A Ballard couple is undertaking the latest chapter in a restoration project that has spanned more than two decades, as they update their 1910 home at 903 NW 61st St while working to preserve its historic character.
David Guthrie and his wife purchased the house from the Layton family in 1998. The previous owners had lived there for roughly 45 years, and at the time, the neighborhood was largely made up of longtime residents.
Now, after raising two daughters in the home, the couple is renovating the basement to create a mother-in-law apartment while also updating the main-floor kitchen and bathroom. Guthrie said their goal is to make the changes blend seamlessly with the original structure.
The house retains much of its original interior woodwork, trim and cabinetry. Over the years, the couple carefully removed interior trim pieces, stripped and refinished them, then reinstalled them. Original hinges, door handles and other hardware were removed, replated in a naval bronze finish and reattached.
Among the home’s unusual historic features was its original toilet room, which was accessible only from the back porch. Until construction began this year, residents had to leave the kitchen, step onto the enclosed porch and then enter the toilet room.
“I guess an outhouse was too far away, but having a toilet in the house was frowned on at the time,” Guthrie said.
The couple continued using the toilet room until the current renovation project began. In 2000, Guthrie added a sink to the space so family members could wash their hands.
Other remnants of the home’s early design remain visible. Before the current owners purchased the property, one upstairs bedroom had been converted into a bathroom. Marks on the floor still showed where a wood- or coal-burning stove once stood at the top of the stairs, providing heat to the upper-floor bedrooms.
The house was later converted from its original heating system to oil heat and eventually natural gas.
The restoration effort has included recreating architectural details that had been removed over the years, including a pass-through between the living and dining rooms and sliding pocket doors separating the entryway from the living room.
In 2016, the couple removed the home’s vinyl siding and discovered that much of the original siding remained intact beneath it. Damaged siding and decorative moldings were repaired before the house was repainted.
The home’s preservation work earned it a spot on the 2019 Ballard Classic Home Tour, where hundreds of visitors toured the property.
Guthrie said the couple had been considering the current renovation project for more than 20 years. They hope that the house, now more than a century old, will continue serving future generations.
“Our goal would be to have it continue to live on for the next 100 years,” he said.
Photos and video courtesy David Guthrie