This mid-century modern home renovation in Seattle’s Seward Park revives a 1961 design by George Lucker, restoring its original charm while integrating modern elements. Overlooking Lake Washington and the Cascade Mountains, the house had fallen into disrepair—until SHED Architecture & Design transformed it into a light-filled, intergenerational space.
The renovation aimed to preserve the home’s original character while introducing new elements for modern, intergenerational living. The homeowners wanted to embrace the natural surroundings, open the floorplan, and transform the dated bathroom into a functional master suite.
SHED’s approach to the mid-century modern home renovation prioritises flow, light, and heritage, working within the home’s original footprint to reconfigure the layout. By relocating the central kitchen, they created a unified open space that connects the living room, dining room, and kitchen – bringing light and flow back into the heart of the home.
A previous sunroom addition was removed and replaced with a large lake-facing deck. Lift-slide doors now provide seamless indoor-outdoor flow, inviting family gatherings and maximising the home’s panoramic views.
The entryway was redesigned to enhance natural light and sight lines – removing walls and closets to create a clear line of vision from the front door to the mountain landscape. The formerly cramped bathroom was expanded into a multi-functional suite, cleverly using an existing skylight to brighten a new outdoor shower and soaking tub area.
SHED retained and exposed original structural beams, used vertical grain fir, red oak flooring, and colored plastic laminates to blend the mid-century material palette with fresh, contemporary finishes. A glass panel stair landing filters light to the lower level, and new open shelving and cabinetry replaced bulky walls, offering storage without sacrificing openness.
Every design move respected George Lucker’s original vision, while infusing the space with functionality and longevity. The result is a home that looks forward while honoring its past.
“We love the new space, indoor and out. We have a hard time remembering the way it was before,” say the homeowners. “The new is so seamless with the old.”
This Seattle mid-century renovation not only revives a classic design, but also prepares the home to serve future generations with grace, light, and flexibility.
