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A Masterpiece Among the Trees
From Frustration to Inspiration: The Discovery
What started as a casual Sunday afternoon tour of open houses in Seattle’s prestigious Laurelhurst neighborhood soon became a life-changing moment for a local healthcare executive. With her husband and three children in tow, she was simply taking a break from the stress of an ongoing home renovation. But all that changed when she stepped into the final property on her list.
Positioned on a serene hillside, the home was originally designed in 1957 by John Stewart Detlie—an accomplished Hollywood set designer, artist, and architect. The standout feature? A glass-walled living room that felt suspended among the treetops, evoking a profound sense of peace and elevation. The property was once home to renowned artist Virginia Banks, who infused it with creative eccentricities like a hydraulically disappearing dining table and an aviary built into the open stairwell.
The moment the homeowner took in panoramic views of Lake Washington and Mount Rainier, she felt goosebumps. “I just wanted to be there,” she recalls. That instinct would guide the next chapter of their lives.
Artistic Legacy Meets Modern Vision
Designer Kathleen Glossa of Swivel Interiors instantly understood the emotional pull of the house. “You could still feel the soul of the artist who once lived there,” she said. The couple, with Glossa’s support, made an offer on the home. But as architect Dave Norrie of Sandall Norrie Architects soon discovered, the original structure wouldn’t support their plans for an open floor layout and a third-floor addition.
That led to a bold but respectful decision: tear down and rebuild, while honoring the artistic spirit and confident modernism of the original structure.
Rebuilding with Soul and Structure
Under the guidance of general contractor Clay March of March-MacDonald, the new home emerged with structural steel and wood framing, enveloped in dark, rough-sawn cedar. Landscape architect Zack Thomas of Board & Vellum created a natural sanctuary surrounding the house—lush with ferns, ornamental grasses, wildflowers, aspens, and birches to ensure privacy and year-round vibrance.
Architect Dave Norrie explains:
“The experience starts as you approach from the street, feeling the elevation, then climb to a glass room in the trees. That sequence shapes the emotional journey through the home.”
The main living level features an expansive open-plan living room, dining area, and kitchen, complete with floor-to-ceiling folding glass doors that open onto a deck with jaw-dropping views. A new third-floor bedroom suite hovers above this space, literally giving residents a bird’s-eye perspective.
Design Details that Dance
Inside, Glossa and Norrie created a symphony of subtle movement and interaction. Every element was designed to enhance spatial awareness and sensory engagement. Think:
- Pivoting entrance doors
- Sliding wall panels and hidden cabinetry
- Recessed steel plinths giving the illusion of floating cabinets
- A transformable pass-through between kitchen and pantry
- A dramatic dining light fixture that echoes the home’s stacked geometry
In the foyer, a cascading display of linear wall lights draws the eye to a suspended woven-wire sculpture that twirls gently in the breeze—more kinetic art than mere decor.
Art as Architecture
For Glossa, art isn’t something you hang—it’s embedded into the DNA of the space. This principle shines in the kitchen, where a metallic, wipeable photograph of a Texas longhorn serves as the backsplash. On the ground floor, artist Warren Dykeman created a piece directly on the concrete floor. Works by Alden Mason and Alfred Harris inject vibrant color and motion, inspiring furniture choices like:
- A live-edge dining table crafted by local artisans
- An entry bench blending wood and vivid green metal
- A custom coffee table with curved blue and green metal over a matte black base
Color Discipline with Bold Intent
While the home bursts with colorful artwork, the material palette remains sharply controlled. Glossa explains:
“The architecture is confident. We didn’t want the interiors to compete, but to support that same confidence.”
Their final material choices were pared down to:
- Black
- White
- Blond rift-sawn white oak
This disciplined approach ensures that light, nature, and art remain the stars of the home.
Living in Art and Nature
With the project complete, the homeowner reflects on the journey with deep contentment.
“I feel more than satisfied. It’s magical living surrounded by light, trees, and art. I’ll never go to another open house again.”
Table of Materials and Featured Brands
| Element | Materials/Brands Used |
|---|---|
| Exterior Cladding | Rough-sawn cedar |
| Structural Frame | Steel and wood |
| Flooring | Concrete (art by Warren Dykeman), wood flooring upstairs |
| Kitchen Backsplash | Metal-printed art (Texas longhorn) with wipeable finish |
| Living Room Coffee Table | Custom design with blue/green curved metal and black metal base |
| Dining Table | Locally crafted live-edge wood |
| Bench | Mixed wood and green powder-coated metal |
| Interior Millwork | Rift-sawn white oak |
| Lighting Fixtures | Custom sculptural fixtures, stepped dining pendant |
| Landscape Elements | Ferns, ornamental grasses, meadow wildflowers, aspens, birches |
| Sculptural Installation | Woven wire kinetic piece in foyer gallery |
Team Behind the Project
- Photography: Andrew Giammarco
- Architecture: Dave Norrie – Sandall Norrie Architects
- Interior Design: Kathleen Glossa – Swivel Interiors
- Home Builder: Clay March – March-MacDonald
- Landscape Architecture: Zack Thomas – Board & Vellum
This Laurelhurst home proves that modern design, when rooted in artistic heritage and natural beauty, creates not just a house—but a living, breathing experience. Would you like a visual layout or a downloadable version of this article?
