Paxson Fay is a full-service marketing and public relations firm specializing in the architecture, design, and arts industries.
Paxson Fay
4770 Ohio Ave S
Ste B
Seattle, WA 98134
info@paxsonfay.com
SHED Architecture in Sunset Magazine
Before & After: This Kitchen Had Plenty of Natural Light But Needed a Serious Style Upgrade
It went from outdated to sleek.
The kitchen in this 1970s William Rutledge-designed house in Mercer Island, Washington, had some good bones and an enviable asset: plenty of light. “The house incorporates many elements of the era such as vertical glass that wraps into a skylight, split-level arrangement, vertically interconnected spaces, and soaring ceilings,” explains Thomas Schaer, principal at SHED Architecture & Design. “Located on a heavily wooded site, these features maximize the amount of light that enters the house.”
Dain Susman
While the kitchen wasn’t lacking in natural light, it did have a couple of drawbacks, mainly it looked like it hadn’t been updated in a long time. “Despite some of the original features beloved by the homeowners, the existing kitchen was isolated from the rest of the house. Additionally, it was outdated and in need of a refresher,” Jin Park, also of SHED, adds.
Thomas and Jin’s clients (a young family with a new baby and a grandmother who lives with them) wanted to open up the kitchen to the rest of the house. “The original kitchen arranged the work triangle against the corner windows with views out to the wooded hillside but isolated the chef,” Thomas says. “This family, like most these days, sees the kitchen as an active social space so the new arrangement opens to the dining and family room.”
Other goals for the kitchen were to create a breakfast nook, add functional casework, and to stay within budget. All of those things might seem like a tall order, but the SHED team was up for the challenge.
Dain Susman
The team didn’t look too far for remodeling inspiration—Jin says the existing house and its subdued material palette was the primary source. “As always, we focus on how best to support the family life that our clients envision by leveraging the existing space,” Jin explains. “We do not use reference images/projects to guide the process but rather we seek to integrate the new work so that it’s difficult to tell where the original work begins and ends. Within the updated spaces, we sometimes reintroduced trims and materials found elsewhere in the house while at other times introducing a modern take on the existing. These moves not only create a dialogue between the old and the new but seek to clarify ideas that may have only been executed in parts rather than throughout.”
Dain Susman
Working within the home’s footprint and with some of its existing features helped the project stay within budget. “Adding/replacing windows often bumps up the budget and is a slippery slope potentially resulting in replacing other windows for consistency and/or adjacent siding,” Thomas says. “We sought to integrate the remodeled spaces with existing windows and skylights. The existing black aluminum windows were wrapped with jamb liners, casing, and connected with interstitial panels to weave them into the reconfigured spaces. As a result, all the work occurred inside the building envelope, controlling scope and cost.”
Dain Susman
One of the major parts of the renovation was the removal of the wall between the kitchen and dining room so a peninsula could be included and used as a central space for gathering and activities. This allowed for more natural light to flow through from the kitchen to the dining room.
“While the vertically stacked living room (top floor) and dining room (ground floor) configuration of the house did not provide an open living-dining-kitchen configuration common in contemporary homes, the removal of the wall allowed for the three spaces to be atmospherically connected via an opening at the edge of the dining room, entry, and central staircase,” Thomas explains.
Dain Susman
For the breakfast nook, the team positioned it in a corner of the kitchen, under an existing skylight and next to two big windows. “A simple detail of a steel rod spanning between skylight beams to swing a pendant light over the breakfast nook table adds an effortless aesthetic to the room,” Jin says. The spot is now the focal point of the kitchen.
Dain Susman
The team also made the cabinetry and drawers more functional, since older kitchens often have drawers that partially open and lower cabinet doors with fixed shelves so you have to crouch down and dig for pots and pans. “Modern drawer hardware allows for large full extension drawers allowing one to pull out the under counter contents within easy reach,” Thomas says. “Maxing out under-counter drawer storage makes a kitchen far more functional and pleasant to work in.”
Dain Susman
Other additional touches to the kitchen include terrazzo floor tiles for a hint of color. And the quartz counters were made extra thick, since the clients prefer working on extra tall counters—the height is now 38 inches instead of 36 inches. “Note that the quartz, set flush with painted drywall, wraps up behind the cooktop and around the appliance zone and under the wood shelves for understated durability,” Jin adds.
Now the kitchen is modernized and more functional for the growing family. The space truly takes advantage of its abundance of windows and a skylight, bringing in plenty of natural light and showcasing the forest outside.
Clients in the News
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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
Originally from Seattle, Amy left her home in the Pacific Northwest to attend Fordham University, fulfilling her dream of living in New York City. After graduating with a BS in business administration, specializing in marketing and minoring in economics, Amy began her career in advertising sales at CNN and the Hallmark Channel in New York and LA. However, Amy’s love of writing, design, and connection with people ultimately led her to PR. While finishing her MBA back home at Seattle University, in 2015, Amy cofounded Paxson Fay with her friend and business partner, Tessa, driven by a shared vision to build a PR agency that reflected their values and passions. At Paxson Fay, Amy thrives in media relations and pitch development, enjoying the process of diving deep into each client’s story to craft compelling narratives that resonate with editors and journalists. Amy has a particular passion for architecture-focused projects, and securing SHED’s feature in The New York Times was an especially rewarding moment, as they were her first client. Another major career milestone was helping build out Paxson Fay’s talented team, fostering an environment where young professionals can grow their skills and pursue their passions. Outside of work, Amy loves spending time with her family, chasing after her two little boys, exploring Seattle’s restaurant scene, traveling with friends, and reading.
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
account executive
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.
martina povolo
account coordinator
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
account coordinator
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.
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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
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clients
Here is a little taste of who we love to work with and what we love to do.
