With soaring ceilings and a tremendous amount of open space to work with, the striking Seattle home that interior designer Sarah Atwood Black of Blackwood was brought on to furnish was a challenging blank slate.

“My client was worried that without careful attention to the finishes and detailing, the home would feel too cold,” says Sarah of the 3,982-square-foot Sand Point Residence. To assuage those concerns, Sarah tapped into warm, cozy textures and elements that take cues from the client’s love for France and industrial-chic style.

At the same time, she was careful to complement the contemporary architecture, designed by local firm Ryan Rhodes Design, while also accommodating the energetic lifestyles of the couple’s two small boys.

An example of chic, child-friendly design can be seen in the kitchen where part of the Caesarstone island drops down to a lower height. This lower surface is topped with a walnut butcher-block so that the boys can comfortably help out in the kitchen.

Walnut’s rich and warm tones made the material a natural choice for other built-in furnishings and surfaces, including the kitchen hood casing and the fireplace ledge.

That sense of coziness is also achieved with light oak flooring, timber window framing, a farmhouse-style table, as well as furnishings upholstered in inviting materials like leather and soft fabrics.

Industrial touches and dark metal elements sprinkled throughout balance the homey feel. The massive door-pull, for instance, was designed by Tom Kundig and built of welded steel with a blackened finish, while the oversized Caravaggio pendants in the kitchen evoke industrial Paris.

Sarah handled the full scope of the interiors, from finishes and lighting to furnishings and key artworks, making Sand Point Residence her first major residential project.

“I struck a balance between special materials and furnishings for key areas—such as the stone on the fireplace and living room Bensen chairs—and cost-effective solutions elsewhere, like the West Elm dining chairs and basic subway tile in the kids' bathroom,” says Sarah. “The home not only needed to be functional and look beautiful, but provide ease and comfort.”

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Ryan Rhodes Designs/Brandon Skinner

Builder/General Contractor: Northwest Improvements/Dale Kowalchuk

Structural Engineer: Buker Engineering/Daniel Buker

Landscape Design Company: Olander Garden Design/Courtney Olander

Interior Design: Blackwood/Sarah Atwood Black

Cabinetry Design/Installation: Becker's Cabinets/Gordy Becker

Styling: Union Adorn/ Lauren Caron

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A Kid-Friendly Home Embraces High Style With Comfort