Houzz Tour: Remodel Celebrates Northwest Home’s Vintage Style
A creative couple brings back the original charm of a 1920s home and makes it a guesthouse and studio
Brenna Malmberg
May 2, 2018
Photos by Alex Hayden
Houzz at a Glance
Location: Edmonds, Washington
Size: 1,300 square feet (120 square meters)
Designer: Workshop AB2C, owned by Bush
Catherine Clifford and Aaron Bush needed somewhere to stay while their home underwent a full renovation. They ended up finding a hotel about 15 miles away in Edmonds, Washington. They enjoyed strolling around the small town and checking out its local shops. “We were just walking around town, saw this place and then called up the owner to see if he would sell it,” Clifford says. Soon, this 1920s house — which had seen many uses over the years, including as a law office and an insurance company office — was theirs.
“Nothing charming really remained of the house,” Clifford says. “We just wanted to bring it back and give it a little love.”
Scope of work. They used the Edmonds home until their main home was done, and then renovated their newly purchased house to bring back its original charms. Clifford, an artist, and Bush, an architect, completed the yearlong project with the help of contractors and Ben and Courtenay Gebhardt of Blue Sound Construction.
Before anything changed inside, the home was raised 24 inches to make the basement more functional. The Gebhardts, along with John Kunkel of Kunkel Moving and Raising, handled this part of the project. They lifted the house, and then finished the foundation and structural framing. This phase of the project took about three months.
Exterior. To give the home a Pacific Northwest feel, Clifford and Bush had cedar siding added to the home’s exterior and painted the front door a vibrant blue.
Front door paint: Hauge Blue, Farrow & Ball
Houzz at a Glance
Location: Edmonds, Washington
Size: 1,300 square feet (120 square meters)
Designer: Workshop AB2C, owned by Bush
Catherine Clifford and Aaron Bush needed somewhere to stay while their home underwent a full renovation. They ended up finding a hotel about 15 miles away in Edmonds, Washington. They enjoyed strolling around the small town and checking out its local shops. “We were just walking around town, saw this place and then called up the owner to see if he would sell it,” Clifford says. Soon, this 1920s house — which had seen many uses over the years, including as a law office and an insurance company office — was theirs.
“Nothing charming really remained of the house,” Clifford says. “We just wanted to bring it back and give it a little love.”
Scope of work. They used the Edmonds home until their main home was done, and then renovated their newly purchased house to bring back its original charms. Clifford, an artist, and Bush, an architect, completed the yearlong project with the help of contractors and Ben and Courtenay Gebhardt of Blue Sound Construction.
Before anything changed inside, the home was raised 24 inches to make the basement more functional. The Gebhardts, along with John Kunkel of Kunkel Moving and Raising, handled this part of the project. They lifted the house, and then finished the foundation and structural framing. This phase of the project took about three months.
Exterior. To give the home a Pacific Northwest feel, Clifford and Bush had cedar siding added to the home’s exterior and painted the front door a vibrant blue.
Front door paint: Hauge Blue, Farrow & Ball
Entry. As you walk through the front door, your feet land on a rug that sits on original fir flooring.
The dark blue paint on the walls and woodwork adds drama to the space and highlights the original architecture, such as the Dutch door. Clifford installed Shaker pegs to give the room a welcoming feel and provide a place to hang umbrellas and rain jackets.
From the entry, the homeowners and guests can access the home’s three bedrooms.
Wall paint: Hague Blue, Farrow & Ball; light: Roll & Hill; rug: Kat + Maouche
The dark blue paint on the walls and woodwork adds drama to the space and highlights the original architecture, such as the Dutch door. Clifford installed Shaker pegs to give the room a welcoming feel and provide a place to hang umbrellas and rain jackets.
From the entry, the homeowners and guests can access the home’s three bedrooms.
Wall paint: Hague Blue, Farrow & Ball; light: Roll & Hill; rug: Kat + Maouche
Sitting room. A hangout space offers guests a place to sit by the fire or pen a note in the sunshine. Clifford likes the addition of the desk as a nod to the annual writers workshop held in the town.
The fireplace was original to the home. To give the home lived-in charm, Clifford accessorized the room with items from the Aurora Antique Pavilion in Edmonds, Washington.
Wall paint: All White, Farrow & Ball; lights: Schoolhouse Electric & Supply; vase: Mt. Washington Pottery; art: Buddy Bunting
The fireplace was original to the home. To give the home lived-in charm, Clifford accessorized the room with items from the Aurora Antique Pavilion in Edmonds, Washington.
Wall paint: All White, Farrow & Ball; lights: Schoolhouse Electric & Supply; vase: Mt. Washington Pottery; art: Buddy Bunting
Bedroom. This is the first of three bedrooms in the home. The large windows on each side of the room make you feel more connected to nature, Clifford says.
The pendants and art pieces on the wall call out local establishments and attractions.
Wall paint: All White, Farrow & Ball; bedding: Ikea; curtains: Les Indiennes; light: Cedar & Moss; windows: Marvin Windows and Doors
The pendants and art pieces on the wall call out local establishments and attractions.
Wall paint: All White, Farrow & Ball; bedding: Ikea; curtains: Les Indiennes; light: Cedar & Moss; windows: Marvin Windows and Doors
Bathroom. Each bedroom has its own bathroom. While they look similar, each one has elements that set it apart.
In this bathroom, the homeowners picked a patterned floor tile, and carried the gray color of the floor up the wall with gray grout. “I also like that it will hide any mold,” Clifford says.
Wall tile: Daltile; floor tile: Cement Tile Shop; light and towel bar: Schoolhouse Electric & Supply; mirror: Rejuvenation; shower curtain: Ikea; faucet: Cardiff Series, California Faucets; sink: 1930, Duravit; tub: salvaged; corner shelf: Workshop AB2C; find a brass mirror
In this bathroom, the homeowners picked a patterned floor tile, and carried the gray color of the floor up the wall with gray grout. “I also like that it will hide any mold,” Clifford says.
Wall tile: Daltile; floor tile: Cement Tile Shop; light and towel bar: Schoolhouse Electric & Supply; mirror: Rejuvenation; shower curtain: Ikea; faucet: Cardiff Series, California Faucets; sink: 1930, Duravit; tub: salvaged; corner shelf: Workshop AB2C; find a brass mirror
Brass fixtures and a hanging mirror give the room a touch of luxe, Clifford says. In the corner, her husband created a little marble shelf to give the pedestal sink area a little storage spot.
Bedroom. Bush used his architecture background to design and help the construction firm create vaulted ceilings throughout the home.
“The ceilings add a laid-back feeling of luxury throughout the home,” Clifford says.
In this bedroom, Clifford painted the entire room, including the ceiling, with dark paint. The windows and the vaulted ceilings keep an open feel in the room and allowed her to pick a large, eclectic light fixture.
Wall paint: Down Pipe, Farrow & Ball; light: Workstead; bed: Ikea; hand-printed pillows: Workshop AB2C; shelf: Finnish Design Shop; rug: Kat + Maouche; art: Buddy Bunting
“The ceilings add a laid-back feeling of luxury throughout the home,” Clifford says.
In this bedroom, Clifford painted the entire room, including the ceiling, with dark paint. The windows and the vaulted ceilings keep an open feel in the room and allowed her to pick a large, eclectic light fixture.
Wall paint: Down Pipe, Farrow & Ball; light: Workstead; bed: Ikea; hand-printed pillows: Workshop AB2C; shelf: Finnish Design Shop; rug: Kat + Maouche; art: Buddy Bunting
Bathroom. A cheery barn door creates a transition from the dark bedroom to a white-tiled bathroom. The bathroom has the same square tiles on the wall but penny tiles on the floor to give the room its own character.
Door paint: Babouche, Farrow & Ball
Door paint: Babouche, Farrow & Ball
Bedroom. Bush created the slatted bed frame with 2-by-4s. It was the perfect solution for this narrow room, Clifford says.
Bed frame: Workshop AB2C; bedding: Matteo; throw: Woolrich; lights: Original BTC; art: Jenny Heishman; rug: Kat + Maouche
Bed frame: Workshop AB2C; bedding: Matteo; throw: Woolrich; lights: Original BTC; art: Jenny Heishman; rug: Kat + Maouche
Bathroom. A small sink tucked into the corner is the first thing you seen when you walk in the room. They coupled it with a small mirror and a vintage soap holder.
Wall tile: Daltile; sink: 1930, Duravit; faucet: Hansgrohe; light: Schoolhouse Electric & Supply; mirror: vintage
Wall tile: Daltile; sink: 1930, Duravit; faucet: Hansgrohe; light: Schoolhouse Electric & Supply; mirror: vintage
The shower-tub combo has the same square tile as the other two bathrooms. This bathroom feels especially open because of the large window and mostly all-white design. In the floor, Clifford chose to use penny tile again, but with black tiles scattered around in the space to create small flowers.
Towel bar: Shaker Workshops; tub: Second Use in Seattle; fixtures: Hansgrohe
Towel bar: Shaker Workshops; tub: Second Use in Seattle; fixtures: Hansgrohe
Basement. The basement, which gained 24 inches when they raised the home, functions as a kitchen, sitting area and work studio. The shelf on the left marks the height of the original basement.
The basic kitchen allows guests to commune and cook together when visiting. Since completing the home, Clifford and Bush have started renting it out when they aren’t using it.
Refrigerator: Smeg
The basic kitchen allows guests to commune and cook together when visiting. Since completing the home, Clifford and Bush have started renting it out when they aren’t using it.
Refrigerator: Smeg
The kitchen doesn’t have a dishwasher. Instead, it has a large refinished sink that continues the home’s vintage look.
Sink: Second Use in Seattle
Sink: Second Use in Seattle
The kitchen has small appliances, a toaster oven and a small induction cooktop stove. The art, including the wooden deer, came from local antique shops.
The basement offers a mix of seating, from the small kitchen table to the L-shaped sofa.
The partition in the back divides the kitchen and seating area from the homeowners’ work studio. They come and go from this space throughout the year, even if guests are staying in the home, so they separated it from the rest of the home.
Wall paint: Super White, Benjamin Moore; sofa: Ikea; chair: The Common Project
The partition in the back divides the kitchen and seating area from the homeowners’ work studio. They come and go from this space throughout the year, even if guests are staying in the home, so they separated it from the rest of the home.
Wall paint: Super White, Benjamin Moore; sofa: Ikea; chair: The Common Project
The basement leads out to the homeowners’ small backyard.
Chairs: Garza Marfa; rug: Kat + Maouche
Chairs: Garza Marfa; rug: Kat + Maouche
Backyard. Gravel was an inexpensive and low-maintenance ground cover for the home’s backyard.
The color you see in the background is an art installation by The Color Condition of Dallas. The homeowners invite artists and groups to the home to stay and create art. Each season, the home will have a new work of art by a visiting artist, Clifford says.
“My favorite part about renting the home is meeting all the people who stay there,” she says. “I get to meet people I might not have crossed in my everyday life, and I love that.”
Chairs: The Common Project
Construction: Blue Sound Construction
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
The color you see in the background is an art installation by The Color Condition of Dallas. The homeowners invite artists and groups to the home to stay and create art. Each season, the home will have a new work of art by a visiting artist, Clifford says.
“My favorite part about renting the home is meeting all the people who stay there,” she says. “I get to meet people I might not have crossed in my everyday life, and I love that.”
Chairs: The Common Project
Construction: Blue Sound Construction
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
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I love the basement because it looks real and spontaneous!
Love everything about this place... very playful, eclectic and interesting!
Love it