This classic Seattle Foursquare had the architectural character worth preserving, but decades of wear had left the home in need of substantial repair. Gerry Homes approached the project with a clear objective: restore the details that gave the house its identity while comprehensively rebuilding it for modern family life.

Every floor was touched. The home was gutted, with new electrical and plumbing throughout, while original materials and architectural details were preserved and restored wherever they could be saved.

Restoring the Original Exterior

The transformation began with the exterior. Rather than replace the home’s original wood siding, we remediated years of failing paint, removed deteriorated coatings, patched rotten areas with new siding matched to the existing profile, and repainted the entire house.

The goal was not to make the Foursquare look newly invented. It was to make the original architecture beautiful again.

Opening the Home Without Losing Its Character

Inside, the kitchen was completely rethought. The existing wall separating it from the dining room made the main floor feel closed off, so it was removed and replaced with an island, creating a much stronger connection between cooking, dining, and everyday family life.

The original linoleum flooring was removed and replaced with top-nailed oak selected to match the historic floors elsewhere in the house. We also preserved and recreated the original mahogany inlay detail so the new work would feel integrated rather than obviously added later.

Nearby, the original paneled pocket doors between the living and dining rooms were carefully rebuilt and returned to working order, preserving another defining feature of the home rather than replacing it with something new.

Modernizing the Living Spaces

The living room retained its original fireplace, but the surrounding composition needed renewal. The brick was painted, a new gas insert was installed, and a mantel was added to give the fireplace greater presence while respecting the proportions of the original room.

The staircase received the same preservation-minded treatment. Its distinctive rounded-tread detail was retained by removing layers of old paint, sanding the wood back, and refinishing the treads to coordinate with the existing hardwood floors.

An awkward powder room that had been squeezed into the stair landing was relocated to the main floor and enlarged, improving both circulation and everyday usability.

Reworking the Private Spaces

Upstairs, Gerry Homes worked with the architect to rethink the primary suite. The existing bathroom was awkwardly positioned and poorly laid out, while the bedroom relied only on wall closets. The entire primary suite was reconfigured to create a better-planned, more functional layout, including a new bath and walk-in closet.

The basement was also reconfigured and finished to create additional living space, including a bonus room, while the home's electrical and plumbing systems were comprehensively replaced as part of the whole-home renovation.

Extending the Home Outdoors

The renovation continued into the backyard. The existing outdoor area was reworked with an enlarged deck that created substantially more room for dining, entertaining, and everyday use.

The redesigned rear deck expanded the home’s usable living space outdoors and created a better setting for entertaining.

The deteriorating detached garage was also rebuilt, completing the transformation beyond the walls of the house itself.

Preserving What Matters

The finished home is new in almost every functional sense, yet it still feels unmistakably like a Seattle Foursquare.

The original siding profile, working paneled pocket doors, rounded stair treads, top-nailed oak floors, mahogany inlay, and other architectural details remain part of the home’s identity, while the layout, systems, kitchen, primary suite, basement, and outdoor spaces now support the way a family lives today.

For Gerry Homes, a successful whole-home renovation is not about making an older house look new. It is about recognizing what gives the home its character, preserving those elements with care, and making thoughtful changes everywhere else so the house can work beautifully for another generation.

Builder / General Contractor: Gerry Homes

Restored Capitol Hill Foursquare Front Entry

Front entry of the restored Seattle Foursquare after extensive exterior siding repair and repainting, preserving the original architectural character of the home.

Living Room with Renewed Fireplace

The original living-room fireplace was updated with painted brick, a new gas insert, and an added mantel while the room’s original proportions and hardwood character were preserved.

Restored Dining Room with Original Hardwood Floors

The renovated dining room retains the traditional proportions and hardwood character of the original Foursquare while connecting more openly to the redesigned kitchen.

Opened Kitchen and Dining Room Connection

Removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room and replacing it with an island created a more connected main floor while preserving the identity of the original rooms.

Fully Reconfigured Foursquare Kitchen

The kitchen was completely redesigned with new cabinetry, island seating, professional-style appliances, and top-nailed oak flooring matched to the historic floors elsewhere in the home.

Kitchen with French Doors to Expanded Rear Deck

Full-lite French doors connect the redesigned kitchen directly to the enlarged rear deck, improving the relationship between indoor living and outdoor entertaining.

Relocated Main-Floor Powder Room

An undersized powder room formerly located at the stair landing was relocated to the main floor and enlarged to create a more functional and inviting space.

Expanded Rear Deck for Outdoor Entertaining

The original rear deck was substantially enlarged to create more usable space for outdoor dining, entertaining, and everyday family life.

Reconfigured Primary Bedroom

The upper floor was reworked to create a more functional primary suite with a properly planned bathroom and dedicated walk-in closet.

New Primary Walk-In Closet

The redesigned primary suite replaced limited wall closets with a dedicated walk-in closet and integrated storage.

Renovated Children's Room

This children’s bedroom was fully refreshed as part of the whole-home gut renovation, with new electrical, lighting, paint, and finishes creating a bright, comfortable room within the restored historic home

Finished Attic Children’s Playroom

The previously underused attic was finished as a dedicated children’s play space, creating valuable additional room without altering the historic character of the main living floors

New Lower-Level Bathroom

Reconfiguring and finishing the basement created additional living space and allowed a new full bathroom to be incorporated into the lower level.

Finished Lower-Level Bonus Room with Wet Bar

The renovated basement includes a comfortable bonus room with a built-in wet bar, adding flexible living and entertaining space to the home.

Renovated Backyard with Expanded Rear Deck

The finished backyard shows the enlarged rear deck, new landscaping, and improved connection between the house and outdoor living areas.

Renovated front exterior

Considering a Whole-Home Renovation in Seattle?

Whether you’re restoring an older home, reworking an outdated floor plan, or planning a comprehensive renovation, we’d love to learn what you’re envisioning.

Schedule a consultation

Capitol Hill Foursquare Restoration

Living Well in Capitol Hill