This 30-Square-Foot Addition Makes Room For a Japanese Soaking Tub

When a family of four outgrew their cozy cottage in Seattle’s Phinney Ridge neighborhood, they wrestled with their need for more space. Agonizing over possible next steps, they considered relocating to a larger home, adding a third story to the existing cottage, or leveling the house and starting over. Engaging local firm Best Practice Architecture to weigh the options, they ultimately decided to remain in the home they loved and undertake a modest expansion—of only 30 square feet—to meet their family’s needs. "They didn’t need more space, just better space," says Kip Katich, an architect and partner at the firm.

Behind its gambrel roof and recessed front porch, the 1907 cottage brimmed with charm, but lacked a cohesive flow. In dire need of cosmetic updating and a more functional floor plan, the Best Practice team set their sights on a complete reorganization of the main living level. The first step was taking down the interior walls to open up the space, and lifting the dropped ceiling to restore the gracious proportions of the original cottage.

Maintaining the openness of the new space to the greatest extent possible, the designers strategically introduced two new organizational elements—an "entry box" and an "oak box." The former, at the front of the home, houses a coat closet, shoe cabinet, catchall counter, and HVAC system. The latter, positioned at the rear, contains the new kitchen pantry, refrigerator, and access to the new bathroom. The interior palette was kept light and bright, to foster a sense of spaciousness in the narrow home. "One family member had grown up in Maui and the other in northern Japan—they wanted the design to reflect their upbringings as well as their personalities," shares Katich. "They desired a warm palette with an emphasis on natural light." 

Turning their focus to the rear of the home, the couple had one unique request: a Japanese ofuro. The traditional soaking tub was something the pair excitedly envisioned becoming a gathering spot for their family. "It was the one indulgence they afforded, for that was an essential part of the family culture," says Katich. What was previously a tiny single bathroom was enlarged and reorganized—at the expense of the kitchen. "We took a seemingly counter-intuitive approach by slightly reducing the width of the kitchen to accommodate the generously sized family bathroom," says Katich. Once the kitchen and bathroom were reconfigured, a 30-square-foot "micro addition" was introduced solely to accommodate the sunken ofuro. Rounding out the project’s scope, the Best Practice team also rebuilt the rear deck, renovated an underutilized basement, and introduced a new office "shed" in the backyard. 

While the original windows of the 1907 cottage were replaced in kind, the rear addition afforded greater freedom. With the family wishing to maximize natural light and preserve sightlines to the surrounding landscape and open sky, Katich and team introduced expansive glazing at the home’s rear. A folding window wall seamlessly joins the ofuro with the outdoors, providing the option for an open-air soaking experience, and highlighting amplified views of the backyard’s mature maple and cherry trees. "Whether it is a place to sit on the deck to dip your toes on a warm day, or enjoy a hot, relaxing soak with abundant natural light, the final design provides a place for shared family experience," Katich says.

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