craftsmanship of the home allowed us to create integrated spaces that feel equally elegant and practical.

With more functional space, a cohesive design, and carefully curated furnishings and fixtures, this family can enjoy and grow in a home that feels at once true to its roots and in-line with their lifestyle.