My Houzz: Graphic Designer Puts Her Stamp on a Seattle Rental
Her thoughtful collected style makes the apartment a comfortable gathering place for friends and family
Alexandra Crafton
30 June 2017
Houzz Contributor: Specializing in interior photography and lifestyle journalism, Alexandra loves getting to know the people and stories behind the houses she shoots.
Houzz Contributor: Specializing in interior photography and lifestyle journalism,... More
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Jordan Carlson
Location: Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle
Size: About 1,000 square feet (92.9 square meters); two bedrooms, one bathroom
Year built: 1901
“Welcoming, approachable and comfortable” is how graphic designer Jordan Carlson wanted the interior of her two-bedroom apartment in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood to feel. Her light-filled rental home is decorated with an eclectic mix of heirlooms, artwork and vintage furniture pieces. “I don’t shy away from investing in a piece, but I definitely have a high-low or ‘balanced’ mentality,” Carlson says. “Across from my Eames chair is a side table from Target and a hand-me-down rug my parents got four decades ago.”
The Turkish rug in the living room came from her childhood home. “I grew up with this rug and love it. Nearly every time my parents visit, my dad observes how worn-out it is and tries — unsuccessfully — to convince me I need a new rug,” she says. “I tell him people pay big bucks for worn-out. Remember trying to explain to your parents why you’d buy a pair of jeans with holes in them? Same sort of conversation.” Carlson’s father received the rug in a shop in exchange for his reel-to-reel audio player over 40 years ago.
The two framed art pieces hanging on the left wall are etchings by Carlson’s uncle, Sacramento artist Jim Carlson.
Who lives here: Jordan Carlson
Location: Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle
Size: About 1,000 square feet (92.9 square meters); two bedrooms, one bathroom
Year built: 1901
“Welcoming, approachable and comfortable” is how graphic designer Jordan Carlson wanted the interior of her two-bedroom apartment in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood to feel. Her light-filled rental home is decorated with an eclectic mix of heirlooms, artwork and vintage furniture pieces. “I don’t shy away from investing in a piece, but I definitely have a high-low or ‘balanced’ mentality,” Carlson says. “Across from my Eames chair is a side table from Target and a hand-me-down rug my parents got four decades ago.”
The Turkish rug in the living room came from her childhood home. “I grew up with this rug and love it. Nearly every time my parents visit, my dad observes how worn-out it is and tries — unsuccessfully — to convince me I need a new rug,” she says. “I tell him people pay big bucks for worn-out. Remember trying to explain to your parents why you’d buy a pair of jeans with holes in them? Same sort of conversation.” Carlson’s father received the rug in a shop in exchange for his reel-to-reel audio player over 40 years ago.
The two framed art pieces hanging on the left wall are etchings by Carlson’s uncle, Sacramento artist Jim Carlson.
Carlson, pictured here, moved to Seattle in 2014 after living in New York City for over four years. “I found this apartment for rent on Craigslist and responded to the listing, hoping for the chance to see it. When I didn’t get a response … persistence paid off. I have great landlords and love the space and location,” she says.
The nesting bowls on the coffee table were made by potter Judy Jackson of Long Island City, New York. “I have a number of her pieces and am a big fan,” Carlson says.
The large framed graphite and red-ink drawing behind her is by Sequim, Washington, artist Wanda Batdorf.
The nesting bowls on the coffee table were made by potter Judy Jackson of Long Island City, New York. “I have a number of her pieces and am a big fan,” Carlson says.
The large framed graphite and red-ink drawing behind her is by Sequim, Washington, artist Wanda Batdorf.
Carlson fell in love with the cognac-colored leather armchair from Room & Board seen here in the center. “I eyed it for a good four years and loved it as much when I finally got it as when I’d originally seen it. Test of time is always a good measure,” she says.
She has chosen each of her furniture pieces based on aesthetics, function and accessibility. “I’m pretty intentional about what I bring into my space. While there’s definitely a time and place for necessary function, for the most part I don’t want to spend money on items that I don’t really resonate with. Therefore, I really do like what I have in my home.”
The cigar chair on the right is a hand-me-down that her aunt gave her more than a decade ago.
Chair: Callan, Room & Board; side table in corner: Target
She has chosen each of her furniture pieces based on aesthetics, function and accessibility. “I’m pretty intentional about what I bring into my space. While there’s definitely a time and place for necessary function, for the most part I don’t want to spend money on items that I don’t really resonate with. Therefore, I really do like what I have in my home.”
The cigar chair on the right is a hand-me-down that her aunt gave her more than a decade ago.
Chair: Callan, Room & Board; side table in corner: Target
“While my version of eclectic isn’t whimsical, I definitely find the mixing of styles keeps it interesting — for example, my traditional camelback velvet couch mixed with a flat file I stripped, put wheels on and use as my coffee table,” Carlson says. “I got this Henredon couch a decade ago off of Craigslist; a 20-something guy had received it as a hand-me-down after a couple decades in his parents’ formal living room. Needless to say, it wasn’t quite his style, and he sold it to me for $100. Score.”
Carlson bought the flat file from Two Jakes when she lived in a small apartment in Brooklyn, New York, and needed to add storage in every creative way she could. “Alex from Two Jakes advised me how to strip the paint and seal the metal. So, I purchased the flat file. My mom and I hauled that bugger up two flights of stairs to my Williamsburg apartment. I refinished it; a friend helped put wheels on it,” Carlson says. “Eight years later and I still love it.”
Carlson bought the flat file from Two Jakes when she lived in a small apartment in Brooklyn, New York, and needed to add storage in every creative way she could. “Alex from Two Jakes advised me how to strip the paint and seal the metal. So, I purchased the flat file. My mom and I hauled that bugger up two flights of stairs to my Williamsburg apartment. I refinished it; a friend helped put wheels on it,” Carlson says. “Eight years later and I still love it.”
This glass curio cabinet is from Craigslist. Displayed on top is an oil portrait by U.K. artist Melodie Stacey. The ceramics are a collection of vessels from Seattle artist Sarah Kaye, artist Sarah Van Raden of Notary Ceramics in Portland, Orgeon, artist Judy Jackson and Carlson’s grandmother’s Lenox collection.
When Carlson moved in, the place needed a fresh coat of white paint and some closet organization. “In addition to my parents, right when I moved in, I had a couple friends that graciously came over and helped me paint. My father helped me build shelves in my primary closet in order to organize items I wanted out of sight. Another friend helped me change out a couple light fixtures,” Carlson says.
The oil painting is by artist Jen Grabarczyk of Seattle and Texas.
Wall paint: Swiss Coffee, Kelly-Moore Paints; lounger: Eames, Herman Miller; side table: Costco
The oil painting is by artist Jen Grabarczyk of Seattle and Texas.
Wall paint: Swiss Coffee, Kelly-Moore Paints; lounger: Eames, Herman Miller; side table: Costco
Carlson bought this wall-mounted lamp, called the Bell Jar sconce, at Williamsburg shop Nightwood when she lived in New York. It was made by Brooklyn designer Doug Newton.
Table: Metal Accordion side table, Urban Outfitters
Table: Metal Accordion side table, Urban Outfitters
In addition to pieces passed on from family, Carlson decorates with original work from her friends. The brass coaster seen here, for example, is part of the Lift Coasters collection by husband-and-wife team Sallyann Corn and Joe Kent of fruitsuper in Seattle. “All of their products are manufactured in the U.S.,” Carlson says.
Side table: West Elm
Side table: West Elm
“Community and the value of gathering people together have long influenced decisions that I make in how I set up the space and how it is decorated,” Carlson says. “A dining room where holidays, birthdays, spontaneous meals are not only welcomed but encouraged.”
Carlson enjoys entertaining, so she decorated to make sure there’s enough room for guests. She also has her TV on a cart that is housed in the closet unless it’s wheeled out for movies. “I need [home] to be a place of replenishment for myself, and my hope is that others who are here experience this too,” she says.
Wall paint: Swiss Coffee, Kelly-Moore Paints
Carlson enjoys entertaining, so she decorated to make sure there’s enough room for guests. She also has her TV on a cart that is housed in the closet unless it’s wheeled out for movies. “I need [home] to be a place of replenishment for myself, and my hope is that others who are here experience this too,” she says.
Wall paint: Swiss Coffee, Kelly-Moore Paints
“My general philosophy of furnishing is the combining of investment pieces, hand-me-downs and less expensive, but obviously still nicely designed, pieces,” Carlson says.
Dining table: Crate & Barrel; chairs: Navy chair, Emeco, via eBay; chest of drawers: Ellipse, Land of Nod; mirror: Elon round wall mirror, CB2
Dining table: Crate & Barrel; chairs: Navy chair, Emeco, via eBay; chest of drawers: Ellipse, Land of Nod; mirror: Elon round wall mirror, CB2
In the corner of the dining room is a nest painting by Bellingham, Washington, artist Christen Mattix. “I have a deep aesthetic value, but that is matched by my value of an open home. So, while I will absolutely invest in nice pieces, I never want my place to be so precious that I care more about something not getting dirty, for example, than someone enjoying the space,” Carlson says. “Aesthetically, I am definitely drawn to the clean, classic lines of midcentury modern, but I like mixing that with a touch of industrial, a touch of traditional and even an antique here and there. Many of my pieces have a story behind them — where or how I got them.”
Chair: Eames Molded Plywood lounge chair, Design Within Reach
Chair: Eames Molded Plywood lounge chair, Design Within Reach
Carlson painted the oil painting of the pear in the top-left corner of the dining room’s gallery wall. The rest of the artworks here include a mix from family and local artists. The photograph of the bedroom with the pink wall to the right of the pear is by Aran Goyoaga of Seattle. To the right of that, the oil painting of the spoon at top is by artist Jason Waskey of Whidbey Island, Washington; Carlson’s grandfather Thor brought back the etching of the Scottish terrier, center, from Europe during World War II; the dark oil painting below that is by artist Jen Grabarczyk. The dark blue collage at the bottom and chalk pastel art are by North Carolina artist Ginger Huebner, and the tall, narrow, black-and-white etching at top right is by Jim Carlson.
The stainless sideboard is a hand-me-down from Jim Carlson, who used it for decades in his art studio. “He worked at a Southern California university and received it from the university’s kitchen when they were remodeling,” Carlson says.
The red metal locker baskets were salvaged from Seattle’s Cleveland High School and purchased from Second Use. The black-and-white photograph of a girl walking through grass is by Valeria Spring of Seattle.
The stainless sideboard is a hand-me-down from Jim Carlson, who used it for decades in his art studio. “He worked at a Southern California university and received it from the university’s kitchen when they were remodeling,” Carlson says.
The red metal locker baskets were salvaged from Seattle’s Cleveland High School and purchased from Second Use. The black-and-white photograph of a girl walking through grass is by Valeria Spring of Seattle.
Framed above the photograph of Carlson’s grandparents Thor and Eleanor Carlson is a drawing by her then 3-year old niece; the drawing is of Carlson, a friend and the niece. To the right of the photo is a small etching of the Brooklyn Bridge by a New York City artist.
The kitchen features built-in cabinets and more artwork. The top painting is by California artist Maurice Lapp, one of Carlson’s mother’s art professors. The middle portrait is by U.K. artist Melodie Stacey. One of Carlson’s college professors, Dale Johnson, created the oil painting on the bottom.
Wall paint: Swiss Coffee, Kelly Moore
Wall paint: Swiss Coffee, Kelly Moore
Oranges and yellows contrast the white and wooden hues of the kitchen. The salvaged and restored stainless island is paired with yellow metal stools.
Stools: Carlisle metal counter stool, Target
Stools: Carlisle metal counter stool, Target
The dish towel hanging on the oven was designed by Trilby Hainstock of Oliotto in Seattle and shows scenes of Carlson’s Capitol Hill neighborhood.
For the entry, Carlson approached her friend Erick Waldman, owner of and designer at Plank & Grain, for help with a table. The store is in Seattle’s International District and builds furniture using local reclaimed fir. “He generously gave me a piece of rejected scrap fir and advised me how to finish and assemble the table,” she says. “Generally, I am drawn to neutral color palettes, but I knew I wanted hot pink legs on this table.” She used a spray paint to change the color of hairpin legs she bought on Craigslist.
The chalkboard paint in the entryway was there when Carlson moved in. The framed photograph above the table is by Seattle multidisciplinary artist Hardie Cobbs.
The chalkboard paint in the entryway was there when Carlson moved in. The framed photograph above the table is by Seattle multidisciplinary artist Hardie Cobbs.
In the bedroom, Carlson took apart an existing light fixture and added a $30 basket she found at Target as a shade to make it her own.
Bed linens: West Elm; bench: Stockholm, Ikea; wall paint: Swiss Coffee, Kelly-Moore Paints
Bed linens: West Elm; bench: Stockholm, Ikea; wall paint: Swiss Coffee, Kelly-Moore Paints
A minimalist approach keeps Carlson’s home calm and inviting, as seen here with the neutral bedroom palette.
Oil painting above bed: Jen Grabarczyk; small oil painting to left of bed: West Virginia artist Amanda Blake
Oil painting above bed: Jen Grabarczyk; small oil painting to left of bed: West Virginia artist Amanda Blake
“What I love most about my home … is it’s a place that others can be comfortable in,” Carlson says.
Opposite the bed is a large photograph by Deb Achak of Seattle.
Lamp: Target; chair: White Wire Larkin molded armchair: Cost Plus World Market
Lamp: Target; chair: White Wire Larkin molded armchair: Cost Plus World Market
Books, family heirlooms and ceramic art made by local artists sit on a white drop-leaf table found via Craigslist. The small vase is by Sarah Van Raden of Notary Ceramics; the small tripod bowl is by Pigeon Toe Ceramics of Portland, Oregon; and the small vessel next to Swedish horse is by Hardie Cobbs.
See more photos of this home
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
See more photos of this home
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Related Stories
Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: A Midcentury Home With a Strong Indoor-outdoor Link
By Becky Harris
A nature-inspired renovation has given this ranch house a relaxed mood and a connection to the outdoors from most rooms
Full Story
Kitchens
10 Smart Storage Tips for Your Kitchen Bins
Keep kitchen rubbish stylishly tucked away with these clever solutions
Full Story
More Rooms
The 5 Most Popular Laundry Rooms on Houzz Right Now
Get decorating ideas for your laundry or utility room from these most-saved photos on Houzz
Full Story
Gardens
How Do I Create a Drought-tolerant Garden?
By Kate Burt
As summers heat up, plants that need less water are increasingly desirable. Luckily, there are lots of beautiful options
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Warm Tones and Luxurious Surfaces in a City Townhouse
An earthy colour palette, hidden storage and well-placed texture add character and practicality to this London home
Full Story
Gardens
5 Inspiring Before and After Garden Transformations
Check out what a difference designers have made to these once dull plots, visually expanding spaces and creating privacy
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Kitchen Tour: A Gorgeous Extension With a Leafy Glasshouse Feel
By Kate Burt
When the owners of this terraced house extended, they were keen to retain its period feel and highlight the garden
Full Story
Gardens
How to Disguise Rubbish and Recycling Bins Outside Your Home
Need to hide unsightly bins in your garden or driveway? Take a look at these clever ideas for inspiration
Full Story
Renovating
21 Ways Designers Are Incorporating Arches Into Homes
By Kate Burt
Everywhere we look on Houzz right now, a cheeky arch pops up. How would you add this timeless architectural feature?
Full Story
Lifestyle
How to Improve the Air Quality in Your Home
Want to ensure your home environment is clean and healthy? Start by assessing the quality of your air
Full Story
What a beautiful home, really personal and homely. This is probably the nicest feature I've seen on this site in all the years I've been using it.
I really admire her approach and love the results. I particularly like her 'general philosophy of furnishing' which is 'the combining of investment pieces, hand-me-downs and less expensive, but obviously still nicely designed, pieces' - I couldn't have put it better myself ;) This home is a glowing tribute to the personality and style of the owner which, for me, is the best kind of home :)
Lovely ,good job x-<3