In Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood, there is a fascinating private residence which is Dr. Coleman House.
The house is situated near Crockett Street and Nob Hill Avenue.
It was once a modest 1906 Craftsman cottage, clad in plain white vinyl siding and surrounded by a “pretty” but simple garden.
Now, it is a vibrant Victorian masterpiece thanks to Brian Coleman, a Seattle psychiatrist.
The house features a turret, sunflower carvings, and cast-iron griffins, all painted in deep greens, gold, and burgundy.
Who owns the house?
The house was originally built in 1906 as a Craftsman cottage. Over the years, it had become quite plain, clad in white vinyl siding with black trim.
In the late 1990s, Brian Coleman first purchased the property.
At that time, the house was far from remarkable, clad in white vinyl siding and black trim, blending into the background of this historic neighborhood.
How did the house change?
Determined to restore its charm, Coleman decided to renovate the house, spanning more than two decades.
Coleman added a turret, a hallmark of Victorian architecture, and adorned the exterior with intricate carvings of sunflowers and cast-iron griffins.
The house was then painted in a rich fall palette of deep greens, gold, and burgundy, bringing warmth and vibrancy to the neighborhood.
But the transformation didn’t stop at the house.
Coleman also reimagined the garden, creating a lush and inviting landscape that mirrors the house’s colorful exterior.
Manicured box hedges, variegated holly columns, and a golden hinoki cypress are just a few of the elements that give the garden year-round appeal.
Seasonal plantings ensure that the garden remains a visual feast throughout the year, with winter pansies and ornamental kale taking center stage in colder months.
Despite its exterior splendor, the interiors of the Coleman House remain largely a mystery to locals, as the house is not typically open to the public.