There’s often a moment in the design process when the vision for a project becomes clear. For Daisy and Kenta Nakamura, who hired Seattle design-build firm Plum Projects to renovate the interiors of their 1990s-era home, that moment came during a discussion with the architects about creating a connection between its three levels. But there was a lot to work through.

“The house had the most insane layout,” says designer Drew Daly, who, along with fellow Plum Project principal Tyler Cufley, had to completely rethink its dated interiors. “There wasn’t a 90-degree angle in the place. There were diagonal walls, weird door placements, and these long 25-foot hallways that oddly appeared a lot in the ’90s. It was an absolute disaster in terms of flow.”

Before: Exterior

After: Exterior

In addition to a bizarre floor plan, the residence only had two bedrooms and a half-finished multipurpose space in the basement that felt cut off from the rest of the home—not an ideal place for Daisy and Kenta’s two young kids to play. And the arrangement didn’t provide space for Kenta’s mother, who was going to be living with them.

Even though the layout didn’t make sense as it was, the Mercer Island home had much to offer. “It reminded me a lot of the neighborhood I grew up in,” Kenta says. “It’s on a private road, there’s very little traffic, and after school, the boys can just jump on their bikes and ride around all afternoon.” And it was larger than the townhome they were living in before. In 2017, with one small son and another on the way, more square footage became a priority. In addition to rooms for the boys, the new home could give Kenta’s mother her own area to escape and relax at the end of the day. “We wanted a communal area where we could come together for meals,” he says, “but for our respective generations to have their own private spaces.”

Following that idea, the big “aha” moment came during a design meeting when the architects proposed creating an opening at the center of the floor plan where an open-tread stair in wood, glass, and steel could connect the first level to the basement. Another stair could lead to the loft level, which would be Kenta’s mother’s space. “That was the breakthrough moment,” he recalls. “That was an epiphany.”

Before: Living Room

After: Living Room

Before: Dining Room

After: Dining Room

After: Office

Having three years to find an answer for the renovation was a major benefit. “We knew we had time,” says Daly, “and that changed the cadence of the project. Usually, you’re up against a tight deadline and fighting with crazy permitting schedules, but in this case, the process was much more centered around the aesthetic development.”

They designed the interiors from the inside out. The Nakamuras wanted to retain the house’s exterior as much as possible so that it kept with the rest of the neighborhood (i.e., not build an oversized ultra-modern behemoth). The architects mainly worked within the existing shell, with one modification: creating a vaulted ceiling in the loft area to give it more space and light.

The three levels contain specific zones: The main floor has the communal spaces, with the kitchen, dining, and living rooms, as well as Daisy and Kenta’s suite and an office and pantry just off the kitchen. The formerly unfinished basement is now an area for the boys, with their bedrooms, a play space, and an informal TV lounge. Kenta’s mother has the third level, a previously dark and low-ceilinged room that is now a bright and airy loft with views of Lake Washington.

Before: Kitchen

After: Kitchen

After looking at more than 30 homes, Daisy and Kenta found that they were drawn to the Mercer Island home’s minimal look, which they sought to enhance. “When we started the design process, the idea for a modern Japanese architecture style wasn’t openly discussed, but it quickly began to surface through the ideas we presented and what the clients brought to the table. Once we acknowledged it, we collectively embraced the style,” says Daly.

To give the interiors a lighter feel, Plum Projects used screens in place of some of the walls to “facilitate flow,” says Daly. On the main level, a shoji-influenced wall surrounds the multipurpose pantry and office; white oak wood slats give a screen effect without being too heavy or closed-off. Another nod to traditional Japanese architecture is a dropped entry with a dedicated space for removing shoes.

“There were diagonal walls, weird door placements, and these long hallways that oddly appeared a lot in the ’90s. It was an absolute disaster in terms of flow.”
—Drew Daly, designer

Before: Primary Suite Bathroom

After: Primary Suite Bathroom

Before: Basement

After: Basement

Plum Projects specializes in cabinetry, so they crafted the home’s white oak casework and millwork, using a water-based finish that, according to Daly, “brightens it to help with the quality of light in the space,” a constant consideration the Pacific Northwest, he adds. “When you have this much wood, it can become quite heavy.”

For the Nakamuras, who both work in the medical field, coming home is now a peaceful respite. “The parts of the hospital I work in tend to be in the basement with no windows,” says Kenta, “so when I take the bridge to Mercer Island, it’s nice to have a bright, calm place to return to. It helps me relax and get ready for the next day.”

Before: Loft

After: Loft

More Before & After:

A Kandinsky Print Inspires a Seattle Rambler’s Radiant Remodel

A Serene Renovation Saves a Portland Midcentury From Shag Carpet and Pink Linoleum

Project Credits:

Designer & Builder: Plum Projects / @builtbyplum

Structural Engineer: Quantum Consulting Engineers

Lighting and Cabinetry: Plum Projects