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Dining area detail with built-in banquette perched over the pond. Pendant lights by Blu Dot.

A floating slab of juniper from the one tree inadvertently felled to build the road becomes a literal touchpoint in the powder room.

The work studio with built-in desk and storage also houses a fold-out sofa to accommodate extra guests.

Deep clean the house. Dust from top to bottom, clean out shower heads and faucets with vinegar, make your own cleaning agents, mop and polish hardwood floors, and shake out rugs. Your aquarium needs attention. Scrubbing the fish tank is one of those chores that gets short shrift, so here’s your chance to add it to the list. Finally, you’ll see the goldfish smiling back at you. Get an emergency kit together. Get supplies ready and establish a plan for the whole family in the event that things get serious.

The basement’s kitchenette was moved to a more central location and updated with contemporary colors and finishes. Custom cabinetry was painted in Benjamin Moore’s Spiced Apple Cider to add some brightness to a space that leans on the dark side. Daltile’s Keystones tile in Artic White was also used on the walls in the nearby bathroom.

The two major architectural interventions happened in the living room, where the architect vaulted the ceiling, replaced the preexisting clunky skylight with three slim ones, and relocated the staircase to the basement. The wall tile outside the powder room is by Fireclay—the homeowner specifically requested all rectangular tile be laid horizontally.

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.

Floor plan of Lil Shingle by Best Practice Architecture

New white oak stairs connect the upper and lower floors. The homeowner wanted the downstairs apartment for visits from her daughter and young grandchildren, who live in California. La Cantina sliding doors provide easy access to the backyard.

Before: Full of potential, the large backyard was scattered with disused furniture, multiple canoes, and an aggressive overgrowth of shrub.

the Summerhus

From the sky