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Seattle firm Wittman Estes designed this compact cabin floating above a meadow on Whidbey Island.

Though the original home didn’t have a foundation, Jes added one and raised the house about six feet to safeguard against potential flooding from a nearby river. The new house also includes a much larger second-level primary bedroom and en suite bathroom, plus a small balcony.

The new home quotes the forms and materials of the neighborhood, but remixes them in a more contemporary combination.

Floor Plan of Suburb House by Studio Nocturne

The private outdoor space showcases the renovation's south-facing windows, which were installed to connect the indoors with the yard.

Floor Plan

The design team added a skylight to the shower room, which has a ribbed glass partition and wall tile from Solistone.

Cover Architecture and EEK Studio designed the custom vanity, which was fabricated by Hardwood Habitat. The wood door conceals the toilet room, while a pocket door separates the bathroom from the bedroom. The terrazzo floor tile is from Cle Tile.

Cherry cabinets connect with the rest of the house and the built-in desk height was raised to be more comfortable.

The original plans showed cabinetry placement along the pony wall, and Cover Architecture and EEK Studio gave it unique detailing.

The design team specified tile by Makumade for the dining room cabinetry. It's the Malaga line in custom colors and size.

The cherry cabinetry throughout, including the kitchen island with the exposed corner, “echoes” the post-and-beam architecture, says Wang.

Cover Architecture and EEK Studio collaborated with the owners on a remodel, intervening lightly in some rooms, like the foyer, and more holistically in others. The cap on the stair railing is painted Tarrytown Green from Benjamin Moore to sync with the green-toned woodwork.

Before: The original owners may have “taken some liberties” with the original Buff design, due to budget constraints when building, says Wang. The biggest tell was the awkward fireplace layout in the living room.

Cover Architecture and EEK Studio redesigned the fireplace so it no longer obstructs the side of the window. The surround lighting creates a warm and inviting effect, even when the fireplace is not lit.

The design team restored the cork floors. The island lights are Sven Middleboe for Nordisk and are original to the house. The counters are Ceppo Di Gre Marble and the door to the restored pantry is painted Tarrytown Green by Benjamin Moore, and given a porthole window with reeded glass.

The fireplace now has a tile-covered hearth—the tile is La Pietra Compattata Cromie Bianco—that people can sit on.