Rachael's House

Rachael and Scott live in a contemporary home just south of Seattle, WA. Rachael brought me in for a do-it-yourself remodel consultation. They love their home, but knew there were some things that needed to be done to liven up the spaces and make them more welcoming.
The entryway is a dramatic two-storey foyer, but the builders had installed a light fixture that was way too big for the space, causing visitors to unconsciously lower their heads, completely missing the dramatic space above. I recommended a smaller fixture as well as painting the front wall a dynamic navy blue.
The formal dining room was dark and rarely used. They brought in the light fixture from the foyer to create a better sense of scale. They also painted the back wall the same navy blue that is in the foyer to unify the two spaces. A little rearranging of the furniture and a new area rug and the room is much more inviting.
The doorway between the family room and formal dining room was only about four feet wide, cutting off light from the front windows and emotionally separating the two rooms. I recommended widening the doorway to six feet and now the family uses the dining room much more often.
A custom built cabinet adds a sense of family history to the kitchen office area, while hiding LP music storage and pull-out drawers for the house files.
The master bedroom was previously dark and cave-like and Rachael and Scott hated it. Since the two travel quite a bit, I suggested they try a little “world traveler” sensibility. A light Caribbean blue on the back wall sets the feeling, while fun mismatched antique finds really give a feeling of a seaside cottage. A collection of various souvenirs from their travels hangs on the walls. Custom roman shades provide privacy while letting in tons of light from above.