My Houzz: A Seattle Bungalow Goes From Flip to Happily-Ever-After Home
Once intended for a quick sale, this 1930s house now bears witness to its remodelers’ love and marriage
Kimberley Bryan
July 2, 2016
Contractor Damian Konasiewicz bought a modest 1937 two-story house in northern Seattle for a turnaround sale. But when he met interior designer Rebecca West, progress on the house slowed as the relationship sped up, and before the couple knew it, the humble flip had become a shared project. And as happy love story endings go, the redesigned house also became their wedding site and much-loved home.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Rebecca West and Damian Konasiewicz; their cat, Murray, and pug, Spike
Location: Seattle
Size: 1,960 square feet (182 square meters); two bedrooms, two bathrooms
Year built: 1937
Remodeled: 2008 to 2010
A combination of crushed rock, flagstone, low-lying ground covers and vertical plants in shades of chartreuse, gold and purple makes for a lively entrance landscape.
Who lives here: Rebecca West and Damian Konasiewicz; their cat, Murray, and pug, Spike
Location: Seattle
Size: 1,960 square feet (182 square meters); two bedrooms, two bathrooms
Year built: 1937
Remodeled: 2008 to 2010
A combination of crushed rock, flagstone, low-lying ground covers and vertical plants in shades of chartreuse, gold and purple makes for a lively entrance landscape.
BEFORE: When Konasiewicz bought the home, the front door was located awkwardly on the side of the brick house, foreshadowing the jumbled hodgepodge of rooms inside. West described the look as “1930s sad.” They turned the house back toward the street, adding a new front door, porch and portico.
AFTER: The exterior paint color brought personality to the facade. “We didn’t want serious house colors — no grays,” West says. The new front door with its oval glass insert was a design compromise. “I’m so not an ovals girl,” she says. “We added bronze hardware, and that helped offset the door’s oval, which is brass.”
Exterior paint: Behr; porch floor stain: Arborcoat in Oxford Brown, Behr; trim: Simply White, Benjamin Moore; stain: natural cedar tone, Behr
Exterior paint: Behr; porch floor stain: Arborcoat in Oxford Brown, Behr; trim: Simply White, Benjamin Moore; stain: natural cedar tone, Behr
Inside, the kitchen, dining area and living room flow together. West is glad they opted to place their dining table adjacent to the open kitchen. Konasiewicz installed the high-end stainless steel refrigerator to be flush with the cabinetry and maximize the room’s open feel.
The decorative leather toad is a memento the couple found in the South Pacific.
The decorative leather toad is a memento the couple found in the South Pacific.
A drum pendant from Lowe’s combined with a repurposed table painted by West create a cheery dining area. “I’d describe our style as global, eclectic and contemporary,” West says. “It’s not traditional because it’s more clean-lined. There are no rolled arms here.”
The schoolhouse-style map behind the table shows the old USSR and includes Poland, the Konasiewicz family’s country of origin.
The schoolhouse-style map behind the table shows the old USSR and includes Poland, the Konasiewicz family’s country of origin.
The compact L-shaped kitchen is tucked out of the way, and features a Wolf gas range, granite slab counters, a tile backsplash insert and an elevated pot filler.
A long, open hall runs from the front door through the main floor to sliding deck doors on the opposite end of the house.
West’s grandmother made the copper floor lantern.
Wall paint: Revere Pewter and Lancaster Whitewash, both Benjamin Moore
West’s grandmother made the copper floor lantern.
Wall paint: Revere Pewter and Lancaster Whitewash, both Benjamin Moore
Hanging by the entry are a hat collection and a painting of hotel keys by West’s mother, Terry Rafferty.
Originally the home’s interior staircase ran in the opposite direction. Konasiewicz reversed it, improving the flow of the main floor and allowing for a view of the living room even from the far end of the kitchen, thanks to a half wall and cutout.
BEFORE: The original living room fireplace was a looming mass of darkened brick that added visual weight to the room.
AFTER: The couple replaced the original fireplace with a custom corner one that spreads its heat and light both to the living room and to the dining and kitchen areas. The living room’s orange, brown and aqua palette is a nod to the home’s vintage roots while staying solidly in the 21st century with its contemporary line and form.
Wall paint: Flint, Benjamin Moore; sofa: Dania via Craigslist
Wall paint: Flint, Benjamin Moore; sofa: Dania via Craigslist
The fireplace was resurfaced with stone and topped with a natural rough-edged granite piece as a mantel.
The second bedroom used to be West’s home office, but it’s now used for guests.
Paint: Amulet and Revere Pewter, both Benjamin Moore
Paint: Amulet and Revere Pewter, both Benjamin Moore
A new stairway offers a bright and inviting entry into the basement, which was unfinished when Konasiewicz bought the house. West says it was “frankly scary.”
BEFORE: The basement previously held only a toilet and an “octopus-like” furnace.
AFTER: The basement is now home to a gym area, full bath, walk-in closet and the master bedroom. Even though three of the four rooms don’t have windows, the updated space feels bright and airy. “That light is something I’m particularly proud of,” West says.
Creamy stone tile, cocoa-colored walls and artwork create a peaceful, spa-like feel in the spacious master bathroom.
Wall paint: French Press and Lingerie, both Benjamin Moore; Promenade toilet and Archer tub: Kohler; faucets: Delta
Wall paint: French Press and Lingerie, both Benjamin Moore; Promenade toilet and Archer tub: Kohler; faucets: Delta
West and Konasiewicz share a room-size closet. Here, West displays her accessories on a DIY project.
BEFORE: The section of the basement that contained a fireplace was designated as the space for the master bedroom.
AFTER: The couple elected to keep the fireplace and embrace the room’s inherent coziness with dark, warm accent walls and relaxing neutrals. “It helps that this room has high ceilings,” West says. The ceiling height allows for a canopy bed, an oversize mirror, and a sense of gracious space and light. The once-brick fireplace is now faced with clean-lined contemporary stone.
Paint: Flint, Benjamin Moore; cadiz lamp: Cost Plus World Market
Paint: Flint, Benjamin Moore; cadiz lamp: Cost Plus World Market
The master bedroom is large enough to accommodate a comfortable seating area with windows that look directly out on the back patio. The outdoor lights seen through the curtains add twinkly charm to the space.
BEFORE: Although the bones were there, the patio’s previous incarnation included a cinderblock wall, dirt and far too many support posts for it to be used easily.
AFTER: The back master bedroom door leads directly onto the new backyard patio, complete with hot tub, hammock, fire pit, heat lamp and comfortable seating.
Hammock: Songmics via Amazon
Hammock: Songmics via Amazon
“We were trying to create a lot of rooms,” West says. The patio now is used as much as any room inside the house, with its warm cedar-slat walls and a gas-fueled fire pit to keep the Pacific Northwest damp at bay. With Seattle’s rain can come an inability to use even carefully created outdoor spaces. West is especially proud of making this covered outdoor patio a fully functioning part of the home.
Fire pit and chairs: Home Depot; string lights: Brightown via Amazon
Fire pit and chairs: Home Depot; string lights: Brightown via Amazon
“What I love the most is when my husband comes home and says, ‘This is a nice house,’” says West, seen here relaxing on the new patio. “So many times a house doesn’t reflect both people; there’s someone who’s not comfortable in it. So when my husband says that, it just means the world to me.”
More: My Houzz: Once-Barren Seattle Yard Now Beautiful and Varied
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
More: My Houzz: Once-Barren Seattle Yard Now Beautiful and Varied
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Related Stories
Bathroom Design
6 Beautiful Master Bathrooms With Double-Vanity Setups
By Janet Paik
Geometric tile, a claw-foot tub and shiplap walls are some of the standout details in these renovated master bathrooms
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Soothing Blues and Whites in a Virginia New Build
By Sarah Lyon
Clean coastal-inspired style, statement wallpaper and custom woodwork mark the home of a decorator and a contractor
Full Story
Transitional Homes
New Layout and Function for a Chicago Family Home
By Julie Sheer
The challenges of a 110-year-old foursquare are met with thoughtful updates that add comfort and preserve character
Full Story
Transitional Homes
Color, Heirlooms and Artwork Refresh a Kansas City Home
By Julie Sheer
See how this 1922 Colonial Revival house got a bright update
Full Story
Christmas
Sweet Christmas Charm in a Renovated 1949 Home in California
By Janet Paik
Splashes of cheery sunshine yellow and shiplap walls are a backdrop to holiday decor in this decorator’s forever home
Full Story
Holidays
Tour 7 Homes With Fresh and Cheery Holiday Decor
By Janet Paik
Festive place settings, garlands and trees personalize these warm and inviting homes for the Christmas season
Full Story
Trending Now
5 Reader-Favorite Home Tours From 2019
By Janet Paik
See the bright and personalized design details that feature in the most popular homes from our My Houzz series
Full Story
Transitional Homes
New Tudor-Inspired Family Home in Chicago
By Julie Sheer
See how a couple worked with their builder to mix traditional and modern elements for a comfortable and chic home
Full Story
Small Homes
Stylish 800-Square-Foot Home Brimming With Personality
By Julie Sheer
See how the head of merchandising at Palecek transformed his rental apartment with paint, lighting and decor
Full Story
Houzz Call
Homeowners, Share Your Home With Us!
By Janet Paik
We want to hear about your recent remodel or update. You and your home could be featured on Houzz
Full Story
Can the owner tell me the color green on the house exterior?
I had forgotten how much I like this home! Thanks for the new comments to give me a chance to see it again. Love it, love it!
Amazing!