Name: James Fung
Location: Capitol Hill; Seattle, Washington
Size: 450 square feet
Years lived in: 3 months, rented.
If you happened to catch James' initial house call in August, and were hoping for more photos, the wait is over! A designer who recently made the move back to Seattle after living and working in Manhattan, James has created a space that is a nod to both the East and West Coasts. Located in the vibrant neighborhood of Capitol Hill in Seattle, the unit itself is in a pre-war brick building filled with vintage charm, including solid wood doors, glass door knobs, and beautiful picture molding.
Combining the rich design culture of the East coast with the relaxed nature of the Pacific northwest, James' apartment feels modern yet comfortable, a delightful mixture of textures. The slate walls opposing cozy linens and fluffy pillows in the bedroom are just the start of the delightful contrast. It's simple and stylish, the perfect space for a wandering designer.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My Style: I grew up near San Francisco, went to school in Seattle, and worked as a designer in New York City, so my style is all over the place. I always try to mix that NYC sensibility with the casual nature of the west coast. I think it's important to mix items from different places and eras. Most importantly, design shouldn't take itself too seriously, and I always make sure there is a little bit of humor in all my designs.
Inspiration: People. I get inspired by seeing how people live. I've been fortunate enough to travel quite a bit and I get inspired by seeing the way people make a place for themselves or a home. From people who design with a clear vision in mind, to families who create an amazing home just by the things that they have acquired over the years and the life events that have happened there.
Favorite Element: I love all the small detais of the pre-war apartment which you can't find in new buildings, like the crystal doorknobs, large wood doors, metal fan exhaust in the kitchen, and crown molding.
Biggest Challenge: Painting! I knew it would be difficult to paint a black wall white, but I never thought it would take 5 coats to paint a white wall black.
What Friends Say: "Where's my drink?" — we've all jokingly dubbed it "The men's room" because of the vintage "men" sign I have in the foyer and the speakeasy-esque feel of the space.
Biggest Embarrassment: Since the building is pretty old, every time I want to use the microwave I have to make sure to turn off the TV and the fan to make sure that I don't trip the circuit.
Proudest DIY: The leather armchair in the living room. I designed and fabricated this chair in the workshop at my university when I was in school. It was the first time I ever bent/welded metal and hand stitched leather.
Biggest Indulgence: Artwork. From the Noguchi light sculpture to all the photos, I think it's important to splurge on art since it can move with you and gives a glimpse into the person who purchased it. Although some of the art was very cheap, spending to get quality frames is so important to showcase any type of art.
The art I have ranges from prints that I have purchased at various shows, to things I've purchased at stationery stores, to pieces that I created myself using photographs I've taken or old pictures of my parents in the 70's. They all tell some sort of story and are uniquely personal.
Best Advice: Not having a lot of money, or knowing that you may be moving soon shouldn't hinder you from spending the time and effort to make your home something you really like coming home to.
Dream Sources: Jean de Merry, R Twentieth Century, anything made by Eileen Gray
Resources of Note:
PAINT & COLORS
• Living Room & Bedroom: Do It Best - Enigma
• Kitchen: Do it Best - Nightfall
LIVING ROOM
• Sofa: IKEA
• Chair: Custom by James K Fung
• Rug: FLOR
• Floor Cushions: Urban Outfitters
• Coffee Table: CB2
• Wardrobe: IKEA
• Side Table: West Elm
• Bookcase: IKEA
• Fan: Restoration Hardware
• "Jump" print: by Thomas Prior
• Raptor Planter: Etsy
• Pillows and Throw: Calypso Home & West Elm
• Lacquer accessories: West Elm
• Table lamp: Akari Light Sculpture by Isamu Noguchi
• Wall Clock: Karlsson
• Large J: Vintage
• Cell tower Tree Print: unsigned
KITCHEN
• Bar cart: Vintage
• Butterfly Chair: Amazon.com
• B&W print: "Untitled" by James K. Fung
• Barware: West Elm, CB2, Crate and Barrel, C Wonder
BEDROOM
• Bed: IKEA
• Bedding: West Elm
• Bridge Prints: IKEA
• Man with Snake Print: Richard Avedon
• "Snow NYC" photograph by Ciaran Tully
BATHROOM
• Accessories: Bed Bath and Beyond
• Tray: Burberry London
Thanks, James!
(Images: Kelsey Boyce)
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Soda Recipe: Homemade Ginger Ale
Recipe: Spring Fruit and Nut Tabouli
Very nicely done!!! I especially like how simply and beautifully the kitchen was handled. And the armchair you designed is wonderful. Congratulations - makes all the expensive, over-decorated, gut-job spaces look rather silly.
Very elegant, nice details.
Simple, uncluttered and elegant. Very nice! Love the natural elements and the textures.
As a safety issue, I wouldn't put heavy framed pictures, fronted with glass, unsecured on a ledge right above my bed. You've also got the head of the bed right under a window. Seattle is in an earthquake zone!
Nice chair though, I like the materials you chose for it.
Oops never mind just saw the pictures comments in the original house call.
Beautiful space. Never would have guessed that was an IKEA couch — it looks like Room & Board.
Was your chair inspired by Charles Pollock's sling chair? http://www.treadwaygallery.com/ONLINECATALOGS/MAY2005/images/0965.jpg
love the space - that wall color is perfect
Love your apartment! Your bar cart is great.
James!! Don't tell me you made it to Galway Ireland??? That picture of the Diving tower is Blackrock, Salthill, Galway... No?? Did you jump off it yourself and act like a right local?
Three Generations of my Family have swam there (it's my home town).
I was going to say I like how neatly placed everything is but then I noticed that your wine bottles aren't all facing the same way (I'm incredibly anal and even place my soda cans label out and neatly stacked in the fridge). still love your home anyway!
A bit too green and too moody. Certainly elegant, but kinda sad.
Is the bedroom light a clamp lamp from the hardware store?
@ emilyryz we are so on the same page witht he tight shot. I feel like soo many people have said that on soo many different house tours, you'd think the people at AT would would send a memo out to their photographers saying "give the readers what they want", but noooo, close ups of bubbles in Ginger Ale is what we get.
Regardless of the tight shots, I feel as if THIS photographer did a better job of capturing the space a little better than some of the others. I was getting a little worried for a second when I didn't see any pictures of the kitchen but then it came up, and it came up well, with a photo of the ENTIRE kitchen. Thanks for that Kelsey Boyce!
I also wish there were 1 or 2 more pictures of the bathroom and closet. I don't know about anyone else, but I really like to see where people store things in small spaces. How they utilize what closet space they have.
All in all I thought the apartment was great. I didn't get a New York vibe per se, I just saw an awesome apartment. I'm totally jealous that you have such a great apartment in Capital Hill. THanks for sharing with us!
Ha! I recognize those tile floors. I used to live in that apartment building. I, too, fell in love with the charming pre-war design -- complete with an old-timey, wall-mounted telephone in my unit.
I love what you did with the place, James, and commend your gutsy move to paint the walls! Looks great! It makes me nostalgic for my old Capitol Hill studio. :)
The best 450 sqft I have seen, and I don't even like so much of dark color in small spaces. Great job.
Your home jumped right OUT smiling and soothing and with such style! I had a happy visit, right down to your metal straws...you take style and USED it beautifully! You'll continue to do well and be happy.
Aren't they afraid of an earthquake rattling those pictures down on their heads while they're asleep?
As much as I love rain and don't mind gray skies I think I would want to have more colour around me in rainy Seattle.
I love everything about your place. Seems larger than 450 sq ft. Love the color(s) and the arrangements. Nice all around place. I could live here if you weren't in earthquake territory. Good luck and I hope you are happy here. Can you get a little dog or cat to keep you company. Perhaps one black and white or black or white?
You've only lived here for 3 months? It looks incredible!
Gorgeous. Everything has been given thought and consideration, down to the metal straws for the drinks! Love the clip on lamp in the bedroom - can't see a source for it listed above. Any chance it wasn't a quirky vintage find....?
Excellent job! Love the wall colors and all the great art propped here and there. I happen to know the Capitol Hill area very well having lived there while I was in design school. So many great buildings full of historic details. You did well!
Am I the only one who feels a nose itch just by looking at those furry pillows?
It's so early in the morning to be this jealous!
I lived in Beacon Hill for two years, so I've got location envy for Capitol Hill already, and you've got the print I've been coveting -the text map of the Seattle neighborhoods!
Really lovely job on everything, too. It's hard to get that light and airy feel without a lot of actual LIGHT to work with.
Elegant, restful, done with a masterful, artist's eye. Sometimes you need a place to go that's calm and that can mean easy-does-it on the color. On the other hand, your addition of a blue and white rug in the living room is an unexpected, subtle addition of color that I really like. Incredible how you've taken IKEA and other less expensive furnishings and made them look high end.
Not until this post, did I realize how fearful people are of living in an earthquake zone. In Seattle there is a minor (no damage) earthquake every few years. Otherwise, it's just the possibility of "The Big One". I'm sorry, but if people in Seattle tip-toed around daily life because of the possibility of a large earthquake, then we wouldn't be able to enjoy the many things that we love about this city. Calm down, it might not happen for 10,000 years. In the meantime, hang your art where you want it.
like, like, like, like, like! love the palette and the precise accessorizing. feels good.
I really like this space. I love the mix of prints and photos which give a sense of personal history. This really made me wish I could use gray in my place. I live in Seattle too and the winters get to me too much. I need warm colors to energize me. I painted my bedroom a blue-gray when I first moved into the house and had to change it so I could get up in the morning.
I saw more inspiring details in this house tour than in almost any other layout I have seen. Kudos to James on this space.
I LOVE IT! Where are the metal straws from?
Well done, the look is very clean and masculine. I really like the use of yellow, white, and black in the bedroom.
you can get metal straws at crate and barrel
Awesome job! I love the greys but then you add yellow and then blue...and I love it more!
Where's the clutter? Nothing is out of place. It's too perfect. My home is active. I work on my projects there. Where does he work on his home projects?
Marianne, San Marcos, CA
I love your design esthetic and the way you mix high and low priced items. The coral is beautiful!