design

Sitting jauntily on its block, this renovated residence in Seattle’s Mount Baker neighborhood retained the original home’s footprint. The architect (and daughter of the homeowner) opened up the living spaces inside and overhauled the exterior and landscaping to give it a more contemporary presence. Cambium Landscape created the outdoor spaces which perfectly balance hardscape with greenery.

The compact house is sheathed in cypress, glass, and copper and features an expandable roof.

The bathroom features a walk-in shower heated by an electric hot water tank.

An antique spool chair and one of the couple's many vintage rugs, along with the patterned quilt, give the master bedroom plenty of color.

The new kitchen is more colorful, with a long, thin island that's ergonomically better suited to preparing meels and bringing seating closer to the cooking.

Across a small patch of lawn, a cedar walkway lines the raised planting beds. While the backyard is a more manicured space, the roof is allowed to be wild.

The once-sloping space now has climbing vines, a slatted fence, and foxtail agaves.

Floor plan of Truckee Cabin by Bess Friday

"Our many ideas were floating around the mountain, and we needed someone to bring them down and turn them into reality,

An outdoor breezeway between the storage shed and the main house is ideal for outdoor dining.

The combined kitchen and dining room, featuring two pieces of family-heirloom furniture, feel spacious thanks to a vaulted ceiling; it and the walls are clad in Douglas fir.

Full insulation and a metal awning above the front door keeps this home cozy and stylish.

The primary bedroom has an eight-foot window to the outdoors, equipped with manual blinds.

The cozy living area has a working fireplace and air conditioning, to be comfortable year-round.

Sustainably-sourced, cross-laminated timber is used throughout this 700-square-foot model.