Timeless 1890’s Shipbuilder’s Cabin on Vashon Island Turned into Coastal Home

Finding new purpose for old structures often means taking a cue from the past and integrating the old with the new in a seamless manner. Nestled on the beautiful Vashon Island in Washington, this gorgeous home was once a shipbuilder’s cabin that was originally built in 1890. Hoedemaker Pfeiffer were brought in to turn this aging building into a much more modern island home where coastal charm is cleverly interlaced with contemporary design. Décor pieces from different eras were carefully intertwined with a neutral backdrop to create visual balance and a cozy, living environment.

Combining colorful couches and lovely pattern with curated artwork inside living room of coastal home








In the small living area once can find a variety of different pieces from the colorful couch in red and beautiful club chairs to bookshelves that have been neatly decorated with collectibles, accessories and of course, books. The wall with main window has been turned into gallery wall of sorts and it features eye-catching framed art work that has been collected by the homeowner over the years. The family room next to the balcony and wooden deck also has a modern chic appeal with coastal theme thrown into the mix.

Dining area of the modern coastal island home with a revamped interior
Finding the right space for wall art in your living room with white walls
Kitchen, home workspace and living area of the home on Vashon Island
Modern coastal bedroom in white with charming decor that takes you back in time
Relaxing family room with a fabulous view and decor that feels comfortable and stylish

The dining room, bedroom and kitchen also embrace this theme of a neutral backdrop being combined with cool pops of color and you have a home where the island environment, relaxing coastal style and a love for outdoors holds supreme.

Revamped 1890s house on Vashon Island turned into a lovely modern coastal home
Bench on the wooden patio of the island home with fabulous views just beyond
Clawfoot bathtub for the modern coastal bathroom in white and casual wall decorative pieces
Deck and outdoor dining area of 1890s house on Vashon Island
Decorating bookshelves inside the modern coastal home with books and more

You’re reading Timeless 1890’s Shipbuilder’s Cabin on Vashon Island Turned into Coastal Home, originally posted on Decoist. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Decoist on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

Similar Posts

  • Villa Hulliger

    The Triangle House The characteristic of the narrow, steep hillside plot is its tapering, triangular shape. The view sweeps far and wide over an extensive, natural landscape towards the valley. The layout of the stretched building follows the property line. Surrounded by small residential streets, the building is closed to the hill side, thus forming its back. Here the visitor enters the house on the ground floor, which is the middle level of three, consisting mostly of an airy and spacious area, which is the center of family life. Cooking, eating and living are combined here, zoned only by a freestanding fireplace. This all-round glazed room is sun-drenched all day and opens out to a directly adjacent pool and terrace providing a beautiful view of the surrounding nature. At the tip of the house there is a small workplace, which, like a look-out, opens out to the front of the house. Viewing it from the outside, this narrow side of the building appears like a tower, which proudly stands out as if it is aware of its imposing effect. In contrast, the long side of the house facing the valley is inviting, open and wide. It is remarkable to note how the facade is bent at various points and the building view is accentuated by these carefully folded planes. The basement of the house is accessed from this side. One enters a very generously planned garage, which is tucked away into the ground. A gym is situated towards the west and a family wardrobe towards the east, through which you reach the stairs that take you directly to the ground floor. The private areas, which are located on the first floor, are also completely glazed and offer a spectacular view, bordered by mountains on the horizon. The parents’ bedroom open out onto an exclusive terrace.

  • Villa Kivi

    VILLA KIVI Villa Kivi is a new generation log home on a tiny island in Finnish archipelago designed for himself by Finnish designer Vertti Kivi. Polar Life Haus, a Finnish wooden house manufacturer, was quick to pick it up for their collection. ‘The whole development process of the house was guided by our goal to bring the interior of the house together with the spectacular surroundings. We wanted to be part of sunset, snowstorm and even autumn storm on his tiny island in Finnish archipelago’, tells designer Vertti Kivi, the head of dSign Vertti Kivi & Co. ‘The starting point was a clear glass cube but we ended up creating glass walls reaching from the floor level up to the ceiling only to three sides of the structure. The north side with its separate sleeping rooms and bathroom is constructed of massive black wood beams that are in clear contrast to the glass and create feeling of cosyness and safety. Large terraces in one level create a sense of continuity between inside and outside. The floor plan is defined by Scandinavian clearness. The heart of the villa is the kitchen, located next to the entrance, and from there you can see the entire open interior and the surrounding sea. We like to think the kitchen island is like a DJ’s desk – the atmosphere of the whole interior space is created right there with the remote controlled lighting system. To guarantee the privacy of the bedrooms, they are located in the outermost corners of the villa, separate from each other. They too have one wall completely made of glass. An extra attention is paid on the details of the villa. Not a single molding can be found in the entire building. The doors have a hidden frame and they too reach from the floor to the ceiling. Drama and strong feeling are created by massive wooden surfaces and their color choices – snow white lacquer on the floor creates a contrast to the dark walls. To make the battened external walls coal black, we developed a special technique based on hundreds of years old Japanese traditions. In the evening, the atmosphere changes with different lighting schemes that can be timed to be in sync with nature. The end result is a clean-lined building in Scandinavian style which can be adapted to different needs and locations. It has a strong Finnish presence.