4770 Ohio Ave S
Ste B
Seattle, WA 98134
info@paxsonfay.com
For many years, Kirsten and Rick lived in a very rural part of the Kitsap Peninsula, across the Puget Sound from Seattle. “We were living out in the woods,” says Kirsten. “The closest town was 25 minutes away, and gas was 25 minutes away. We loved it—it was beautiful and quiet, but a little too remote.”
The couple started looking for something closer in, when Kirsten’s oldest daughter came across a listing for a 1930s brick farmhouse on about two acres in Silverdale. The Dyes Inlet property was once an oyster farm, and the residence had the same quiet, rustic quality as the home they were leaving.
The couple were surprised at the find. “Silverdale is a community that grew up around a mall,” says Kirsten. “It has a Costco, a Trader Joe’s, and all the franchise restaurants. But we came to see the house, and it was this little corner of paradise right in the heart of Silverdale. Its original, rural nature had been preserved.”
Less paradisical was the home’s interior, which still had its original 1930s layout—complete with compartmentalized rooms, low ceilings in the upstairs bedrooms, and few windows to capture views of the inlet. Still, there was something about the brick that captivated the couple—it isn’t a common building material in the area, and it still bore the original builder’s initials in a flourish on the east facade.
After purchasing the property, Kirsten and Rick set about updating the farmhouse to suit their lifestyle. Their grown children and grandchildren come to stay for extended periods, so they needed more space and privacy than the existing three-bedroom / one-full-bathroom home offered. While researching local firms, they discovered SHED Architecture & Design, and they consulted with the firm about how to best proceed.
SHED principal Prentis Hale was struck by the uniqueness of the brick home, and thought the best approach was to preserve the integrity of the original structure while reorganizing the interior plan. “This was a 1930s brick house with some charm and character that didn’t deserve to be torn down,” says Hale. “It had been part of the fabric of Silverdale for a while, but the interior really no longer worked for the way people live these days.”
The firm came up with a master plan for the site that would convert the brick house into a guest residence for visiting family, and create a separate primary house for Kirsten and Rick. (They’ve just broken ground on the latter.)
SHED worked with Joe Gates Construction to keep the roof’s pitch, as well as the east and west facades, most of the window openings on those faces, and the OG initials. They took more liberties with the North and South facades.
On the water side, they extended the dormer all the way across to make room for two bedroom suites upstairs, and inserted new windows in the dormer to capture the views. “It neatly arranged itself in a very centralized, symmetrical (as we could make it) floor plan on the upper level,” says Hale. SHED mirrored that symmetry on the lower level, with two large sets of sliding-glass doors that align with the dormers above and connect the main living spaces to the view.
The firm also leaned into asymmetry by exaggerating the roof overhang at the rear facade to create a protected porch. Other exterior elements, like a simple steel canopy above the front door, and a metal railing, sync up with that dramatic move.
Kirsten says she wanted the interior to feel “both light and airy, but to also have the character of a farmhouse.” To hit these notes, the design team selectively applied white shiplap to the entry, kitchen, and custom cabinetry upstairs. The wood paneling also serves a functional purpose: “I like something that can get dented,” says Kirsten.
To sync the home with the surrounding landscape, the team selected deep-blue floor tile for the bathroom, and pale green upholstery for a window seat. “It’s the opposite of a rabbit warren, which is what it felt like before,” says Kirsten. “Now, everything opens to the water and sky.”
More Before & After stories:
Clever Changes Bring Out the Charm in a 1920s Seattle Bungalow
A Timeworn Midcentury Home Gets a Reverent Renovation
A Kandinsky Print Inspires a Seattle Rambler’s Radiant Remodel
Project Credits:
Architecture: SHED Architecture & Design / @shedarchitecture
Builder: Joe Gates Construction
Structural Engineer: Todd Perbix
meet the team
We’re inspired by diverse design perspectives, innovation, technology, art, and the world around us. We live for the chance to create and disperse powerful, genuine messages that resonate.
tessa franchini
principal
tessa@paxsonfay.com
Tessa graduated from Fordham University in New York with a dual bachelor's degree in Communications and Political Science. During her time at Fordham, she worked for an interior designer and at NBC News where she developed her love for both design and communications. After graduating, Tessa managed marketing at 3form, a pioneer in the sustainable building products industry. During her tenure, 3form was repeatedly named one of the most recognized manufacturers in the design industry among architects and designers, and the company won multiple awards for its innovative product launches. After 3form, Tessa consulted on marketing efforts with leading product manufacturers in architecture and design before starting Paxson Fay with Amy.
amy golden
principal
amy@paxsonfay.com
Growing up in Seattle, Amy was always exploring the great outdoors but she found a particular thrill in traveling. During a visit to New York City at age 10, she knew that was where she wanted to live. After high school she left her home in the Pacific Northwest behind for the great unknown to attend Fordham University in the Bronx. Upon graduation, Amy received a phone call from CNN offering a job opportunity of a lifetime working in television ad sales at Manhattan's Time Warner Center. When a job opportunity in Los Angeles opened up a few years later, Amy couldn't say no to a new adventure back on the west coast. But Seattle eventually called her back home and Amy returned to pursue a Master's degree in Business Administration with the hopes of learning the skills she needed to feed her entrepreneurial spirit. Before graduating, Amy co-founded Paxson Fay with Tessa Andrews in 2015. Amy focuses on marketing strategy, public relations, social media, and partnerships.
colby wood
senior account executive
colby@paxsonfay.com
After graduating from Fordham University in New York City with a major in Communications and Media Studies and a handful of marketing and PR internships, Colby moved to Boston to manage marketing for a small, women-owned, creative consulting agency. While in that role, Colby managed public relations and marketing efforts for some of Boston's most prominent events and public art initiatives, including the Boston Pickle Fair and The Bulfinch Crossing Projections in downtown Boston. Colby gained experience crafting brand stories and identities through social media marketing and creative copywriting, seen through the successful launch of a premier Massachusetts adult-use dispensary and the revamp of her agency's own website. After two years, Colby decided it was time to figure out what the West Coast was all about. Looking to blend her marketing experience with her passion for design and architecture, Colby found Paxson Fay, where she focuses on social media strategy and management and public relations.
paige childs
communication specialist
paige@paxsonfay.com
As a child, Paige wanted to be an architect; but after falling in love with storytelling, the power of words, and yes, the show West Wing, she decided to pursue journalism at The George Washington University in the nation’s capital. Following graduation, Paige crafted communications for the beauty and banking industries. Craving space for creativity, she joined the small team that would reopen the congressionally designated National Children’s Museum. There, she played an integral role in establishing the museum’s brand, bringing it to life across digital channels, including social media, email, and advertising. After nearly eight years in DC, she decided it was time for a change of scenery. Having grown fond of the title Washingtonian, she made the cross-country move to Washington State. She landed in Seattle at Paxson Fay, where in true full circle fashion she is the architect of social media and public relations strategies for our architecture and design clients.
zoe mcphail
senior communications coordinator
zoe@paxsonfay.com
From San Francisco, California, Zoe moved to Seattle, Washington to pursue her undergraduate degree at the University of Washington. She graduated with a dual bachelor’s degree in Economics and Political Science. Shortly after graduation from UW, Zoe hopped across the pond to pursue her Master of Science in Urban Economics and Real Estate Finance at the London School of Economics. Focusing on Sustainable Development, she found herself drawn to adaptive reuse and preservation projects in the world of architecture and design. Building on prior marketing and social media experience, Zoe returned to the PNW in July of 2023 to work on social media strategy and content creation for clients at Paxson Fay.
martina povolo
communications assistant
martina@paxsonfay.com
Martina joined the Paxson Fay team as an intern when she was a senior at the University of Washington. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Public Interest Communications, Martina is now continuing with the team as a Communications Assistant. During her time at UW, Martina worked as the Special Sections Editor at the university’s newspapers where she won multiple awards for her front page spreads. Looking to blend her minors in real estate and environmental science with her focus in communications, Martina is passionate and excited to join the Paxson Fay team.
tara lyons
communications assistant
tara@paxsonfay.com
With roots in Napa and Denver, Tara ventured to the Pacific Northwest to pursue her academic journey at the University of Washington, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Education. Tara's love for writing began when she delved into songwriting, building on her pre-existing passion for singing and playing the piano. Following her undergraduate years, she returned to Paxson Fay, where she had previously interned, transitioning into the role of Communications Assistant. With a keen interest in PR and social media, Tara seamlessly integrates her creative flair into the professional realm. Outside of work, you'll find Tara passionately supporting the Kraken, embodying her love for both storytelling and sports.
We are hiring for our internship program! We are looking for an intern with a passion for design to help manage key communication channels. Click here to read more.
what we do
We are a communications firm founded in our passion for good design. Our unique approach to marketing and public relations in the architecture and design community has elevated our clients work to the next level. We’re backed by a talented community of creatives. From copywriters to social media experts, we provide a complete package of customized services. We strive to create a personal experience with each client, integrating teams and tackling your biggest marketing and public relations challenges from a high level. Then we help execute those plans ensuring lots of reporting along the way, with lots of coffee breaks in between because we’re from Seattle and that’s what we do.
marketing
marketing strategy
brand strategy
project management
partnerships acquisition and management
e-mail blasts
public relations
media strategy
content production
media communications and outreach
awards: strategy, content development and submissions
social
platform strategy and management
content production
targeted campaigns
results + reporting
advertising
advertising strategy
budget strategy + negotiation
calendar management
creative coordination
content
storytelling
copywriting
website and e-mail marketing
video: sourcing, storyboarding and scheduling
photography acquisition + curation
events
event management
sponsorships + partnerships
tradeshow coordination
press tours
clients
Here is a little taste of who we love to work with and what we love to do.