Dark timber siding and expansive glass walls highlight seattle mid-century renovation, overlooking forested ravine.

Transformative Seattle Renovation Unites 1960s Home with Stunning Modern Design

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Written by Seth Sebastian

2026-10-11

Nestled in a lush forested ravine in Seattle’s Matthews Beach neighborhood, The Burrows stands as a testament to the enduring allure of mid-century architecture. This seattle mid-century renovation was originally crafted in the 1960s by Anna Williams and constructed by John Burrows. The home ingeniously included both family spaces and a professional psychiatry office across two levels. New owners Nalina and Peter embarked on a thoughtful renovation journey with chadbourne + doss architects to harmonize these distinct areas, update interiors, and infuse modern comforts while preserving the home’s unique character.

Seattle Mid-Century Renovation Amidst Nature

The house unfurls across the hillside, characterized by expansive roof overhangs, dark timber cladding, and large glass panes that frame the verdant landscape. An elevated deck extends from the upper level, while rooms below seem to hover over the sloped terrain. Here, exposed structural features, timber ceilings, and brick elements showcase its classic mid-century appeal. As dusk settles, the interior glow from the glass walls reveals this tiered design, seamlessly tucked among mature trees and dense foliage.

To explore another innovative transformation, RX Architects blends timber into Sussex landscape offering design inspiration for nature-centered homes.

Dark timber siding, expansive glass walls, and wooden decking overlook forested ravine.
Explore the architecture of The Burrows in Seattle, featuring dark timber siding, expansive glass walls, elevated wooden decking, and two levels overlooking a forested ravine.

Welcoming Entrance with Floor-to-Ceiling Transparency

The entrance discreetly occupies a recessed area, featuring a sheltered concrete landing that leads to a wood-framed glass door. This element of the seattle mid-century renovation, flanked by extensive windows, allows for natural light, providing glimpses into the inviting interiors. Timber ceilings and beams continue the stylistic nod to a mid-century past, while a glazed section above offers skyward views. Inside, warm wood elements and curated artwork establish a welcoming ambiance, with a bespoke walnut divider subtly structuring the space.

Recessed entrance with floor-to-ceiling glass, exposed timber ceilings, and a concrete landing.
Step inside The Burrows, a renovated mid-century home in Seattle by chadbourne + doss architects. A recessed entrance features floor-to-ceiling glass, exposed timber ceilings, a concrete landing, and a custom walnut room divider.
Recessed entrance with floor-to-ceiling glass, exposed timber ceilings, and a concrete landing.
Step inside The Burrows, a renovated mid-century home in Seattle by chadbourne + doss architects. A recessed entrance features floor-to-ceiling glass, exposed timber ceilings, a concrete landing, and a custom walnut room divider.
Recessed entrance with floor-to-ceiling glass, exposed timber ceilings, and a concrete landing.
Step inside The Burrows, a renovated mid-century home in Seattle by chadbourne + doss architects. A recessed entrance features floor-to-ceiling glass, exposed timber ceilings, a concrete landing, and a custom walnut room divider.

Living Room Anchored by an Iconic Brick Fireplace

The centerpiece of the living room is a towering brick fireplace with an arched design and broad concrete base, a hallmark of its original allure. Wood-paneled walls, exposed ceiling beams, and timber floors evoke classic mid-century style. The owners’ approachably eclectic furnishings, including a caramel leather sofa and woven lounge chair, enhance a sense of relaxed, lived-in comfort. A bench by the windows invites quiet reflection, connecting the room to its surrounding natural beauty.

Living room features arched brick fireplace, wood-paneled walls, and vintage-inspired furniture.
Take a look inside the living room of the Burrows, a renovated mid-century home in Seattle. An original arched brick fireplace, wood-paneled walls, exposed beams, vintage-inspired furniture, and a window bench give the space its warm, inviting character.

Dining Room with Artistic Charm and Mid-Century Elegance

Beyond the entrance, the dining room exudes warmth with mid-century furniture, tactile wood surfaces, and whimsical touches. A robust wooden table, surrounded by chairs with woven seats, centers the room beneath a brass chandelier adorned with globe shades. Alongside, a vintage-inspired unit offers storage and display space, pairing slatted doors and glass compartments for showcasing art and ceramics. A patterned rug adds texture beneath, framed by greenery through nearby windows.

Dining room with wooden furniture, woven chairs, brass chandelier, and vintage-style cabinetry.
Explore the dining room of The Burrows, a mid-century Seattle home renovated by chadbourne + doss architects. Wooden furniture, woven dining chairs, a brass globe chandelier, and vintage-style cabinetry create a warm interior.

Updated Kitchen Marries Walnut and Brass Elegance

The kitchen has been meticulously transformed from its previously cramped state, reportedly once necessitating trash disposal through a window. It’s now spacious and open, merging smoothly with entry and living areas. This seattle mid-century renovation includes custom walnut cabinets, featuring diverse fronts and innovative storage options, offering richness and utility. Pale stone countertops and backsplashes contrast warmly with brass accents, creating an understated luxury. A central island, with brass legs, adds both function and style, supporting suspended storage above.

Renovated kitchen with custom walnut cabinetry, slatted wood details, and brass fixtures.
Explore the renovated kitchen of The Burrows, a mid-century modern home in Seattle by chadbourne + doss architects. Custom walnut cabinetry, slatted wood details, brass fixtures, pale stone countertops, a brass chef’s sink, and a sculptural kitchen island bring warmth and functionality to the space.
Renovated kitchen with custom walnut cabinetry, slatted wood details, and brass fixtures.
Explore the renovated kitchen of The Burrows, a mid-century modern home in Seattle by chadbourne + doss architects. Custom walnut cabinetry, slatted wood details, brass fixtures, pale stone countertops, a brass chef’s sink, and a sculptural kitchen island bring warmth and functionality to the space.
Renovated kitchen with custom walnut cabinetry, slatted wood details, and brass fixtures.
Explore the renovated kitchen of The Burrows, a mid-century modern home in Seattle by chadbourne + doss architects. Custom walnut cabinetry, slatted wood details, brass fixtures, pale stone countertops, a brass chef’s sink, and a sculptural kitchen island bring warmth and functionality to the space.
Renovated kitchen with custom walnut cabinetry, slatted wood details, and brass fixtures.
Explore the renovated kitchen of The Burrows, a mid-century modern home in Seattle by chadbourne + doss architects. Custom walnut cabinetry, slatted wood details, brass fixtures, pale stone countertops, a brass chef’s sink, and a sculptural kitchen island bring warmth and functionality to the space.
Renovated kitchen with custom walnut cabinetry, slatted wood details, and brass fixtures.
Explore the renovated kitchen of The Burrows, a mid-century modern home in Seattle by chadbourne + doss architects. Custom walnut cabinetry, slatted wood details, brass fixtures, pale stone countertops, a brass chef’s sink, and a sculptural kitchen island bring warmth and functionality to the space.
Renovated kitchen with custom walnut cabinetry, slatted wood details, and brass fixtures.
Explore the renovated kitchen of The Burrows, a mid-century modern home in Seattle by chadbourne + doss architects. Custom walnut cabinetry, slatted wood details, brass fixtures, pale stone countertops, a brass chef’s sink, and a sculptural kitchen island bring warmth and functionality to the space.
Renovated kitchen with custom walnut cabinetry, slatted wood details, and brass fixtures.
Explore the renovated kitchen of The Burrows, a mid-century modern home in Seattle by chadbourne + doss architects. Custom walnut cabinetry, slatted wood details, brass fixtures, pale stone countertops, a brass chef’s sink, and a sculptural kitchen island bring warmth and functionality to the space.
Renovated kitchen with custom walnut cabinetry, slatted wood details, and brass fixtures.
Explore the renovated kitchen of The Burrows, a mid-century modern home in Seattle by chadbourne + doss architects. Custom walnut cabinetry, slatted wood details, brass fixtures, pale stone countertops, a brass chef’s sink, and a sculptural kitchen island bring warmth and functionality to the space.
Renovated kitchen with custom walnut cabinetry, slatted wood details, and brass fixtures.
Explore the renovated kitchen of The Burrows, a mid-century modern home in Seattle by chadbourne + doss architects. Custom walnut cabinetry, slatted wood details, brass fixtures, pale stone countertops, a brass chef’s sink, and a sculptural kitchen island bring warmth and functionality to the space.
Renovated kitchen with custom walnut cabinetry, slatted wood details, and brass fixtures.
Explore the renovated kitchen of The Burrows, a mid-century modern home in Seattle by chadbourne + doss architects. Custom walnut cabinetry, slatted wood details, brass fixtures, pale stone countertops, a brass chef’s sink, and a sculptural kitchen island bring warmth and functionality to the space.
Renovated kitchen with custom walnut cabinetry, slatted wood details, and brass fixtures.
Explore the renovated kitchen of The Burrows, a mid-century modern home in Seattle by chadbourne + doss architects. Custom walnut cabinetry, slatted wood details, brass fixtures, pale stone countertops, a brass chef’s sink, and a sculptural kitchen island bring warmth and functionality to the space.

Primary Bedroom Offering Tranquility with Forest Views

Formerly a psychiatry office, this space now blooms as a serene primary bedroom, featuring a custom bed against vertical wood slats. Simple furnishings, including soft neutral bedding and a knitted throw, allow the expansive view from floor-to-ceiling windows to dominate. An original brick fireplace adds coziness, complemented by a lounge chair poised for admiring the lush, moss-laden trunks outside, marrying original details with modern finishes for a cohesive design. Such a transformation speaks to thoughtful seattle home design.

Primary bedroom with custom wooden bed, slatted headboard, and original brick fireplace.
Explore the primary bedroom of The Burrows, a renovated mid-century home in Seattle by chadbourne + doss architects. A custom wooden bed and slatted headboard, original brick fireplace, neutral bedding, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the forest create a warm, inviting space.
Primary bedroom with custom wooden bed, slatted headboard, and original brick fireplace.
Explore the primary bedroom of The Burrows, a renovated mid-century home in Seattle by chadbourne + doss architects. A custom wooden bed and slatted headboard, original brick fireplace, neutral bedding, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the forest create a warm, inviting space.

Luxurious Green-Tiled Ensuite Bathroom

The new ensuite replaces a diminutive original with a spacious, inviting design. Soft green Heath tiles clad the wet room and tub area, contrasting with darker floor tiles. Brass fixtures, including a handheld shower and floor-mounted tub filler, enrich the bathroom’s appeal. A walnut vanity with slatted details, dual sinks, and a stone countertop stands alongside pendant-lit mirrors, embodying contemporary flair mingled with mid-century undertones.

Primary bedroom with custom wooden bed, slatted headboard, and original brick fireplace.
Explore the primary bedroom of The Burrows, a renovated mid-century home in Seattle by chadbourne + doss architects. A custom wooden bed and slatted headboard, original brick fireplace, neutral bedding, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the forest create a warm, inviting space.
Primary bedroom with custom wooden bed, slatted headboard, and original brick fireplace.
Explore the primary bedroom of The Burrows, a renovated mid-century home in Seattle by chadbourne + doss architects. A custom wooden bed and slatted headboard, original brick fireplace, neutral bedding, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the forest create a warm, inviting space.

Revamped Floor Plans: Old Meets New

The revised floor plans by chadbourne + doss architects reveal a strategic reimagining of space. Upstairs, the kitchen now flows into living areas, while downstairs, former clinics morph into a primary suite, library, laundry, and media room, linked by a new internal staircase. This integration breathes continuity into the previously divided home, exemplifying key elements of a seattle mid-century renovation.

Ensuite bathroom features green Heath tiles, freestanding soaking tub, and brass fixtures.
Explore the primary ensuite bathroom of The Burrows, a renovated mid-century home in Seattle by chadbourne + doss architects. Green Heath tiles, a freestanding soaking tub, brass fixtures, and a custom walnut double vanity create a beautiful modern bathroom.

This thorough transformation of The Burrows exemplifies how careful renovations can honor historical charm while embracing contemporary living. By intertwining original architectural details with functional updates, the home now stands poised to offer both allure and comfort for years to come.

Ensuite bathroom features green Heath tiles, freestanding soaking tub, and brass fixtures.
Explore the primary ensuite bathroom of The Burrows, a renovated mid-century home in Seattle by chadbourne + doss architects. Green Heath tiles, a freestanding soaking tub, brass fixtures, and a custom walnut double vanity create a beautiful modern bathroom.

Dive into more sustainable design ideas with Magdalen House in Quebec to see how it harmonizes with its environment.

Ensuite bathroom features green Heath tiles, freestanding soaking tub, and brass fixtures.
Explore the primary ensuite bathroom of The Burrows, a renovated mid-century home in Seattle by chadbourne + doss architects. Green Heath tiles, a freestanding soaking tub, brass fixtures, and a custom walnut double vanity create a beautiful modern bathroom.

Photography by Rafael Soldi Photography | Architecture & Interiors by chadbourne + doss architects | Interior Furnishings by Owners | Contractor & Casework by Bucktide General Contractors | Artwork by Becca Fuhrman, Bedallo, Natasha Alphonse, and Brendan Fuller

Before-and-after floor plans show redesigned kitchen and transformed lower-level space.
Explore the before-and-after floor plans of The Burrows, a mid-century Seattle home renovated by chadbourne + doss architects, showing the redesigned kitchen and transformation of the former lower-level offices into living spaces.
Dark timber siding and expansive glass walls highlight seattle mid-century renovation, overlooking forested ravine.
Explore the architecture of The Burrows in Seattle, featuring dark timber siding, expansive glass walls, elevated wooden decking, and two levels overlooking a forested ravine.

Source: contemporist.com

Frequently asked questions

How does the entrance of The Burrows look?

The entrance features a recessed area with a sheltered concrete landing leading to a wood-framed glass door flanked by extensive windows, allowing natural light and glimpses into the interiors.

What features define the living room’s design?

The living room is anchored by a towering brick fireplace with an arched design and broad concrete base, and it includes wood-paneled walls, exposed ceiling beams, and timber floors, emphasizing classic mid-century style.

What changes were made to the primary bedroom?

The former psychiatry office is now a serene primary bedroom featuring a custom bed against vertical wood slats, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering expansive forest views and an original brick fireplace adding coziness.

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