Modern two-story home with a wide balcony and glowing windows at dusk, overlaid with “Just Sold.”

May in Seattle: Design, Beauty & Everyday Living

 

Hello May!

 

Seattle has fully shifted into spring mode—and so has the housing market. New listings are up nearly 30% year-over-year across many parts of the city, bringing more options online just as buyer activity hits its seasonal peak. Well-designed homes with great light, strong flow, and thoughtful updates continue to move especially quickly.

 

It’s been a busy few weeks on my end as well, with five closings happening between this week and next. Across the board, the common thread has been preparation, timing, and acting decisively when the right opportunity appears.

 

I expect the market to stay active throughout May and into June before settling into a more typical summer pace.

 

This month’s newsletter explores another theme I’ve been thinking about lately: the connection between architecture, beauty, and everyday living—and how thoughtful spaces shape the experience of home.

 

Here’s to a season full of momentum, inspiration, and making the most of it.

 

–Matt

 

Modernae blog

Design, Beauty & Everyday Living.

 

This month on the ModernaeBlog: reflections on modern architecture, intentional interiors, and the emotional experience of home—plus a spring-cleaning guide from Architectural Digest to refresh your space for the season ahead.

 

From thoughtful design to collected spaces, this month’s stories explore how beauty and architecture continue to shape the way we live every day.

Contemporary interior with sculpted busts on a console table before floor-to-ceiling windows.
 
Fashion exhibition with two sculptural pale gowns in an ornate, sunlit room.
 
Collage of household chores: wiping blinds, mowing a flowered lawn, checking a list, and cleaning a cooktop.

Spring Cleaning Checklist by Architectural Digest

 

Bring your home back to life after a long and lazy winter with tips on how to tackle a top-to-bottom household cleanup

 

This month’s modern picks span from the desert to the Pacific Northwest.

 

Palm Springs Color & Character — In Palm Springs, fashion designer Trina Turk’s beautifully updated Mid-Century Modern blends vibrant personality with classic desert architecture—warm woods, bold color, and effortless indoor-outdoor living.

 

Northwest Modern Restraint — Closer to home, a remarkable Ralph Anderson-designed estate in Medina offers a more restrained Northwest modernism, pairing timeless materials, dramatic scale, and serene lakefront living with a pool for $12 million.

 

Two very different interpretations of modern living—both rooted in thoughtful design, strong point of view, and architecture that feels timeless.

Living room with sunken seating, a wood ceiling, fireplace, and sliding doors overlooking mountains.
 
Modern home with a swimming pool, clipped hedges, and a curved lawn, viewed from above.
Modernae Portfolio

More Homes to Love This Spring!

And a great time to make a move.

 

Sunset over the waterfront, with a barge on the water and mountains along the horizon.

Belltown

2801 1st Ave, Unit #401

2 BD 2 BA 1390 SF

O

Offered at $890,000

City Living—Elevated at The Ellington

A beautifully remodeled 2BR + office residence with west-facing Olympic and Elliott Bay views, 2 parking spaces with EV charging, and refined modern European finishes in one of Belltown’s premier full-service buildings.

Seattle skyline at dusk with the Space Needle beside an illuminated glass high-rise.
 

Denny Triangle

2510 6th Ave #2504

1 BD 1 BA 814 SF

 

Offered at $799,000

Modern two-story home at dusk with an illuminated glass-fronted upper level and broad concrete driveway.

Magnolia

3439 24th Ave West

3 BD 2 BA 2240 SF

 

Now Pending!

 
Seattle skyline and waterfront at dusk, with illuminated high-rises and the Great Wheel reflected in Elliott Bay.

Waterfront

1900 Alaskan Way #514

2 BD 2 BA 1155 SF

 

Now Pending!

Living room with a lit white fireplace, large windows, pale sofa, and orange accent chair.

Belltown

2801 1st Ave #612

1 BD 1 BA 608 SF

 

Recently Reduced to $355,000

 

 

 
Vacant living room with sliding glass doors, Seattle skyline, Space Needle, and fireplace.

Capitol Hill

745 Bellevue Ave E, #402

3 BD 2 BA 2031 SF

 

Recently Reduced to $1,495,000

 

Concerts in Seattle

 

Seattle’s music scene is hitting its stride for the Spring and Summer 2026 season, offering a massive lineup that ranges from stadium-sized spectacles to intimate, open-air vibes at the parks. Whether you’re looking for high-energy pop, legendary rock, or indie folk, the city has a front-row seat waiting for you.

Solette - Rooftop Restaurant Coming to Seattle

Rooftop pool surrounded by modern high-rises, with curved lounge chairs and rows of sun loungers.
 

Opening soon, Solette Seattle is Level Seattle’s new rooftop restaurant and bar.

 

Designed as an upscale-casual space with indoor and outdoor terraces, Solette offers chef-driven cuisine, craft cocktails, and iconic views of the Space Needle and Puget Sound.

 

A hand reaches for a latte beside a fruit bowl and orange flowers.
 

 

 

Mother's Day Brunch Spots

May 10th

 

Every mom deserves a special meal at one of these incredible Seattle restaurants, but be sure to plan ahead before they're all booked.

 

Seattle Beer Week, May 7th–16th.
 

 

 

Seattle Beer Week

May 7 - 16th

 

A week long celebration of all things BEER in the greater Seattle area.

 

 

Ornate red-and-gold theater with a blank screen and audience seated in rows.
 

 

 

Seattle International Film Festival

May 7 - 17th

 

The 52nd annual Seattle International Film Festival will take place May 7–17, 2026 at SIFF Cinemas and venues throughout the city.

 

A man walks a fluffy white dog along a stone path beside a modern home.
 

If you’re thinking about what’s next this season, I’d love to help you make navigate the move.

 

 

Matt Mather

Broker

M: 310.600.0257

[email protected]

modernaehomes.com

 
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Compass
Compass is a licensed real estate broker. All material is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to the accuracy of any description or measurements (including square footage). This is not intended to solicit property already listed. No financial or legal advice provided. Equal Housing Opportunity. Photos may be virtually staged or digitally enhanced and may not reflect actual property conditions.

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Work With Matt

He is Compass Seatlle's modern home specialist. Inspired by his own love of modern homes, he strives to make buying and selling a Seattle Modern home as seamless and enjoyable as possible through the perfect combination of high-tech and high-touch.

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