Parkmont 1920: A Playful Reimagining of a Century-Old Chalet
Tucked into Seattle’s Magnolia neighborhood, the Parkmont 1920 residence had everything we love to uncover in a project—strong original bones, charming century-old details, and a style that spoke to history. When the homeowners shared their vision of honoring that past while layering in their own personality and modern functionality, we couldn’t wait to begin. The French-Chalet character of the home instantly set our imaginations in motion, and our goal became clear: to design a home that reflects our clients—sophisticated yet whimsical, playful yet grounded. With that in mind, we set out to transform the mudroom, kitchen & dining room.
Dining Room: Highlighting the Old
The original molding and millwork of the dining room immediately drew us in, and we wanted to make sure it was featured in the design. To highlight these details and add depth, we wrapped the walls and ceiling in a textured grass cloth wallpaper. With that backdrop in place, the chandelier, dining table, and custom curtain panels came to life.
The original chandelier—once painted green—was finished in gold leaf with the help of Lauren Sloan Designs. The artwork—thoughtfully curated with the help of Seattle Art Source—completes the space, striking a balance that feels both playful and refined.
The Dining Room at Parkmont 1920
We also widened the entrance to the kitchen, creating a better connection between the spaces, but stopped short of a fully open floor plan so each room could maintain its own character.
Kitchen: Gutting, Designing, & Everything in Between
For the kitchen, our goal was to create a dynamic interpretation of the original space that respected its history and charm. This involved a complete gutting and renovation where we focused on improving the layout for flow and usability.
The kitchen at Parkmont 1920
The kitchen before and during construction:
The new inset, Shaker-style cabinetry was designed with the home’s original neutral palette in mind, but rendered in a deeper, richer beige to bring warmth and dimension. We paired the cabinetry with unlacquered brass hardware—selected for its ability to develop a natural patina over time. The island and island countertop was designed in walnut with carved detailing on the legs—a nod to the craftsmanship of the past century.
One of our favorite parts of this design? The bold black-and-white marble checkerboard floor by Ann Sacks. It adds just the right amount of playfulness to balance the kitchen’s sophisticated palette!
From concept to completion: TSD storyboards, construction drawings & final kitchen designs
One of the most important parts of designing for a kitchen is selecting countertop materials. For this kitchen we chose a beautiful Calacatta marble to create shelving, countertops, and a custom backsplash. We felt that the warm, golden undertones in the Calacatta was the perfect pairing to our cabinetry color and unlacquered brass accents. Further, the Calacatta marble and unlacquered brass were chosen for their ability to age beautifully overtime and add to the storied feel of the home!
The kitchen at Parkmont 1920: featuring Calacatta marble, unlacquered brass & inset-Shaker cabinetry
Mudroom: Designing for the Practical & Playful
Last but not least, we tied the mudroom—tucked between the kitchen and the side yard entrance—into the overall design. Just like the kitchen, we reworked the flow of the space for better functionality. New cabinetry, updated hardware, playful wallpaper, and a touch of shiplap gave the space new life while keeping it connected to the rest of the home.
From concept to completion: TSD storyboards, cabinetry drawing & final mudroom design
One of our favorite additions is the Dutch door—a detail that felt perfectly in tune with the home’s character. Beyond its charm, it adds practicality by allowing the family to let in fresh air and stay connected to the backyard while keeping pets safely inside.
Our Parkmont 1920 project was a pure delight from beginning to end! To see more of this project, head to tammarastroud.com & follow us on Instagram.