Audrey and Kevin McGill are living in what some may call the best of both worlds — and very stylishly at that. Their 1958 mid-century modern house is nestled in a forested setting just 25 minutes from downtown Seattle in Lake Forest Park. The couple and their sons Aidan, 13, and Evan, 11, moved into the 2,240-square-foot house in May of 2014, and since then have worked as a family to help the house reach its full potential.
The house was originally designed by John Burrows, known mostly in the North Seattle area for building homes with cedar post-and-beam ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows. “I'm a big fan of having natural light flood the house,” says Audrey. “I love the original ceilings. They create such a warm feeling.”
The boys also appreciate the large, bright windows, which give nature a front-and-center seat in the house. “They love living with woods and creeks in our backyard,” says Audrey. “We have set up a tent and they’ve camped out with their friends!”
PHOTO: JOSHUA HUSTON The family is currently at work on building a pergola in the backyard. |
Yet the house’s fine historic elements and pedigree hasn’t stopped the McGills from undertaking DIY projects to make it more functional and customized to their needs. Audrey is a freelance writer and Kevin is a security engineer at Holland America, but worked as an electrician out of high school and learned “everything else” from his brother-in-law, says Audrey. Other than that, the two have just picked up knowledge from working on a few previous homes — and looking up a lot online.
They tackled the exterior first, building upper and lower decks, fencing and an entryway courtyard. After a year of getting to know the house, they renovated the kitchen as well, replacing and removing cabinetry, installing a tile backsplash and adding open shelving.
PHOTO: JOSHUA HUSTON Audrey McGill has found nearly all the home’s mid-century furniture in thrift shops or on Craigslist. |
Aidan and Evan lend a hand in the process, helping with various tasks, no matter how small. “We want them to feel a part of the process, and to learn about the aspects and responsibility of a project from start to finish,” says Audrey. The boys assisted with designing and landscaping the front yard, and in the backyard helped build a fire pit where they now get to roast marshmallows and hot dogs. Currently they’re pitching in with painting outdoor furniture and posts for a pergola that Kevin is building, shoveling and raking gravel for a slate patio, and planting flowerbeds.
“Working on our house and landscaping projects together has brought us closer as a family,” says Audrey, “And we all enjoy the satisfaction of seeing how our hard work can create something beautiful.”
For more about the McGill family’s home, visit wildwoodmodern.com
