A Garden Retreat Honoring Antiques and Treasures in Oysterville, WA

A Garden Retreat Honoring Antiques and Treasures in Oysterville, WA

With the onset of the economic crisis in 2009, veteran landscape designer and interior decorator Bradley Huson seized the opportunity to take some time off from working at his companies Madison Park Interiors and Bradley Huson Landscaping to realize his dream of a beach house that would allow him to escape city life in Seattle and work on a large garden. A native of Washington state, he found what he was looking for in Oysterville, WA, an enclave located on the tip of the Longbeach Peninsula that he enjoyed visiting as a child. Designated as a National Historical District, Oysterville’s charm comes largely from its coastal location, storied history and tirelessly maintained historical buildings. Given Oysterville’s historic status and the fact that there are few properties in the area, pickings were slim and Bradley bought the one and only house available at the time.

Originally built as two structures in 1870 by W. D. Taylor, a Loomis Stage Line driver, they were combined around 1900 to the single home standing now — which is known locally as the W. D. Taylor House. Later in the 1930s the home was bought by the Nelson family who set up an oyster smoking business in the backyard, which they ran into the 1950s (the space is now a beautiful hydrangea garden).

At 1,600 square feet with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living room, dining room, kitchen, laundry/mud room and garage, the current home is the perfect size for Bradley, his partner Dan, their two dogs, and the occasional dinner party. But it took years of work to bring the property up to snuff. After buying the home, Bradley and his then 73-year-old mother drove down from Seattle with a truck full of furniture and spent their first day ripping out carpet and cleaning. Later in the renovation they tore false ceilings out of many rooms and painted over dark orange and mustard yellow walls. Further work involved re-wiring the electrical, re-doing the fireplace and overhauling the kitchen and bathrooms. Overall, Bradley says his goal was not to have a home that looked decorated but rather “junky,” which he says with a wink. Whatever he wants to call it, it’s a feast for the eyes with color, texture, antiques and pieces that tell a unique story. —Allison

Photography by Mikola Accuardi

Image above: The library has wall-to-wall metal shelving which was made by Bradley’s partner, Dan. It houses some of their favorite paintings as well as collections of special treasures that have either been found or gifted to them.

1/20 The garden is Bradley's pride and joy and he maintains spaces in both the front (seen here) and back of the house. He built the garage last year and utilized a covered walkway to connect it to the house, topping it with a cupola for fun. Says Bradley, "I'm constantly on the lookout for architectural hardware. All of the doors and windows were salvaged."

2/20 The entry hall does double duty as a library and features a 17th-century burled elm root table Bradley bought at auction. The beautiful eastern morning light is a perfect spot for potted flowers.

3/20 Bradley grew up playing the piano and was delighted to find this one, which is from the 1939 Worlds Fair, at an auction. It was previously owned by Laurance Rockefeller and was in his NYC townhouse. The juniper topiary is vintage and was found in a sake shop in Japan.

4/20 The sun room looks out onto the garden and is the perfect place to read a book or take an afternoon nap. The wicker chaise and brass pendant lamp are both from the 1960s.

5/20 This 17th-century chair is covered in an 18th-century Flemish tapestry. It's quite beat-up so Bradley keeps a bag of embroidery floss nearby to overcast it as needed. "It's a great project for days that the weather doesn't allow me to be in the garden," he says.

6/20 Bradley keeps a lot of garden design books on the sun room shelves for inspiration. He also loves collecting pods and dried flowers from the garden for seasonally rotating decor. The allium shubertii, also known as a Persian Onion, is one of his favorites for this purpose.

7/20 A view of the living room with spring furnishings. The dried hydrangeas are in an old Pyrex umbrella stand that makes for a great vase.

8/20 Bradley loves to relax and enjoy some snuggle time with his pups, Malcolm and Wayne.

9/20 The dining room walls have been covered with French army blankets from the Army surplus store in Seattle. Bradley's grandparents collected 18th-century Chinese export porcelain and he began collecting it as well after inheriting a few pieces from them and loves how they pop against the dark wall coverings.

10/20 The dining room, which is open to the library, features a lacquered table and metal base made by Bradley's partner Dan, who also made all of the metal shelving as well as the fireplace surround.

11/20 The four-poster bed features colorful curtains which were made using tapestry fabric from Old World Weavers. They can be closed to provide complete darkness, which is great for sleeping in. "It's an amazingly comfortable bed!" Bradley notes.

12/20 This custom chair came out of San Francisco in the 1960s and has since been covered in a Larson wool. Bradley's partner Dan gave him the adorable stuffed bear for Christmas.

13/20 Bradley chose this bird and butterfly patterned wallpaper by Schumacher because it brightens up this upstairs hallway space and brings him joy.

Original article and pictures take www.designsponge.com site