Padraic Slattery, a self-taught renovator, revives properties with inspiring mid century characteristics that eschew mainstream apartment construction and styling.
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. Have you ever stayed at a hotel so intriguing you changed careers? Padraic Slattery has.
Slattery’s skills are rooted in finance 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 flipped 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 firm, 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 “I made it a mission to overthrow the outdated culture of the apartment industry, which generally suffers from a severe lack of inspiration.”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.”
Slattery’s Seamless Mid Century Apartment Design Schemes
Three of Slattery’s recent mid century apartment 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.
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.
For more MCM apartments, A Tamarisk West Home in Palm Springs Gets Carefully Renovated and Miami Modernism in West Vancouver. And of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest for more Atomic Ranch articles and ideas!
