After purchasing her dream home, a traditional Craftsman bungalow, Lisa Hebner Vila started searching for pieces to fill the new space for her and her loved ones. Vila understood what she wanted but was having trouble making her full vision. One day while sofa shopping with her mother, Vila met Matthew Brenner of Matthew Craig Interiors. “I told Matthew that I wanted quite big, bold background in my living room,” Vila states, “and he encouraged me to do it. When I walked into the shop, I did not expect to walk out with a designer” Together with Brenner’s aid, Vila managed to design a kid-friendly and modern but appropriate interior for her newly renovated Craftsman home.
in a Glance
Who lives here: Lisa Hebner Vila; her husband, Gilbert Greenman; and her 3 kids
Size: 2,700 square feet: 4 bedrooms, two full bathrooms
Location: Wallingford neighborhood of Seattle
That’s intriguing: whilst renovating the house, Vila and Brenner discovered old newspapers dating back to the 1930s stuffed in the walls.
Sarah Greenman
The dining room is a daring mix of midcentury modern, Arts and Crafts and modern accents — like this Louis XV Ghost Chair. Designer Brenner was excited to find that Vila was willing to take design risks. “Most men and women want the intriguing rug or the daring background, but they don’t have the courage to get it,” he states. “Lisa was really open to it all.”
Paint: Anew Gray, Sherwin-Williams; wallpaper: Shantung Silhouette Printing, Schumacher
Sarah Greenman
The dining room features amazing architecture and stunning built-ins. While the flooring are all first, the sideboard and window chair have been completely refurbished.
Vila was working with Seattle builder Marc Mortenson to restore and refurbish the home. “He has been attending to the magician in the house, among countless other things,” she states, “softly massaging himself.”
Midcentury dining set: Chartreuse Consignment; light fixture: consignment store in Portland, Oregon
Sarah Greenman
Vila’s home is the ideal example of a Craftsman bungalow, a popular style for Seattle houses. The bungalow aesthetic was a reaction to the fussiness of the Victorian period and is characterized by clean lines, gabled roofs, deep eaves with exposed rafter ends and generous porches.
This neighborhood is filled with bungalows painted in traditional Arts and Crafts colors, but Vila wanted a more modern colour scheme for her home, so she and Brenner picked a nontraditional grey for the outside.
Paint (all from Benjamin Moore): Iron Mountain (body),Galveston Grey (trimming),Onyx (accent)
Sarah Greenman
The hearth is the middle of most Craftsman homes, but this was not always the case for this house. Originally, Vila was having trouble with her furniture arrangement. Brenner suggested a less conventional layout and even designed a sofa which would suit the space and suit Vila’s modern sensibilities.
“My front room is quite small and was frequently not properly used,” she states. “Matthew helped me produce the layout. It now feels more like a living room or sitting room than a formal living room”
Paint trimming: Anew Gray, Sherwin-Williams; background: Orissa Charcoal, Clarke & Clarke
Sarah Greenman
Since she has three children, Vila chose just kid-friendly materials for the redesign. “I did not want anything in the house that could not handle heavy usage. And the colors had to be appropriate too — no more white rugs. This rug can be hauled out and hosed off if need be,” she states.
Chair: Shell, Hans J. Wegner; floor lamp: Chartreuse Consignment; sofa: tradition, Matthew Craig Interiors
Sarah Greenman
Vila loves to amuse and frequently hosts dinner parties and neighborhood gatherings, so she worked with Brenner to create small nooks — or amassing pods — where people can naturally congregate.
Brenner custom made the banquette to utilize a small, awkward corner. The mirrors also give the room a more expansive feel. “My kids and I’ve got a spot for assignments or a impromptu cribbage match,” says Vila.
Table: Saarinen Tulip Table, InForm; glass bowl: Fusion Z; banquet benches: tradition, Matthew Craig Interiors
Sarah Greenman
Many conventional bungalows have a piano room off the sitting room. Vila turned hers into a small library. The first built-in shelving is located opposite a reupholstered set of midcentury seats Vila bought at a consignment store.
Background: Eclipse Gray, Echo Design; paint trimming: Gray 2121-10, Benjamin Moore
Sarah Greenman
The prior owners did a beautiful job remodeling the kitchen and opening the family room. The open-concept floor plan is much more in line with modern family life, but it still maintains the feel of the first Craftsman style.
Sarah Greenman
The small family room is opposite the kitchen. Vila and her kids love the playful elephant art and comfy sofa. Blankets lie prepared and waiting patiently for snuggling up in front of the TV.
“The goal of a residence is to provide spaces for living a loving, connected life with family and friends,” says Vila. “Therefore, it has to fulfill the requirements of our children. The upholstery is forgiving, the furniture is to be sat on and the spaces serve each family member’s actions.”
Sarah Greenman
The master bedroom is a retreat dressed in creamy grays fabrics and accents. There are a number of surprises too — like an ultramodern bedside lamp and a ’60s-style gold globe light fixture at the middle of the room.
Sarah Greenman
A low midcentury-style seat allows for headroom beneath the steeply angled ceiling. Tab curtains supply the only pattern in the room.
Sarah Greenman
A simple but lavish retreat, the master bath includes a walk-in shower and a soaking tub. Diffused light lends this distance that a spa-like feel.
Sarah Greenman
Though the home exudes a trendy, sophisticated vibe, there are still many playful accents — like this basketball hoop dangling on the boys’ bedroom plus a now-iconic “Keep Calm and Carry On” signal from the upstairs hall.
Sarah Greenman
The deck is a relaxing spot. Two lounge chairs and a couple of potted plants complete the space.
Sarah Greenman
The rear door is constructed of glass to permit for greatest light — an essential feature for houses in overcast Seattle. A built-in seat with shoe cubbies enables everybody kick off their rain boots before entering the house.
Sarah Greenman
A covered deck just off the kitchen seems over the yard. A café table and chairs are perfect for dining al fresco.
Sarah Greenman
Front porch feels like an extension of the living room, with discreet seating places. A set of deck seats to the rear of the front door and a porch swing to the right offer a fantastic view of the road.
Sarah Greenman
Vila is quite pleased to see that her dream home take shape. “For this time, I’m the steward of this home,” she states. “It’s been here for 100 decades, and it’s going to be here for a hundred. I would like to leave it in good condition for the next steward.”
See more photographs of this house
telephone: Can you live in a creative Craftsman? Discuss it with us.