“I love the Seattle house!” I had just wrapped up shooting food blogger Gaby Dalkin’s lower Queen Anne townhome when she let out that statement with a serene smile. Knowing Gaby is a California girl to the core—even building a business around California-inspired food on her blog, What’s Gaby Cooking—it warmed the heart of this Seattleite to see that she truly seems to have found a place in hers for The Emerald City.

Of course, it’s not just the city of Seattle that’s fueling Gaby’s smile. The lower Queen Anne townhouse she and her husband Thomas share while not in L.A. feels like an airy, calm retreat that could make anyone feel at home. Dark wood furniture like the dining room table and master bed frame (both custom made by Gaby’s father-in-law) provide Pacific Northwest warmth while accessories like the living room pillows, office chair, and guest bedroom side table deliver pops of California bright.

And most importantly, while the decor makes for a breezy vibe, the layout makes it poised for action. The open design of the first floor is perfect for entertaining—particularly the huge kitchen island with stools stretching its length. I mean, who among Gaby’s friends and family wouldn’t want a front row seat to the cooking happening in that kitchen?! And as for the rest of us who sorta, kinda, really, really want to pull up a chair as well, there’s good news. Gaby’s second cookbook, Everyday California Food, serves up a front row seat to inspiring food from the California (and sometimes Seattle) life.

My Style: California Casual

Inspiration: Our house in California

Favorite Element: It’s a toss up. I love our bedroom because it’s so light and bright and very minimalistic, but I’m also obsessed with our first floor because it’s perfect for entertaining!

Biggest Challenge: The first floor was the hardest because it’s three rooms in one, and the living room portion of it is narrow. We’ve always had really deep comfy couches, and had to switch things up for this because of the design.

What Friends Say: That it’s the best for having dinner parties! Partly because I always cook and partly because there is so much seating in and around the kitchen!

Biggest Embarrassment: We STILL haven’t done our outdoor deck and summer is here!!

Proudest DIY: All of the safari photos in the house. We just got back from an incredible safari last year and framed our favorite photos from the trip!!

Biggest Indulgence: The Room and Board swivel chair in the living room is probably my favorite piece in the entire house. It’s so chic!

Best Advice: Make it personal! Thomas and I love adding really personal touches throughout the house. The safari photos take up the entire staircase from the first to the second floor and remind us of our most favorite trip to date. The staircase from the second floor to the third is currently bare as we’re waiting to add photos from our adventures this summer.

Dream Sources: Erin Kane—she’s my designer who did our place down in L.A. and did this place in Seattle, and I just want to live in her creations forever.

ENTRY
Mirror — Room and Board
Bench — Room and Board
Backpack — Cuyana
Artwork — Fifty One and a Half

LIVING ROOM
Rug — Room and Board
Couch — Room and Board
Coffee Table — Room and Board
Swivel Chair — Room and Board
Pillows — Etsy

DINING ROOM
Kitchen Table — Custom Made by my father-in-law
Chairs — Room and Board
Artwork — Fifty One and a Half

KITCHEN
Stools — Room and Board
Appliances — Williams Sonoma
Marble Surface — Crate and Barrel
Wooden Cutting Board — Boos Block
Appliances — Kitchenaid

BEDROOM
Custom-made Platform Bed — By my father in law
Bedding — Parachute Linen
Floor Length Mirror — West Elm
Chairs under TV — Room and Board
Fur Rugs — Room and Board
Bedside Tables — Room and Board
Blue Bottles Next to Bed — West Elm

OFFICE
Desk — World Market
Rug — Pottery Barn
Bookshelf — West Elm
Wall Shelves — West Elm
Cookbooks — Personal collection
Editorial Calendars — DIY with River and Bridge design
Votives — Glassybaby

GUEST ROOM
Bed — Article
Bedding — Restoration Hardware
Bedside table — Anthropologie
Artwork — Fifty One and a Half

BATHROOM
Towels — Parachute
Artwork — Fifty One and a Half

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