Outstanding Restoration: Queen Anne Frame and Gift
The Queen Anne Historical Society’s 2026 Preservation Award for Outstanding Restoration was presented to the owners of Queen Anne Frame and Gift, Nick and Kirsty Papadopulos. Established in 1989 as McGraw Street Framing, the business thrived, relocated to Queen Anne Ave, and expanded to include gifts. In 2015, owners Phil and Joan Amdal were ready to retire. Nick and Kirsty, along with their two young boys, had just returned to Queen Anne from California hoping to invest in their QA community. Nick spent a month apprenticing with Phil to learn the framing trade, while Kirsty, a jewelry artist with a wonderful sense of style and a commitment to supporting local artists and craftspeople, began curating the gifts section. After which Nick and Kirsty became the new owners of this longtime QA business.
In 2025, they moved the business to a retail space at 405 W. Galer Street. Built in 1910, this building has taken on many different identities. Starting in 1950’s the original exterior was covered, a second story was added in the mid-1990s, which included converting 2 of the 3 storefronts into a garage space and upstairs apartment. With these modernizations, the little storefront lost its identity as a historic property.
405 W Galer Street prior to restoration. Source: Google Street View
Nick and Kirsty got to work customizing the space to reflect their style and values. Nick and Kirsty’s experience remodeling their own home allowed them to undertake the restoration of the storefront with confidence. The attention to detail inside and out is remarkable. They were able to restore the transom lights that had been covered over above the storefront windows, going so far as to source antique, wavy glass. The horizontal siding that had blended the old storefront with the newer addition was replaced with a more period appropriate framework, sourcing repurposed vintage molding when possible. Kirsty requested photos from the Puget Sound Regional Archives which they used as a guide for replicating the original storefront windows that beautifully define the historic entry complete with its quirky angled sidewalk charm. Inside, Nick and Kirsty removed the drop ceiling revealing the original lathe and plaster ceiling and replaced the carpet with maple hardwood salvaged from an old elementary school. As a nod to the previous owner, they retained the vault, once storing string instruments it now holds customer’s art.
Queen Anne Frame and Gift after restoration. Photo: QAHS
Although it certainly was no small undertaking to have done on their own, this project demonstrates what a big difference a small-scale restoration project can make to improve the streetscape. The Queen Anne Historical Society is grateful to Nick and Kirsty for beautifying the block with this outstanding restoration project.