heliotrope crafts norwegian-inspired addition to historic seattle home

new life for a captain’s home in seattle

A home in Seattle has seen a newly completed addition and landscape redesign by locally based studio Heliotrope Architects. The project, titled Loyal Captain, transforms a 5,000-square-foot landmark residence originally built in 1933 by ship captain Ole E. Nelson. Inspired by his boyhood home in Bergen, Norway, Captain Nelson’s craftsmanship resulted in a house that reflects Scandinavian vernacular building traditions. The historic home, renowned for its attention to detail, features Norwegian folk art, and is said to have been constructed using hand-selected wood approved by Nelson himself.

Commissioned by the current homeowners, a young family with discerning taste, Heliotrope Architects designed a 500-square-foot kitchen addition. The new design replaces the original galley-style kitchen, which had become too small for modern use. The addition, constructed using heavy timber post-and-beam techniques, offers a contemporary contrast to the historic house while maintaining a complementary relationship to the original structure and surrounding landscape.

images © Kevin Scott

heliotrope architects preserves the historic structure

The design team at Heliotrope Architects connects its new addition to the south side of the original Seattle home by a six-foot glass-walled hall. This choice allows the addition to remain autonomous, preserving the character of both the original home and the new structure. The addition extends into a newly re-landscaped yard, which once housed a tennis court built in the 1940s. The addition’s flat roof features a garden, providing a sustainable and aesthetically pleasing feature. The extensive roof overhang shelters a terrace overlooking the updated landscape. This outdoor space includes a brick-enclosed wood-fired grill system, with the brick extending around to form a privacy wall on the street-facing side.

The heavy timber post-and-beam structure which supports the roof extends beyond the overhang to the west, connecting with the existing loggia outside the original dining room. Tapered concrete bases at the bottom of the timber posts aid in water drainage. The exterior finishes of brick and stained wood were carefully selected to match the warm tones of the original house, complimenting the tones of the natural surroundings. Large glass windows offer views of the landscape and transform the addition into a glowing lantern at night.

the 1933 landmark home in Seattle was inspired by the owner’s childhood home in Norway

inside the ‘loyal captain’ addition

Inside the new kitchen, Heliotrope Architects curates a polished concrete floor, stained knotty-oak cabinetry, and Quartzite countertops, including a custom stone kitchen sink. Integrated appliances maintain a clean, streamlined appearance. A large island and breakfast niche — complete with a custom dining table and chairs designed by Bowen Lui — provide a space for family meals, framed by a wall-sized picture window overlooking the yard. The brick, wood ceilings, and heavy timbers continue from the interior to the exterior, emphasizing the open, garden pavilion feel of the new addition. The original kitchen now serves as a butler’s pantry.

The level of craftsmanship and attention to detail in the new addition reflect the high standards set by the original structure. Heliotrope Architects sought to create a contemporary intervention while contributing to the legacy of this remarkable historic home — thus, the project is a respectful dialogue between the past and present, continuing the home’s story for generations to come.

the original house features Norwegian folk art and was constructed with detailed craftsmanship