Apartment Revivalist

A self- taught renovator reinvigorates properties with inspiring mid century characteristics that eschew mainstream apartment construction and styling.

HAVE YOU EVER STAYED AT A HOTEL so intriguing you changed careers? Padraic Slattery has.

Slattery’s skills are rooted in fi nance and accounting, but the history and design of the Commodore Astoria in Oregon he visited 11 years ago was so captivating that his life’s calling fl ipped 180 degrees. Lacking formal design, architecture or construction training, Slattery relied on his imagination and design resources on Microsoft Windows to begin restoring dilapidated mid century buildings. He became “obsessed” with transforming neglected or written- off properties, eventually establishing his Seattle- based fi rm, Padraic One Design.

“I saw an opportunity in a competitive field where design aesthetics were not a core consideration, if at all,” Slattery says. “I made it a mission to overthrow the outdated culture of the apartment industry, which generally suffers from a severe lack of inspiration.”

His buildings flaunt the clean lines and sophisticated simplicity inherent in mid century style. Slattery tests 20 branding concepts before settling on a property’s look, but will pivot throughout the project to meet his design goals. If his intended vision can’t come to fruition, Slattery will tear everything out and start the project anew. “It’s not economical, but it’s design effective and promotes a higher level of personal satisfaction, which is a primary goal for my projects,” he says. “If I’m not passionate about the project, I won’t do it.”

Seamless Design Schemes

Three of Slattery’s recent projects are lauded for their harmonious interiors, exteriors and landscapes. The Hurricane in the Fauntleroy neighborhood of West Seattle, the Yacht Club apartments in the South Park district and Palm Court in Ballard were mostly stripped back to studs, with parts refurbished, and outfitted with matching colors, materials and themes.

With no formal training in design, architecture or construction, Slattery relied on his imagination and design resources on Microsoft Windows to begin restoring and renovating dilapidated mid century buildings.

( ABOVE, LEFT) SLATTERY DUBBED THIS PROPERTY THE “YACHT CLUB” AFTER WATCHING CANADIAN BILLIONAIRE JIM PATTISON SAIL BY THE HOME ON A MEGA YACHT. HE OUTFITTED THE EXTERIOR WITH ROPE- NETTED GLOBE PENDANTS, HANGING BUOYS AND ACRYLIC SIGNAGE.

( ABOVE, RIGHT) THE PENNY- ROUND TILE BACKSPLASH IN THE YACHT CLUB’S KITCHEN IS ECHOED IN ITS SHOWERS. GLOSSY BUTCHER BLOCK COUNTERS AND NAVY CABINETS WITH BRASS CLEAT HARDWARE CREATE A SLEEK CULINARY OASIS.

( RIGHT) A MIRROR REMINISCENT OF SHIP PORTHOLES AND THE INDUSTRIAL FLUSHMOUNT LIGHTS REINFORCE THE YACHT CLUB’S NAUTICAL MOTIF. REFINISHED CONCRETE FLOORS, BRASS HARDWARE AND FRAMELESS SHOWER PANELS BLEND MODERN APPLIANCES WITH MID CENTURY THEMES.

Through much- needed repairs to Palm Court, Slattery crafted a white and teal- green exterior accented with pink entry doors and chrome hardware. The interior is full of white walls and cabinetry, refinished oak floors and complementary colorful tile work.

Slattery refinished or replaced every inch of a former motel to construct the Yacht Club, which he found in tear- down condition, in a nautical style that harmonizes with the surrounding neighborhood. The exterior white brick, blue roofline and orange doors are replicated on interior walls, cabinetry, tilework and detailing.

Slattery restored the original googie- style, or angled, roofline and exterior marblecrete of The Hurricane, an extended- stay motel for World’s Fair visitors that had been neglected for decades. Materials like cork and coral on the inside and river rock and palm trees in the landscape are a tropical ode to the 1980s television series Miami Vice. “The plan was to reanimate the building with a Miami theme that is highlighted by an eccentric coral, white and green marblecrete exterior,” he says.

“I made it a mission to overthrow the outdated culture of the apartment industry, which generally suffers from a severe lack of inspiration.”

INSIDE PALM COURT, SLATTERY RESTORED THE CAST- IRON BATHTUBS AND REFINISHED THE ORIGINAL OAK FLOORS. RETRO LIGHT FIXTURES, STARBURST HANDLE WARE AND MOSAIC GLASS TILES KEEP THE MID CENTURY THEME ALIVE.

PALM COURT PAYS HOMAGE TO THE AMAZING DESIGNERS WHO HAVE COMPLETED PROJECTS IN PALM SPRINGS, WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MUCH OF SLATTERY’S DESIGN INFLUENCE. THE EXTERIOR WAS REPAIRED AND RESTORED WITH SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA STYLING IN MIND, USING BAMBOO FENCING AND BRIGHT TEALS AND PINKS. ( OPPOSITE, TOP) SLATTERY POURED TERRAZZO FLOORING AND ADDED HEAVY SKIP- TROWEL WALL TEXTURE— POPULAR IN CALIFORNIA DESIGNS— TO EACH PALM COURT APARTMENT. PLANTS LIKE AGAVE AND YUCCA THAT THRIVE IN DRY CLIMATES AND FAUX GRASS WALKWAYS EMULATE A DROUGHT- FRIENDLY LANDSCAPE.

( TOP) SLATTERY MAINTAINED THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE HURRICANE’S ORIGINAL ROOF DETAIL AND HIGHLIGHTED IT WITH THREE LARGE 14- INCH GLOBE PENDANT LIGHTS. WINDMILL PALMS AND RIVER ROCK ESTABLISH A SIMPLE MEDITERRANEAN LANDSCAPE.

( ABOVE, RIGHT & BELOW, RIGHT) AS WITH THE OTHER TWO PROPERTIES, SLATTERY DECKED OUT THE HURRICANE SUITES WITH PENNY- ROUND TILE AND RETRO LIGHT AND HARDWARE FIXTURES. THE APARTMENTS HAVE BEEN APPOINTED WITH CORK FLOORING, CUSTOM GREEN ACRYLIC CABINETRY AND PINK TILE KITCHENS AND BATHROOM BACKSPLASHES. ( BELOW, LEFT) THE DETAILED WHITE, GREEN AND PINK PALM- TREE WALLPAPER AND CORAL DOORS INSIDE THE HURRICANE TIE INTO THE LANDSCAPE DESIGN AND FRONTAGE OF THE PROPERTY. THE CUSTOM FLOORMATS MATCH THE EXTERIOR SIGNAGE LOGO, COMPLEMENTING THE REST OF SLATTERY’S DESIGN.