
August 10, 2025Even though designer Lisa Staton has lived in the Seattle area for more than two decades, she still roots her interiors in the historic aesthetic vernacular she grew up surrounded by on the East Coast. These origins have deeply informed the native Bostonian’s inspirations and decorative penchants — her love of antiques, vintage architecture and well-patinated finishes among them. But Staton also clearly finds much to love in the West’s laid-back lifestyle and blurred line between indoors and out. “People live more casually here, and we reflect that in our designs,” she says.
So, when a Brooklyn-based couple approached her about renovating their second residence, a 1920s-era Craftsman-style house in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, both the homeowners and Staton agreed they were a perfect match.
“They wanted to bring some of that New York character to Seattle,” Staton says of the clients, whose primary residence is a classic Brooklyn Heights brownstone. Originally from this corner of Washington State, the couple visits Seattle with their children several times a year, during summer vacation and holidays.
Staton says she saw the architectural bones of the Seattle house as key to the interior design. “Our job was to restore some of the traditional elements that had been stripped away during previous renovations” — while at the same time creating rooms that felt edited, contemporary and calm.
A balance between old and new is evident throughout the home, as is the push-pull between East Coast formality and Western comfort that defines all Staton’s projects.
Staton made significant changes to the interiors to temper a decor that had lost its sense of history. Over the years, the home had been fairly aggressively modernized, with steel staircases and contemporary finishes. She redesigned the primary set of stairs to re-create the original wooden one, vestiges of which remained on the main level. In its restored form, Staton explains, it knits the home “together, in the way you might see in an English house with modern additions layered onto tradition.”
One of the earliest moves Staton made to recapture some of the home’s historic character involved the fireplace, which became a touchstone for the entire design narrative. “They had this beautiful marble mantel in Brooklyn, and they wanted to echo that authenticity here,” the designer says of her clients. “We found an antique on 1stDibs that looked as if it could have been original to the living room. That one seemingly small choice really anchored the rest of the design.”
Throughout the house, Staton focused on outfitting the rooms with newly acquired, but not necessarily new, finds that complemented the Craftsman architecture, such as the kitchen’s sculptural vintage Murano glass pendant lights and the stained-glass doors of the cabinets forming a partition between the kitchen and the dining room. She also selected natural materials and finishes, like the cotton velvet covering the sofas in the living room.
The resulting decor displays the seemingly effortless mix of old and new that Staton has perfected in projects up and down the West Coast. “When I first moved out here, clients were investing their money in modern houses. They weren’t so into the historic gems. But I’ve seen a real return to loving these more traditional houses that feel comfortable and welcoming,” she says. “This project is high-end, yes, but it doesn’t scream luxury. It says, ‘Please, sit down. Stay awhile.’ ”
Here, she invites Introspective to linger in its rooms.
Entry
“We wanted the entry to set the tone for everything that follows,” Staton says. An antique brass-and-glass pendant from 1stDibs and a vintage Turkish rug from the 1920s create an immediate sense of history and serenity. Walls and trim in Sherwin-Williams Alabaster reinforce the feeling of quiet. The floors, while new, were rendered in oak to exactly match the original. “The clients are really warm and welcoming people who exude calmness, but there’s a playfulness that always includes things like beautiful French tablecloths, handmade ceramics and a desire to feed and nourish everyone,” Staton says.
Living Room
The clients wanted a main living area “that was sculptural but soft,” Staton says. A vintage 1920s Turkish Oushak rug anchors the space, while a custom moss-green velvet English-style sofa and a pair of 1940s Swedish armchairs invite lounging. The marble mid-century modern coffee table, sourced through 1stDibs, and the early-1900s Italian mantel echo the classic style of their Brooklyn home. Sconces from Lumfardo LuminaIres, made of brass and glass, complete the picture.
Dining Room
“This is where the house becomes more layered,” says Staton, who paired Niels Koefoed chairs with a teak Finn Juhl for France & Søn table, all from the 1960s. Hanging above, a Murano glass chandelier from the 1930s adds a hint of glamour. Holland & Sherry sheer wool drapes lend softness to the space, while stained-glass cabinet doors by Erin Crosby, of Crosby Glass Studio introduce an artisanal touch. “Since there are already so many organic elements in the house, with the stained glass, we leaned into colors that spoke to the clients. It balances out the monochromatic nature of the project, but it doesn’t hit you over the head.”
Kitchen
“We designed the island to feel like a furniture piece,” says Staton, who credits Lauren Galeotti, a designer on her team, with the concept. “And there’s a gutsiness to the marble” used for the counters and backsplash. The cabinetry is painted in Farrow & Ball’s Dimity, paired with brass hardware. Of the early 20th-century Murano pendants above, the designer says, “They’re a little fancy, but also organic, which makes them just right for Seattle.” A Le Cornue range and antique stools round out the mix.
Breakfast Nook
The breakfast corner — which, Staton says, “serves as a space for the family to connect over coffee and meals” — opens to the garden and feels like a casual extension of the kitchen. Placed beneath a DBO Home pendant light, the simple white-oak oval pedestal table is flanked by a custom banquette and vintage Bruno Rey for Kusch+Co chairs newly outfitted with bespoke cushions.
Primary Bedroom
“Upstairs, the house feels a little more modern,” says Staton, who reduced the use of antique-style millwork, like crown moldings, on the second floor. With its views over the trees, the primary bedroom brings a sense of nature indoors. More Lumfardo sconces are mounted over small custom Italian bedside tables, while an antique tapestry adds a worldly touch. “It’s edited but still layered in a European way,” she says of the decor.
Pottery Studio
One of the homeowners is an avid ceramist, who wanted a studio that inspired creativity while feeling a little unexpected. The stylized floral wallpaper — based on a 1940s design by Josef Frank — injects a colorful whimsy. “We leaned into the Gustavian influences of the interior and brought in walnut shelves and Shaker-style cabinetry, which feels humble and handmade,” says Staton.
Powder Room
“The clients had looked at hundreds of wallpapers, but this one from House of Hackney hit the mark immediately,” Staton says. Outfitted with a tiny hammered sink, custom paneling and Watermark fixtures from Brooklyn, the space is a moody jewel box. Hwang Bishop lights and a vintage mirror complete the vignette.
Basement
“While the ceilings in the basement are low, we were able to nestle in a little guest zone, including a bathroom, kitchenette and workout room and managed to have some fun with the wallpaper,” says Staton. “The Camerich sofa is one hundred percent linen and stuffed with down feathers. It’s a spot for everyone to just collapse right into.” A custom coffee table and a contemporary reissue of a William Morris floral wallpaper give the space additional personality.