My Houzz: An Urban Oasis in a Converted Loft

“I always thought it was the coolest place to live,” architectural designer Mitchell Pride says of the converted garage space he fell in love with the moment he first visited it five years ago. At the time, the cozy loft was rented by his college friend Jacque Salmons. When she moved out, Pride jumped at the chance to rent the unit himself and went to work to turn it into a space that showcases his eye for design. He patiently collected vintage furniture and saved up for curated modern pieces for years, and now the home is a reflection of his Midwest upbringing, his Manhattan graduate school experience and the city of Seattle, which he now calls home.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Mitchell Pride
Location: Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle
Size: 450 square feet (42 square meters); 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom

When Pride moved in, he immediately knew how he wanted to delineate areas in the upper level’s open floor plan. “The dining table works so well next to the outdoor deck, and the always-changing light coming through the skylights into the sitting area is gorgeous,” he says. Above the sofa is an original painting by Pride.

Reese sofa: Room & Board


“It’s taken me almost three years to collect all of the furniture in my house,” Pride says. He found the vintage dining chairs in a secondhand store not long after he moved to Seattle. These coveted pieces, along with an air mattress, were the only furniture in his apartment back then.

“I didn’t have any budget for furniture after graduate school, so I borrowed the money for the chairs from my parents and paid them back over the course of a few months,” he says. “They were incredibly understanding — you have to jump on quality pieces you know are worth it.”

Dining chairs: midcentury Danish teak (similar here)


Before Pride’s friend Salmons left Seattle, she helped Pride design and build the glass pendant chandelier that hangs above the dining room table. It’s made from individual glass tea light holders and a simple steel pipe. Pride hand dyed the string to give the piece texture and depth.

Whirly hanging candleholders: CB2


It took over a year for Pride to find the perfect sofa. “It definitely came with a hefty price tag, but I’ve never regretted it,” he says. “It’s one of my favorite pieces.”

Mid-Century nightstand in Acorn, Owl table lamp and Sculpted Origami pillow cover (discontinued): West Elm; felt stripe pillow (discontinued): CB2


Most of the windows in the home frame views of adjacent trees and flowers, giving the upper level a treehouse-like feel. “I love being at my house in the later hours of the morning — opening up the windows, enjoying the light and drinking my coffee,” Pride says. “It’s magical that time of day.”


The loft’s open floor plan makes it ideal for hosting gatherings, something Pride likes to do often. “It’s great to be able to open up the deck and have friends flowing from the living room all the way outside without everyone feeling too separated,” he says.


To enter the unit, you have to go through a courtyard that separates the main house from the garage. Pride’s unit is surrounded by leafy trees that mask the adjacent buildings and filter out street noise from the busy commercial district nearby.






Immediately inside the front door is the sunken bedroom, a few steps down from the entry landing. Though it doesn’t receive as much natural light as the loft space above, its high ceiling keeps the room from feeling dark. A piece of original art done by Pride sits on the headboard.

Alpine Gunmetal bed: CB2; Threshold Vintage Wash quilt: Target


Pride displays his artful collection of hats within easy reach of his bed.

Lava Boxer pillow: All Modern


Pride has plans for an art installation in the entry staircase, but for now an original photo of his hangs above the entry door. “Everyone asks if it was my dog,” Pride says, “but it’s a friendly pup I met while visiting Santa Fe, New Mexico.” The photo won an award at a photography contest held at the company where his father works. Pride’s mother later had the photo printed on canvas and framed for him as a gift.


Pride has a discerning eye for midcentury furniture, and many of the pieces in his home, such as this vintage buffet, are from local secondhand shops.

Most of the artwork in the home consists of originals done by Pride, with a few curated pieces done by friends. Family photos are also sprinkled throughout on tables and shelves.


Pride’s personal aesthetic has been heavily influenced by his move to the Pacific Northwest. “I love the multitude of greens we’re surrounded by here,” he says. “Pair those greens with a natural wood, and you have a winning combination.”

Bondis wall clock: Ikea


Pride loved the industrial shelving that began popping up in recent years, but most designer units were out of his price range. “So I went to Lowe’s and got my bookshelf for $35, and it does everything I want it to do,” he says.

Throughout the home are items handed down from his great-grandparents. Some items he cherishes include a small tin calendar that belonged to his great-grandmother, left, and marble salt and pepper shakers that sit on the kitchen counter.

Edsal freestanding shelf unit: Lowe’s


A Lego Space Needle stands next to his great-grandmother’s desk clock and a wooden Rubik’s Cube that Pride purchased as a souvenir in Prague.


Pride is an avid traveler and keeps sketchbooks full of detailed and delicate sketches from his trips. Pictured here is one of his favorite pages, a drawing of a statue of Saint Bruno he made while visiting Rome in 2006. He recently listed his home on Airbnb for the occasional like-minded traveler.


“I love what happens when you find unique pieces and slowly collect them instead of forcing a specific look or just filling a space because it’s empty,” Pride says. His patience has paid off, and he is full of gratitude for the home he has created. “I often sit on the kitchen island and just look at my house,” he says. “I love it and everything in it. I just soak it in.”

My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.

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