LONG BEFORE Akash Niranjan and his wife, Marissa, bought their 1936 house, it had been remodeled to within an inch of its original character. Theirs was one of the many Tudor Revival homes built in downtown Seattle in the 1930s, but unlike many of those, it was “missing the sense of charm that traditional Tudor style homes have,” said Mr. Niranjan. Period details such as leaded glass windows, wood paneling, exposed ceiling beams, crown moldings and fireplaces had disappeared from the 2,500 square-foot house. TIP 1: Give a Light-Challenged Room a Rosy ComplexionThe east side of the home, which houses the kitchen, faces a large, light-blocking condo. To compensate, Ms. Staton had the cabinets painted an unexpected pink with a sunny disposition (Benjamin Moore’s Salmon Mousse).

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