W hen Jeffrey and Heidi Marks went looking for a house, they didn’t see themselves living in a development home.
Both artists, they hoped for something quirky, colorful, eclectic.
“We didn’t really want a ’90s home,” Heidi Marks said. “We wanted something funky.”
But then, during a spin through a Mukilteo subdivision, they were wooed by a large, early ’90s home full of unexpected twists, turns and angles.
“When we did the initial walk through, we could see the potential,” Jeffrey Marks said, adding that the property’s half-acre lot, a protected woodland out back and the double-showerhead in the master bath helped, too.
Despite its many positive attributes, however, the Markses’ new home challenged them to explore a truly creative vision.
“Everything was white,” said Heidi Marks, who loved the home but also yearned for increased color and coziness.
Right away they set out to paint the neutral walls throughout the 3,000-square-foot home.
They used burnt orange and gold in their Egyptian-themed sitting room, a candy-cane red accent wall in their otherwise mocha-colored dining room, and radiant mossy greens in their master bedroom and living room. They went for cool blues in the master bath, hot pink in the guest bathroom, dusty lavender in the powder room and a favorite deep red in their den.
They interspersed colorful artwork to play off the many hues: wooden tribal masks in the dining room, gold and black Egyptian figurines in the sitting room, and Asian accents in the living room.
In the kitchen, they took on a major remodeling project with Creative Kitchen &Bath of Lynnwood.
The couple not only chose chartreuse green walls for their kitchen, but they also selected a dazzling, bright red CaesarStone called “Ruby Reflections” for their countertops, a far cry from the typical black or earth-tone granites in many homes.
Crushed quartz mixed with red resin sparkles in the midday sun and shimmers under their evening lights.
Though Heidi Marks does most of the decorating and color planning, Jeffrey Marks was behind the countertop color choice.
“Whenever we’ve done red, it’s brought so much character and atmosphere,” he said. “I thought that, in a kitchen, it would be striking. This was the best red. It was the most cost-effective red as well.”
Jeffrey Marks was definitely wary of falling into a rut of typical kitchen design just to be on the safe side.
“Let’s be different,” he said of his approach. “This is our kitchen. Let’s design it.”
Yes, it’s an intense color, but they achieved a sense of balance with the light honey finish on Shaker-style maple cabinets, the white crackle finish on backsplash tiles and the stainless steel appliances.
“It looks great with the wood,” Heidi Marks said of the red. “I love this kitchen.”
Art also plays a key role in the kitchen, where they took the backsplash behind their built-in 4-foot wide Dacor range to the next level with a tile mural, featuring a classic French painting by Paul Ranson, “Pommier Aux Fruit Rouges” (“Apple Tree With Red Fruit”).
Heidi Marks fell in love with the image in a magazine and later saw an HGTV spot about Murayah Wall Murals of Denver, ready to deliver a custom-made image on marble tiles.
“We took advantage of the blank wall space to create a rich and complete environment that invites participation,” Heidi Marks said in a testimonial on the Murayah Web site. “The field scene draws you in to make you a part of it. We love looking at it every day.”
Their kitchen gracefully opens to an informal dining area and eventually to their large living room, where light green walls subtly echo the neon green of the kitchen.
With such rich colors flowing from room to room, the house is a far cry from its former white and beige self.
It’s also a true expression of Heidi Marks, who is a research chemist for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a wheatless cook and a prolific painter, and of Jeffrey Marks, a musician, artist, psychic and author. Jeffrey Marks works at the Everett Animal Shelter and is also president of the Washington State Ghost Society.
Homeowners tentative about color don’t have to build red kitchens to make an impact, but they can add big, bold color with paint, Jeffrey Marks said.
He’s planning on painting one of their home’s few remaining white rooms, an in-home recording studio, dark blue.
“You just have to jump in and do it,” he said. “It’s paint. If it doesn’t work out, you can paint over it.”
Reporter Sarah Jackson: 425-339-3037 or sjackson@heraldnet.com.
Jeffrey and Heidi Marks of Mukilteo offer their tips in budget home decorating and creative kitchen remodeling.
Never underestimate the power of paint: It’s one of the most cost-effective and dramatic methods for transforming a room. “You don’t have to buy stuff,” Heidi Marks said. “Thirty dollars for a gallon of paint can tie the whole room together.”
Repurpose a runner: Decorative runners can be used for so much more than tabletop design. Heidi Marks uses a variety of wood and fabric runners to create a layered softening effect on consoles and dressers as well as the top of their large flat-screen TV.
Closet curtain: Many development homes come with large walk-in closets, not always a visual asset. Hang a curtain in the doorway to soften the look of the room and hide any unsightly messes that form when the laundry piles up. If you have a glass shower that’s rarely used in a spare bathroom, you might also hang a shower curtain over it to create the same effect.
Shop around: When it comes to collections and accessories, cruise discount and import stores regularly and avoid buying all your furnishings at once. In the Markses’ home, it’s the organized displays – not the cost of the items – that make the look. “Nothing is very expensive,” Heidi Marks said, adding that many of their furniture pieces came from the “scratch and dent” section of stores such as Dania.
Light it right: If you are going to use dark-colored countertops in your kitchen, don’t skimp on under-counter and task lighting. It will brighten up winter’s dreary days, help you see what you’re doing and counterbalance the color choice.
Think outside the shower: Large houses often come with walls of windows. Heidi Marks overcame this dilemma in her living room by using two decorative shower curtains without liners for a clean, continuous look more than 20 feet long.
Flip it: Switch plates, like anything else, age and show wear. They’re cheap and easy to replace, however, and can make a big difference in style. The couple found switch plates with 90-degree edges (instead of curved) for a modern look. “If you’re selling a house, splurge, and put in some modern fixtures,” Heidi Marks said.
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