Restoration in Puget Sound

A historical preservationist in West Seattle sees restorations as both an honor and responsibility and brought both to this project for his family home.

exterior of restored Puget Sound home — Because he lives in Seattle, Padraic slattery is deeply influenced by world-renowned architect Tom Kundig—particularly his work on the Pole Pass House in the San Juan Islands. It showcases a distinct and bold black-and-wood exterior. “I aspired to recreate the same dramatic effect that he did,” Padraic shares. “My goal was to take his influence and apply it to a Mid Century Modern concept and make it my own in a respectful and unique way.”

A chapter of Mid Century Modern history can be found nestled in Puget Sound in West Seattle, which is located on a peninsula across from downtown Seattle. It’s a predominately MCM neighborhood, and it’s perched above a ferry dock, combining enduring examples of the genre with a scenic setting. It’s very much its own place.

lounge with brick fireplace and black and white color scheme — The lounge and the first floor had a very different layout that didn’t optimize the square footage very well. “We added a bedroom and a bathroom to the wide-open layout. This added a considerable amount of functionality to the floor plan and gave it a renewed sense of function and room definition,” Padraic explains. The concrete floors were refinished, and new black trim was added to give it a ‘Benihana’ feel. Walnut wall panels, solid doors, black hardware, new light fixtures, newly painted brick and beams, along with replacing a retrofitted woodburning fireplace to accommodate a gas-operated system, were all part of the design plans.

According to historical preservationist Padraic Slattery of Permanent Vacation Design, “West Seattle very much carries itself with a ‘chip on its shoulder’ in comparison the rest of the city. To a gradually diminishing degree, West Seattle has a persona of Seattle from back in the 1990s, long before the tech boom.”

exterior black trim and red door in Puget Sound — Vancouver, British Columbia’s Chinatown is Padraic and his family’s most favorite neighborhood in the entire world. The foo dogs seen here guarding the red door are a discrete form of paying respect to Chinatown, which is often blanketed in the colors of red and teal.

entryway in restored Puget Sound home — When it comes to the entryway, Padraic says, “I want people to know they are walking into a meticulously restored Mid Century Modern home as they walk in and experience the space. The goal is for people to feel as if they’re experiencing history in real time. I aim to leave no doubts in their minds as to what style of home they’re in.”

When it comes to projects such as this one, Padraic brings his expertise on both the area and MCM design to the proverbial restoration table.

“Restorations such as this are an honor, but they also carry a debt of responsibility to the neighborhood and the original designers,” he says. “These structures deserve to be reinvigorated with period details in mind. Otherwise, history is being defaced.” He and his team of four handle history with care, and each project clearly shows that.

Restoring a Puget Sound Home by Embodying MCM Style

MCM design is close to Padraic’s heart and reminds him of his grandfather’s era in Portland, Oregon. His grandfather enjoyed frequenting iconic places such as the Fish Grotto, Alibi Room and the Ringside. And, just as his grandfather was, Padraic was shaped by an establishment that embodies the genre.

open fireplace in Puget Sound living room — An open fireplace is original to the home; it required a thorough cleaning. Padraic also had the interior masonry block painted. “In order to convert it from a woodburning to a gas-powered system, we ran a utility line into the fireplace,” he says. “The design consists of black rocks and a black mesh screen.” The open concept was a design feature they were fortunate to inherit. As a result, the fireplace can be enjoyed from a range of angles.

“I truly fell in love with Mid Century Modern design at Vito’s Restaurant in Seattle,” he explains.

The restaurant boasts a storied past as a Mafia hangout and is decked out in original MCM design to this day.

“I’m profoundly inspired by Mid Century Modern style, and I’m so grateful for the impact it has had on my life and career,” Padraic says.

He loves the elaborate exterior signs, finish materials, light fixtures and other “atomic” features of the era.

“You can do some amazing things with new construction, but you just can’t replace history. There is something special about it, and I’m addicted to restoring these structures.”

That Gut Feeling

Padraic and his family weren’t even in the market for a new place, but when they saw this 1957 house, they knew it would be their next home.

“It struck an instant chord with us—namely because of the gabled roof line, staircase, window wall and the retractable shoji screen wall feature. I had that ‘feeling’ that’s undeniable, and I never bet against my gut feeling.”

fiddle leaf fig black scalloped tile in restored Puget Sound home — Amazingly, the original blueprints for the house were rolled up inside a closet. They’re now mounted and framed and proudly displayed for all to enjoy.

kitchen with terrazzo floor — The kitchen floor boasts an eye-catching terrazzo tile floor. “We’ve poured terrazzo floors in the past, but we found that this Ann Sacks tile fit the bill without the added complexity and mess of pouring a new floor,” Padraic points out. The same tile is seen in the primary bathroom. “Our design philosophy strives to match the kitchen and bathrooms as closely as possible. We like to reinforce a common theme throughout the property.”

The fundamental objectives of the renovation were to pay homage to the architect by performing a historically accurate restoration of the home and respectfully enhancing its functionality for today’s modern family.

“The temptation of current design trends wasn’t considered, because I felt this home deserved to be preserved in a historical context,” Padraic explains.

Puget Sound Restoration: Reno Objectives

The fundamental goals of this renovation were to pay homage to the architect by performing a historically accurate restoration of the home and respectfully enhancing its functionality for today’s modern family. It was engineered in a two-phase schedule.

matte and glossy dragon scale tile backsplash in kitchen — In order to maximize storage capacity and counter space, the kitchen was completely renovated and reengineered. One of its many striking details is the backsplash. It’s a dragon scale pattern and is custom made with a mix of glossy and matte-black tiles. “The tile is intended to match the scales of the foo dogs outside,” Padraic shares.

The design was envisioned in 2019, but it wasn’t fully implemented until 2021. The bulk of the construction work was completed within a window of five months. And, because the home was built in 1957, it suffered from outdated systems that required updating.

“The most challenging obstacle was replacing the plumbing system and removing the masonry block retaining wall that buried the original basalt rockery in the front of the house,” Padraic shares.

Reengineering the driveway and the staggered entry steps proved to be a difficult task; it was an unforeseen, impromptu project.

For the design, Padraic wanted to make a bold, contrasting statement with the exterior matching the interior, along with a complementary landscape, enhanced by the incorporation of subtle Asian design touches throughout the property.

Asian Influences

“Northwest Mid Century Modern architecture commonly features shoji screen details—a design element driven by famed architect Paul Kirk. This house fell in line via an entire retractable custom shoji screen wall spanning two floors.” The wall was meticulously restored with acrylic shoji screens sourced from Japan.

bedroom with cedar ceiling, retractable wall — Serene elegance is found in the primary bedroom, which features a retractable shoji screen wall, cedar ceiling, refinished Filipino mahogany floors, Schoolhouse Electric sconces and a custom walnut dresser.

To reinforce the exterior, the simplified landscape features extensive use of rock mulch that’s supported by bamboo and pom pom pine trees. The Asian touches are a natural extension of the family (the Slatterys comprise a predominately Asian household). Also, in the Pacific Northwest, Asian design and MCM design go hand in hand. The influence of Japanese architecture is undeniable in many mid-century homes in the area.

remodeled bathroom with terrazzo floor and black tile — The primary bathroom was torn down to the studs. A double vanity and a custom recessed walnut medicine cabinet were added for increased utility. The 12-foot-tall walls were fully tiled and accented by a clear cedar ceiling and custom walnut cabinetry. The square, black mosaic tile work is an artful homage to the black entryway tile of Vito’s Restaurant—the place that made Padraic fall in love with MCM design.

large home office in Puget Sound home — A generously sized work-from-home office is a big amenity. Phillip Jefferies grass cloth wallpaper drapes the walls, and walnut wall panels were designed for an accent wall feature. “They match the walnut cabinets elsewhere in the home,” Padraic points out. With only some spot restoration, the original cedar ceiling was incorporated into the new design.

The home is a wonderful MCM haven. It showcases the functionality of the homes that were built 60 years ago and how they still meet the layout demands of today’s modern lifestyle.

historical photo of Puget Sound home — Padraic says that “there’s an art to reimagining a historic structure, which should pay respect to the original visionary while subtly updating the structure for contemporary functionality with a timeless aesthetic.” Inspired by his deep appreciation for Chinatown, as well as his predominately Asian household and the connection between the Pacific Northwest and Japanese architecture, Padraic highlighted these themes in the home, adding to its historical references and honoring its past.

“Furthermore, the architectural effort and creativity applied then is still more creative than the ‘box’ mentality of newly built modern homes of today,” Padraic points out. “That’s what draws us to Mid Century Modern designs; and we are so happy with how ours turned out.”

What’s the connection between Pacific Northwest Modernism and Asian Design? Learn more about Pacific Northwest MCM Style and see this home where Zen Meets Mid Mod. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest for more Atomic Ranch articles and ideas!