SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

Before a major whole-house makeover, this home suffered from many problems that plague older homes: lack of a defined entry area, steep dangerous stairways, and a low-ceiling in the unfinished basement. Upstairs bedrooms lacked head height in the front of the house, and in the rear, a very unconventional addition was poorly integrated into the house design. To solve the upstairs problems, new dormers were added in the front and rear of the home for three real-size bedrooms including a master suite, with adjacent bathroom and walk-in closet. Also added was a kid’s bathroom and family laundry area in a skylit center hall. To create a place for the kids to play, the basement floor was lowered and new french doors were added to access the back yard. A new office and bathroom were also added downstairs. To connect all the spaces together, an innovative stair layout was designed with openings between the floors that allow light and air to filter through the center of the home. Opening the windows at the lower level and venting the skylight upstairs allows for a natural convection of air to circulate through the home.

The design also extended to the landscape, with a new fence and trellis, patio, paths, rockery, and plantings.