Last spring I shared that my daughter Kylee moved into her first house — remember when she got married? Now she has her own home, and my heart is full.
After living in a studio apartment, Kylee and her husband Lance purchased a small three-story townhouse in Seattle. My other daughter, Courtney, rents a tiny room from them and has already shared her design plans for that small space. Today Kylee stopped by to give an update on how the townhouse is coming together.
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Hello! It’s Kylee. It’s been a while since I checked in, so here’s an update on our little townhouse. Last time I showed the simple powder bath; since then I’ve been slowly working on other rooms.
I recently had a rare day off and managed to take a few photos before the light faded. This post is an overview of several rooms; I’ll return with more detailed posts showing small-space tips and tricks we’re using to make this house feel like home.
Because Seattle real estate is tight, our townhouse makes the most of every square foot. The front door opens into a long hallway we painted Swan White by Glidden to create a bright, clean backdrop for accessories and rugs.
We turned that hallway into functional space by adding storage and coat hooks — there’s no closet, so hooks are essential. The white wall-mounted storage unit from Ikea is a perfect space-saving solution for this entry: the tilt-out doors store gloves, scarves, reusable shopping bags, shoes, and supplies for Bella, our puppy.
My favorite addition in the hall is a colorful Dash & Albert runner that brings instant pattern, color, and warmth the moment you walk in.
Bella’s favorite spot is the living room on the second level. For months the space sat empty while we wrestled with getting our large leather couches up the narrow stairs. Once we figured out that challenge (I’ll share that story soon), the room finally came together.
We added a textured zig-zag rug to define the living area within the open plan kitchen and living space and to add warmth. Because the kitchen and living room share the same floor, the rug helps create a cozy, distinct seating zone. We haven’t settled on permanent wall art above the couch yet, so we temporarily framed patterned wrapping paper for inexpensive, pretty artwork.
Having furniture has made the living room feel lived-in — Bella is thrilled to have a comfy spot, and we finally have a place to invite friends over. There isn’t a formal dining area in this small house, so the sofas and coffee table pull double duty for seating and casual meals.
The bedroom on the third floor presented its own moving-day challenges. Navigating two flights of narrow stairs with large, handed-down pieces has been tricky. While new furniture would have been easier, we wanted to make cherished family pieces work, so we got creative.
One memorable workaround: our queen box spring wouldn’t fit up to the third floor, so we slept on the mattress on the floor for months while considering options. Ultimately we cut the box spring in half to get it upstairs and reassembled it — a dramatic solution, but it worked.
The kitchen is larger than a studio kitchen but still lacks a pantry and extensive cabinet space, and I love to cook. To keep things organized, we created a makeshift pantry on the counter with dried goods in glass jars and keep utensils in a pitcher by the stove for easy access.
Finally, of course we have a coffee station. Set up on a hand-me-down wine rack, it’s a small ritual that makes mornings easier — and true to our Portland and Seattle roots, we’re big coffee lovers. It’s convenient to grab a cup before heading out the door.
That’s all for now. I’ll be back soon with more details on the couch-moving trick, the box spring repair, and other projects as we continue to make this townhouse our cozy home.