This Tiny Puget Sound Home Was Made for Lazy Summers
A Seattle couple’s comfortably quaint 650-square-foot Vashon Island getaway serves up slipcovered, salt-weathered charm and relaxed Sunday suppers overlooking Puget Sound.
Ted Kennedy Watson has led a very colorful life. The Washington-based style guru is a former tennis pro, an author (his most recent is Ted Kennedy Watson’s Guide to Stylish Entertaining), a lifestyle blogger , and a popular “purveyor of fine goods,” thanks to two Seattle locations of his namesake store, Watson Kennedy.
The need for color extends far beyond Ted’s vibrant shops—all the way to the shores of Vashon Island, Washington (population of around 10,000). That’s where he and husband Ted Sive escape to WestWard, a place Ted named shortly after buying it—something he heartily recommends. “Everyone should name their house—big or small! Name your apartment, for goodness’ sake. It personalizes it and makes it yours,” he says.
Americana Red Exterior
While christening the place was a breeze, getting it up to the couple's style standards was not. “It was in need of some serious love,” says Ted. “Everything was very dark—the cabinets, the paneling.” But the couple was inspired by the “major” flagpole left behind. (“It's 35 feet tall,” Ted says), so when they started redoing the property, they opted to keep the Americana theme—and the rich red exterior—already in place. The pair of Ws represents the name of the cabin—WestWard—and makes appearances both inside and out.
Get the Look:
Adirondack Chairs: Classic Adirondack chairs by L.L.Bean
Light and Bright Living Room
In order to set the stage indoors for all the red, white, and blue, Ted needed to first lighten things up. Fortunately, his husband, Ted Sive, is a consultant who works with architectural and construction firms, so it wasn't much of an undertaking to add French doors, which brought in tons of natural light. They also painted all the dark, knotty pine—from floor to ceiling—a crisp, bright white. To complement the exterior’s original shade of red as well as the stunning view, Ted chose all-American accents, including ticking stripe for the sofa and chairs. “When you flip the sofa cushions over, it’s a red stripe,” he says. “There are lots of ways to make furniture more fun.” A collection of French dish towels came in handy when it was time to make a slipcover for the ottoman.
Get the Look:
Sofa: Ticking stripe sofa for a similar look
Pillows: Nautical throw pillows for a similar look
Collected Bookshelves
When they first bought the house, Ted says they bought a lot of “flaggy” things, including the red desk with stars and stripes painted on top. An ever-growing collection of artwork hangs above. Storage is at a premium in the small cabin, so many of their collections are hardworking, including the McCoy pottery on the bookcase. Says Ted, “Most of it has something inside—matches, old birds’ nests, keys, a wallet.”
Get the look:
Pottery: Vintage McCoy pottery for a similar look
Related: 48 Beach House Decor Ideas That Will Make Major Waves in Any Interior
A Small, But Hardworking Kitchen
Both Teds like to cook, so the kitchen is as user-friendly as it is stylish. They chose stainless steel countertops and removed the doors from the upper cupboards so everything is beautifully displayed and accessible. Their secret ingredient for entertaining: the butcher-block-topped rolling island. “We pull it right up to the sink. It can go out on the deck as a bar. It’s a major workhorse,” says Ted.
Get the Look:
Island: Rolling Kitchen Island for a similar look
Creative Storage
And then there's the abundance of jam jars lined up on the bottom shelf. “We're at a max on the jam jars—we've eaten the jam out of every single one of those jars,” says Ted. “But it proves you can make anything a collection. We use them to store nuts, spices, cough drops, you name it.”
Get the Look:
Jars: Gingham glass jars for a similar look, or reuse Bonne Maman jam jars.
Nautical Bedroom
In the bedroom, Ted doubled down on the seafaring theme with nautical flags, anchor pillows, and old lockers.
Get the look:
Nightstand: Antique locker for a similar look
Blanket: Americana throw blanket for a similar look
Sleeping Porch
Ted loved the idea of a sleeping porch, so he created his own take with an outdoor bed. “It’s covered, so it’s a great spot when it’s raining,” he says.
Get the look:
Pennants: Red and Navy Pennant Flags for a similar look
Related: 27 Charming & Patriotic Decorations for 4th of July
Waterside Dining
Ted loves entertaining and especially setting the table. “I like to mix and match vintage patterns,” says Ted. “Sometimes people don’t have eight of something, and that can stop them from entertaining because they don’t have a matching set. But it’s more fun to use different silverware, plates, glasses, and napkins,” he says. He also likes to use unexpected items for tabletop decor—like his collection of vintage pool balls. “My favorite number is 11, so I only buy ones with that number,” he says. Lastly, he advises using natural elements like leaves from the hydrangeas that work as place cards.
Get the look:
Tabletop: Watson Kennedy for a similar look
Pool Balls: Vintage pool balls for a similar look
Backyard Tree House
Artist Amy Duncan covered the wall of the next door tree house with the pages of vintage maritime and bird-watching books. “It took about a day to install. We just love it. It’s weathered incredibly well,” says Ted.
Happy Hour
Ted Kennedy Watson (right), husband Ted Sive, and schnauzer Bailey relax on the downstairs landing. “We never feel like we have a small house because there are lots of different places to be on the property,” says Ted.
Editors' Picks: Farmers' Market Inspired Recipes
Is This the Best Small Town in the Midwest?
This Lakeside Cabin Is Full of Old-School Charm
23 Perfectly Patriotic Ways to Use Mason Jars
