This Seattle Condo in a Former 1896 School Makes Small-Space Living Feel Surprisingly Grand
“What drew me to this home was the big windows, soaring 13-foot ceilings, and the unique history of the building,” begins Molly Hatia of the 714-square-foot condo in Seattle that she owned for five years.
“Built in 1896, it was originally an elementary school, and was converted to condos in the ’80s. Seattle doesn’t have an abundance of historic buildings the way the East Coast or Europe does, so when I first viewed this condo I knew it was special and that it had to be mine.”
When it came to making the small space her own, Molly says her goal “was to create a space that feels inviting and cozy, yet spacious. I wanted to honor the historic nature of the building so I styled it with that in mind — I picked up a vintage school desk and classroom map at a local antique store to pay homage to the unit’s past as an elementary school classroom.”
The bathroom and kitchen got full renovations by Molly, and she says she “adhered to a Victorian/Edwardian-era style with design choices like vintage sink faucets and classic subway and mosaic tile. I also exposed a previously hidden brick wall in the bathroom, letting the building’s character shine through even more.”
Born and raised in Seattle, Molly works as a software engineer and has a love of travel, photography, playing guitar, and, since moving into this space, tropical houseplants. “Plants thrive so easily with these big windows! I’ve created a little jungle oasis here,” she writes. “When I’m not traveling I’m a bit of a homebody, so it’s important to me to have a comfortable, aesthetically pleasing space that feels true to my identity.”
This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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