seattle home tours

This Warm Seattle Home Is a Master Class In Family-Friendly Decorating

You'll want to take notes.

Every item on this page was hand-picked by a House Beautiful editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

Built in 1937 in the waterfront neighborhood of Sunset Hill, it's a blend of refined, timeless style, and easygoing, unpretentious elegance. With a charming brick facade and in the style of a Tudor cottage , the home already had great bones. But there was still quite a bit of work to do.

In fact, Caillier was tasked with overseeing the renovation and then decorating the entire house, including brand new electrical, HVAC, and windows. With three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and 1,430 square feet, there was a lot of ground to cover in a modestly sized space (though the family was actually downsizing from their previous home, which was a deliberate decision).

Caillier decided to gut the main floor and expanded both the bathroom and kitchen and the basement was also completely unfinished, which meant more work but also a lot more freedom. She decided to rework the basement floor plan to create a large family room, guest bedroom, bathroom, laundry room, pantry, and a playroom for the kids. To give the basement a more sophisticated and personal yet casual look, she covered the basement floors in terra cotta tile and refinished the existing hardwood floors on main level.

And once those basics were sorted, it was time for the fun part: decorating . "My style is rooted in creating layered spaces with touches of vintage. I don't like to design with any particular style. I think it's all about the mix and what works right for that client and that house," Caillier tells us.

For this project, that meant plenty of warm tones, earthy materials, understated staples, classics with a twist, and fresh, tasteful artwork (coming up with the color scheme was as simple as creating a Pinterest mood board!).

"My client was coming from a place that was a solid mashup of clean, white, and modern" aesthetics, she explains. Think " Remodelista -inspired living mixed with a lot warmth and eclecticism. We both love and appreciate vintage, so that was heavily used here." And that personal style definitely shines through in each and every room, which also contributes to the cohesion throughout.

Step Inside the Seattle Family Home:

"The spaces all feel different but similar enough that there isn't a lot of noise," she notes. The children's bedroom, for example, reflects the home's aesthetic but also stands out and experiments more with color. Though more saturated than the blush ad mauve tones in the rest of the house, the pink curtains in there still complement the color story.

The vintage one-of-a-kind pieces give the home its distinct character and ensure that it doesn't look overtly designer, which Caillier loves. "I can't stand when you can walk into room and name the vendor of every piece. Homes, even professionally designed ones, should feel like they reflect the people who live there and I think this house very much does that," says Caillier.

Get the Family Home Style:

DWR Hoffmann Armchair

Pottery Barn Plaid Pillow

Allied Maker Flush Dome 08

Parachute Home Striped Linen Quilt

Cle Tile Clay Hex Tile

Peppermill Kitchenware Pepper Mill

CB2 Side Table

Brian Marriam Photograph

Vintage Checked Rug

Antique Taos Ceramic Bowl

Anthropologie Stitched Linen Curtain

Lawson Fenning 3-Door Bronson Cabinet

Follow House Beautiful on Instagram .

House Tours

Inside a British Artist's Hand-Painted Home

Christina Salway Revived an 1850's Brooklyn Home

Inside an Italian Villa by Jenny and Dave Marrs

How a Texas Home Got a British-Inspired Makeover

A Cool West Village Townhouse With Warmth and Soul

A Brooklyn Brownstone Gets a Do-Over

An L.A. Home That's Made for Stylish Entertaining

A Cozy Open-Concept Home on Long Island

An Equestrian-Inspired Home in Wellington, Florida

A Charming Floating House in Sausalito

A Nantucket Home Made for Family Hangouts

Architecture. Design. Art.

The Seattle Modern Home Tour A LIVE Virtual Event on April 24, 2021

Tour the homes in live 3d, meet the architects & designers as they guide you through our livestream and answer questions -- live.

Sample 3D model from the 2020 Austin Modern Home Tour

The Homes of the Seattle Modern Home Tour

Legacy renovation - chesmore | buck architecture.

Architecture: Chesmore | Buck Architecture Photography: David Pappazian

The original house was one of the first houses designed and built in the late 1940’s by notable northwest architect Fred  Bassetti  and completed in 1948. The house was small with an open plan and floor to ceiling glass and a flat roof. Deferred maintenance over a number of years and a continuously leaky roof required a major remodel.  

  The clients approached us with the idea of keeping the remodel and additions small to this modest  two-level  home and  said,  “we would like to keep the same soul to the house but fantastically transform the spaces to fit modern living”. The main requirements were to replace the existing carport with two garage spaces, to allow for better indoor/outdoor living, and a achieve a more modern aesthetic. The existing flat roof had always seemed to have a leak for almost seventy  years,  so the owner requested a sloped roof as part of the aesthetic change.

We kept the footprint including the foundation walls, the basement, the main floor framing, and the two main floor bathrooms but demolished everything else. Because of the local zoning setback constraints, we designed two independent one car garages on either side of the house. We also started with a low wall elevation at the garage next to the street and installed a new roof at a gentle slope of 1’ vertical in 12’ horizontal to the highest point at the south side of the house where the house orients to the backyard and to views of Lake Washington. Lastly, as part of the site  work,  we designed and installed terracing concrete planter walls in the backyard to flatten the lawn areas as the previous slope in this area made the backyard unusable for play or entertaining.  

Astounding Views - Lane Williams Architects

Architecture: Lane Williams Architects Builder: Troy Adams Photography:  Will Austin

This three level home captures stunning views of downtown Seattle and Elliott bay from all floors, plus a roof deck. The owner acted as his own general contractor and did a masterful job of the many details.

Charm, Updated - Best Practice Architecture

Architecture: Best Practice Architecture Builder: Sound Builders NW Photography: Ed  Sozinho

This active family with growing kids just could not imagine leaving their charming craftsman in Bryant with its beautiful trees and only minutes from work, but they desperately need some elbow room. Best Practice came to their aid to design a new rear addition with everything they needed that packed in an expand kitchen and dining, new primary bedroom suite, family room, utility, and added bedroom.   

  The house was pushed-out to make way for an open, generous dining and kitchen. Large windows and a vaulted roof punctuated by a skylight flood the room with natural light and tree canopy. Deep blue cabinets backdrop the rich walnut island and finished with a beautiful natural marble countertop. A new pantry floats over the open stair and is edged by a custom metal railing. A remaining once exterior window provide a quirky display shelf and allows for an added connection between the living and dining.  

  The elevated rear deck extends the living space to the outside with an elevated view of the rear yard and is dappled with light through the exceptional wester cedar tree canopies. The covered counter seating at the kitchen window is primed for entertaining and grilling or just an outside summer evening family meal. For the more adventurous, the cleverly concealed gate in the deck railing swings open to access the climbing wall on the rear deck wall leading down to the lower, rear yard.  

  The modest primary bedroom was cramped and lacked privacy sharing the main level bath. The new addition provide the opportunity to design a new  ensuite  bath with walk-in shower, double vanity, and custom lap-paneled closet. The hand-glazed walk-in shower wall tile add a pop of deep Aegean blue and coral accent, and the rich, walnut custom vanity balances with a warm touch. The bedroom vaulted ceiling and generously-size walnut window complete this airy and spacious retreat.  

  Within the primary bedroom, a concealed ceiling hatch pulls-down to reveal a ladder leading up the new skylit, attic loft. The original attic hatch in the small hallway closet was retained for a sneaky passage will endlessly captivate the kids’ imaginations.   

  The restored hardwood floors cascade down the reconfigured stair to the lower level and land in a bright, daylit family room with direct access to the rear yard. The added bedrooms, refreshed bath, new storage and utility room, and expanded garage provide all the needed relief to the living space and family activities.   

  The new addition respects the integrity of the original craftsman detailing and massing. The expanded kitchen and dining volume is rendered with shingle siding to complement the existing, traditional ship lap, and the  lower-level  family room addition provides a new plinth for the upper deck and climbing wall. The composition yields a uniquely original craftsman that breathes new life into this home for decades to come.  

Quintessentially Modern - COUPE Architecture

Architecture: COUPE Architecture 

Fantastic  PNW  modern home that captures year-round Bellevue towers &  Meydenbauer  Bay views. This stunning home features 6 bedrooms (3 of which are  en -suite), a massive Master Suite, two powder rooms, a large chef’s kitchen (complete with high-end Miele appliances), walk-in pantry, wine room, dog wash, three distinct levels for entertaining, wet-bar, multiple view decks, smart-home tech & speakers throughout, RV/offsite pkg, and a massive 3-car garage. Secluded dead end street, top-rated Bellevue Schools, and WALK to Old Main & downtown Bellevue!  

  The first floor contains a large family/entertainment room, mud room, powder room, the A/V closet, a dedicated dog washroom, and the oversized 3-car garage (complete with additional storage & a shop ‘niche’). The family/entertainment room is completely set up to be a theater room by being fully pre-wired for 7.1 surround sound (which provides front, middle and rear speakers for the best home theater experience), as well as pre-wired for overhead projector, TV and subwoofer. An iPad conveniently mounted in the wall provides complete smart home control of this level (or the entire house). As you enter this room, this area was designed to accommodate a full-size competition 9’-0” billiard table (with cue stick extension figured in, as well as overhead wiring for billiard light).  The  family/entertainment room  provides  access to the year-round covered patio  and  front yard. The Powder Room is tucked away from the entertaining areas (and is fully insulated for privacy). At the base of the main stairway is the mudroom, A/V closet, and dedicated dog washroom. This allows for ease of access from the garage (when coming home from the day, or in from a walk).  

  The second floor serves as the main entry level, and contains the chef’s kitchen, seating area, dining area, walk-pantry, wine room, four bedrooms (two of which are  en -suites), another full bathroom, the powder room & dedicated laundry room. Walking into the home at this level, you experience the two axes of the home coming together. The vaulted entry flanked by the wood-clad entry ‘bent’ (on one side) and stone chimney (on the other) leads your eyes upward. This circulation spine contains massive windows at both ends, which helps illuminate the beautiful stairway. Amazing! The large chef’s kitchen contains high-end Miele appliances, 10+ foot long island with 2nd sink, and a commanding view of downtown Bellevue. Dining area can easily accommodate a table for 10+, and the seating area contains  a fireplace. The large triangular deck off this space provides more downtown views and is also plumbed for a BBQ. Each bedroom can easily accommodate a Queen-size bed, with the two  en -suite bedrooms able to accommodate King-size beds. All bathrooms contain thermostat-controlled heated tile floors. Laundry room contains high-efficiency appliances (included with the sale of the home) & folding surface.  

  Finally, the third floor contains another massive sun-drenched family/entertainment room (with fireplace), covered deck, full bathroom, the Master Suite, and the 6th bedroom (which could serve as a nursery or dedicated office). The family/entertainment room is fully pre-wired for 7.1 surround sound (which provides front, middle and rear speakers for the best home theater experience), as well as pre-wired for TV and subwoofer. An iPad conveniently mounted in the wall provides complete smart home control of this level (or the entire house). There are also wiring provisions over the fireplace (if you desire a TV there instead). This room also contains a full wet-bar (with two refrigeration units), as well as access to the year-round view deck offering amazing views of downtown-Bellevue &  Meydenbauer  Bay. This deck is also pre-plumbed for a gas BBQ. The massive Master Suite located at the end of the hall contains a large sitting area, dual walk-in closets (with closet solutions), dual separated vanities, a multi-head large shower, and stand-alone  Badeloft  soaking tub.  

  This home is unlike many of the other homes in the Bellevue /  Meydenbauer  / Medina / Clyde Hill areas, as it exudes a timeless (yet modern) design, all while portraying interesting angles & perspectives with the architectural design, forcing your view towards  Meydenbauer  Bay and the towers of downtown Bellevue. The home is divided by the circulation spine, which places all the “private” spaces on one side, and the “public” spaces on the other (view) side.  

Building Up - PRDG architecture + design

Architecture: PRDG architecture + design Photography: Matthew Gallant

This is a full renovation and update of an original 1952 MCM structure.  In addition to renewing the existing home throughout, two stories were added top maximize the lot and create water views for this home one block off of the water

The Best Experience Ever? Here's How It Works.

We’re here to let you know we’ll be conducting our 2021 Modern Home Tour Series with a combination of in-person 360 virtual walkthroughs – see example at top – combined with realtime LIVE interactions with you, the tourgoer, the architects and designers that created these beautiful spaces, and the homeowners that live in them (if available).

What does this mean for you?   Well, a few things, actually…

• The ability to “visit” those extra-special homes that the owners might not want open to hundreds of people…
• Shorter hours and less stress on Tour day…
• The chance to revisit your favorite projects long after Tour day  to refresh your memory, look at a favorite detail again, or check out that inspiration piece when you upgrade your own space.
• Talk to the architects live on Tour day, and get answers to your specific questions as we all look at the property together.

We like the idea so much that once things are back to normal, we expect to continue using the lessons we’ve learned to make our live Tours even better with bonus content and additional virtual homes…  but let’s not get ahead of ourselves…

 Ready to Tour?  You know what to do

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

For more than 30 years, SAF’s architecture walking tours have served to entertain and educate locals and visitors about Seattle’s rich architectural and cultural history.

All of our guided tours are led by talented volunteers who serve as ambassadors for our beautiful metropolis. Our expert guides are excited to share their knowledge with the public to advance a better understanding of architecture, landscapes, and urban design practices that shape our city.   All tour ticket purchases directly support our educational programs for youth and families.

Tours are approximately two hours in length and run Saturdays from 10:00am – 12:00pm. See our FAQs page for more information.

Please note:  A minimum of three people must be registered for tours to take place. Tours with fewer than three registered attendees on the Thursday before the tour will be cancelled.

See what people are saying

The Foundation runs really great walking tours where they cover various neighborhoods/areas around Seattle. You needn't have a background in architecture to enjoy it (though it can help), but really it's a great way to see some unexpected details around town with a great mix of people and led by a knowledgeable guide.

The Greatest Hits tour of Downtown Seattle offers a really comprehensive history of Seattle's rapid development from a pioneer town, to an earnest fledgling city, to a nascent metropolitan area. The neighborhood tours offer fantastic conversation-starters about the residents of the city, and how each place got its character.

The stone to steel tour by Nancy Day is a fabulous way to get to know Seattle architecture. It’s apparent from the gut-go that Nancy knows her stuff. The two hours passed quickly. The pace was perfect not too fast but not slow. I would highly recommend this tour.

Great introduction to houses and history in the Harvard Belmont neighborhood. So much to see and learn about pockets of the city that I have been in many times. Now I will know so much more about what I am seeing as I pass by. Very enriching. Thank you!

Nancy is an incredible guide — her knowledge, insight, and enthusiasm made the tour fantastic. It was helpful how she placed the architectural information into the context of other historical events — also really enjoyed the unique connection with fashion. Thanks Nancy!

Tour design, tour leader were excellent and the contributions of fellow tour members were very beneficial

Can't wait do another tour

I absolutely loved Nancy - she was a wonderful guide. I am sold on SAF tours and will definitely be signing up for more from you!

Ballard Landmark District

Columbia City: Expect Random Encounters

Diamonds & Gold: The Art Deco Skyscraper Northwest Style

Federal Avenue: Understated Elegance on the Park

From Stone to Steel: Seattle Style from Then ‘til Now

Greatest Hits: Chart-Toppers and Heart-Stoppers

Harvard Belmont District: The Rich Life on Capitol Hill

Hidden Spaces/Public Places

High Ambitions: Concrete, Steel, Glass & Egos

Madrona Neighborhood: Streetcar Suburb; Model for Neighborhood Involvement

Modern Beauty and the Pedestrian Experience

Mt. Baker: More Than A View

Purple and Gold: From Gothic to Modern at the UW Core

Queen Anne: Evolution of an Urban Neighborhood

South Lake Union: Then & Now

Through The Looking Glass

SAF also offers private tours for up to 10 guests at a starting rate of $200. Larger groups may be accommodated upon request and cost an additional $20 per person. Please schedule 2–4 weeks in advance to ensure availability and note we may not be able to accommodate all requests. 

Every Single Room in This Seattle Home Has a Stunning Garden View

It’s easy to see why the architect nicknamed this remodel project “The Garden House.”

When architect Jay Coupard was brought in to consult on a construction budget for adding a second floor to a Seattle home, it was easy to see that that wasn’t the best route. Not only was the project not right for the working budget, but also it wouldn’t allow the homeowners to truly appreciate the greenery surrounding the abode. “Maintaining a single-level house was the best use of their budget and best opportunity to allow the garden spaces to influence the home and not be dominated by a taller two-level structure,” says Coupard.

Instead, Coupard and his team focused on a gut remodel of the single-floor home, adding an additional 750 square feet. Once construction was complete, designer Andy Beers of Ore Studios was brought on board after the family realized the furniture they had wasn’t going to work in the new space. “We helped [the homeowners] define how they wanted the furnishings and decoration to feel, and then sourced pieces that supported this point of view,” says Beers.

Haris Kenjar

During the remodel, Coupard left some of the exterior masonry and siding intact, while enlarging the stone patios for a new indoor-outdoor layout. “The flagstone entry patio is surrounded by mature planting beds as well as a raised vegetable garden. Each side of the garden receives light at different times of day, and this patio is often used in the evening,” says Beers.

Coupard was tasked with creating three spaces for the home: a private family area, an entertaining area, and a guest area for extended family visits. And overall, he aimed to open up the home to the garden spaces. “The house had surprisingly little access to an already developed, nice garden,” says Coupard. He opened up the center of the home as the entertaining space, linking both this space and others to the gardens with windows and doors as a primary visual feature throughout the rooms.

Furnishing the new great room was a big focus for Beers in his design. “It serves as the family’s main hangout space, but also a major circulation space,” he says. The low ceilings and horizontal scale in the room made for a challenge, but Beers looked for furniture that was off the floor so the room would feel light and give plenty of visibility.

The great room’s color story was pulled from the room’s finishes and the art. Beers chose the saddle leather Ole Wascher chairs to complement the Douglas fir doors, the gray sofa was chosen to match the fireplace surround, and the green and pink pillows tie into the painting, which slides to reveal a hidden television.

When Coupard opened up the center of the home for the entertaining space and better garden views, he had to relocate the kitchen into a smaller space—a hard sell, but one that made the most sense. “The kitchen was moved off to the side into a smaller area, developed to both accentuate its intimacy and visual connection to the other public spaces,” says Coupard.

Another challenge? Those low ceilings. But Coupard used the horizontal visuals to his advantage. “Instead of attempting to use visual means to create the illusion of greater height, we decided to accentuate the horizontal, the ground plane, and the garden,” he says. “Most of the openings in the house attempted to capture the foreground plane and create an indoor-outdoor connection.”

The kitchen ended up being the architect’s favorite part of the house. Why? “The contrast of its physical intimacy and big visual connection to the children’s garden,” he says.

“The clients have great taste and were hands-on in the best possible ways—the dining tabletop was actually fabricated by the client out of walnut slabs that she selected in Oregon,” says Beers. “The homeowners were both game to try things outside their comfort zone, especially when it came to adding strong colors and textures to the house.”

Beers and his team helped the client commission a base from local Seattle furniture maker Chadhouse to pair with the tabletop, and found two different sets of vintage Moller chairs to go around it, but had them upholstered together to match.

One of Beers’ favorite features in the home was the use of Douglas fir throughout. “We embraced the amber color of the wood early on, and the use of cool grays along with pinks and greens in the decoration help tie together the wood with the gardens outside,” he says.

The private family area that Coupard was tasked to create is situated between the main suite and the children’s bedrooms. “This room is used for play and reading by the whole family,” says Beers.

In the main suite, the bathroom is a thoughtful retreat that connects to the rest of the home. “A small bump-out allowed for the inclusion of a soaking tub under the picture window,” says Beers. “Consistency in materials reinforces this room’s relationship with the rest of the remodel.”

The minimalist shower still stays true to the organic color story of the entire home.

“The [primary] bedroom where as an addition we finally had the opportunity for higher ceilings,” says Coupard. “In this room we are able to contrast a large, tall window that frames the base of a big cedar tree and wide window that opens out on axis to the long north garden and looks back to the main house.”

With such beautiful views in the bedroom, the colors in the bedroom were simple so not to distract. “Off-white, pale pink, and soft gray are punctuated with wood tones that recall the running trim,” says Beers

Keep Reading:

How to Deal with Turbulence Anxiety, According to Flight Attendants

8 Practical Steps to Help You Finally Complete That Garage Purge

These sweet and savory recipes let you make the most of delicious spring fruits, this is exactly what to order at the best ice cream shops in the west, sign up for our newsletter.

• Interior Decorating
• Paint & Color
• Houseplants
• Apartment Living
• Small Spaces
• Living Room
• Dining Room
• Kids’ Rooms & Nurseries
• Home Office
• One Room I'll Never Forget
• Entertaining
• Collections and Sales
• The MyDomaine Team
• Editorial Guidelines
• Design & Décor

We Audibly Gasped Upon Seeing This Striking Seattle Home Makeover

Sacha Strebe is a former editorial director for MyDomaine and has been writing about home and interior design for eight years. She is currently the editorial director at Create & Cultivate.

If there's one thing that we're constantly in awe of, it's how interior designers can creatively solve design dilemmas and transform lifeless rooms into the warm, welcoming, and stylish spaces we can call home. There's a certain magic that happens, from the transfer of energy in the pieces you decide to incorporate into the space. In the end, you can literally feel the shift. The only dilemma post-makeover is finding a reason to leave—I want to hibernate in my new  apartment . 

When Lisa Staton of  Lisa Staton Interior Design  approached this 1931 brick Tudor home in Seattle , she wanted to introduce modernity to the interior while still maintaining the history. That's no mean feat when you have 4200 square feet to cover (five bedrooms, four bathrooms), but Staton managed to create a truly memorable space for just $120,000.

The bulk of the work involved reconfiguring the entire kitchen/family room, but she managed to keep it within the budget by asking the original cabinet vendor to tweak and remake cabinets as needed. They installed new countertops, flooring, light fixtures, plumbing (in the kitchen and bathrooms) and painted the entire exterior and interior of the home. 

Read on to hear more about Staton's makeover process and shop the look. 

Staton tells me that the house had a larger remodel prior to her client purchasing it, but it was a more formal style. "The rooms were a bit more chopped up in the main living zone," she says. Her goal was to simplify the floor plan, and tone down the business of the finishes by establishing a clean, crisp, and classic rhythm of black-and-white finishes (both inside and out) and then layering on classic and more modern pieces to add warmth and texture.  

Staton wanted the family room to be warm and classic but still fresh and modern in feel. The custom tufted sofa is a modern take on an old English classic. She added the vintage Turkish rug for a layer of old world charm, and they fit perfectly with the French style Big Daddy's Antiques chairs, which are comfortable but also elegant and clean. 

The vintage brass and glass coffee table with the Hudson Valley sconces add a bit of midcentury glamour.

The living room is located in the older original part of the house. They completely re-did the fireplace in soapstone to match the kitchen countertops, which helped to modernize and simplify the design.  

Some of the furniture was brought in from the clients previous home including the vintage Moroccan rug in the living room that used to be in a bedroom. "We added blue mud cloth throws and vintage Turkish textile pillows for color and texture," she says.

There is a very strategic composition to this living room that feels both incredibly inviting and comfortable yet high-end and stylish. 

The dining room has low ceilings, so Staton updated the lighting to sconces and can lights. The rustic live edge table from  Crate & Barrel is paired with classic wishbone chairs, but they added leather and brass end chairs for a bit more formality. 

Simple sconces from  Circa Lighting pair well with the Deb Achak art . It's a lovely mix of traditional and modern styles, which we know has been a huge trend this year. The textural vintage flatweave rug helps to anchor the minimal space and provide a little color.

From the get-go, Staton's client knew that she wanted to paint the outside brick white and windows black so they decided to bring that palette indoors too. "It's a family of five that cooks and entertains regularly, so we needed open flowing spaces that could accommodate small and larger gatherings," says Staton. The clients previous home was a 1950s Scandi house (which Staton also worked on with them), so they wanted to incorporate some of those pieces but bring in those traditional English Tudor accents like the classic soapstone countertops, vintage rugs, tufted sofa in a nod to the more classic architecture. 

The powder room looks expensive, but in reality, Staton tells me it was the most affordable face-lift of the entire home. She switched out the faucet to a classic cross handle levers from Kingston Brass and then gave the powder room some wow factor with the Kelly Wearstler wallpaper.

If there's one room to experiment with, it's the powder room, and this one doesn't hesitate. We can see this one really impressing your house guests.

A custom tufted bed nods to the Tudor house style, and Staton also paired warm textures and textiles to keep the primary bedroom open and airy.

Primary Bedroom

The term “Primary Bedroom” is now widely used to describe the largest bedroom in the home, as it better reflects the space’s purpose. Many realtors, architects, interior designers, and the Real Estate Standards Association have recognized the potentially discriminatory connotations in the term “Master.” Read more about our Diversity and Inclusion Pledge .

The Apex ceiling really does all the work bringing dimension and visual intrigue to the space. This bedroom looks modern and clean but with that classic Tudor style elevating the mix and bringing a new perspective. 

The daughter's bedroom looks very modern and cool but with a playful approach. We love that they swapped out the typical children's bed with a  Serena & Lily daybed . 

The primary bathroom was a simple re-do of faucets, mirrors, lighting, and art. The black-and-white palette continues here too, and it's a sleek look that won't date.

Primary Bathroom

The term “Primary Bathroom” is now widely used to describe the largest bathroom in the home, as it better reflects the space’s purpose. Many realtors, architects, interior designers, and the Real Estate Standards Association have recognized the potentially discriminatory connotations in the term “Master.” Read more about our Diversity and Inclusion Pledge .

Staton wanted the home office to be open, fresh, classic, and a little mod. We think she nailed it. 

Related Stories

It’s Nearly Impossible to Pick a Favorite Room in This Dramatic Illinois Home

Tour a Bright, Coastal Home With Traditional Bones

This Modern Spanish Revival: A Dream Home

Minimalism Meets European Elegance in This Victorian Home

This 1750-Square-Foot Light-Filled Home Is the Epitome of Cali-Cool

This Pacific Palisades Home Is Giving Us Serious Chills (in a Good Way)

30 Bathrooms That Make a Great Case for Installing Wallpaper

30 Bathroom Paint Colors Interior Designers Swear By

More Related Articles

These 30 Primary Bathrooms Are So Luxurious, They're Practically Fit for Royalty

Sorry I Didn't Reply, I Was Too Busy Pinning This Striking Spanish Colonial Home

Inside Chriselle Lim's Polished and Cool Family Home in SoCal

This Interior Designer's Charleston Home Breaks Every Rule

Tour a Gorgeous Family Home in the Pacific Palisades

Inside a Power Couple's Bohemian Palm Springs Home

Inside the Stunning Renovation of a 1900s Cottage in Seattle

Inside a Head Designer's Parisian-Inspired Townhouse

• Historic Places
• Western Historic Sites

Seattle’s Best Historic Neighborhoods

The Stimson-Green Mansion introduced large-scale English medieval- style residences to the city; today it’s a venue for special events.

There really is more to Seattle than coffee. Pacific Northwesterners identify themselves with majestic volcanic mountains, dense old-growth forests, and islands and waterways that have become daily commuter routes for many.

Though residents purposely spread the myth that it rains in Seattle all the time to dissuade would-be newcomers, the city often boasts blue skies, perfect temperatures, and low humidity—it’s a place that lends itself easily to walking.

Most tourist guides concentrate on downtown and some up-and-coming commercial districts, but I prefer Seattle’s lovely and diverse early 20th-century streetcar suburb neighborhoods. Many of them are linked by the Olmsted Brothers’ park system, one of the largest park and boulevard systems of its kind in the nation.

Click here to find historic Seattle hotels .

Directly east of downtown are reminders of the grace and style of turn-of-the-century Seattle. Along with the 1902 Venetian Gothic Hofius residence, remaining First Hill mansions include the 1901 English half-timbered Stimson-Green Mansion and the 1907 Classical Revival Henry H. Dearborn House (headquarters of the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation and Historic Seattle, respectively). There are also private clubs, such as the 1889 Queen Anne Stacey residence and its 1906 annex, designed to accommodate the University Club, and the 1915 Georgian Revival Sunset Club. Prominent churches are the Italian Renaissance Revival St. James Cathedral, designed by New York architects Heins and LaFarge, and the English country Gothic Trinity Episcopal and Gothic Revival First Baptist churches.

Have refreshments at the Italianate Sorrento Hotel, opened in 1909, while admiring the specially commissioned Rookwood tile fireplace surround in its mahogany-paneled lounge. Or have lunch in the café of the Frye Art Museum (still free to all), designed in 1952 by the region’s most important modernist, Paul Thiry, to house the private collections of Charles and Emma Frye. A significant expansion in 1994 by the firm Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen makes for a memorable small museum experience.

North Capitol Hill

The Eliza Leary Mansion was Seattle’s largest house in 1907, designed for grand entertaining.

A neighborhood rich in architecturally distinctive residences (a section has been designated the Harvard-Belmont Historic District), North Capitol Hill is anchored by one of its most widely used public facilities, Volunteer Park. Its centerpiece is the wonderful Seattle Asian Art Museum, housed in a progressive Art Deco building designed by architect Carl Gould in 1932, at a time when most American art museums were still bogged down in Beaux Arts classicism.

The park is bookended on the south by 14th Avenue East—dubbed “Millionaire’s Row” to reflect the status of its early 20th-century house owners—and on the north by Lakeview Cemetery, where many of the city’s founders lie.

To get a taste of the neighborhood’s residential grandeur, peek into the English-inspired stone and half-timbered Leary Mansion, built 1904-07 on 10th Avenue East and the city’s largest private residence at the time. It houses the Episcopal Diocese offices and is open on weekdays. Marvel at the baronial great hall, specially commissioned Rookwood tile fireplaces, and the master bathroom’s Rookwood water babies frieze.

The view from the Mount Baker ridge; the white terra-cotta-clad, 40-story-high Smith Tower (1914) remains one of Seattle’s most treasured landmarks.

Mount Baker

Although the Mount Baker Park Addition wasn’t the earliest planned residential district in Seattle, it was the largest in 1907, and the first to be integrated into the city park and boulevard system proposed in 1903 by the Olmsted Brothers. The vision of its developers, and the vigilance of its community activists, shaped a remarkably cohesive residential district.

The area has an outstanding mix of architect-designed residences alongside builder-designed speculative homes and bungalows, which make it a classroom for learning about residential styles, ranging from Medieval, Elizabethan, and Italian Renaissance to Spanish Colonial, Colonial Revival, and Prairie School. Its streets follow hillside contours and afford wonderful views of Lake Washington and the Cascade Mountains.

From its beginnings, the Hunter Tract Improvement Company and Mount Baker Park Improvement Club shaped the neighborhood’s polished look. A streetcar line terminated at Hunter Boulevard, giving residents convenient service to downtown. The club was suitably proud that building restrictions prevented “the erection of ‘cheap’ houses, apartment buildings, and undesirable business structures.” The neighborhood center has always been its 1914 Arts & Crafts shingled clubhouse and a handsome 1930 Art Deco commercial building adjoining it, designed by the John Graham Company.

Queen Anne Hill

W.R.B. Wilcox incorporated concrete and brick infill to construct the city’s most beautiful retaining wall—topped by a promenade—on the west slope of Queen Anne Hill.

Queen Anne Hill is the only Seattle neighborhood named for an architectural style. The round or square towers, arched windows, stained glass, and decorative shingle patterns that flourished during the neighborhood’s early development are largely gone. But you still can experience residential design by some of the city’s best architects, along with the views that make this a popular place to live.

Walk the length of West Highland Drive to 8th Avenue West—you’ll be mesmerized by the views from Kerry Park and the Betty Bowen viewpoint. Then walk north along the promenade, with its ornamental lighting fixtures, and make a side trip down and up the stairs of the beautiful concrete-and-brick infill retaining wall designed by W.R.B. Wilcox, complete with Gothic arches.

Carrying the original name of a wooded ravine park established in the 1880s, Ravenna is one of a number of bungalow neighborhoods that resulted from streetcar lines that carried people away from industrial and commercial areas. Demand for new housing was stimulated by bungalow plan books and catalogs, and these reasonably priced houses were an ideal choice for first-time home buyers.

This sparkling Japanese bungalow in Ravenna demonstrates the Pacific Rim’s influence on Seattle.

Jud Yoho, Seattle’s self-proclaimed “Bungalow Craftsman,” published The Bungalow Magazine monthly from 1912 to 1918, offering complete working drawings. (To no one’s surprise, these promoted Yoho’s construction firm, the Craftsman Bungalow Co.)

Ravenna’s residences date from 1909 (the year of the Alaskan-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, held nearby) to the early 1930s. The tree-lined streets are filled with myriad bungalows, including airplane and Japanese forms. Windows display transom lights with leaded, beveled glass in various geometric patterns or motifs. Clad in stone, river rock, shingles, and Douglas fir clapboard, Ravenna’s bungalows evoke the hand-hewn character that we associate with this kind of Arts & Crafts home.

Lawrence Kreisman is the program director at Historic Seattle and has written nine books, including The Arts and Crafts Movement in the Pacific Northwest.

Online exclusive: Get the author’s recommendations for the best historic hotels in Seattle .

Tags: bungalow historic district Lawrence Kreisman OHJ October/November 2011 Old-House Journal seattle

Product of the Week

Crown Point Cabinetry

Osborne Wood Products

© Copyright 2023 Home Group, a division of Active Interest Media. All Rights Reserved. 2143 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50312

2024 Northwest Green Home Tour – April 27 from 11:00am-5:00pm!

The Northwest Green Home Tour is a FREE self-guided Tour that provides an opportunity for community members to learn about a full spectrum of sustainable building practices in homes from the people and businesses that support it.

Get inspired by projects in all shades of light to deep green, from backyard cottages and kitchen remodels to new homes built with cutting-edge green features. You’ll see and learn first-hand how your neighbors are generating their own electricity, padding their pocketbooks with insulation, creating solutions for small footprints, and producing a healthier environment for their families and yours!

Are you working on or know of a project in the works that would be a good fit for the 2024 Northwest Green Home Tour? If so, please reach out to us today!

For dozens of site hosts, the annual Northwest Green Home Tour is a chance to educate the public about green building and connect with potential clients. If you have a residential or multi-family project that you would like to showcase on the 2024 Tour, it’s not too late to register! Application deadline is March 22.

Thank You To Our Event Sponsors

View last year’s NW Green Home Tour sites!

The annual Northwest Green Home Tour is a chance to learn about green building and meet builders/designers.

• 100 Day Dream Home
• Bargain Block
• Battle on the Beach
• Battle on the Mountain
• Building Roots
• Celebrity IOU
• Christina on the Coast
• Down Home Fab
• Farmhouse Fixer
• Fixer to Fabulous
• Help! I Wrecked My House
• Home Town Takeover
• House Hunters
• Lakefront Empire
• Lil Jon Wants to Do What?
• Love It or List It
• Married to Real Estate
• My Lottery Dream Home
• No Demo Reno
• Property Brothers: Forever Home
• Renovation Aloha
• Rico to the Rescue
• Rock the Block
• Small Town Potential
• Ugliest House in America
• Unsellable Houses
• Who's Afraid of a Cheap Old House?
• Why the Heck Did I Buy This House?
• Zillow Gone Wild
• See Full Schedule
• Stream Full Seasons
• Sign Up for Our Newsletters
• Ideas by Room
• Design Styles
• HGTV Magazine
• HGTV Newsletters
• Flowers and Plants
• Landscaping and Hardscaping
• Outdoor Spaces
• Curb Appeal
• Cleaning and Organizing
• Entertaining
• Healthy Home and Garden
• Real Estate
• Home Improvement
• DIY Projects
• HGTV Handmade
• HGTV Smart Home 2024: Enter the Sweepstakes
• Get Outside $5K Giveaway
• Spring It Forward $5K Giveaway
• HGTV Dream Home 2024
• HGTV Urban Oasis 2023
• Product Reviews
• Gift Guides
• Sales and Deals
• News and Trends
• Newsletters
• TV Schedule

Tour a Colorful Seattle Home With Playful Style

Playful patterns and bold colors set the scene in this Seattle stunner.

J essica Cantlin’s house isn’t for everyone — and she’s OK with that. “People are definitely surprised when they walk inside,” says the landscape photographer of her whimsical, colorful aesthetic. “I like to have as much going on as possible.” When she and her husband, Alan, bought this 3,500-square-foot Craftsman a decade ago, it was “100 shades of beige,” Jessica says. The couple chipped away at projects but recently embarked on a major revamp with help from interior designer Leah Steen . They worked together to infuse the house with vivid colors and cheeky patterns, and to create a daring mix of modern pieces and thrifted treasures. The result is a look that makes everyone in the family happy. “We get such a kick out of living here,” Jessica says.

We Recommend

This California Home Is Packed With Playful Patterns 9 Photos

Tour an Art-Lover's Colorful California Home 9 Photos

A Custom-Made Home With Chic Style 10 Photos

Tour a Cheeky and Colorful Victorian Home 9 Photos

A Historic Home With One-of-a-Kind Style 10 Photos

Tour a Fancy and Family-Friendly Colonial Filled With Style 9 Photos

Related pages.

• HGTV Designer of the Year Awards
• Karen B Wolf Interiors
• Erica Bryen Design
• Picture Perfect Outdoor Lounge and Relaxation...
• Sara Hillery Interior Design
• Etch Design Group
• Kelly Finley
• Studio Heimat
• Tour a Brooklyn Home With Wall-to-Wall Wallpaper

6 Top Rated Seattle Tours That You’ll Love

We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

I grew up near the Seattle, Washington, area, so it’s always a lot of fun to return and re-acquaint myself with this famous harbor town. Downtown Seattle has many fun things to do, and the surrounding area is a nature lover’s dream. While you can easily explore Seattle on your own, one of the best ways to see this iconic city is to take one of the top-rated Seattle tours.

Seattle Tours

Seattle tour options are diverse, and you can experience the best the city offers alongside a professional guide. Guided Seattle tours eliminate the hassle of planning your own excursion and allow you to maximize your vacation while immersing yourself in the moment. As a busy mom, I love handing the reins over to a tour guide and allowing myself to relax a bit! 

Before you buy, research each tour and make sure you understand the details, including the meeting point location, what’s included and excluded, and the level of physical intensity.

In this post, I focus only on Seattle city tours. I purposely excluded tours of natural locations outside the city, like Mount Rainier, Olympic National Park, the Cascades, or Snoqualmie Falls. These areas are incredible, and these excursions are excellent and worth the cost and time commitment.  

So, if you want to get some exercise and enjoy the outdoors, traveling out to these destinations will allow you to see some of the most magnificent natural treasures in the Pacific Northwest. If you head to Mt. Rainer, stop by  NW Trek Wildlife Park ! 

Top Rated Seattle Tours

In this post, I want to share my experience growing up near and visiting Seattle and give you up-to-date information about the most highly rated Seattle tours.  

These Seattle tours are the best of the best and receive at least 4.5 out of 5 stars from reviewers. I’ll provide a summary list below. Later in the post, I break down each tour and provide detailed information about the trip, what you’ll see, and what’s included.

• Underground Walking Tour
• Sailboat Sunset Harbor Cruise
• Seattle City Tour by Bus
•  Pike Place Market Food Tour
• Walking Chocolate Tour
• Harbor Cruise with Live Narration

All of these tours are with Get Your Guide, one of my favorite companies for booking tours! I love their easy-to-use app, great review system, and variety of activities offered.

CityPASS® with Tickets to 5 Top Attractions

If you want to see more of Seattle, the  Seattle CityPASS  is a fantastic way to experience multiple top-rated attractions without paying for each separately. In fact, it can save you up to 48%! 

 When you purchase the pass, you will get access to five attractions. The pass automatically includes the  Space Needle  and the Seattle Aquarium, and you can select three additional attractions from a list, including the Woodland Park Zoo and the  Pacific Science Center . The pass is valid for nine consecutive days, including the first day of use.  

This Seattle attractions pass is perfect for a week-long trip to Seattle, where you have time to go to multiple places. We have used CityPASS elsewhere, including last month in  San Antonio , and they are great for cost-conscious families who want to explore actively.  

#1 Underground Walking Tour

I went on this  Seattle underground tour  with my family, and we absolutely loved it! It was a lot of fun descending beneath the streets to learn the fascinating history of the original city’s construction, the destructive fire, and rebirth. This one-hour tour takes you beneath Pioneer Square and winds through underground passageways built in the 1890s that are off-limits to the public.  

The guides are great, funny, and very informative. The narrative focuses on the struggles of pioneers during the early construction of Seattle and the significant changes brought about by the Great Seattle Fire of 1899. This tour is a fun way for the whole family to enjoy something a little different. It kept our teen kids engaged and asking questions. The cramped passageways you will traverse are not wheelchair accessible.  

#2 Sailboat Sunset Harbor Cruise

We love taking sunset cruises like this one! On this  2-hour Seattle Sailboat tour , you’ll sail on a sailboat in Seattle Harbor at sunset to get some fantastic views. The ship is a tall-masted sailboat comfortably appointed and crewed by a team well-acquainted with the harbor.  

It’s a great way to get stunning views of the city’s skyline and breathtaking panoramas of the Olympic Mountains. Snacks, local wine, beer, ciders, champagne, water, and soda are available for an extra charge. Many reviewers recommend bringing warm clothes, as the wind is strong and temperatures are chilly on the water, even during summer!

#3 City Tour by Bus

This  3.5-hour guided bus tour of Seattle  will take you around the area in an air-conditioned bus. It covers over 50 miles and allows you to see a lot quickly. Some highlights include Pikes Place Market, Olympic and Cascade Mountain views, the Seattle Waterfront, Pioneer Square, Waterfall Garden Park, and many more.  

This tour is a great way to maximize the number of attractions you see while listening to knowledgeable guides inform you about the history of the city and its neighborhoods. The high back seats and large windows make for comfortable viewing. This is a perfect experience if you have older family members, it’s a hot summer day, or you don’t feel like walking. Be sure to bring cash to tip the guide. 

#4 Pike Place Market Chef-Guided Food Tour

Pike Place is known for its bustling energy and fantastic fish market ambiance. During this tour, a local chef will guide you through the market and help you discover the exciting culinary scene in the Pacific Northwest. You’ll make nine stops to try a variety of light bites from local vendors at the market. Watch cheese being made, eat an heirloom corn taco, or try delicious Greek yogurt.  

This  two-hour Pike Place Market tour  will let you skip the long lines and hear the stories behind some of the small businesses. It’s great for families with older children and those who want an immersive food experience. You’ll receive a 10% discount card to shop at selected partner vendors.  

#5 Walking Chocolate Tour with Tastings

One of Seattle’s most popular culinary tours is this  Chocolate Tasting Tour . This 2.5-hour Seattle tour is an immersive way to sate your sweet tooth while walking downtown. This Seattle Tour is something that your middle and high-school-aged kids will enjoy! 

On this tour, you’ll savor 12 chocolate samples from 8 establishments. Stops include some of downtown’s most beloved bakeries, restaurants, cafes, and chocolatiers. The guide provides interesting facts about how chocolate is made and its place in our culture. Shared groups or private tour options are available. You should eat a light breakfast and bring water, as drinks are not provided.  

#6 Harbor Cruise with Live Narration

This one-hour  Seattle Harbor Cruise  might be perfect if you are looking for a relaxing, inexpensive, and short sightseeing trip on the water. You’ll board a ship in Seattle Harbor for a large-group narrated tour. You’ll get amazing views of the Seattle skyline and the Cascade and Olympic Mountains. It’s the perfect way to get great pictures and absorb the energy of Seattle’s bustling coast.  

Guides will provide fun facts about Seattle, its history, and its main attractions. The boat has indoor seating as well as outdoor open decks. This tour is a fantastic option for groups with older travelers or those with mobility impairments. Be sure to dress for the weather if you plan on spending time on the outdoor viewing decks. 

Alternatively, you can take the  Seattle Ferry to Bainbridge Island  and get on the water that way! 

Finding The Best Seattle Tours

Seattle is such a fun city! I was very impressed by the positive ground and momentum along the waterfront in downtown Seattle. We also appreciated Seattle’s excellent public transit system, which makes it easy to get around.  Last July, we actually took it straight from the airport and ended just a couple of blocks from our hotel.

I hope you can do one of these top-rated Seattle tours on your trip. Taking a Seattle tour is a great way to make new memories with the ones you love while learning more about the beautiful Emerald City.

View all Seattle Tours on Get Your Guide!

Hotels in Seattle

Also, for our most recent trip, we stayed at the fabulous Hyatt Regency Seattle, and I highly recommend it! The windows in our room gave us the most incredible views of Seattle. Plus, it was very walkable to places we wanted to be, yet a little bit removed from the super busy congested areas.

If you are looking for a hotel in Seattle for your family, I recommend finding one near public transit. There are many options, and the map below shows many great hotels in Seattle.

More Travel Inspiration

If you liked this round-up of top Seattle Tours, you will enjoy my other travel blog posts! Our family of 4 travels extensively both in the United States and abroad. We even ventured down to Rio de Janeiro last year and had a fantastic time.  

Click here to browse all of my travel posts . Here are a few of my most popular posts, which I hope you enjoy! 

• Using AirTags To Track Kids
• Things To Do In Key West
• The Best 30A Hotels
• Europe Travel Essentials
• Cruising With Teens

Billie Eilish brings 'Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour' to Seattle

SEATTLE - Nine-time Grammy Award winner Billie Eilish is bringing her tour to Seattle this winter.

On Monday, Billie Eilish announced her "Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour" will come to Climate Pledge Arena on Dec. 5 and 6. 

INDIO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 23: Billie Eilish performs on the Coachella stage during the 2022 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival on April 23, 2022 in Indio, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Coachella)

The tour, which will make stops across North America, Europe, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia, follows the news of her highly anticipated third studio album "Hit Me Hard and Soft" – set for release on May 17.

When will Billie Eilish tour tickets become available?

American Express cardholders can purchase presale tickets beginning Tuesday, April 30. 

Event organizers say there will be additional presales running through the week.

Tickets open to the public starting on Friday, May 3, and can be purchased on Billie Eilish’s website.

What U.S. cities will Billie Eilish’s tour visit?

• Sun Sep 29 – Québec, QC – Centre Videotron
• Tue Oct 01 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
• Wed Oct 02 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
• Fri Oct 04 – Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena
• Sat Oct 05 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center
• Mon Oct 07 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
• Wed Oct 09 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center
• Fri Oct 11 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
• Sun Oct 13 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena
• Wed Oct 16 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
• Thu Oct 17 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
• Fri Oct 18 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
• Sat Nov 02 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
• Sun Nov 03 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
• Wed Nov 06 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
• Fri Nov 08 – Cincinnati, OH – Heritage Bank Center
• Sun Nov 10 – Saint Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
• Mon Nov 11 – Saint Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
• Wed Nov 13 – Chicago, IL – United Center
• Thu Nov 14 – Chicago, IL – United Center
• Sat Nov 16 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center
• Sun Nov 17 – Omaha, NE – CHI Health Center Omaha
• Tue Nov 19 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
• Wed Nov 20 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
• Tue Dec 03 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
• Thu Dec 05 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
• Fri Dec 06 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
• Sun Dec 08 – Portland, OR – Moda Center
• Tue Dec 10 – San Jose, CA – SAP Center at San Jose
• Wed Dec 11 – San Jose, CA – SAP Center at San Jose
• Fri Dec 13 – Glendale, AZ – Desert Diamond Arena
• Sun Dec 15 – Inglewood, CA – Kia Forum
• Mon Dec 16 – Inglewood, CA – Kia Forum
• Tue Dec 17 – Inglewood, CA – Kia Forum

More events and concerts coming to Seattle:

Future, Metro Boomin bring 'We Trust You' Tour to Seattle

Missy Elliott brings tour to Seattle with Busta Rhymes, Ciara, Timbaland

Hans Zimmer to visit Seattle during his first North American tour in 7 years

Bumbershoot 2024 lineup, tickets

Capitol Hill Block Party 2024 lineup, ticket prices

To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX 13 Seattle newsletter .

• Entertainment

Monroe’s breakout pop star Benson Boone comes home to Showbox SoDo

The biggest song in America by someone other than Taylor Swift belongs to Monroe’s breakout pop star Benson Boone.

The 21-year-old pop singer and “American Idol” dropout had been bubbling on TikTok for a few years. With a walloping power croon that mixes the clarity and emotional gravitas of Adele with a dash of Freddie Mercury’s operatic tendencies and penchant for full-fisted rock crescendos, Boone’s (apparently natural) talent couldn’t be denied.

Four months ago, Boone’s career rocket-launched to another level with the release of “Beautiful Things,” a poppy, piano-led folk rocker that hit No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and would currently sit atop the chart if not for Swift’s domination of the top 14 songs. The young singer with an old-soul flavor released his debut album “Fireworks & Rollerblades” last month and made his late-night debut on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” along a sold-out tour that’s doubling as both a coming-out party and victory lap.

Winding down the North American leg before heading overseas for more sold-out dates, Boone returned to Washington on Friday for his first big homecoming show amid his ascent to stardom. Showbox SoDo, packed wall to wall with giddy fans, was a significant step up from the 300-capacity Madame Lou’s he played just a year and a half ago and it’s a safe bet his next Seattle show will be in an even bigger room.

Taking the stage to a sea of camera-rolling cellphones, Boone — wearing a cropped teal Mariners jersey — swayed and swooned along to glistening pop rocker “Be Someone.” Boone’s sweeping delivery came off like a cross between Brandon Flowers and My Chemical Romance’s Gerard Way on the sprightly Killers-esque number. “Beautiful Things” might be the life-altering smash, but it was immediately clear fans already knew the words to every song off his month-old album.

Boone wielded his hefty voice like a knight with an oversized sword, delivering devastating blows in one fluid motion before turning it over for a gentle backhand stroke soft enough to spread butter on “Drunk in My Mind.” An elite balladeer with stylistic range, Boone made like a seasoned pop-soul troubadour at times, later delivering soaring folk-pop anthems with “My Greatest Fear” and the heart-pouring “Pretty Slowly,” a cathartic unreleased number.

It’s extra impressive considering the former diver on the Monroe High School swim team only got serious about music a few years ago.

Boone grew up playing “a little bit of piano,” he told MTV Asia last fall, though he didn’t start singing until his best friend asked him to play piano with them in a battle of the bands. The day before the show, their singer quit and after some debate, Boone, who was unavailable for an interview before his Seattle show, decided to give it a go.

“I went out on stage and I started singing and my voice kinda just came out of me,” Boone told MTV Asia. “It’s like I unlocked something I didn’t know I had and I stopped halfway through the first verse and just looked around. I was so shocked that I just sang.”

After pausing to collect himself, they restarted the song and wound up winning the battle of the bands.

“It was like the best feeling of my life,” Boone said. “My mom was front row bawling her eyes out, I was just confused. It was so sick.”

As fate would have it, it was another (much bigger deal) singing competition a year later that would get Boone noticed when he auditioned for “American Idol” in 2021. A then 18-year-old Boone dazzled the judges with a stirring take on Aiden Martin’s “Punchline.”

“I’m just calling you a natural talent,” Lionel Richie gushed during Boone’s 2021 audition. “There’s just some folks that need to practice, and there’s some folks that just are gifted.”

Katy Perry went even further, predicting he could win “American Idol” if he wanted to.

He didn’t want to.

Instead, Boone left the show and pursued music through other channels, telling MTV Asia that “it wasn’t for me, so I quit.” Later that year he inked a deal with Night Street, a Warner Records imprint helmed by Dan Reynolds of pop rockers Imagine Dragons. His first single (and the first song he ever wrote) “Ghost Town,” which was gently crushing on Friday, became a minor hit after its fall 2021 release. It was a promising start for the young musician who hadn’t attempted to write a song until Reynolds contacted him out of the blue.

In 2022, Boone scored another modest hit with piano ballad “In the Stars” peaking at No. 82, a song that has since gone platinum, amassing even more Spotify streams than “Beautiful Things.” The certified tear-jerker, with a reference to Monroe’s Woods Creek Road, was written for a close relative who died a few years ago, Boone explained from the stage, and made for one of the most potent moments of Friday’s show.

“This song means a lot to not only me, but to a lot of people in this room,” Boone said, asking fans to pocket their phones and instead “feel this song with me.”

For all the vocal gymnastics Boone executed Friday, he spent almost as much time doing actual gymnastics on stage — busting out nonchalant back flips, tumbling front flips off the risers and pencil diving off the stage, putting those swim-team diving skills to use.

Other than his custom M’s gear, Boone only briefly nodded to his local roots Friday during a Freddie Mercury-channeling call-and-response before a participatory “Forever and a Day.” The anthemic singalong felt like a dress rehearsal for a larger stage.

Capping his acrobatic 90-minute set with “Beautiful Things,” featuring Boone’s signature power wail and a bruising folk-rock breakdown for a chorus, was the final haymaker of the night that felt like a hometown pause to soak in Boone’s whirlwind shot to fame.

“Thank you for the love you’ve shown this song, because it has changed my life,” Boone said introducing the no-doubt closer. “And it will continue to change my life for the rest of my life.”

With one last running handspring across the stage and a blown kiss, Boone was off. But this is only the beginning.

Most Read Entertainment Stories

• Remlinger Farms' 2024 summer concert lineup is complete
• The time a Rolling Stones drummer walked into Seattle's Screwdriver Bar
• Macklemore releases new song, 'Hind's Hall,' amid war in Gaza
• Spokane maker behind Eddie Van Halen's 'Frankenstrat' guitar dies at 81
• 5 hot Seattle-area theater shows to see in the coming weeks

The opinions expressed in reader comments are those of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of The Seattle Times.

• KIRO Opinion

KTTH Opinion

• KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM
• Seattle Sports
• 770 KTTH AM
• MyNorthwest News
• MyNorthwest Weather
• MyNorthwest Traffic
• MyNorthwest History
• MyNorthwest Politics
• MyNorthwest Lifestyle
• National News
• Photo Galleries
• Sponsored Stories
• Seattle's Morning News
• Gee and Ursula
• Jack and Spike
• John and Jake

Jason Rantz

• MyNorthwest Blog
• Brock and Salk
• Bump and Stacy
• Wyman and Bob
• Search the Site
• Earthquake Tracker
• School Closings
• Share Photos With Us
• Advertise With Us
• Contest Rules
• Newsletters
• Contests and Events
• Community Outreach
• X (Twitter)
• KIRO on YouTube
• KTTH on YouTube

KTTH OPINION

Rantz: UW Seattle activists say their First Amendment rights threatened by speaker they don’t like

May 7, 2024, 3:59 AM | Updated: 5:47 am

University of Washington activist students argue conservative commentator Charlie Kirk shouldn't be allowed to speak on campus because it jeopardizes their First Amendment rights. (Photo courtesy of Turning Point USA)

(Photo courtesy of Turning Point USA)

BY JASON RANTZ

AM 770 KTTH host

Activist students at the University of Washington’s (UW) Liberated Zone inexplicably argue that conservative commentator Charlie Kirk should not be allowed to speak on campus because it jeopardizes their First Amendment rights.

Kirk’s Tuesday event, part of his Live Free Tour, is generating concern from some activists. In a digital flyer, flagged by The Stranger, some students argue that Kirk’s speech puts them at risk.

“The University of Washington is endangering students,” according to the flyer, complaining UW is “hosting him without yards of the Liberated Zone that was set up by students in support of a free Palestine.”

The flyer asks people to “tell the administration to cancel this event and keep students who are practicing their 1st Amendment rights safe.” It provides contact information for UW president Ana Marie Cauce, her chief of staff and her assistant.

Is Charlie Kirk event at University of Washington a threat to the UW Liberated Zone?

The Charlie Kirk event poses no threat to the illegal UW Liberated Zone. Ironically, it’s far-left activists that traditionally create threats to First Amendment rights on college campuses, including the UW.

Progressive and anarcho-socialist students typically attempt to block students from attending on-campus events that feature conservative speakers. They don’t seem to understand that First Amendment rights apply to everyone. It’s also not protected speech to utilize the so-called “heckler’s veto,” where they shout down and interrupt events in order to stop the guest from speaking. The reason these students are masked is because they intend to break the law when disrupting events. They do not want to make it easy for police to find out who is responsible.

There’s also irony that UW Liberated Zone activists might get agitated by Kirk’s appearance, as reported by The Stranger. The entire existence of the encampment agitates Jews.

As the Liberated Zone has grown to over 150 tents, student activists have upped their aggression toward those they label Zionists. They harass and stalk people they think do not agree with them. Prof. Stuart Reges recorded a handful of activists cosplaying as security at the UW Liberated Zone as they tried to stop him from documenting what was happening at the encampment .

That the student activists feign victimhood by the mere notion that Kirk will speak nearby says more about their tolerance than it does about Kirk or the students who invited him.

No one sees the irony of canceling a speaker kids illegally camping disagree with in order to protect free speech rights? There’s concern a conservative speaker may agitate the encampment dwellers set up to agitate Jewish students? https://t.co/m7StrIAatB — Jason Rantz on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) May 6, 2024

Concerns over Charlie Kirk and bathroom access

Sofia Schwarzwalder is an editor of the school’s newspaper The Daily. She reports members of the autonomous UW Liberated Zone have expressed “concerns” about Kirk’s appearance. She did not elaborate.

But she also reported that the UW administration is involved in negotiations with the antisemitic encampment activists. They are represented by UW United Front for Palestinian Liberation. They’ve had at least three separate conversations since Friday on a number of issues. United Front is demanding that UW cut financial ties with Boeing, but the administration rejected the students.

The Daily reports the student activists have had extensive conversations about gaining access to portable toilets and hand washing stations. But the talks broke down. Organizers reportedly walked out, after the administration declined to offer them 24-hour access to buildings so that they can use bathrooms.

Online, United Front hasn’t complained about bathroom access. They focus their complaints to Israel, posting propaganda from Al Mayadeen news, a pro-Hezbollah outlet called “Iran-aligned.”

Listen to The Jason Rantz Show on weekday afternoons from 3-7 p.m. on KTTH 770 AM (HD Radio 97.3 FM HD-Channel 3). Subscribe to the  podcast here . Follow Jason on  X, formerly known as Twitter ,  Instagram  and  Facebook .

Jason Rantz Show

MyNorthwest Video

Video: Changes at AM 770 KTTH

Jason Rantz talks about how layoffs have impacted the morning show and KTTH. Listen to The Jason Rantz Show weekdays from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. on AM 770 KTTH or on-demand wherever you listen to podcasts.

3 hours ago

Rantz exclusive: UW professor assaulted at autonomous Liberated Zone as admin keep cops away

A professor was assaulted at the University of Washington (UW) Liberated Zone. Administration, however, refuses to act.

Rantz Exclusive: UW Professor stalked and harassed at Seattle autonomous ‘Liberated Zone’

A UW professor was stalked and harassed at the autonomous Liberated Zone. UW Police are not allowed to patrol as normal.

Video: Students Are Making Life Hard For Jews

UW’s antisemitic hippies and anti-capitalists are making life hard for Jews on campus. Administrators don’t seem to care. Listen to The Bryan Suits Show weekdays from 6 a.m. – 9 a.m. on AM 770 KTTH or on-demand wherever you listen to podcasts. Listen to The Jason Rantz Show weekdays from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. […]

Video: What is Governor Jay Inslee even saying?!?!

Governor Jay Inslee speaks a bunch of gibberish and nonsense about EVs, and we’re supposed to take him seriously? Listen to The Jason Rantz Show weekdays from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. on AM 770 KTTH or on-demand wherever you listen to podcasts.

Rantz: UW Seattle students create autonomous ‘Liberated Zone’ with library, medic tent, no free speech rights

UW Seattle students set up an autonomous Liberated Zone for a "Free Palestine." It features a library, but no free speech rights.

Sponsored Articles

Seattle Storm celebrates 25 years with 3’s for Treehouse

The Seattle Storm, a powerhouse in the WNBA, is celebrating its 25th anniversary and is continuing to help kids in need through Treehouse.

Discover MoPOP’s new exhibit: ‘Massive: The Power of Pop Culture’

The Museum of Pop Culture invites you to experience pop culture like never before with its new exhibition "Massive: The Power of Pop Culture."

Salk: A local credit union inspiring its community

In the heart of Kitsap County, a financial institution is making waves not just as a banking entity but as a beacon of community support.

This checking account is better than gold

My journey led me to Kitsap Credit Union, a not-for-profit, forward-thinking financial co-op that’s been serving its members since 1934.

Punts for Purpose: Brock Huard, other NFL players fight to end global child poverty

Seattle Sports host Brock Huard joins other NFL punters in partnership with Compassion in a cause now known as “Punts For Purpose.”

As crime crisis worsens, locals get serious about personal safety

Washington's crime crisis continues to worsen, and locals are turning to whatever tools they can use to keep them safe.

Legacy at Canyon Creek

21124 42ND DR SE

Virtual tour

Under construction

4 bd • 3 ba • 2,494 ft²

21124 42ND DR SE, Bothell, WA

This new two-story home is a family-friendly haven. The first floor features an open-plan layout among a Great Room with a lovely fireplace, a kitchen with a center island and a dining room with patio access. A secluded study offers privacy. The second floor hosts a bonus room that adds shared-living space to the home and four restful bedrooms including an owner’s suite with a luxe bathroom and large walk-in closet.

Prices, dimensions and features may vary and are subject to change. Photos are for illustrative purposes only.

Plan: Aspen

Community: Legacy at Canyon Creek

Earliest move-in date: 07/08/2024

Homesite 0123

Learn more about this home

Everything included in this home

Included features

Energy-conscious features

Modern interiors

+ 82 additional features

What are the benefits of owning vs. renting?

Owning a home can help you build equity, offers tax deductions and fixed monthly payments, and gives you a sense of permanence. When you rent, your lease sets the price, your place isn’t really yours, and there are no tax benefits or financial freedom. There are many benefits to owning a home that you can’t get with renting.

Welcome Home Center at 20805 42nd Ave SE, Bothell, WA 98021

Closed today

Legacy at Canyon Creek is a collection of new single-family homes now selling in Bothell, WA. The community offers walkable streets with sidewalks, great for enjoying the beauty and weather of the Pacific Northwest. Residents are just moments from lots of parks and local schools, and Bothell is a hub for software engineer industries, providing plenty of employment opportunities and a desirable locale.

A simpler way to buy

Our experienced team is here to help with the entire process—from financing, to selling your current home, we’re here to help you navigate the entire process through closing.

Get a cash offer and sell your current home

Skip the hassle of listing, months of showing and juggling double mortgages. We’ve partnered with Opendoor to make it easy to sell your home.

Pre-qualify for a mortgage in minutes

Answer a few questions and get pre-qualified with Lennar Mortgage today. We’ll help you unlock your buying potential.

Close on your new home without the stress

Lennar provides you with the information and guidance you need to successfully navigate the title insurance, escrow and closing process.