In the primary bedroom, ten-foot-tall doors from Sierra Pacific open to a patio.
The view from the courtyard at the Casita, added in 2020.
The daybed beneath the window was specifically designed for LOVT. Apart from hiding storage, it can be moved from the wall and split into two unites to provide extra seating.
Like in the Tind model, oiled birch is used for the interior wall and ceiling finishes. Otherwise, the materials are more economical: the counters are made of laminate, and vinyl is used for the floors.
The original home's avocado tree inspired the renovation's solution of a main home and ADU, which are connected by sliders on either end.
The original layout was very much of the time: a perfect midcentury modern flow, with a closed-off kitchen and a fire put in the floor. “They were cool but impractical spaces,” says Schaer.
The previous homeowners had cultivated a large, Asian-inspired garden. The courtyard centers around this towering, bushy tree.
Original architect A.I. Bumgardner had a major influence on Seattle’s urban landscape. Notable works include the city’s Waterfront Park and the conversion of Queen Anne High School into an apartment complex.
The dining table is vintage. Having a meal means you're surrounded by nature.
A Samsung Frame TV blends in with other artwork collected by the homeowners.
Opposite the optical glass facade, the slant of the northern facade is the result of Tokyo urban planning requirements. A constant gradient diagonal line restriction dictated that the home’s mass recede diagonally away from the northern property line, to ensure adequate light and ventilation for the neighboring property—a policy not uncommon in lower-density residential areas of Tokyo.
"The effect of the plantings on the terrace is enormous,” reflects the couple. “Not only do the branches and formations give a sense of the four seasons, but the way it looks from the living room contributes to a sense of calmness. It gives the illusion that we are viewing art."