This historic Tudor revival was designed by a woman in 1928

Complete with a turret—and a few upgrades

By Sarah Anne Lloyd@sarahannelloyd Feb 26, 2018, 4:32pm PST

Way back in the 1920s, developer J.L. Grandey teamed up with the Seattle Daily Times—now the Seattle Times—for a home-design contest to showcase the winning building materials of the Pacific Northwest. The event had a secondary goal, though: fresh off the heels of women getting the right to vote in the United States, Grandey wanted to showcase women’s ideas for home-building.

More than 200 entries were submitted, but ultimately, a design by Katherine H.K. Wolf won the prize ($100 in gold). Her home design was built using local materials at 836 West Etruria Street in Queen Anne. At the time, it was a big story, with then mayor-elect Frank E. Edwards (ironically, not active mayor Bertha Knight Landes, the first female mayor of a major american city) attending the 1928 groundbreaking.

We’re unaware of any other homes designed by Wolf, but at the very least, her one home still stands today—and it’s currently on the market. The first time the home went up for sale, it sold in 10 days. And while the contest sought a “practical” design that “could meet the needs of an average family,” the needs of a 1920s Queen Anne family differ from those of many: The home is an elegantly designed two-story home complete with a turret.

Inside, a bay window lights the main sitting area, which also includes a large fireplace.

It’s one of a few common areas that wrap around the home’s first floor, including a large, separated kitchen with an eating nook and a light-filled dining room bookended by French doors—one set leading to a back deck to extend the dining space outside.

In one corner of the main floor, a family room or library sits just off the kitchen with a door to the outside.

Up a wide staircase with a landing, some historic details are preserved in two bedrooms—like vaulted ceilings and leaded glass windows with a diamond pattern.

Inside the master suite, the bathroom has a full range of appliances: a soaking tub, a shower, and even a separate bidet.

The home has had a few upgrades since 1928, including a finished basement with a second kitchen, a private bathroom, a third bedroom, and a separate entry—which could become a mother-in-law apartment or just the choicest guest accomodations in the neighborhood.