Having lived in West Seattle since 2007, John and Denise Schack knew the area well. Still, it took the pair behind Revolve Development—he’s an architect, and she’s an interior designer—two years of searching to find the perfect spot to build their own home.

“When we stumbled upon this one, we knew immediately that it was going to work for us,” says John. The existing house on this particular lot was pushed to the far north edge, about two feet from the neighboring property, which left them a large expanse of yard to play with. “That in itself was unique and allowed us to extend the building envelope in a manner more parallel to the sound and view,” says the architect.

Extending the envelope out, rather than building up, was essential to the design. “What you see a lot of in West Seattle, because of the view and properties being up on a slope, is that they go tall,” says Denise. “There are a lot of three-story homes. We knew we wanted something that was more indoor/outdoor and permeable.”

The couple created that permeability by having the main living spaces—the kitchen, dining, and living room—form an L-shape that wraps the yard and looks out to the view. Broad glass doors then connect those rooms to outdoor spaces. For instance, the kitchen spills out to an al fresco dining space shaded by a metal trellis. A fire pit and lounge area are nestled just a few steps down from the living room.

Additional outdoor rooms serve other functions. At the front of the house, a sunken courtyard surrounded by a gabion wall creates a private place to sit and is accessible to the dining room, should future dinner parties spill outside. At the upper level where the bedrooms are located, a roof deck creates an intimate perch to take in views of the water.

Inside, another hard pass for the couple was an open floor plan. “We have two little boys, and the home we were in previously was very open,” says Denise. “So, we definitely learned that it’s challenging to not be able to control the sound. I knew I wanted a space to get away from the kitchen mess after cooking a meal or retreat to the living room.”

Shop the Look

Division between the rooms allowed the couple to create a variety of experiences in the home, whether it be a private nook to curl up with a book or a gathering space where everyone can be together. “You’re able to really drill down into the character in each space, and just by its very nature, it serves a distinct purpose,” says John.

Because there are still sight lines via the outdoor spaces, the main rooms feel connected, especially when the glass doors are pushed wide, which happens more often than John and Denise ever imagined. They will often open the doors in the morning and let the fresh air blow through all day. “We live outside way more than we ever have before,” says John.

“You have so many different ways of utilizing the space that it doesn’t get boring,” adds Denise. “You can go up and sit on the roof deck one day, and another day you’re entertaining on the dining deck. Having those spaces separate creates all these mini stories in your home.”

Related Reading:

Clever Changes Bring Out the Charm in a 1920s Seattle Bungalow

A Seattle Musician Improvises During the Pandemic by Building Out His Own Backyard Cottage

Project Credits:

Architecture: John Schack / Revolve Development / @revolvedevelopment

Builder: Metis Construction

Structural Engineer: Frank Co.

Civil Engineer: KPFF

Interior Design: Denise Schack / Revolve Development

Cabinetry: Henrybuilt

Photography: Rafael Soldi