Noted Seattle architect and UW professor Wendell Harper Lovett recently passed away and he left behind a legacy of memorable homes throughout the Seattle area designed between the 1950s and 1990s. Known for his distinct stylistic choices and anthropomorphic expressions, his architectural has a lasting style all it's own.
That brings us to Day House, the View Ridge residence he designed for UW professor Emmett E. Day and his wife Roxie Whistler Day. Built in 1958, the three-bedroom, 3,200 square-foot home remains a shining example of the Pacific Northwest midcentury modern with plenty of touches that are quintessential Lovett. The home is also on the open market asking $1.3M.
Day wasn't just the client, he also served as general contractor on the home, collaborated with building contractor Everett Ensminger and carpenter Victor Oder to complete construction in just three months. Three. Months. That's crazy.
The Day's daughter, Elaine Day LaTourelle, not only grew up in the stunning time capsule but also became an architect herself and added a northeast corner to the home, making the living room and study bigger as well as increasing the size of the basement workshop.
There's a lot of classic midcentury style at work here. The brick fireplace centerpiece. The wood beam ceilings. It even looks like much of the furniture currently in the home could be original as well. A sitting room separated by a curtain is Peak 50s and is just charming enough to keep around.
The home's sloping site and two-floor design takes full advantage of the Magnuson Park & Mount Rainier views.The living room and bedrooms are all positioned to soak the vistas in. A skylight helps to bisect the first floor and provide borders for the main rooms. Downstairs, bedrooms and the aforementioned workshop provide a quieter side.
Out back, the lower level deck just keeps going and going while the top level deck takes in those views, complete with a swing seat to kick back and relax in. The kitschy, twirling staircase that connects them completes the entire mindset behind this iconic midcentury masterpiece
· 7520 57th Place NE [Windermere]
· Day, Emmett E., Sr., and Roxie, House [PCAD]
· Lovett, Wendell H. [WEWA]
· Wendell Harper Lovett [Legacy]