This 1902 home has an interesting history. Rumor has it that Gus Knudson, one of the Woodland Park Zoo’s earliest animal keepers, built and owned the Seattle home. Many of the out houses in the neighborhood were used to shelter animals, and these homeowners were even told monkeys likely played around on the structure in their backyard!
Many years later, these 21st century homeowners were ready to make the kitchen in the main house a little more modern, while keeping the charm of the home’s vintage origins.
The first challenge was enhancing the existing space without altering the layout that this young Greenwood couple liked. The crew began by removing everything, to create a fresh slate. From there, they replaced the old, black-and-white checkered tile floor with gleaming Bay Laurel hardwoods. They then replaced the cabinets and added crown molding along the ceiling, making the relatively small kitchen appear taller and more elegant. They also installed new light fixtures and under-cabinet lighting that brightened the entire space. Perhaps the conversation piece of the kitchen, though, is the client’s choice for bright blue accents. With a wall color named “Fiji” and a backsplash tile color called “Crater Lake,” the color palette is definitely a standout in this kitchen.
Perhaps the defining success of this project is that the homeowners now spend as much time communing with guests in the kitchen as they do in the rest of their house!
Sustainability features of the project include low-VOC paints and finishes; locally sourced cabinets and countertops; air sealing around the window and stairs; and sustainably harvested wood floors. Greenhome Solutions was a strong partner in the project, providing a number of the environmentally friendly finishes.
Photo credit: Cindy Apple Photography
