Name: Maggie Morgan of Maggie Rose & Ryan Stephens
Location: Upper Queen Anne — Seattle, Washington
Size: About 700-800 square feet (2 bedroom, 1 bath)
Years lived in: 1.5 years — rented
I was so excited to see my friend, Maggie Morgan, featured in an Apartment Therapy House Call a few months ago, that I called her up to book her full house tour. Maggie and Ryan live in a charming, open space in Upper Queen Anne that is wall-to-wall with painted, hardwood floors and energetic touches of color.
Maggie prides herself on being able to create a modern, yet comforting space on a low budget. As a full-time blogger and owner of Maggie Rose, a DIY style and decor service blog, she is constantly on the lookout for innovative and creative ideas to create a beautiful space in a practical way.
Situated on the top floor of a split level apartment building, their home is elegant and calming while still hosting vibrant, delightful details at every turn such as a bright, turquoise vase or a tongue-in-cheek wall-hanging. I hope you enjoy the tour as much as I enjoyed photographing it!
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Our Style: Traditional with a dash of modern.
Inspiration: Combining our two apartments to this shared one, and working with what we had on a restricted budget was our biggest inspiration. Natural textures, muted colors, and unique details are elements we returned to time and again.
Favorite Element: Ryan: The record album shelf/window seat. Maggie: I love how the paint color in the office turned out.
Biggest Embarrassment: Ryan: I'd like a new desk. Maggie: If we owned the house, I'd gut the kitchen and bathroom and remodel them both. And paint the purple stairs (I might do that anyway).
Proudest DIY: We refinished the dining room table last summer. Working with what we have until we can afford something we love.
Biggest Indulgence: The rug in the living room. We want a second one for the bedroom!
Best Advice: Decorate over time for a layered and collected look. That way your home evolves with you and your changing tastes (plus it's easier on the wallet).
Dream Sources: flea markets, Circa Who, Pieces, Design Within Reach.
Resources of Note:
ENTRY
- • Ostrich photo: Brooklyn Limestone
• Table: Target (with plans for a linen table skirt)
• Marbled paper: Paper Mojo
LIVING ROOM
- • Rug: Surya, "Continental"
• Coffee table: West Elm
• Big lamp: CB2
• Smaller floor lamp: Ikea with DIY shade
• Window seat: Ikea Expedit with DIY cushion.
• Pillows: handmade
• Curtains: Ikea
• Animal watercolors: Etsy seller, Dimdi
DINING ROOM
- • Paint color: "Mocha Cream" by Benjamin Moore.
• Nail-trim console table: The Company Store
• Mirror: Cost Plus World Market
• Bar cart: vintage
• Floating shelves: Storables
• "For Like Ever" print: Village
• Ladder shelves: Target
KITCHEN
- • Island: Ikea
• Trash can: Simple Human
• Chandelier: vintage
BEDROOM
- • Paint color: "White Wisp" by Olympic
Bed: Crate and Barrel
Bedding: Overstock.com
Lamps: TJ Maxx with Lamps Plus shades
Nightstands: Target
Dresser: Ikea
Painting: done by Maggie
Curtains: Pottery Barn
OFFICE
- • Paint color: "Winter Calm" by Valspar.
• Ryan's chair: Dania
• Corkboard: Storables
• Maggie's desk: Parsons from West Elm
• Maggie's chair: vintage, refinished
• Maggie's pinboard: DIY by Maggie
• Curtains: Ikea
• File boxes: See Jane Work
• Desk lamps: both Ikea
• "Blogs and Coffee" print: Made By Girl
Thanks, Maggie & Ryan!
Images: Andie Wurster
• HOUSE TOUR ARCHIVE Check out past house tours here
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omg, i love your taste! :) it's so cozy but at the same time wonderfully fresh!
I grew up on Queen Anne! 10th and Galer. I love the architecture and trees. You've done a great job, and I LIKE your kitchen the way it is!
Pretty, pretty.
(Cue somebody wailing about KCCO/FLE in 3...2....)
I am totally inspired by your record holder/window seat! I need to make me one of these!
Clean and well organized, but still have touches of personality throughout the place. You've done a lovely job!
your home feels very airy and cosy. your living room especially - like a lovely tree house hideaway. i've bookmarked this one
looks great!
What lovely home! Just love the personal touches and splashes of color!
What a fresh, inviting space you have. I adore it. My favourite touch is the blue painted stairs. I would love to tear up the carpet on mine and do the same. Thank you for sharing your home with us.
Love the touches of bold color throughout!
Love it!! Especially the living room.
Your color combos are wonderful! The periwinkle 'Swedish blue' stairway in the white hallway makes me weak in the knees. Aren't you lucky to have such great windows and wonderful light! It's hard to imagine this isn't more like 800sf. You've handled your restraint well, it makes your whole space feel bigger somehow.
My friends have a kitty with that coloring... very skittish. We call it the Skitten.
It's a very nice home, though it must not be me at all, since nothing really calls out to me. XD
love it all! very pretty, liveable, and happy. the painted stairs are great - unexpected color.
Yay! I loved your House Call and I love your House Tour.
Thanks so much for identifying the ostrich photo and the animal watercolors! It's great to be able to check out the artists and see that they're accessible.
(Also love the painted stairs!!!)
What a great apartment! That living room rug is delish.
I agree with smellofsawdust, don't change your kitchen. That's my favorite room and where did you purchase your roman blinds? Lovely home thanks for tour!
Thanks smellofsawdust and E.I.F. for your nice comments about the kitchen - no plans to renovate (since we rent)! I'd just love to replace the linoleum floors and add more storage and counter space... the counters are laminate and I'd prefer something like butcher block. E.I.F., the roman shades were actually a DIY following instructions I found on blog Little Green Notebook. Adapted from regular vinyl blinds :)
I like this! But I doubt it's less than 800 square feet - my house is 2 bedroom, 1 bath at 760 and there's no room for a dining table.
Britomart, my unit is 2 br 1 bath, and 650 and we still have room for a dining table about that size, maybe just a little smaller. Its just a funny layout where there's enough room in the kitchen, but the living room is quite small (I'd love a 2nd chair in addition to the one we have and the sofa but there's no place for it to be). And no room for a dresser or vanity or anything like that in the master bedroom.
This place is perfectly lovely. I actually adore the purple stairs (for some reason the purple stairs and the ostrich picture have just lit up my morning!). Your place is so fresh, and tucked up in the trees. Love every bit of it.
You place is lovely! I experienced the same feeling cdanojohnson did at the picture of the ostrich and purple stairs. Thank you for sharing.
what a cute home! LOVE all the color and the inviting atmosphere! I'm totally in love with that chrome and glass coffee table though!!!
Well done. The ostrich picture made me smile! Keep the purple stairs!!
I have to agree with my fellow commentors, love the stairs, the artwork, the kitchen...you had me a picture 1. Great job on a warm cozy home. Oh ya that living room carpet~~want!
I love your little bar. It's perfect!
I love everything about this House Tour. Can I live here? But seriously, this is one of my absolute favorites, a definite inspiration. Thank you for sharing your home!
Vintage globes are the coolest. The different styles create an energetic contrast between each of them. This home is a nice balance between traditional and modern. Well done Maggie.
Simple and inviting. Love that. Lots of great light and windows to work with, very lucky!
When did you ad "ads" to the house tours? I have rarely been so distracted by ads before.
Lovely! Understated and tasteful. I am dying to know what material you used for the DIY Window seat cushion. I've been wanting to construnct a window seat cushion for months. I have the fabric picked out, but haven't found a good source for the cushion itself. I also, I love the "Let them Eat Cake" Print! Where did you purchase?
Love love love, you're place is so cute! Love that you live on Queen Anne too. Where did you get your kitchen roman shades? I'm in love.
Maggie, have you thought about laying IKEA butcher block on top of your laminate counters? Here, there, and/or wherever? My counters are extra-high and I'm short, but I've had no problems working on them.
Where are the prints in Ryan's office from?
@La in NYC: The window seat fabric is something I picked up at Joann fabrics ages ago. Not sure of the name, but I've seen it there recently. It's very affordable. The "Let Them Eat Cake" print is from etsy a few years ago... can't remember the shop, sorry!
@Emily Haan: Thank you! The window shades were a DIY project using regular vinyl blinds. I followed instructions I found on Little Green Notebook. Easy!
@Smellofsawdust: Oh, I would love to do butcher block counters (and a tile back-splash...). For us, for now, it's just not worth the cost when this isn't our forever-home.
@ofheartandcity: The two small square prints were from 20x200 and frames from Aaron Brothers. My housewarming gift for Ryan.
I have fallen in love with your beautiful home all over again!!! It's so perfect!
Hey Maggie! I love your house, where did you find that bar cart? It's great!