Name: David and Catarina Hoekman, two kids & a cat
Location: Greenwood — Seattle, Washington
Size: 2400 sq ft
Years lived in: lived in for 15, remodeled 6 years ago — owned
This little green three-story may look average from the outside, but the inside holds a sunny elegance that is anything but ordinary. Nestled in the up-and-coming family neighborhood of Greenwood in Seattle, native Swede Cat Hoekman, her husband David and two kids have created an elegantly-styled yet quirky retreat from the gloomy Seattle skies.
The Hoekmans renovated their home nine years after moving in, giving them time to perfect their vision for the space. They gutted everything with the exception of the downstairs guest bathroom, which they liked the way it was. With well-designed details such as the gorgeous red oak floors and a cozy fireplace stove, the house is so warm and inviting that I was ready to put my feet up and begin rummaging through their excellent book collection with a cup of tea. Contrasting patterns with pops of bright color keep the house playful and sweet, the perfect place for two kids and a sun-loving cat.
This family is a crafty bunch! As an avid quilter, Catarina's designated sewing room holds several projects in the works (check out her handiwork in the master bedroom), and every family member's personal space is an illustration of their individuality. From homemade Dr. Who nesting dolls to trophies and tokens, the kids' rooms were bursting with personality and two of my favorite stops on the tour. My delight was definitely in the details, and this home has many nestled in nooks and crannies around the house.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Our Style: Scandinavian Eclectic
Inspiration: Swedish homes
Favorite Element: Our kitchen/dining room, and all the light in our house
Proudest DIY: Built-in bookcases
Biggest Indulgence: Our fire stove, which we love.
Best Advice: Live for a while in your space before choosing colors.
Resources of Note:
PAINT & COLORS
- • Benjamin Moore : Navajo Redbrand (entry)
• C2 : Palamino (living room)
• C2: Pumpkin Spice (dining room)
• Benjamin Moore : Sesame Seed (dining room)
ENTRY
- • Flooring : Ceramic Tiles (imitation slate - more durable than the real thing)
LIVING ROOM
- • Flooring : Red Oak (throughout the house)
• Felted Sheepskin & Felted Pillow (on couches) : Leah Adams of Spiderfelt
• Cherry Wood Chair : Found, re-upholstered in Swedish fabric
• Round Table : Danish antique - early 1900s
• Fire Stove : Wittus, soapstone cladding
DINING ROOM
KITCHEN
- • Island : Soapstone
• Counters : Richlite
MASTER BEDROOM
- • Bed & Dresser : Dania
Thanks, David & Cat!
Images: Andie Wurster
• HOUSE TOUR ARCHIVE Check out past house tours here
• Interested in sharing your home with Apartment Therapy? Contact the editors through our House Tour Submission Form.
• Are you a designer/architect/decorator interested in sharing a residential project with Apartment Therapy readers? Contact the editors through our Professional Submission Form.
Must-See Small Cool Homes: Week Two
Beth's Romantic & Retro Residence
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Shaw's Original Fir...
How to Make Easy 3-Ingredient Energy Bars at Home
How To Cook Tender, Chewy Wheat Berries on the Stovetop
A completely wonderful house that is also a warm home. One of the best tours ......!
I really enjoy that this house feels like someone lives in it. Sometimes the tours are so styled that I would be nervous sitting on the furniture. This house feels like somewhere you'd be welcomed in and handed a cup of coffee :)
Stunning home...thanks for sharing!
Charming, unpretentious, and eclectic in the best possible way. So livable and comfortable; I love it. Great taste in the dining room; I have those Tolix chairs around my dining table too!
Lovely home, so inviting. Love the kitchen.
What is the source for that amazing empire strikes back print? Thanks!
I totally agree with 1952RANCH .... so warm and inviting...love it all!
Oh my gosh, such a wonderful place! I love the lived in look. I am dying to curl up in the blue armchair by the window with a good book.
Thank you for sharing your lovely home with us.
I loved this house tour! Everything is beautifully done, and it still feels like a real home that real people live in. In addition to the great design elements, I especially loved the shots of your books (I have a lot of the same titles) and those adorable Dr. Who dolls -- I want a set of those! Your house makes me wish I knew you so I could come over and hang out. :-)
I can almost smell the fresh brewed Ladro coffee! Congrats
Your house has a very special and warm quality, one of my favourite ever. Love the colours on the walls. Love the flowers and plants and the red amaryllis, the house colours and textures make a wonderful setting for them, and for people. Thanks, really confirms ideas I already had and inspires new ones too!
The Star Wars prints are available at Handz Etsy store:
http://dcstompinggrounds.blogspot.com/2012/02/star-wars-prints.html
This is my favorite HR. It does feel warm and inviting. It feels like home. Love ALL the chosen colors. Love the view in the dining room.
Only thought: The bar stools and red chairs seem that they would become uncomfortable after a while with such hard seats.
But again, one of my favorite house tours.
Warmth blazes through this tour, from the fireplace to the wall colors to the general spirit of the place. The impression is that nothing's precious or for show here; it's all real. Wow.
We too have a Rais woodstove, and live in Seattle. It's an amazing appliance! We heat our entire 1600 SF, 2 story, 3 Br house with it. HIGHLY recommended!
Great house tour! So cozy and inviting. You can tell that the family that lives there enjoys their life together and each other. Great job!
Love love love it! I especially liked the couch colours (odd but awesome), the bird shower curtain, and, haha, the Doctor Who poster!
What a happy, cozy home! The shower curtain is beyond cute! Thanks for sharing!
Great, no fuss home and excellent/wonderful choice of color on the walls, bold!!
What a cheerful and cozy home. I love all the bright colours and how you tiled your shower (and another vote for the bird shower curtain!). I just want to curl up on your couch with a hot coffee and do nothing.
I am curious about the indoor railing and the partial wall behind the wood stove. Are they purely decorative or do they have some child-proofing or other purpose?
Ah! I noticed that you can just make out the stairway behind that railing. Question answered!
Lovely home with beautiful light. It would be great to see some pics of the outside as well!
Warm, inviting, friendly and styled. THIS is the kind of house tour that I love to see on AT. Well done. Well done indeed!
Where are the bedroom wall reading lamps from?
I love this house! Some of the homes feel like curated museums but this one feels homey. Great house tour AT.
Love this house! Very cozy. I pinned the kitchen and the reading nook :)
Who makes this bed, please?
Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful, cozy home.
Great tour! Very personal, cozy and inviting! I love the quilt on the bed...is it vintage? Or is there source information available for it? The fabric looks like Moda, but a lot of their stuff is vintage-inspired.
@meridon: Cat made it! :)
Original and refreshing! And not from California for a change. Thank you for sharing your home.
WOW!!!!!!!!!!! "homemade Dr. Who nesting dolls" What else is there to say?! :^D
Cozy and personal!
Love this tour! I was just curious where the shower curtain was from...I love it!
Your home is beautiful. So very warm and inviting!
Love this sunny, thoughtful home--thanks for sharing!
Very nicely shot.
I am happy to skip over the vignette shots that aren't interesting to me, but you know what I really don't like? When the one shot of a great looking room (bathroom, in this case) is a close-up of 3 bottles of shampoo.
Nice house!
Beautiful light, warm colors, and a home that looks like it developed over time! Thank you for sharing. And I love the gorgeous light oak floors.
Absolutely delightful!! SOOOO cozy and bright and welcoming. And ... bamboo? Really?? Wow....
So lovely, we're using this kitchen as inspiration!
Richlite sounds great - any idea why they chose soapstone for the island and richlite for the counters?
Would love to know if there's an advantage!
I went "YAY" when I saw the Doctor Who poster but jumped at the DW dolls!!! Now I REALLY love your place. ;)
So lovely! Would you share source for the alphabet poster? Thanks!
Love it. Where is the sheepskin pouf from?
@RENE S:
I believe you will find that alphabet poster at IKEA. It's called OLUNDA and it costs $39.99.
Love this house. I really like the color choices. What is the blue on the entry walls? I didn't see it listed in the details above.
I dig the bamboo just outside the dining room window.
Wonderful mix of colors, lights, old with new..I LOVE this house! And that chair--something so cool about that chair!
What is the source for the dining room rug?
It just says, Happy!
You have a pair of really lovely ladder back chairs with arms that I would love to steal. However I don't really understand the fence in the kitchen or what the purpose of the room that you are sitting in. I suppose a floor plan might have helped.
Love the bird shower curtain too! Where did you get it???
I LOVE this house tour! Wonderful light and a great mix of styles. My kids were over-the-top with the Star Wars poster and Dr. Who poster & nesting dolls.
Just wondering what the blue Scandinavian fabric is and if there's a source you can suggest. Same for the tree drapes. Thanks.
i have those same star wars prints. i love them!
Source for the dragonfly hooks in the bathroom, please!
What a beautiful home!
I've fallen in love with the color in the dining room, but I can't get Benjamin Moore paint in Denmark.
Does anyony know how to find a match for '2160-40 Roasted Sesame Seed' in RAL, NCS, Beckers or any other brand being sold in Europe?
Hope someone can help :)