Queen Anne home enters 21st century

The bright yellow, red and bronze paint tells you this is no ordinary Victorian.

James and Kris Yasord are turning their 1899 Queen Anne home into something truly distinct.

While the original shingle style is being reclaimed on the outside, the inside is taking on a comfortable blend of old and new.

“It has the old charm, but it’s modernized,” Kris Yasord said.

Kind of like the couple who occupy it.

She is a global integration manager for IBM working with multinational corporations on their data information needs. He is an artist with a passion for bringing history back to life.

The house at Riverside Avenue and Cannon Street is part of the Browne’s Addition National Historic District. The first owner was Dr. E.D. Olmstead, an early mayor of Spokane and president of Cheney Normal School, now Eastern Washington University.

But the home’s stylishness fell into decline years ago when the building was converted to apartments and portions of its facade were covered up.

No matter. The Yasords fell for it right away.

They were living in Denver at the time and decided they wanted out. Because of her job, Kris Yasord has the flexibility to work anywhere with high-speed Web connections and convenient airline service.

“We got tired of the congestion, the cost,” she said of Denver. “Traffic was terrible. Entry-level houses were three or four hundred thousand (dollars) for fixer-uppers.”

The couple searched the United States for likely places to move. Spokane seemed a good candidate, so they booked a four-day stay here in May 2001. They did the typical stuff. They went to a movie, out for dinner, stopped at a neighborhood coffee bar and walked along the river.

“The falls were gorgeous,” Kris said.

They called a real estate agent, and took a look at the Olmstead House on Sunday. Its view overlooking the Spokane River and the bargain price sealed the deal for them. They bought it the same day for $100,000 at a substantial discount off the tax appraisal of $130,000.

“Structurally, it’s magnificent,” James said. “It’s got great bones to it.”

But the property needed a lot of work. It was a victim of what preservationists derisively call “remuddling.” The original front porch and second-floor balcony had been enclosed for apartments. Wiring was a patchwork. Original rooms were rearranged. Lath and plaster were in poor condition.

They converted a third-floor attic into a small apartment before launching into three years of renovation.

New windows, insulation and plumbing were installed. The master suite is being created out of three rooms to include a large bath with whirlpool tub, a walk-in closet and adjoining sitting room with fireplace. The main floor was opened up for a roomy feel.

Every room is wired for computer, telephone and television cable. “Category-five” computer wiring is capable of carrying Ethernet information. The entire living space is air conditioned.

Yet the best of the old is being brought back. The oak floors still have their intricate inlays. Two classic old fireplaces have elegant porcelain tiles. One of them warms a second-floor turret room that will soon become a small library off the master suite. It opens onto a balcony overlooking Riverside.

By the time the work is finished, the couple will have spent $100,000 on restoration.

They are so enthusiastic about their new home they’ve gotten involved in the neighborhood, and now are on a first-name basis with key figures in Browne’s Addition, not to mention a few workers at City Hall. They say the neighborhood has a lot of potential, especially when you consider what’s been happening in similar neighborhoods in other cities.

But how do you explain that bright color scheme?

“It’s the new Spokane,” James said.