My Houzz: Seattle Craftsman a Haven of Inspiration

Jenny Vorwaller’s thorough understanding of color and texture can be seen both in her work as an oil painter and in how she’s thoughtfully furnished the Seattle home that she, husband Marcus and their two boys have been renting for 2½ years. Though each room of the Craftsman home has a different mood, together they create a cohesive and ongoing narrative. “I feel that a home is a lot like painting,” Jenny says. “It can always be interesting while in progress, something added here and something edited there. Nothing is too static here.”

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Marcus and Jenny Vorwaller and their 2 sons
Location: Seattle
Size: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms

“We are very casual in every single way at home,” Jenny says. “It’s all about comfort — making a place that is our sanctuary.” The living room’s style marries good taste and function, setting the tone for the rest of the home.

The family’s favorite spots in the home are the spaces where they can gather together, retreat and recharge, such as the living room. In the evenings and on weekends, they often cozy up in this space, taking in a good movie or two.


The Vorwallers are avid readers. In each room of their home there is a comfortable spot, or what Jenny calls a zone, to settle into and get lost in an intriguing novel or memoir.


The cooler, moodier tones of the dining room mimic the often cloudy, gray skies of the Pacific Northwest. Jenny says, “I feel that a [room] should describe the setting it’s truly in and reflect where you live.”


“Our decorating style is quite eclectic, by necessity and taste,” Jenny says. The home is filled with pieces that not only visually inspire the family, but that are also practical, something that is essential with two active boys growing up there.


The entry mudroom with its big windows that let in ample sunlight houses the majority of the home’s plants.


The galley-style kitchen is wider and more spacious than most galley kitchens, a perk that Jenny often enjoys while cooking.


Open shelving showcases Jenny’s collection of ceramics and glassware.


A window at the kitchen sink provides a pleasing view of the backyard garden.

Aura Double Ring chime: Ladies and Gentleman Studio


Jenny takes a midafternoon break for tea at the countertop where the family shares nearly every meal.


A coffee station is set up in the hallway pantry adjacent to the kitchen. Jenny and Marcus’ preferred method of brewing is the Chemex, seen here on the right.


One of Jenny’s favorite recent home decor projects is the wood slab table in the sunny reading nook of the kitchen. She acquired the slab from Ballard Reuse and held on to it for a year before bringing it to her friends at Plank and Grain to be made into a side table.


Natural elements throughout the house are part of an ever-evolving collection amassed by the couple. The sculptural piece of driftwood that sits atop a cabinet in the kitchen is one that Marcus brought back as a gift for Jenny after a long hike on the Olympic Peninsula.


The master bedroom has light-colored walls that make the most of the sunlight that streams through the southeast-facing windows.


One of Jenny’s favorite pieces in the master bedroom is this copper-plated chair that sits next to her mirrored vanity. It adds a pop of texture and color.

Copper Real Good chair: Blu Dot


The bright and crisp creamy hues that saturate the reading nook in the master bedroom usher in a feeling of calm.

Photo print: Chantal Anderson; blanket: Pendleton; dresser: Malm, Ikea


Jenny picks some fresh lilacs, whose fragrance is a Seattle trademark and a favorite of the family, from the backyard garden to bring into their home.

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URL: My Houzz: Seattle Craftsman a Haven of Inspiration http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-26324.html