Suburban Modern

I’m a fan of any well-executed architectural style, but one of my favorites is modern architecture, especially the Mid-Century Modern and Northwest Contemporary varieties. And the good news is that there are many great examples of this style in the suburbs around Seattle–in fact, you could even say that the suburbs are the true home of both of these styles. This is especially so in areas that were developed in the 1950s and 1960s–which describes most of the communities in Northwest King and Southwest Snohomish county where I work.

Part of why these homes appeal to me is because I grew up in them. I spent a lot of time in one particular mid-century home, which was my grandparent’s house in Tacoma. It was a 1950s rambler with a daylight basement. If truth be told, it was probably nothing special architecturally, however like many mid-century homes it had a definite modern feel with its low-slung roofline, open floor plan, slate floors, Asian-inspired landscaping and huge picture windows and attached portico, from which one could take advantage of the Puget Sound view. I even remember the pattern on the white-and-gold Sputnik-patterned Formica in the kitchen (sadly, it was eventually replaced with white tile).

The other notable element of my grandparent’s house was my grandmother’s sense of style. She was one of the first people I ever knew who appreciated Asian art, and from her time spent living in Hawaii she also had an interest in anything Hawaiian. Maybe it’s because of her that I also love Asian gardens and anything to do with vintage Tiki or Polynesian style.

Click here for my articles about Modern Homes.

If you’re looking for more fun stuff, check out this ever-expanding list of links to some of my favorite Modern, Tiki and just other interesting people, places and things. If I’m missing something you think should be included, dont be afraid to email me!

Atomic Ranch

Pacific Northwest Regional Architecture