25-05-2025
This Once-Drab Midcentury Home Near Seattle Just Got a Luxe Jewel-Toned Makeover
On the north shore of Washington's Mercer Island—part of the Seattle metro area—a midcentury abode just got a colorful and deluxe upgrade.
Originally built in 1962, the property's bones were strong, but its design details were feeling dated and dark to the home's owners, who worked with the local firm Dyna Builders to update the five-bedroom, 3.5-bath layout. Now it feels like a modern lakefront home that looks to the future by leaning into both midcentury and Pacific Northwest aesthetics.
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Architectural designer Janice Wettstone and interior designer Kristi Steffen of Dyna Design were collaborators on the refurb, and one of the biggest changes the team made was turning the main entertaining areas on the upper floor into more comfortably livable spaces. An enhanced sense of flow was brought into the kitchen, where circulation paths were reconfigured and a large marble island was added. Aquatic blue cabinets mirror the hues of the lake, which sits just beyond the newly installed deck, accessible via a wide sliding-glass door.
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In the living room, jewel-toned accents stand out among the home's original fir beams, which have been stained dark to pair with the new herringbone oak floors throughout. The original stone fireplace has been retained, but the design team added LED lighting to the onyx hearth for a warmer glow.
Four of the bedrooms are located on the ground floor, where much of the original layout was kept as-is. The primary bedroom opens to a private balcony, while the chicly refreshed bathroom includes a chrome soaking tub and a shower encased in black-paned glass panels. Elsewhere are a home gym, a sleek office, and a floral-wallpapered wine room.
Outside, several distinct seating areas make the most of the lakeside setting. The large deck adjacent to the kitchen is set up for alfresco dining, while the covered lower-level patio, where the team took out posts and installed steel beams to allow for better views, is situated around a fire pit. Set above a lawn that slopes down to the shore is a serene hot tub encased in wood planks.
While the property feels tucked away in nature, Mercer Island is a mere seven miles from downtown Seattle, and less than five from Bellevue, Washington. So while the home itself is a tranquil getaway in the middle of nature, it has the best of both worlds, with city living just across the of Robb Report
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