Jake and Cathy Jaramillo moved from a house in quiet West Seattle to a condo in the vibrant First Hill neighborhood in Seattle. The big change in lifestyle called for new furnishings, and they engaged our services before their new place was even built. It was a leap of faith that worked out perfectly because we got to be involved in the process of helping to decide what to move with them, and we also got to see the art they planned on keeping in the new space.
We worked the design concepts around quite a few existing pieces (mostly art), while weaving in a modern, clean aesthetic to the 2 bedroom + den condo. The Jaramillos are avid travelers, and wanted to use items from their journeys in their interior design. They also wanted to honor a Japanese aesthetic throughout. The result was a completely fresh, urban vibe, but one that still has reminders of the past and feels like home.
The entire design was achieved without any new wall paint. All of the color was brought in through accessories and art. We also installed luxe draperies and fabulous rugs in every room to bring softness and color to the spaces.
In the master bedroom, we took inspiration from a painting they brought with them and used true blue as the accent color. We incorporated natural woods, and neutral shades of gray and ivory to bring in a calm atmosphere. The organic shape of their existing stump side table contrasts nicely with the modern lines of the rest of the furniture.
The second bedroom has 3 functions: TV room, guest room, and Cathy’s office. In here we based the color scheme off a Navajo rug that the clients already owned and wanted to bring along. Grays and neutrals are complemented with strong black and red accents. The only major construction aspect of this project was in here: we removed the existing closet components and converted that area into a built-in desk and smaller closet to better accommodate their functional needs. The function of this room extends into the furnishings as well: the sofa converts into a bed, and the ottomans have great storage for books and blankets.
The den is off the entry and functions as Jake’s office. In here we installed new lighting and storage as well as a standing-height desk. The scheme in here was grounded in darker tones, with black and brown accents.
The hallway connects most of the private spaces in the condo. We created a custom-color runner rug to work with the client’s art that we hung on the walls. The new lighting brightens everything up and brings in some additional interest. These simple changes turned a plain hallway into an interesting gallery experience.
The main living area uses emerald green as the main accent color, based off a small painting the clients already owned. We arranged the focus on the incredible Seattle views and selected simple, thoughtful furniture and lighting to complete the room. The draperies bring in depth, texture, and height to the space.
The main living zone connects to the dining area where we used brick red as the accent color. In here the gorgeous solid wood-topped dining table is the star while the chairs, sideboard and art all provide a welcoming environment for dinner parties.
The balcony provides a nice spot for lunch on a sunny day, and an amazing view of the ever-changing Seattle skyline. We selected outdoor furnishings to be durable and practical to withstand the elements 20 stories up.
In the entry, we used new lighting to frame a painting the clients brought with them. We also had a tight space and specific functional requirements so we had this shoe storage piece custom-built out of reclaimed wood. The wool rug and cement stool provide a nice spot to remove shoes upon arrival.
Note from Lindsey: these photos are very meaningful to me because they were taken by Alex Haden, who died a few months after taking them. He was a very talented and kind person and is dearly missed.
