Tour the Homes: Seattle's 14th Avenue East
Dream Drives : Episode DRD-206 -- More Projects »
Everything old is new again, especially along Seattle's 14th Avenue East. This pleasant tree-lined street high on Capitol Hill was known as Millionaires Row in its early 1900s heyday. But by midcentury, Seattle's wealthy had moved farther away and 14th Avenue East had lost some of its luster.
Now, with Seattle's economy booming from "computer-generated" business, this area is reclaiming some of its lost glory. Close to downtown and bordering popular Volunteers Park, 14th Avenue East combines the best of Seattle's past and present, and its recent renaissance means this street has a bright future.
Figure A — Known as "the wedding-cake house," this imposing classical mansion is a Seattle landmark. Built in 1909, the house sits on 14th Avenue East, right across from the entrance to Volunteers Park. White fluted columns and extravagant cornices cover the house's exterior like frosting on a cake. Figure B — Inside, mahogany and mirrors create a rich interior decor, while leaded glass windows provide a breathtaking view out to the greenery of the park.
Figures C and D — Gold and brass are the building blocks of this exquisite craftsman house. The home was built in 1905 by the owner of the Seattle Hardware Company, who made a fortune outfitting miners during the Alaska Gold Rush in the 1890s. Brass hardware from the original owner's store decorates many doors and windows — beautifully crafted pieces from nearly a century ago. Other original touches include tiles around the four fireplaces in warm earth-tone shades.
Figure E — This intriguing house has a conservative Federal-style facade that conceals a funky modern interior. The homeowner says she and her husband decided to go "crazy with color." Figure F — The living room is a dizzying blend of yellow walls and raspberry-colored chairs, while the kitchen is lime green and the bathroom is pumpkin orange. Furniture is minimal but striking, such as the dining-room chairs with off-kilter backrests and purple and gold cushions by sculptor and furniture artist Margaret Forrest.
Figures G and H — Volunteers Park is ideally placed at the highest point of one of Seattle's highest hills — a green and lush haven that offers sweeping vistas over Seattle. The Olmstead brothers, the creative team behind New York's Central Park, designed this one. Opened in the early 1900s, the park was named for the volunteers who fought in the Spanish-American War of 1898. Today, the 44-acre park is a magnet for both Seattle residents and visiting tourists. Park attractions include a phenomenal conservatory of glass and windows, Seattle's famous Asian Art Museum and a statue of William Seward, President Lincoln's secretary of state. Seward engineered the purchase of Alaska, which led to the Alaska gold rush and Seattle's early prosperity.
Resources Seattle-King County Convention and Visitors Bureau
Website:
www.visitseattle.org
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