Mercer Modern: A Remodeled Midcentury House Overlooking Lake Washington
There is no shortage of breathtaking views on Mercer Island in Seattle, and perched on a hillside lot beside Lake Washington is the beautifully updated Mercer Modern, reimagined by Wittman Estes Architecture + Landscape. This project preserved the original midcentury home’s structure and character while reworking interiors, expanding key spaces and refreshing finishes. The result is a home that feels both elegant and inviting, honoring its midcentury roots while meeting contemporary standards of comfort and functionality.
Inside, a refined palette of warm wood tones and crisp whites runs through both public and private areas, creating a cohesive, tranquil atmosphere. High-quality finishes—oak, Carrara marble, brass fittings and leather seating—combine to create a layered sense of luxury without feeling ornate. Wood is used strategically to define zones within open-plan living and dining areas, and visually ties the interior spaces to the outdoor decks and patios. Carefully planned built-in shelving, cabinetry and seating provide generous storage and help maintain clean sightlines, while multi-slide glass doors with slim aluminum frames blur the boundary between inside and out and open the home to the expansive deck and views beyond.
The house occupies nearly 16,000 square feet and accommodates a range of everyday needs: generous living spaces, relaxing guest rooms, a dedicated home office and leisure amenities that include a sizable pool and multiple outdoor living areas. Throughout the renovation, the design team preserved and enhanced the essential midcentury qualities—clean lines, functional planning and an emphasis on indoor-outdoor living—while improving circulation, storage and daylighting to suit modern lifestyles.
Function and finesse meet in the kitchen and dining areas. A thoughtfully detailed combination of Carrara marble countertops and warm oak cabinetry provides a visual counterpoint: marble introduces a refined, light-reflecting surface, while oak brings tactility and warmth. Metal accents and brass fixtures add a subtle sheen, elevating the space without overwhelming it. Built-in bench seating and intelligently placed storage keep countertops clear and circulation smooth, while sliding and multi-panel doors make it easy to expand the entertaining footprint onto the outdoor deck when desired.
Circulation throughout the house is deliberate and open, allowing each room to flow into the next while offering moments of privacy and refuge. The material choices and spatial decisions reinforce the home’s identity: midcentury modern principles interpreted with contemporary detailing, resulting in an environment that is at once sophisticated, cheerful and highly livable.
Photography credit: Rafael Soldi
