An Unconventional Space: Mighty Tieton Lofts

Photos by Chad Bremerman

Eclectic yet elegant, the airy Mighty Tieton lofts are a triumph in the art of “reconsidering space.”

Through the work of Seattle architect Philip Christofides, Mighty Tieton’s circa 1941 fruit warehouse was recently repurposed into functional living space. By 2008, the oversized cement box had been transformed into 14 urban-chic loft condominiums with energy-efficient updates — all planned around interior common spaces. The $200,000-$250,000 lofts sold quickly and only one is currently back on the market.

Each Mighty Tieton unit shares a nearly identical floor plan, with a lofted bedroom over the kitchen and living areas. The airy ceilings (14 feet upstairs, 11 feet downstairs) and exposed original wood beams create a far more spacious feel than the actual 1,440 square feet. Wood floors burnished from decades of labor were kept as is.

But what really sets the lofts apart are the finishing touches placed by the artists and professionals who call Mighty Tieton home.

“A lot of the design … is in taking what was already here — and playing it up,” says Marquand of the loft home he shares with his partner, Michael Longyear.

“This area is not Italy. It is not France. It is Central Washington. We don’t pretend it is something it is not,” says Marquand. “But there are colors and an aesthetic beauty if used in the right way. We try to admire what is here and use it in imaginative ways.”

Marquand’s and Longyear’s loft, Unit 7, is furnished with objects reflecting Tieton’s agricultural background — though perhaps not immediately apparent. Sweeping black curtains appear dramatic and posh, but they once functioned as greenhouse shade cloth salvaged from Bauer’s Nursery. Whitewashed doors from the nursery are integrated into a partitioned wall downstairs and living room bookshelves are held up with iron greenhouse brackets.

Other whimsical elements punctuate Marquand’s loft, such as the electric “log fire” beneath a side table and carefully positioned vintage drinking-water barrels (stored in the warehouse as part of town emergency preparations during the 1960s). Marquand describes his décor as a mix of “IKEA, expensive Italian and junkstore finds.” The end result is a home at once refined and casual.

Christofides, along with his partner, interior designer Margot Arellano, also purchased a loft. And although they divide time between their Tieton and Seattle homes, Christofides says the couple favors the relaxed atmosphere of Mighty Tieton.

“This is the place that I love more than any other place that I’ve lived,” says Christofides, who has lived in a variety of spaces in Seattle and California, including single-family homes, condominiums and townhouses. “The Tieton space beats all for quality, light and character.”

In Christofides’ and Arellano’s Unit 14 loft, a vintage French movie poster with splashes of orange and fuscia appears bold and contemporary alongside an otherwise neutral palette. Sleek, modern furniture, including a bright orange cylinder that was once a Gatorade container, are carefully placed. Some furniture — like the kitchen island — was made by the couple (the island’s metal legs were once a telecom tower). Other pieces were salvaged finds, like the emerald-colored stools recovered from the set of MTV’s “Real World Seattle” on Pier 70.

But perhaps the most striking features to the corner unit are the converted loading dock portals that were transformed into sleek, retractable picture windows, with custom screens built in for shade and privacy.

“The biggest challenge,” says Christofides of the Mighty Tieton project, “is that it’s such an unusual concept for a small rural town. It didn’t fit the standard profile.”

And yet, even among locals, the idea is catching on.

Yakima residents Donald and Ann Orminski decided to purchase a Mighty Tieton loft as a get-away retreat — without the worry of upkeep.

Their Unit 1 loft is furnished with a rustic elegance also reminiscent of Tieton’s agricultural background. Cascading burlap curtains were once used to bundle hops from Grower’s Supply. And heavy metal twine used to bundle the hop bales was repurposed into stairway railing. A rustic wooden pulley dangles from the ceiling — and proved helpful when it was time to move heavy furniture to the second floor.

Ann, who is an administrator for Central Washington Podiatry Service, and Donald, a podiatrist in the practice, made several additions to the home, including new hardwood (the original flooring was damaged), a revamped kitchen and oiled ceiling timbers.  Artwork made by the Orminskis (including Ann’s sketches and paintings and Donald’s stunning dining room table, crafted using the inside of an upright piano), provide the finishing touches to their loft retreat.

The common dining area, called the Loft Gallery down the hall from Unit 1, is a frequent gathering place for the “lofties” as well as friends, artists and other professionals from the community. Potluck dinners, a barbeque, or an impromptu cocktail hour are not uncommon during weekends or summer nights.

Kerry Quint, artist and project director for Mighty Tieton, constructed a special dining table for the space, which also serves as and informal gallery, with salvaged warehouse rafters. Built on casters, the entire table can easily be pushed out to the deck for outdoor dining. And though privacy in such close living quarters is respected, loft doors are often left ajar to encourage neighbors to drop in.

“It’s a great group,” says Marquand.  “We’ve developed a very nice informal community.”