Atop a hill overlooking the bustling city of Seattle and Elliotte Bay, was a Queen Anne residence, patiently awaiting a transformation that would match the style and personality of its owners. Designer Allison Lind took on the challenge of breathing new life into the space for the family of four. After living there for years, the family, who now had two preteens, decided the time had come to make a change. They wanted to revamp their home to reflect their design aesthetic. The Queen Anne style of the home had never really resonated with them. That’s where Allison came in — she was tasked with reimagining the home to reflect the homeowners’ true taste, which aligned with a Mediterranean vibe.
How Queen Anne and Mediterranean style homes differ
To fully grasp how the residence was reimagined, first understand what characterizes the look of a traditional Queen Anne home. Typically, this style home is summed up in a couple of words: eclectic and ornate. Its design features such elements as varying surface textures, ornate motifs and decorated gables. Elaborate motifs of delicately carved decorations are commonly found on the front doors and some houses will have a single-story wraparound porch, which can have decorative columns or other ornamentation.
Conversely, homes that are inspired by the Mediterranean aesthetic have a more informal look and feel. They can still include decorative elements like arches, exposed beams and covered porches but they don’t come across as overly ornate. Natural materials like wood, stone and terracotta are commonly found and are employed to give the space a more rustic feel. The color palette varies but typically are hues of deep reds, yellows and blues.
The interior designer’s vision for the Seattle home
For the Seattle home, Allison's mission was clear: modernize the residence while respecting its traditional architecture, ensuring the changes were not only aesthetically pleasing but also practical for the family's lifestyle. "Everything I do is highly specific and customized to the people who reside within it," Allison shares, emphasizing that her signature approach is one that believes in the power of tailored design to bring warmth and interest to a home. Inspired by a vision of a fresh, modernized Mediterranean style, Allison set out to infuse the essence of this inspiration into the Seattle home.
The challenges of updating a Queen Anne-style home
The challenge was not just in envisioning a new look but working within the confines of the existing structure. For one, the clients desired a larger kitchen, a space that the current layout couldn't easily accommodate. Undeterred, Allison repurposed a previously unused den adjacent to the kitchen, transforming it into a highly functional scullery. The existing features of the home became both challenges and treasures. The tiled dome dining ceiling, with its inherent potential, begged for an update, while the carved, antique doors leading to the library were deemed untouchable during the remodel process.
A transformation from Old World to Mediterranean chic
One of the coolest elements of the project lay in the collaborative efforts with Proform Builds, the chosen contractor. Proform brought in a cadre of skilled artisans, including plaster painters, craftsman millworkers and custom metalworkers. Together, they infused texture and handmade materials that added a unique and personal touch to every corner. Reflecting on the journey, Allison shares, "The goal was to create a home that not only modernized the space but also felt true to the family and their individuality." She believed in the transformative power of layers, maintaining that every home should mirror the personalities residing within its walls. As the renovation unfolded, the homeowners discovered the joy of crafting a home they truly loved rather than settling for one that was merely passable.
Even spaces initially deemed insignificant, like the powder room, became integral parts of the project. "When we first started, they were content with leaving the powder room untouched. But as the designs for the rest of the home took shape, they realized the magic of having a home they adored," Allison recounts. The powder room, once an afterthought, now stands as one of the family's — and Allison's — favorite spaces in the entire project, a testament to the transformative power of thoughtful design.
Learn more about Allison’s approach to residence redesign, and see how she can reimagine your space. Book a consultation here.
