Queen Anne XV

Located in the urban heart of Seattle, on a compact 3655 square foot corner lot, the clients sought a comfortably sized home that would allow space for their growing family within the strict limits of local zoning. Maximizing the building envelope would result in a simple box, but the design requirements encouraged a step beyond the box.

The main floor is a contiguous space of entry, living, kitchen and dining, flowing to an exterior deck overlooking the rear terrace and small yard. The floor and roof above cantilever over the deck to provide protection during the hottest months of summer. Second floor spaces include a master suite, two more bedrooms with shared bath, and laundry room. The garage is tucked under the main floor, along with a guest bedroom and bath plus a playroom. The lower level is also configurable as an accessory dwelling unit.

The box is further broken by bay windows at the living room and master bedroom, maximizing space that would otherwise be limited by zoning setbacks. Breakup is further emphasized through the contrasting of brick with fiber cement panels and planks. Breaking the austerity of the box harmonizes the modern design with surrounding traditional homes, without compromising modern design principals of form following function and economy of means. The dark exterior color scheme was selected to allow the house to visually recede in its prominent corner location, while interior colors and window placements flood the space with daylight.

Concrete retaining walls surround the house to create usable outdoor living and gardening spaces and a clear definition of public versus private use. One of the walls surrounds a “rainwater garden” which captures rain from the roof and slowly meters water into the public storm sewer, as an alternative to conventional and expensive storm water detention tank systems.

Interior design was a close collaboration with the owners, who personally repurposed old fir flooring from the original house on the property; it can be seen on the wall dividing stairs from the living room. A slot of light separates the fireplace from that wall, allowing a glimpse of the stair. The fourteen-foot long kitchen island is covered with marble slabs joined by a removable walnut cutting board. Owners sourced the hand-painted tiles for the backsplash and pendant light fixtures, and the textured limestone tiles surrounding the master bath mirror, to further personalize their home.