Sleekness in Seattle: Modern Garden, Midcentury House

While they were house hunting in Seattle, Bob and Michele Conrad met builder Tom Lozier and he told them about a project he was working on, a 1966 house designed by modernist architect Ralph Anderson in Bellevue’s Clyde Hill neighborhood. They drove over to see the house-in-process—and instantly fell in love with the property.

The large lot had great light, an air of privacy (they felt like there were no neighbors), and a peaceful silence. How could the Conrads not buy it?

Photography courtesy of Belathée Photography.

Above: Tom Lozier’s design-build firm Lockwood Lozier worked with designer Lisa Staton to re-work the interiors of the house, and designer Karen Stefonick came up with plan to re-imagine the landscape.

Siding and trim were painted a dark gray (the paint color is Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore) to give the house a crisp modern feel and blend into the landscape, says Staton: “The boldly drawn architecture of this Ralph Anderson residence dictates the look and feel of the landscaping, second only to its functionality.”

Above: “Angular walkways, repetitive structured plantings, and garden beds keep the landscape simple, with clean lines, yet bold in look and feel,” says Staton.

Above: Slabs of concrete poured in a large scale grid have plantings between them. “The primary focus was the outdoor living spaces: multiple decks, raised fire pit, and an outdoor kitchen make this home perfect for entertaining, and their more than generous size and configuration provide a harmonious segue between the Scandinavian-influenced interior and the outdoor,” says Staton.

Above: Repeating the interior black-and-white color scheme, the contractor lightened a Flatiron Rectangular Dining Table from Restoration Hardware (and added a weather-resistant finish); the table is available in six lengths at prices ranging from $895 to $1,795.

Above: The black dining chairs are Sophia Chairs woven of weather-resistant resin rattan; $84.95 apiece from CB2.

Above: Outdoor kitchen appliances include an Artisan gas grill, U-Line refrigerator, and Broan hood.

Above: An outdoor lounge area has a fire pit as a focal point; white Soleil Lounge Chairs chairs with a durable powder coated finish are $329 apiece from Room & Board. A round Topanga Natural Gas Fire Table is available in two sizes at prices ranging from $2,395 to $3,795 at Restoration Hardware.

Above: Homeowner Bob Conrad spent seven years traveling the world as a professional golfer; a putting green was a must. The green’s ForeverLawn artificial grass is usable year-round.

Above: “We re-purposed a Saarinen table from their previous house out by the putting green and used four Eames molded plastic chairs,” says Staton.

For more garden design ideas for a midcentury house, see Garden Visit: Midcentury Eichler Gem.

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