The places we inhabit can have a tremendous effect on how we think, act and feel. Spaces that open to the world can make us more open to new ideas. Configurable elements encourage creativity. Natural light aids mood and focus.
At Marvin, we don’t just design inspired windows and doors, we help create homes that inspire healthier, happier lives. Discover the difference Marvin can make at marvin.com.
From uber moody kitchens with dramatic colored cabinetry and brushed brass fixtures to bright and crisp aqua cabinets with marble countertops, designer kitchens are boasting personalized color selections and added dimension with patterned-laid tile and statement lighting.
Stephenson Design Collective and Alchemy Building Company designed and built a modern, yet timeless home in Seattle’s Green Lake neighborhood, balancing privacy with picturesque views of the lake and treetops.
Studio AM Architecture & Interiors and Bender Wasenmiller Custom Builders teamed to revamp a dark 1904 Seattle home into a family-friendly abode replete with light, space, and luxurious touches, paying homage to the homeowner's New England roots while honoring its historical Seattle neighborhood.
Architect Paul Moon highlighted the Lake Wash ington shoreline with a modern four-story home, terracing the gardens and creating a curtain of windows to take advantage of the view. This collab oration with Bender Wasenmiller Custom Builders addresses the homeowners’ desire to create some thing “unpretentious, quiet and comfortable.”
A 1926 Seattle home underwent a kitchen and bath renovation by interior designer Emily Ruff of Cohesively Curated Interiors and contractor Ruslan Opanasevych of Complete Construction & Remodel. Brass lighting, Carrera marble, and a dedicated coffee bar create a personal and warm home for a family of three.
Interior design firm Casework and contractor Hammer & Hand team to renovate a Southwest Portland condo using the words: ‘purposeful, clean, and cultivated’ as guidance, resulting in a gourmet kitchen with optimal storage and a luxurious bedroom and bath.
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Curved shapes, textures and interiors that are guided by enveloping earthy colors offer welcoming touches to the home. Curated objects in natural stone, terracotta, and continuous surface cement add depth and a connection with nature and visual intrigue. A more modern grandmillenial takes shape with refined contemporary palettes and softer furnishings adding a touch of charm.
From baths boasting bold patterns to kitchens perfect for entertaining, get inspired by this year’s NKBA Puget Sound chapter design competition winners.
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A Mercer Island rebuild becomes a contemporary collaboration between homeowner, Tammara Stroud Design, McCullough Architects and JayMarc Homes. The team focused on creating a welcoming, dynamic and elegant home for a worldtraveling family of five. 116
Landscape designer Scot Eckley forged an escape from a bustling urban Seattle neighborhood with a peaceful garden sanctuary and outdoor living space. Tropical lushness and luxurious design provide a reason to relax outside. 122
Incorporating the concept Yo-Ju, or “secluded living” in Mandarin Chinese, DME Construction and Wittman Estes crafted a secluded family home, with private courtyards and thoughtful use of materials, on a busy arterial in Bellevue’s Clyde neighborhood.
www.q-portland.com
Scot Eckley transforms a Seattle courtyard into an intimate city escape using lush foliage, a thoughtful mix of materials, and intentional lighting. photography by Miranda Estes
Designed to exceed industry performance standards, Marvin windows, doors, and skylights bring a sense of comfort into every room, and our thoughtful features and unsurpassed design flexibility will support you in your efforts to create that exceptional space and truly inspiring experience.
Let our specialists at Cherry Creek Windows & Doors help you create the spaces you’ve been dreaming of.
CherryCreekWindows.com
SECLUDED RETREATS CAN EXIST NEXT TO THE BUSIEST STREETS IN TOWN. THOUGH RARE, they can artfully be achieved, thanks to brilliant architects and contractors able to puzzle through the challenges of designing and siting homes for optimum Zen-like tranquility. Traffic noise is replaced by sights and sounds of nature, and no one would know of the private world created only a few feet away from a busy urban neighborhood. We discovered two distinctive retreats worthy of fea ture – the ‘Yo-Ju Courtyard House’ in Bellevue, designed by Wittman Estes, who teamed with DME Construction, and a garden sanctuary in Seattle, designed and built by Scot Eckley. Sometimes, you’re ahead to just start over. After all attempts to redesign an existing four-story 1910 home on Lake Washington became more costly than building a new contemporary with terraced gardens leading to the lake, architect and garden designer Paul Moon of Paul Moon Design joined talents with Bender-Wasenmiller Custom Builders to craft a masterpiece that not only blends into the shoreline, but also celebrates its magnificent water views.
Seattle interior designer Emily Ruff, owner of Cohesively Curated Interiors worked with Ruslan Opanasevych of Complete Construction & Remodel to transform the kitchen of a classic 1926 Tudor-style home on Lake Washington into a light-filled, warm, and inviting space, in keep ing with the rest of the home. Also on the agenda, three baths, a home office, and the dining room
– and all had to be completed before their client’s due date, which they pulled off with aplomb.
Executive Chef Annie Cuggino continues to create delectable dishes at Q Restaurant & Bar. Known for her innovative seasonal twists to the classics and sourcing from the top local farmers and purveyors, it’s always a truly special dining experience. Cuggino shares recipes for Grilled Rack of Lamb Chops, Olives and Fried Chickpeas, and Canolli with Bing Cherry Sauce. It’s no sur prise the Q is ranked #1 by both Tripadvisor and The Portland Business Journal.
If a new kitchen, home, or remodel is on your wish list, check our website for leading North west design professional portfolios, or go online to www.portraitmagazine.com/portfolios If it’s time for a refresh of your interiors, check out our Eye On Design pages for the latest fabrics, appli ances, wallcoverings, surfaces, lighting and home furnishings – indoors and out, most of which can be sourced locally from leading shops and show rooms around town.
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When it comes to your outdoor living area, having a timelessly designed stainless steel outdoor kitchen is the best way to showcase your creativity with color and style. Designed to accommodate even the most creative outdoor kitchen layout, our cabinets complement any manufacturer’s grill along with a multitude of other outdoor kitchen appliances and bar accessories. This versatility allows our expert designers to effortlessly turn your outdoor kitchen idea into a reality.
LANE WILLIAMS ARCHITECTS SEATTLE • PALM SPRINGS
NEW HOME UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN THE VUECREST NEIGHBORHOOD OF BELLEVUE
LANEWILLIAMS.COM
Coming home should always look this good.
There is a place where local color and flavor blend. There is a place where togetherness thrives. There is a place where life slows down. Home. Be there.
The Concrete Advantage.
(above) The Soji Pendant from Alora Lighting creates a warm ambiance. Shown in Matte Black with Opal Matte Glass. seattlelighting.com
1. SHADES OF BLUE
The Fade Abalone from Ando nian Rugs creates tranquility with blue, gray, and ivory tones. andonianrugs.com
2. OPTIMAL OVEN
(left) The Torsion dining table from Ethnicraft evokes simple elegance and complements any room. Also available in a round top or oak finish. ethnicraft.com
4 7
Vikings 30" electric Double French-Door Oven boasts top-of-the-line convection capabilities in a charming form. Available through vikingrange.com
3. FLOWER POWER
The Tropical pillow in Blue Dream brings vacation vibes home with deep indigos. elitis.fr
4. PILLOW TALK
From Loloi, find a subtle mes sage of 'happiness' in the P4079 ED, shown in Navy. jgarnerhome.com
5. TRUE BLUE
From Thibaut, the Lily Flower in Spa Blue (top) and Austin in Spa Blue (bottom) printed fabrics on 100% linen brighten rooms with their cheerful patterns. thibautdesign.com
6. SIMPLE TOUCH
From Arteriors, the matte ivory lacquer Montecito Tray introduc es rattan-wrapped handles for an organic feel. jgarnerhome.com
7. REFINED RATTAN
The Harrington Counter Stool from Arteriors is handcrafted with organic materials, featuring a handwoven seat in a traditional cane pattern. The Moth Gray finish completes the rustic aesthetic. Available through jgarnerhome.com
From Cosentino, Desert Silver from the Silestone line is inspired from marble with its icy surface patterned with fine and clear veins. Shown in these countertops, its uniform translucent design makes it complemen tary with a wide range of cabinetry, flooring, and lighting. Available in both polished and suede finishes, through Contract Furnishings Mart, www.cfmfloors.com
CHEF IN THE CITY From Wolf, the Convection Steam Oven is versatile and ideal for the at-home chef extraordinaire. With options to utilize steam, convection or a combination of the two, as well as chef-tested modes including Gourmet and Sous Vide, this oven will ensure your dishes are cooked to perfection. Available in three design styles, including Contemporary as shown, through www.subzero-wolf.com
(right) From Savoy House, the Winfield 2-Light Wall Sconce in Warm Brass is sleek & sophisticated. seattlelighting.com
1) Fading World Medallion Area Rug from Louis de Poortere brings a bold design to any room. Available in a variety of colors, through louisdepoortere.be 2) The Hexa from Saba Italia is inspired by the iconic forms of midcentury furniture design, available through kasala.com. 3) From Arizona Tile, the Calacatta Gris Honed Flower Mosaic (left) and from Akdo, the Sublime Bouquet Azurite with Talc & Ink Art Glass (right) enhance any space with their intricate detailing, through cfmfloors.com 4) The classic-inspired Artifacts freestanding bath from Kohler offers gentle curves, through kohler.com 5) The Artifacts floor-mount bath filler in Vibrant Brushed Moderne Brass beautifully complements freestanding baths as the finishing touch, through kohler.com 6) From Arteriors, the Turner Chaise in Iceberg Linen evokes glamour and elegance, perfect for lounging, through jgarnerhome.com
7) From Brunschwig & Fils, the Silk Bird in Ebony brings bold, tropical vibes, kravet.com
(below) From Arteriors, the Daria Tall Vase is eye-catching with its heavily textured and wildly unique façade, available through jgarnerhome.com
To create warmth in a large kitchen, use grounding wood accents, moody cabinetry, and a touch of bronze. From Dura Supreme, the Carson Panel door style cabinets are finished with a dark gray-green “Rock Bottom” paint that complements the “Hazelnut” finish on Cherry, shown on the island and shiplap wood hood. What results is a welcoming kitchen, still with ample storage and a modern feel. Available through the Parr Cabinet Design Center, www.parrcabinet.com
CANNOLI
Makes enough for a big party
CANNOLI DOUGH
4 cup flour
1⁄4 cup sugar
1 1⁄2 teaspoon cinnamon
1⁄2 teaspoon salt
1⁄4 cup shortening
2 yolks
3⁄4 cup marsala wine
1 lb. ricotta cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup shaved dark chocolate zest of 1 orange
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 quart Bing cherries
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup port wine
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons water squeeze of fresh lemon pinch of salt
Mix flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt in mixer bowl until well incorporated. Add in shortening and mix in by hand until coarse and crumbly. Add yolks and marsala, knead by hand until incorporated and mix with dough hook on low for 10 minutes. Chill for at least two hours be fore rolling.
Rolling: roll using pasta roller, dusting with flour to keep from tearing. Roll to the #2 setting on pasta roll er. Then cut into 3 inch circles. Wrap around cannoli rings and fry submerged until brown and crispy. Cool.
Mix ricotta, powdered sugar, orange zest, shaved chocolate and cinnamon on high for 1 minute. Put fill ing in a pastry bag and pipe the filling into the cannoli shell.
Dust with a little powdered sugar. Serve with fresh bing cherry sauce and roasted pistachios.
Wash and pit 1 quart of bing cherries
Put in a small pot with 1/2 cup sugar and 1 cup port wine
Bring to a simmer.
Thicken mixture with a small amount of slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water)
Cook briefly. 1 minute.
Finish with a big squeeze of fresh lemon and a small pinch of salt.
May be used as a warm sauce or served chilled.
Serves 4
I highly recommend seeking out Oregon grown lamb if possible.
2 ½ – 3 pound rack of lamb
Trim the racks of excess fat, leaving a thin layer or more if desired.
Cut racks between the rib bones into 8 chops. Season the chops generously with sea salt, freshly ground black pepper and Sprinkle with a few fresh thyme springs.
Grill lamb chops over a medium high heat to create a nicely charred crust.
Cook to desired doneness.
I recommend a nice medium rare center.
Serve with the warm jalapeño, peach and Cipollini onion jam and a few crisp fresh assertive greens.
I suggest a mix of radicchio, frisée and arugula.
Mix together and set aside
1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 ounce pectin
In a small pot combine
1 quart peeled fresh peaches sliced thickly 1-2 fresh jalapeño seeded and sliced thinly
1 cup peeled Cipollini sliced thickly 1/2 cup sugar
Pinch salt
Bring to a simmer
Cook 3 minutes
Whisk in pectin mixture
Cook another 3 minutes
Remove from heat
Can be served warm or cold.
Cameron Winery Nebbiolo (Willamette Valley, OR)
Recipe by Executive Chef Annie Cuggino Q Restaurant & Bar, www.q-portland.com PhotographyARRANGEMENT BY Kailla Platt, Kailla Platt Flowers kaillaplattflowers.com
1 quart of your favorite olives with pits (one of my favorite combinations includes castalvatrano, kalamata, niciose and Moroccan oil cured)
1 orange both the juice and the julienned rind
1 teaspoon red Chile flakes or more to taste
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary sprigs
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
Use fully cooked chickpeas (canned chickpeas will be an acceptable substitute)
Deep fry the chickpeas at 350 degrees until crispy. 2-4 minutes. Drain well before tossing with the olives.
When ready to serve, warm the olives with their juices briefly in a sauté pan and Toss with 2 cups of freshly fried chickpeas right before serving.
Q
Recipe by Executive Chef Annie Cuggino Restaurant & Bar, www.q-portland.com Photography by John Valls
AL FRESCO DINING From Four Hands, the industrial concrete Otero Outdoor Dining Table boasts a smooth top and textured raw edge. Contrast materials with the Maude Outdoor Dining Chairs, made of allweather wicker weave; these hourglass shaped chairs are a fresh take on a classic design. A plastered concrete Pressler planter completes the modern look with its minimalist aesthetic. Available through J Garner Home, www.jgarnerhome.com
Outdoor kitchens and living spaces can be accessible year-round with optimal heating, grilling, and specialty baking appliances. With Danver Outdoor Kitchens, personalize your cabinetry to fit your desired cooking techniques and aesthetic style. Pictured are the Ceramic Smoker Cabinet, Pizza Oven Cabinet, and Power Burner & Grill Cabinets, in the reliable stainless steel Key West Door style in Champagne 302 powder coat finish. Available through Danver Stainless Outdoor Kitchens, www.danver.com
(right) From Brizo, the Odin Pull-Down Faucet with Arc Spout has metal or wood handle options for a personal touch against the Luxe Gold finish. brizo.com
1. BRIGHT IDEA
The Thomas O’Brien Antonio
Adjustable Wall Lamp by Visual Comfort with hand-rubbed antique brass finish adds an industrial look and offers three adjustable points to focus light wherever you need it. seattlelighting.com
2. TEMPTING TILE
Add sophistication with State ments Tile’s CC Mosaics Matte Black Penny Round Mosaic tile. cfmfloors.com
3. GO MEDITERRANEAN
This soft cotton hand towel delights with its lemon design. le-jacquard-francais.com
4. GROW YOUR OWN TEA
Cultivate and enjoy your own tea at home. A must-read for tea fans and includes recipes to highlight the creative uses for tea. Available through powells.com
5. GO GREEN IN BLACK
Made of layers of post-consumer recycled paper and pressed into “stone,” PaperStone Products are environmentally friendly and perfect for kitchen and bath surfaces. ghsproducts.com
6. PERFECT PERCH
Inspired by the traditional spin ning wheel, the Spindle bench by Ethnicraft has a clean design. ethnicraft.com
7.
Freestanding 40" gas range by Ilve is a stunning add for any kitchen in graphite and brass trim. Available through ilve.com
Introducing Curve: the latest generation of modular sofas from Resource Furniture. A sinuous silhouette defies traditional linear design, embracing soft edges and creating an aura of comfort and warmth. Movable backrest cushions can be endlessly rearranged into any seating arrangement. Visit us at the Seattle Design Center and discover Resource Furniture’s full collection of innovative, Italian-made transforming furnishings.
ResourceFurniture.com New York City Los Angeles Calgary Washington, D.C. Seattle Vancouver San Francisco Toronto Mexico City
KURT HARMON GREW UP GOING TO HIS GRANDPARENTS’ HOUSE ON GREEN LAKE and would visit the park from an early age, for family gatherings and to watch Fourth of July fireworks. “I learned to kayak and canoe on Green Lake,” says Kurt. He and husband Joe Yanity bought the family house in October 2018, but thirty years as a rental had taken its toll. So, they decided to build anew, tapping architect Ryan Stephenson of Stephenson Design Collective and Alchemy Building Company for the job.
Balancing the views – into the home, and out to the lake – was key to the new design. “You might love where you’re at, but you want some separation from it at the same time,” says Stephenson. “You want to feel like you can sit in the front yard without being on display.”
To that end, Stephenson sunk the lowest level of the home a bit below grade, and located the bedrooms there, with the primary suite in the rear. It has its own secluded courtyard, which was ideal for the couple, who both work in medicine and might sleep nontraditional hours. “We used to live in downtown Seattle, on the 34th floor of a condo building,” says Joe. “We had so much light and glass that we were done with the view in the bedroom.” Out front, a concrete and steel perimeter fence with a steel gate for the entry provides additional privacy to the bottom floor.
With the layout flipped, the main living spaces occupy the middle floor, with glass doors pocketing out of sight to open to the balcony facing the lake. “We liked Ryan’s vision and his creativity,” says Joe. “He goes big. We tell him we want a view, and the next thing you know, our entire South window opens all the way up.”
The top floor hosts a family room with a wraparound terrace and green roof, its elevated perch putting it out of eyeline of park-goers while still offering up a great view of the water and treetops. “There’s levels of privacy throughout the house and levels of connecting, or disconnecting, to what’s out front,” says Stephenson.
Designed by architect Ryan Stephenson and constructed by Travis Gaylord of Alchemy Building Company, this project is “not your standard box with white siding,” says Gaylord. The façade combines Mutual Materials Slim Brick with Marvin Ultra windows from Cherry Creek Windows & Doors. THIS PAGE In the entry, a Bocci pendant illuminates the walnut floor and stair screen. The glass Marvin door is also from Cherry Creek Windows & Doors.
AS A LAKE SURROUNDED BY GREEN SPACE, GREEN LAKE IS ONE OF SEATTLE’S MOST BELOVED PARKS. STEPHENSON DESIGN COLLECTIVE AND ALCHEMY BUILDING COMPANY JOIN TOGETHER TO CREATE A MODERN HOME ON ITS EDGE, BALANCING PRIVACY WITH POROSITY, AND CELEBRATING THE UNIQUE VIEWS OF NATURE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY.
written by MELISSA DALTON photography by ANDREW POGUE
Stepping back the third floor enabled Stephenson to incorporate a Crystalite skylight from Cherry Creek Windows & Doors into the kitchen, flooding the room with natural light. A clear cedar ceiling further grounds the space, as does the Leicht cabinetry with Metea and Japanese Pine finishes, paired with a Pental Terreno backsplash and counters. The floors are stained and sealed concrete. Integrated appliances from Gaggenau, Fisher Paykel, and Thermador keep visual clutter to a minimum.
Such a configuration made it possible to ensure that the three-story house doesn’t loom over pedestrians in the street. Each level of the façade is stepped back as the building ascends, with the steel railings creating further porosity, all the way up to the roofline, which is unexpectedly staggered. “It’s a standard gable pitch, but I broke it up to give a bit of modulation,” says Stephenson. “If I brought that entire mass up uninterrupted, you would feel the weight of this three-story house. But by pushing against those vertical planes, you start to break up the heavy mass.”
Regarding the interior, the couple had gathered a yellow legal pad of notes over the years, taking stock of what they liked, and didn’t like, in all the places that they’ve lived. For instance, after owning a Ravenna Craftsman with “tiny closets and tiny rooms,” says Kurt, the couple knew they wanted an open floorplan for their main rooms that flowed easily to the outdoor spaces.
Concrete floors and sleek, flat-front kitchen cabinetry are paired with timeless materials, like clear cedar at the ceilings, walnut stair screen and floors in the entry, a quartz slab in the kitchen, and marble-effect porcelain tile in the primary bath. Everything has a place, from the counter appliances tucked in the pantry to the hidden powder room door, so there’s no visual clutter. “If you start to clutter it, you immediately are unhappy,” says Kurt. “It’s not fussy looking, or overly ornate. People arrive to the house and it feels welcoming, not stark.”
Although construction primarily took place during the pandemic, architect, builder, and clients developed a good rapport and communicated well throughout, resulting in a house that everyone is proud of upon completion. “We all got the house that we wanted,” says Kurt. “Even during the stressful times, each of us allowed us to be who we are, and we respected each other. We knew that they were the experts, and Ryan and Travis very artfully guided us through the process and kept us on track.”
OPPOSITE, UPPER LEFT+ABOVE In the primary bathroom, porcelain tile called Marvel Stone Bardiglio wraps the walls. Leicht cabinetry forms the vanity, and the faucets are Brizo Vettis. The concrete floors have radiant heat. OPPOSITE, UPPER RIGHT A glimpse into the secluded courtyard, for the couple and their dogs to enjoy away from the busy street. OPPOSITE, BELOW The third-floor terrace has outdoor kitchen components. The green roof melds into the park view, and steel work is by Gagnon Steel.
ABOVE A Thermador wine column is unobtrusive in the sleek kitchen cabinetry from Leicht. The powder room door is accessed around the corner. TOP RIGHT Alchemy Building Company built the custom wine system tucked under the stairs on the bottom floor. The walnut slats come down to a glass door, and the bottles are backlit for artful display. BOTTOM RIGHT The pantry door is glimpsed through the kitchen, so as to be out of sight from the main room, yet still convenient to the cook.
CONTRACTOR
Alchemy Building Company LLC alchemybldg.com
ARCHITECT
Stephenson Design Collective stephensoncollective.com
SELECT EXTERIOR MATERIALS
Mutual Materials mutualmaterials.com
WINDOWS & DOORS
Cherry Creek Windows & Doors cherrycreekwindows.com
Can you trace your interest in architectural design back to a particular influence?
As a kid, wanting a structure or space to house myself or what ever toy I was playing with and spending time to create it was heavily influential in my path. It gave me the opportunity to understand what worked and what didn’t, and hopefully why. I was lucky to realize at some later point that this could lead to a life and career that I love.
During your studies at the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture of Auburn University you spent time working with Rural Studio®, an off-campus design-build program that coupled research on sustainable and healthful rural living; how did this experience impact your approach to residential design?
I think it became the foundation of my approach. We quickly learned that we had to become immersed in the community and client to completely understand the problem and opportunity or it would fail. These weren’t weekly studio pin-ups inspired by your favorite firm. You lived it as the community did, and it humbled you. Every line on paper had to be deliberate and defendable because there were realized consequences. I learned to understand that what I did had the potential to be permanent and have a positive, or negative effect on a com munity. I take that same mindset into every project that comes through the door.
Outside of architecture, what are you currently interested in and how is it influencing your design thinking?
I have enjoyed spending extended amounts of time in the mountains with my wife and boys. I believe it is important to ful ly experience the natural world before you attempt to add to it.
Many of Stephenson Design Collective’s award-winning residences focus on balance through the creation of space and light. How does your firm approach creating spaces with functional beauty within the natural environment?
The structure of a home should lightly fill in the spaces around the process of living. The less you think about a home as you are moving through, the better. The same can be said for its surrounding environment. The home is secondary to the beau ty of the place.
What’s next on the boards?
Location and experienced-based homes. The understanding and requirements of a home have recently changed for the better and people have placed a greater importance on their experienced environment.
Best travel destination for inspiration?
A trip to Iceland was more influential than I expected as it was mostly just the natural landscape. You experience an environ ment that has come from geological violence but is still some how a place of incredible beauty. Then to observe how people have learned to live with that natural violence is amazing.
What is your favorite space in your own home and why?
The kitchen is the easy answer, but honestly, the living room. If I am here, its probably the end of a day and my wife and I are taking a minute to relax. I designed a living room in my home that has views into multiple exterior spaces, so there is a feeling of balance and connection in this area of the home, with a ton of natural light.
What’s on your radar?
Residential architecture coming out of Australia. The limited urban space and unique rural environment seem to be inspiring some really great work.
THIS PAGE The multi-paned entry door with beveled glass by Little Pigs Distributing replaced a solid wood door to bring in light. Benjamin Moore Super White brightens home. Krieg retrofitted the Altura cabinet’s back to receive mail through the slot. OPPOSITE Gone are odd rooflines and choppy exterior with conflicting styles, unified by a Colonial New England style, specific proportions, tall rectangular windows, stained shingles and a whole new third floor.
STUDIO AM ARCHITECTS TEAMED WITH BENDER WASENMILLER CUSTOM BUILDERS TO TRANSFORM THIS OFT-REMODELED 1904 SEATTLE HOME INTO A JEWEL OF A FAMILY HOME WITH BETTER FLOW, FABULOUS KITCHEN, CONGRUENT ROOFLINE, COHESIVE EXTERIOR, AND A FULL THIRD STORY.
THIS PAGE Luce Di Luna stone slot drained sink with dual Waterworks faucets. Pocket door opens onto master vestibule with shoe cabinet’s leaded glass echoing historic exterior. RIGHT Dramatic Navy-blue pendants by The Urban Electric Co. spotlight Calacatta island. Custom corbel detail on range hood. Miele speed oven. Polished nickel Water Street Brass cabinet knobs from Chown Hardware. Driscoll Robbins Fine Carpets vintage rug reiterates Thos. Moser orange hued chair backs.
By widening the entrance to the newly created butler’s pantry, which includes a True under-counter wine storage and Dacor wine station whose glass doors continue the leaded glass theme, Studio AM Architects also opens easy access to formerly closed-off kitchen. Light dances off the jewel-toned Benjamin Moore Evening Sky. Walnut dining table and fabric and leather chairs are Holly Hunt. Chandelier John Pomp from Trammell-Gagné at the Seattle Design Center. Existing but refinished 2.5" hardwood dining room floors custom stained.
FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS, in the owners of this 1904 Seattle home waited while their newborn twins became toddlers before approaching residential designer Mike Troyer of Studio AM Architects about a persistent leak in their attic skylight. What he found was a cramped west-facing guest bedroom with the proverbial bowl of water collecting the drip, drip, drip from the skylight. Thanks to Troyer’s vision, coupled with that of partner interior designer Danielle Krieg, the repair soon blos somed into a full-blown remodel that would address all the shortcomings of previous remuddles. Not only would they restructure the attic into a spacious third story re plete with dual offices, a family TV room, and larger guest room with an east facing view of Lake Washington, but they also unified the exterior’s conflicting architectural styles into a single, clean-lined Colonial New England façade that reflects one home owner’s New England roots. “We found a way to combine the exterior design,” says the New Englander, “without relying on dormers which some neighbors have done.” The result features light gray stained shingles, tall rectangular windows, as well as the new third-floor Juliette balcony, leaded windows, and historic medallion. “We wanted to get as much light into the very dark house as possible,” says Troyer, “so we took everything off the exterior, including a very large front porch that came out of stone walls at the top of the stairs, and added a decorative awning over the door.”
With the removal of a 12' covered swim spa, Troyer was able to extend the once closed off kitchen into a light-filled family gathering place, now easily accessed through a new jewel box style butler’s pantry carved out of a former pantry tucked beneath the entry staircase. “My dream was to have a sit-in island,” says the other homeowner, “but when the space didn’t work out, we created a dining nook that was better than I could ever imagine, without the clutter of island chairs, and friends able to talk to us as we work at the island.” A bank of windows enrobes the room giving the home owners multiple views out to their children playing in the yard. A custom built-in banquette pairs with a customized Elm tabletop on a Holly Hunt base as an homage to the trees found in the neighborhood. Thos. Moser chairs whose arched backs add a splash of orange red hue to the black and white palette mimic the gooseneck dual Waterworks faucets. Krieg led the homeowners in an exhaustive local search for the perfect marble slab that ended with a two-day trip to San Francisco’s various marble dealers. “At the very last place we visited, in the very last aisle,” they recall, “was the white, tiny veined Calacatta we envisioned, which Danielle went to immediately and announced, ‘Ta Dah! We found it!’”
Bender Wasenmiller was equally as dedicated to delivering its “A” game during the 18-month long project. “Working with any big structure over 100 years old that has gone through multiple remodels,” notes Wasenmiller, “requires going in surgically to deal with the elements that existed initially.” Case in point was the central chimney that went through four floors, which Wasenmiller’s team had to dismantle by hand and rebuild with all new brick, including creating the additional depth necessary to make the fireplace wood burning. “The homeowners were very passionate about the
home,” adds Wasenmiller, “wanting to honor its age, and historical neighborhood. To that end, some of the millwork profiles and panel details that are not readily available off the shelf had to be created with custom runs that match profiles from 100 years ago.” The homeowners say the quality of work Bender Wasenmiller does is exceptional. “We recommend them and their high-quality subs all the time.”
Troyer and Krieg designed the smaller-in-scale primary bath with the same attention to detail. “We made one large slot drained Luce Di Luna stone sink with dual Waterworks plumbing fixtures and mirrors, rather than each individual sink having a single fixture,” says Krieg. The mirrors rest on the sink with a customized bracket that holds them in place, while an open-faced cabinet stores towels below. The slab shower features trench drains on either side with its glass door running straight across into the shower.
The homeowners were delighted to find Krieg and Troyer so open to incorporating their ideas into their design. “It was an amazing working relationship,” says the hobbyist photographer homeowner who loves photographing their home’s interiors. “Once the solid wood entry door was replaced with a glass paneled one, light now flows throughout the main floor,” she says. New wide case openings between the living and dining room create a much-needed circular flow. Fears that all the care they put into their home would make it feel like a museum are unfounded. “In stead, it’s a safe place,” they say. “It just feels like home the minute you walk in.”
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Bender Wasenmiller Custom Builders benderwasenmiller.com
Studio AM Architecture & Interiors studioamarchitects.com
Benjamin Moore benjaminmoore.com
Seattle Design Center seattledesigncenter.com
A 1920s photo revealed the current prop erty sits on two lots, with an adjacent home apparently razed and lot purchased so this porch could be added to the south side. During trip to San Francisco, homeowners sat in the Sutherland showroom and chose the Perennial indoor-outdoor fabrics for each. Pops of blues, blacks, and orange pair with black indoor-outdoor mohair Ottoman. Orange pillows from Susan Mills at the Seattle Design Center.
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PAGE Bender Wasenmiller’s three-story design glows from floor-toceiling Sierra Pacific bedroom windows with unobstructed views. Pleated hornbeam trees define one of four terraced gardens, bluestone pavers and Tolfino Blue K2 stone walls. RIGHT Vintage Eastern China shutters on floating staircase landing. Visual Comfort chandelier. Rhinehart Metalwork railings.
LONG-TIME RESIDENTS OF THIS WELL-ESTABLISHED COMMUNITY ON THE SHORES OF LAKE WASHINGTON CHOSE SEATTLE ARCHITECT PAUL MOON OF PAUL MOON DESIGN TO CREATE A RELAXED, CONTEMPORARY HOME WORTHY OF ITS SURROUNDINGS, WHILE MOON RELIED ON BENDER WASENMILLER CUSTOM BUILDERS OF BELLEVUE TO BRING HIS VISION FULLY AND EXPERTLY TO LIFE.
written by DONNA PIZZI photography by JOHN GRANEN
WHEN ALL ATTEMPTS TO REDESIGN AN EXISTING, LARGE FOUR-STORY 1910 HOME on a narrow, steep lot on the shores of Lake Washington became more costly than designing a new contemporary home with terraced gardens leading to the lakeside setting, architect Paul Moon of Paul Moon Design was the perfect fit for the job. The homeowners, who had lived in the neighborhood for 18 years, chose Moon after seeing his work on a neighbor’s home. “Paul was so easy to talk to,” says the homeowner, “we liked him instantly.” Their only proviso was to create something unpretentious, quiet, and comfortable. Moon, who noted that the original home failed to create spaces that related to the water, began his design with the roofline inspired by the late architect Hugh Newell Jacobsen, adding a totally modern twist. “To create a clean, bright, uniquely modern roof,” says Moon, “I chose a Florida concrete roof tile then tied it to a clean-lined stucco body. Siding would have been too busy and taken away from the strong form.” Thin, near-commercial profiled black aluminum clad windows and doors with wood interiors continue the unique twist. “We love the nice, big heavy roof Paul created for us,” says the homeowner. “It looks so good alongside the adjoining stately houses.”
Although the 2-storied front of the house is located several feet below sidewalk level just as the previous home was to avoid any site problems, Moon creates drama using a curtain wall of windows. “A floating staircase moving like an escalator to upstairs glows at night like a lantern through the windows,” says Moon, who grounds the white walls with an oak rustic grade wood flooring reiterated in the staircase’s open wood treads. In the full 3-storied back, a series of indoor/outdoor spaces overlook Lake Washington across Moon’s own terraced landscape design. Bender’s team was given the choice of either bringing in materials on barges or building from the water up. They chose the latter, beginning with the grading of the former perilously steep lawn into the series of terraced outdoor rooms for which Moon found bluestone paving rather than use concrete. The homeowners discovered the vertical stone used on the staircase walls at
K2 Stone, a Seattle company, that sourced it from Tolfino, British Columbia, which matched the bluestone perfectly. “Paul,” says Steve Bender, “is one of the few architects who has a total vision of what the landscape architecture will be.” Moon attributes this to a childhood surrounded by unique plants that his Colombian-born mother tried to keep alive. “I was a gardener first,” he says, “and as my projects got bigger, I didn’t want anyone else doing the landscape design.”
Moon’s insistence on quality control, which creates a certain type of collaborative process with contractors delights Bender Wasenmiller’s team. “Paul designs very clean homes without a lot of millwork to hide details,” says Bender. “It’s subtle, less forgiving, and tougher to execute. Nevertheless, our team admires him because he puts time into the initial design and specifications and although things change a bit during construction, we know early on what we are being asked to do.”
The homeowners discovered how much they love entertaining in their new home, walking the garden together or having coffee on the deck. “We love our house,” says the homeowner. “My husband uses the Hestan BBQ grill twice a week. From the outdoor rooms, we love watching the UW crew or Dragon Boats rolling by,” says the homeowner. “It’s so beautiful, I can’t believe it.”
During a recent site visit marking the year anniversary of completion, Bender, and his Superintendent Mike Benson who worked tirelessly on the project, encountered a neighbor strolling by. He thanked them for always graciously caring about the neighborhood during construction, when storage space for materials was at a premium and they kindly reduced their job trailer to half its normal size. “The best part,” says Bender, “was that the neighbor said this house looks like it has always been here, which is a testament to Paul’s architectural design.” “Paul,” adds the homeowner, “was wonderful to work with. He had a lot of great ideas to make the home relaxed, quiet, comfortable, and uniquely ours.”
THIS PAGE Chavette Chandelier from Lulu and Georgia. HM Duke Design banquette with Tonic Living stripe fabric. Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace paint reflects Rove Concepts table. OPPOSITE Brass Rejuvenation sconces and hardware accent custom Superior Cab inets in Agreeable Gray by Sherwin Williams. Wolf range, Carrara marble countertops, back splash. Rohl plumbing. Found Home Shop rug.
written by DONNA PIZZI photography by CARINA SKROBECKI
SEATTLE INTERIOR DESIGNER EMILY RUFF OF COHESIVELY CURATED INTERIORS WORKED HAND-IN-GLOVE WITH RUSLAN OPANASEVYCH OF COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION & REMODEL TO TRANSFORM A PREVIOUSLY REMODELED BUT AWKWARD KITCHEN IN THIS CLASSIC 1926 SEATTLE HOME OVERLOOKING LAKE WASHINGTON INTO AN ELEGANT, LIGHT-FILLED GATHERING PLACE THAT NO ONE WANTS TO LEAVE.
AFTER THE PREVIOUS HOMEOWNERS SPENT 30 YEARS raising their family in this 1926 Tudor style home in Seattle, Shannon Clark and her husband purchased it in January 2021, to create their own memories at a time when Shannon was pregnant with their first born. The home, which overlooks Lake Washington, was light filled everywhere but the kitchen, which had undergone an early 1990s re model. “The kitchen was the darkest place in the house and lacked the warmth of the rest of the home,” says Shannon. A jutting peninsula forked in two directions with a low-slung seating area one way and the cooktop and adjacent cabinets in the other. Seattle interior designer Emily Ruff of Cohesively Curated Interiors, who segued into design from corporate work which required great attention to detail and ex cellent organizational skills, recommended they gut the entire kitchen, a task which Ruslan Opanasevych and his crew at Complete Construction & Remodel took on with great aplomb. By eliminating the overabundance of cabinetry that was blocking the light, adding a window near the breakfast nook, and replacing a single door with a pair of French doors opening onto the expansive backyard, light began to flood the space. “The goal was to make the home feel new but keep things classic, so the design didn’t feel out of place in a near 100 -year-old-home,” says Ruff.
Perhaps the most arduous task Complete Construction & Remodel faced was re moving the awkward post and beam that dominated the former kitchen remod el and installing a 900 pound 20' steel beam that helped reorient the space to accommodate a more welcoming feel. “Structurally, it was very intense,” recalls Opanasevych. “In addition to having to support the exterior wall when we took out the support beam, we had to assemble the new steel beam on site and then heft it up two flights of stairs.”
Originally, Shannon thought she wanted blue cabinetry, but realized that in twoyears’ time she might hate blue cabinets. “I wanted to create something that was timeless, warm, and inviting. Emily was so good at creating a space that makes peo ple feel like they’re ‘at home.’” Additionally, after removing the wall-to-wall carpet upstairs, they discovered the original white oak flooring that hadn’t been exposed in over 30 years. That led to replacing the wider planked red oak floors used in the 90s kitchen remodel with thinner planked white oak flooring oriented in the same direction as the original.
“My biggest focus,” says Ruff, “was to keep the same footprint but improve the flow from the three different doorways leading into the space.” Working with Shannon’s European and British inspiration photos, and paying heed to her husband’s passion for coffee, Ruff designed a coffee bar with handmade tiles, floating wood shelves, and room for a 170 lb. espresso machine waiting to be installed. “Because the beautiful handmade clay tiles are imperfect,” adds Opanasevych, “we had to cut them using a laser, then scroll through the pieces that would enable us to install the shelves perfectly on top of them.” A pair of striking brass pendants draw the eye to the large Carrara marble topped island designed to accommodate the handsome bar stools Shannon brought from their Washington, DC home. “If we had used chrome or nickel lighting,” says Shannon, “it would have created a much cooler feel to the room. I chose brass for the warmth they create.” Vertically rounded reeded cabi nets complete the triumvirate of island, coffee bar, and cabinets, the latter adding a unique texture to the space.
A pair of impressive Visual Comfort brass pendants add character to overall design and task lighting to the Carrara marble island countertop. Arteriors leather bar stools tuck beneath countertop. Coffee bar features Carrara marble backsplash crowned with high gloss handmade tiles. Floating wood shelves echo unseen wood end portion of adjacent island. Brass Rohl plumbing ties to Rejuvenation sconces. Sub-Zero beverage refrigerator.
CONTRACTOR
Complete Construction & Remodel constructremodel.com
Cohesively Curated Interiors cohesivelycurated.com
Benjamin Moore benjaminmoore.com
OPPOSITE Shannon requested handy cubby shelves for her perfumes, candles, and fresh flowers. Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace walls with BM Shadow Gray cabinetry. Walk-in shower features Zia tile and Waterworks fixtures with glass door fabricated by Northwest Shower Door. Carrara Marble flooring from The Tile Shop. Heir Looms Vintage Rug. ABOVE LEFT Signature Hardware tub warmed by handmade Zia tile and Waterworks Brass plumbing. The Light Factory chandelier draws eye toward view. ABOVE RIGHT Son’s bathroom reiterates Carrara marble countertops with nickel Kohler plumbing. Rounded Rejuvenation vanity mirror and sconces.
To accommodate the addition of a soaking tub in the upstairs primary bathroom and a newly oriented shower, Complete Construction & Remodel demolished a massive wall that hid a horizontally oriented shower from view, as well as a half-wall that partially obscured the toilet tucked alongside dual sink vanities. Replacing the bathroom carpeting with Carrara marble was a remarkable improvement. The new shower features Zia tile and unlac quered brass hardware. “There was no bathtub at all, just a medicine cabinet where the bathtub now is,” recalls Shannon. “We wanted to change it so that when you open the door, you see the tub, chandelier, and Lake Washington, the most beautiful view from any bathroom I’ve ever owned.” There was one moment of panic, however, when the tile surrounding the tub had not yet been grouted. “I thought it was too much tile,” says Shannon, “but Emily assured me it was fine.” Once grouted, Shannon discovered the pinkish orange tiles shine like jewels in the late afternoon sun. “I really had to trust her and now it’s my favorite part of the whole bathroom.” Likewise, Opanasevych had his own worries regarding the installation of the plumbing at a time when the supply chain was broken, and he had to remove the flooring to bring in the water lines. “The tub filler is located in the center of the niche, but we had to install it without having the hardware on site,” he says. Happily, all went well, which, given that Shannon was pregnant, and the work had to be done before she gave birth, was miraculous. “She was great and very patient,” he says. Shannon felt the same and was equally as impressed by Opanasevych’s work ethic amidst various pressures. Working with Emily Ruff who designed the kitchen, three baths, the dining room and Shannon’s office, says Shannon, was amazing. “What I loved about Emily was she didn’t push her design on me. Additionally, when you work with designers, they are usually very creative at their job, but not always great at managing all the moving pieces. Emily was a magician when it came to doing both. I also wish I could write as cordially as she does to vendors!”
The remodel started with the kitchen, where the couple like to cook every day. Custom cabinetry by Hammer & Hand and Precision Custom Cabinets has a sleek integrated handle, and is painted in Benjamin Moore’s Rushing River. Appliances like the Sub-Zero Classic refrigerator/freezer, Blue Star range, and Sub-Zero wine storage are from Eastbank Contractor Appliances. The homeowners’ existing dining table and chairs are illuminated by the Huxley small pendant by Park Studio LA.
AFTER LIVING IN THEIR SOUTHWEST PORTLAND CONDO FOR ABOUT A DECADE, Eric Karl and Ana Quinones had developed a process for putting things away in the kitchen. “Our cabinets were like a jigsaw puzzle where only two people in the world knew how to access things,” says Eric. The couple love to cook together – as far as cuisine goes, “We’re all over the map,” says Eric – but their existing island space was scant and the cabinets maxed out, even with their carefully calibrated approach. “After ten years, some things started to break down and the design was a bit stale,” says Eric. “We just really wanted to freshen the space and make it more enjoyable for us to be in.”
The couple appreciated much about their home, including the high ceilings, views of the city, and abundance of natural light flowing in from floor-to-ceiling windows. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, both Eric and Ana –he’s in tech and she’s a professor of public health – began working from home regularly, which they still do a lot of today. Spending so much more time there led them to think about potential improvements, like creating a more functional kitchen and swapping out the dark and worn cherry finishes that weren’t doing much to spread the natural light around. They reached out to Portland interiors firm Casework and contractor Hammer & Hand for an overhaul. “We looked at a lot of portfolios online, and we fell in love with Casey’s take on design,” says Eric. “She had a modern, fresh aesthetic, but it isn’t cold and impersonal.”
The ensuing remodel revamped most of the home, from the defunct kitchen to the two bathrooms and primary bedroom, eeking out more function, as well as a whole new look. “We work really hard to make sure we understand our client’s functional needs,” says interior designer and Casework founder Casey Keasler. “It’s great if it’s beautiful, but if it’s not functional and the countertop stains on the first day, then what’s the point? It has to work with how you live your life.”
To that end, the team started with the couple’s favorite spot, the kitchen, where Keasler and her team inventoried the contents of every cupboard so they’d know exactly how much storage was needed. “We have photos of every single cabinet open, to see what’s inside,” says Keasler. “We talk about drawers and what goes in each drawer, and have them walk us through a typical day, or when they’re cooking a big meal.”
Now, floor-to-ceiling custom cabinetry wraps two walls, with additional storage capacity in the central island, along the wall of the dining room, and in a standalone custom sideboard. Appliances like a Sub-Zero Classic refrigerator and freezer, and an eight-burner Blue Star range are up to the task of the couple’s endeavors, while an additional Sub-Zero wine fridge allows them to store bottles for entertaining. “I never have an overloaded fridge anymore,” says Eric.
As for the design dictum guiding the home’s new look, Keasler’s process is equally personalized.
“In the beginning, we always set some keywords for a project to get guidance,” says Keasler. “Purposeful, clean, and cultivated were our three keywords here, and they were interested in natural materials, a warm vibe, but to have a very clean, contemporary feel to it.”
Dolomite stone covers the counter and backsplash. “The stone is beautiful and incredibly durable in our experience, and has really exceeded our expectations,” says Eric. “That was something that we were a bit worried about: we didn’t want to have to walk around the condo with a little cleaning rag all day.” Floors and walls are much lighter than before, thanks to Engineered White Oak flooring by California Classics, from Classique Floors & Tile, and fresh paint, Benjamin Moore’s Wedding Veil.
THIS PAGE Fry admires the craft of the cabinetmakers and stone installers: Both “did a nice job grain matching and following the grains through all of the pieces to make it look flawless,” says Fry. Plain-sawn walnut was used for the standalone sideboard and island base, both fabricated by Precision Custom Cabinets. OPPOSITE The fluted hood surround is composed of plaster sourced at Portland store Brush & Trowel. The island pendant is the TR Bulb Suspension Frame in Black, from Menu.
The lighter palette is grounded with white oak flooring installed throughout the main rooms and bedrooms, complemented by the subtle green of the kitchen cabinetry, painted in Benjamin Moore’s Rushing River. Walnut elements, like the island base and custom sideboard, accent the main room, as does the dramatic Dolomite slab covering the counters and backsplash. A fluted plaster hood surround is a bespoke touch that adds texture. The bathrooms maintain consistency with the kitchen, each featuring a custom walnut vanity with Dolomite counter. In the primary bathroom, the stone covers the tub surround and forms a ledge above the tile backsplash. In the primary bedroom, the lighter palette was reversed, with the room ensconced in the inky hue of Benjamin Moore’s Gentleman’s Gray. “We painted the ceiling as well, in order to create dramatic contrast. The condo is light and open throughout, then you come into the bedroom, and it’s almost like a cocoon,” says Keasler. Casework’s attention to detail was matched by Hammer & Hand, whether the contractor was navigating the challenges of remodeling in a shared building to minimize disruptions to the neighbors, or fulfilling the design vision by working with excellent subcontractors. “Casework is fantastic and has an incredible perspective,” says project manager Daryll Fry. “I’ve worked with Hammer & Hand a number of times,” adds Keasler. “Daryll is very detail oriented and thoughtful. We really like working with him.”
Since the project wrapped in May of 2022, Eric and Ana are relishing their home, whether relaxing in their new bedroom “cocoon,” or experimenting with various recipes at the island, and hosting friends. “It just feels a little more peaceful and calmer being in the home,” says Eric, who notes that even the cat is happier. “Our cat absolutely loves the heated floors in the bathroom. She spends most of her day lounging on them.”
THIS PAGE The primary bathroom combines porcelain Heska floor tile, from Emser Tile, a custom walnut and dolomite vanity, and a tub with a dolomite surround. Fireclay tile forms the backsplash, with walls painted in Benjamin Moore’s Wedding Veil. OPPOSITE TOP LEFT The guest bath also features a custom vanity in walnut and dolomite, with a Rejuvenation mirror, Ann Sacks floor tile, and sconce from Worley’s Lighting. OPPOSITE BOTTOM LEFT A coat of Benjamin Moore’s Gentleman’s Gray promotes relaxation in the bedroom.
CASUAL + LAVISH From Roche Bobois, the Caractère corner composition sectional and sofa feature adjustable backrests with two different heights, offering support for sitting up or lounging. Upholstered in a new blue jean fabric, it brings a relaxed vibe with cool, contemporary style. Center to the room are the eye-catching Coin cocktail and end tables, which are deliberately unbalanced to evoke the idea of rolling. Available through Roche Bobois, www.roche-bobois.com
ELEGANCE REDEFINED The Latana Side Chair from McGuire offers classic curves in an upscale design with uncompromising comfort. These chairs, paired with the Adeline Table in Elegante Firefly Marble finish, create an unforgettably luxurious look in any home. The Radius Nightstand rounds out the look with natural cream case set atop walnut legs, with three soft close drawers and modern brass hardware. Available through the Baker McGuire Furniture Showroom at the Seattle Design Center, www.bakerfurniture.com
(below right) From Arteriors, the Rinny Entry table is an elegant welcome into any home with its marble top and drapery-inspired base. jgarnerhome.com
1) From Loloi’s Anastasia Collection, the AF-15 Ivory/Lt. Gold merges intricate details, character, and durability, through jgarnerhome.com 2) Layers of rattan are crafted together to create a sculptural effect in the light and bright Ronaldo Chandelier, from Arteriors available through jgarnerhome.com 3) Suzanne Kasler: Edited Style profiles Suzanne’s most recent work, featuring elegant and serene interiors, powells.com 4) Shown in Copenhagen Amber, the Carmela Chaise from Four Hands is classically cozy and a unique statement piece. Through jgarnerhome. com 5) From Arteriors, the handmade Paloma Vase is inspired from Ancient Roman Pottery, jgarnerhome.com 6) The P1153 MH Sand/Blush from Loloi is the perfect accent for sofas or beds, jgarnerhome.com
(above) With its wood compo sition and classical design, the Paris Paneme dresser is a timeless addition to the bedroom. roche-bobois.com
What was the inspiration behind Craftex, and what motivated you to launch the company?
Craftex was established to transform the ordinary into a thing of beauty. Craftex creates gorgeous seamless interiors within the home; from the kitchens to living areas, to bathrooms, bedrooms, and more. Not only is Craftex perfect for residential use, the same benefits also extend to commercial spaces such as offices, lobbies, museums and airports… the possibilities are truly endless.
Can you tell us about one of the most interesting applications of Craftex you have seen?
Craftex is all about versatility. It has a uniquely organic appearance and can be used in a broad range of applications. Our products are capable of adapting to any surface such as facades, floors, walls, and ceilings- both indoor and outdoor. It can even be applied to furniture. One of my favorite uses for Craftex is creating seamless floor to ceiling surfaces, achieving a space with natural and elegant continuity.
Your product is highly embraced in the European residential and commercial sectors; do you foresee microcement as an equally popular application in the US market?
Yes, absolutely. In European design this product been around for years. It has become very popular throughout both Europe and Asia; you can see it on high end designer residential, villas, hotel rooms and lobbies, as well as commercial areas like retail stores and restaurants. I’m excited to bring it to the U.S., and be able to share it’s potential with this new market.
What is Craftex microcement?
Craftex is truly an exceptional product. Craftex’s composition consists of eco-cement, minerals, water-based resins and selected aggregates, which are mostly obtained from recycled compounds. With a minimum thickness (1-3 mm.) and high adhesion, Craftex ensures maximum functionality and design aesthetic. Moreover, you can achieve contin uous coatings with no joints and limitless extension. Our material is a multipurpose product adapted for use without compromise and can be used in countless applications; it can even be waterproofed. Tiles were once the only option when it came to floors, walls, and ceilings commonly exposed to water. Now, our seamless surfaces make a fan tastic and striking alternative for your bathroom, kitchen, or shower. In addition, our wallcoverings are completely impervious and resistant to limescale and mold, making them ideal for use in bathrooms, wet rooms, spas, kitchens, and even restaurants.
One of the greatest things about Craftex is that there is no limit to the types of surfaces it can be applied to. Craftex comes in over 120 colors and more than 10 different luxury and artistic metal finishes.
Is Craftex sustainable and eco-friendly?
At Craftex, we strive to build sustainability into everything we do. Established on a water-based formulation, our products are the result of a careful selection of raw and recycled materials. It’s application is handcrafted and artisanal, and does not generate excess debris. Craftex’s maintenance promotes the same value, since it only requires gentle cleansing with water and neutral pH soap. This sustainable policy translates into several international certificates such as the EMICODE label, which guarantees a very low emission of volatile organic compounds in building materials.
EUROPEAN CONTEMPORARY Create a luxury dining experience at home with bold statement pieces, mixed materials, and mood lighting. From Cattelan Italia, the Atlantis Crystalart table sits atop a slender steel base, highlighting a customizable top that’s offered in several luxury finishes and sculptural shapes. Surrounding the table are the Dumbo chairs, with rich soft leather upholstered seats and elegant wood grain legs. The Voyager sideboard has bronze mirrored frosted glass with black detail and handsomely offers bases in a variety of different finishes. Available through Kasala, www.kasala.com
1) Green fabrics add a touch of lush nature to the indoors. Clockwise from top left: Katsura in Emerald by Thibaut, Ombre Velvet in Green by Anna French, Wanderlust Tea Story in Teal Velvet by Kravet, and Mulberry Tree in Green by Thibaut. Available through thibautdesign.com & kravet. com 2) The Aerin Hampton Large Chandelier from Visual Comfort features leaf-shaped metal pieces blooming outward in plaster white finish, through seattlelighting. com 3) From Hickory White, the Colza Sideboard evokes glamour with its champagne bronze finished base, through hickorywhite.com 4) From Saba Italia, the New York sofa has metropolitan allure heightened by the hexagonal shape of the frame resting on slim steel rod feet for a soft and contemporary feel, through kasala.com
(below front + behind) Surrounded by exotic palms, colorful parrots are the center of attention in this statement pillow by John Derian. Flowerworks Camelia pillow by Christian Lacroix. designersguild.com
Capital Lighting, Axis Collection Available in 3, 4, or 6 Lights Shown in Winter Gold seattlelighting.com
CIRCLE OF LIGHT From Capital Lighting, the Axis Orb Pendants cheer any room with a touch of glitz. Overlapping metal ribbons add movement and texture for impact in the foyer, kitchen, or bathroom. This designer-approved pendant lends options in multiple finishes for inner and outer frames, enriching the dramatic play of light and pattern. Available through Seattle Lighting, www.seattlelighting.com
AL WOOD COLLECTION PHILIPPE STARCK FOR KARTELL
1) Made of wool & bamboo silk, the Retro Trace in White Chocolate brings contrast with its black lines against neutral and gold tones, available through andonianrugs.com 2) A touch of tassel brings delightful detail in Loloi’s Pmh1153 Mocha/ Plum pillow, available through jgarnerhome.com 3) The Pluto Candleholders from Arteriors marries sculpture and functionality, available through jgarnerhome.com 4) Set a chic, industrial tone with the Plano Chandelier from Arteriors, through seattlelighting.com 5) The Proxima Mirror from Arteriors features a sandblasted mango wood frame, bringing refinement to any space, through jgarnerhome.com 6) Eye-catching at every curve, the Liam Sectional in Surrey Olive is inspired by sleek Italian design. Four Hands, available through jgarnerhome.com 7) The Analia Tray from Made Goods has a sunset edge carved from beige marble, through jgarnerhome.com
1+2) Ideal for kitchen and living spaces as the ultimate space-saver, Resource Furniture’s flip-down Wally table func tions as a dining table or workstation. Open the Wally with just a light touch to transform your space, or fold flat when not in use. 3) This design integrates an array of storage, LED lighting, wire management, USB ports, and outlets. Available through Resource Furniture, resourcefurniture.com 4) Ambiance made easy with Troy Lighting’s Odyssey pendant. The plated smokey glass shades provide functionality and an upscale feel. Avail able through Seattle Lighting, seattlelighting.com
Resource Furniture’s Wally is available in two depths and multiple finishes for personalization. Thoughtful integrated storage eases access to office sup plies or kitchen accessories. Available through www.resourcefurniture.com
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Dark countertops continue to be on trend for kitchen counter tops and backsplashes as they bring elegance and refinement to the home’s most beloved space. New from Caesarstone, the 1003 Raindream features two layers of slate-greys that are accen tuated by soft dark grey strokes contoured in neutral highlights. With its polished finish, it resembles a wet river stone for an or ganic and earthy look. Available through Greenhome Solutions, www.ghsproducts.com
Caesarstone 1003 Raindream with Polished Finish ghsproducts.com
To honor the home’s Dutch Colonial architecture, without sacrificing its views of city, water, and mountain, says Melinda Slater, we borrowed space from its mudroom and pantry, which enabled us to add an island. The latter adds more space that’s conducive to cooking and entertaining. The chal lenges were three-fold: to improve the flow despite three entryways interrupting the space, provide wall space for refrigerator, ovens, and storage, yet eliminate most upper cabinets per the homeowner’s request. The island helped separate the main traffic flow from working zones. Two wall cabinets flank the main window, whose increased depth and height from countertop to ceiling give the impression of built-in cabinetry. Inset shaker door style, elaborate stacked crown molding, paneled insets on island ends are in keeping with the Dutch Colonial style. Gold fixtures and lighting accents add warmth to the contrasting blue island. A freestanding metal hood becomes a focal point when tied to a Calacatta marble mosaic backsplash tile with gold veining that continues the look. A wood floor grounds the room. “The kitchen’s glory has been renewed to share with family and friends for generations to come,” says Slater.
Appliances: Albert Lee, Miele; Cabinetry: Collaborative Interiors, DuraSupreme; Countertops: Pental; Hardwood Flooring: Woodpecker Flooring; Plumbing Fixtures: Brizo, Elkay, Backsplash Tile: Ann Sacks; Windows: Marvin; Pendant Lights: ET2, Cabinet Hardware: Chapman & Myers
Lucy Johnson adds Boho Mid-Century panache to her powder room design by choosing dark colors that allow her gold tone fixtures to shine. By placing the vanity perpendicular to the toilet not only for code reasons, but also roominess, Johnson expands the space by adding a small, open vanity in warm wood, white vessel sink, and wall-mounted plumbing. To create a sense of airiness, she sets the vanity against a backdrop of dramatic tile whose pattern evokes stylized trees. Finally, by removing a wall niche on the kitchen side, the room gains much-needed space.
Charged with transforming a very tiny, linear bath into a spacious luxurious one without changing the square footage of the primary suite, Candace Nordquist moved a large closet adjacent to the original small bath into the primary bedroom space that was oversized. Her tasteful design features dual his and her vanities, a shower big enough for two, and a separate toilet room. Geometric tile flooring grounds the inviting space while adding Mid-Century Modern flare. A play on hexagonal shapes adds pattern and texture. Warm sapele wood vanities and additional floor-to-ceiling linen cabinets set against a black and white palette add plenty of storage space. The spacious shower is outfitted with dual shower heads – one handheld and one fixed - plus a bench seat for grooming and relaxation, and a large niche that keeps toiletries readily on hand. A narrow window in the shower adds natural light. Warm honey bronze hardware and fixtures enhance the beauty of the room, adding a soft glow. Easy-to-maintain porcelain tiles and engineered quartz counters promote easy upkeep. Heated flooring is an added luxury, while U-shaped sink drawers add additional storage to a space that is typically unused.
©Miranda Estes
Amanda George / Amanda George Interior Design / amandageorgeinteriordesign.com
Amanda George pays playful homage to her client’s British heritage throughout this fresh makeover of the formerly dated dining room. An existing tray ceiling is adorned with a Union Jack motif design in real wood plank veneer stained to match the flooring. Custom heritage blue base cabinets and antiqued white glass front uppers replace the former awkward China cabinet providing display and storage for the client’s extensive inherited China collection. To evoke memories of her client’s childhood growing up in an English countryside cottage, George wraps the room in a floor-to-ceiling fairytale style wall mural with a whimsical garden motif. Overall visual balance was achieved using a larger scale, fanciful light set amidst the decorative tray ceiling. Articulated wall lamps bring interest and feasibility to the open buffet area. Finally, gemstones in contrasting colors and brass bail pull hardware give the buffet a bejeweled chest of drawers feel.
Cabinetry: Crystal Cabinets; Countertops: Stone Pros; Wallcoverings: York Wallcoverings, Wallpaper Guru; Ceiling Treatment: From the Forest; Paint: Sherwin Williams; Window Treatments: Window Fashions NW; Gemstone Knobs/Pulls: Modern Matters; Bail Pulls: Classic Brass
Not only did Miriam Larson transform her client’s former small galley kitchen and compact living room into an airy green space with vaulted ceilings, but she also designed it to engage the client’s beloved child with sensitivity issues. Much of the renovation considered responses to the tactile qualities of the design and the environmental impacts of materials, resulting in a space that is comfortable while providing moments of delight. GE Cafe Appliances in matte white with brass trim match warm brass pulls and hardware. Walnut shelving and island countertop add warmth. Adding spaces for live, non-toxic plants above the kitchen creates an oxygen-rich environment.
TRANSFORMING A MATURE LOT ON MERCER ISLAND INTO A NORTHWEST CONTEMPORARY HOME FOR A FAMILY OF FIVE WAS A HARMONIOUS COLLABORATION BETWEEN HOMEOWNER, DESIGNER, ARCHITECT, AND BUILDER. ESCHEWING TRADITION, THESE WORLD TRAVELERS KNEW PRECISELY WHAT THEY WANTED – AND DIDN’T WANT – RESULTING IN A DYNAMIC, ELEGANT, AND CASUALLY WELCOMING HOME.
OPPOSITE The home’s exterior is decidedly modern, including Hardi Panel and Trim Lap siding painted in a sleek Charcoal and Black Ink from Benjamin Moore. The custom door by Pivot Door Company is reached via an elevated walkway. THIS PAGE Inside, contem porary, but warm, modern shapes are finished with traditional fabrics and materials like the lush green velvet on these Redford House chairs upholstered in Donghia Fabrics.
THIS PAGE While the overall aesthetic is modern, Stroud saturated the living spaces with rich textures and luxury finishes. Chairs and sofa are custom Lee Upholstery. The rug is a custom piece from Stanton Carpets. The eye-catching Ortal fireplace is lined in a stone-look large format tile by United Tile from Contract Furnishings Mart laid vertically. Select ready-built furniture in gold and glass from Restoration Hardware.
THE RING FAMILY HAD SPENT THE BETTER PART OF 12 YEARS LIVING INTERNATIONALLY, rotating from London, Melbourne, and Hong Kong. They knew they needed a change when it was time to return permanently to Seattle.
“We found ourselves in different housing situations,” said Heather Ring. “A duplex, a high-rise, a regular apartment, and a mews house. We learned what things were and weren’t important to us as a family.”
A tear-down property on Mercer Island fit the bill. They would have the opportunity to start from scratch and build a home that was the perfect fit. The Rings had worked with designer Tammara Stroud previously and brought her on immediately. “Tammara is so creative and easy to work with,” says Ring. “She was the center of our dream team, including McCullough Architects and JayMarc Homes.”
The Rings’ top priority was to create a warm, friendly, and family-focused home. “They wanted a place where no family member or guest of any age would feel uncomfortable,” designer Tammara Stroud said. “A place where every square inch had purpose and function and where they could maximize enjoyment of the natural surroundings, mature trees, Lake Washington, and Mt. Rainier views.”
The aesthetic goal was to let nature be the guide when selecting colors, finishes, and textures. Form would follow function while also leaving room to express the youthful and vibrant character of the Rings’ lifestyle. “Housing design is more contemporary in the three places we lived overseas. We found it easier to clean, less cluttered, and more peaceful,” said Ring.
The home is uniquely positioned with the street-level entrance directly to the top floor. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide ample natural light and highlight the panoramic views. Built-in, automatic blinds from Lutron allow the Rings to easily adjust for light and heat without disrupting the clean lines. It’s one of many home efficiency features, including solar panels, on-demand water, and charge points for electric vehicles.
White oak doors and other natural wood trims and finishes add warmth to the minimalist aesthetic. The vaulted wood ceilings extend in a seemingly unbroken line from the interior to the exterior valance. Large sliders from Andersen completely open the kitchen to the outdoor space, pocketing neatly out of site into the walls. Rustic French European Oak wide plank flooring by West Valley Hardwood Flooring from Contract Furnishings Mart lays the foundation for the indoor-outdoor sensibility of the home.
The thoroughly modern kitchen includes internationally inspired details like the induction stove and the built-in water filter tap. “We were forced into this type of cooktop in Australia, but we grew to appreciate it,” said Ring. “It’s cleaner, more efficient, heats up faster, and you have more control of temperatures.”
OPPOSITE AND LEFT In the kitchen, white gloss upper cabinets and an opaque white glass tile backsplash from Contract Furnishings Mart are bright and modern. An extra-large island for casual family dining features elegant but durable Pental Quartz countertops and an additional prep sink.
ABOVE A pass-through butler’s pantry connects the kitchen to the dining room. Nicknamed “grand central,” this area acts as the administrative center of the home, including electronic charging stations and a pull-out printer. Custom artwork from Julie Devine keeps with the nature theme but also acts as a liaison between a variety of artwork the family collected during their travels.
CONTRACTOR
JayMarc Homes jaymarchomes.com
ARCHITECT
McCullough Architects mccullougharchitects.com
INTERIOR DESIGN
Tammara Stroud Interior Design tammarastroud.com
SELECT PAINT
Benjamin Moore benjaminmoore.com
SELECT FURNISHINGS
Seattle Design Center seattledesigncenter.com
FLOORING & SELECT TILE
Contract Furnishings Mart cfmfloors.com
LEFT + BELOW Custom cabinets in family and entertainment room are complementary to the white cabinets upstairs. The children’s rooms accommodate special interests and collections with built-in storage and display fixtures. BOTTOM The gym’s hardwood flooring is from Fitness Flooring. The fitness space comes equipped with bright orange monkey bars, a climbing rope, and a water fountain. One side of the gym is covered in the original exterior wood siding reclaimed from the prior home. OPPOSITE The main bedroom is coolly sophisticated, with a painted ceiling of “Stiffkey Blue” by Farrow and Ball reflective of the original artwork by Corrie Lavelle and the lake views beyond. Casamance custom drape fabric sourced from Kelly Forslund Inc. at the Seattle Design Center softens light in the sun-drenched space.
The kitchen cabinets are a mix of rift oak and Blanco Gloss white from Bellmont Cabinets. “This pairing of warm and cool tones, along with contemporary fabrications and natural materials, is the foundation of warm modernism,” says Stroud. “We chose rich mossy greens, creams, and caramel hues throughout the upper floor for the color palette. We then layered in textures like boucle, leather, and velvet fabrics. Nothing feels too formulaic.”
Standout artisan touches include a custom Lindsey Adelman chandelier in the dining room with handblown glass; a Kirk Alberts custom circular dining table with a matching Lazy Susan for meals in the round like the Rings enjoyed in Hong Kong; and a custom Halo Chandelier in the great room by Ron Dier from Kelly Forslund Inc. at the Seattle Design Center, featuring a translucent Selenite surround.
The lower level of the home is where the Rings’ playful personality thrives – including one of the property’s most unique features – a 500-squarefoot movement gym. Heather Ring is a personal trainer and health coach, so the gym is essential to her practice. But it’s also become an integral part of family life. “As a family, we got into movement and yoga in Hong Kong. This space gets constant use by all of us,” Heather said.
The cozy family room and kids’ rooms on this level have all been styled with custom built-ins, pops of whimsical color, and welcoming places to linger and relax.
“Our experience working with Tammara and Phil at McCullough Architects on this home was fantastic,” said Ring. “They came with so many ideas we wouldn’t have thought of to make this home special. Phil is an amazing creative. He visualizes things that others can’t even imagine.”
In keeping with the international theme, McCullough recommended exploring the Japanese tradition of welcoming your guests on a stone. At the front entrance, half a honed boulder is embedded at street level. It’s the perfect introduction to a home full of natural warmth and global experiences.
The custom, cast-in-place concrete pavers are a unique feature of this garden’s hardscapes. Formed, poured, and finished onsite, they lay a path to the front door but also step up to define the transition between niche areas of experience. Layered concrete walls obscure the road and driveway from the garden and create the sense of stepping into the house’s living areas while remaining outside. At the front door, modern mirrored orb hanging planters from CB2 add layers and light.
written by EMILY ZAHNISER photography by MIRANDA ESTESLANDSCAPE DESIGNER SCOT ECKLEY COMPOSES PERSONALIZED, OPEN-AIR ROOMS FOR LIVING. HARDSCAPES AND ORGANICS COMBINE ARCHITECTURALLY TO CREATE A PEACEFUL BUT FUNCTIONAL GARDEN SANCTUARY JUST A WALL AWAY FROM THIS BUSY, URBAN SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOOD.
Eckley layers plants at eye-level in elevated structural planters built from gunmetal steel. The same metal features a vertical cedar slat detail in the work and meditation room, uplit at night for a welcoming ambiance.
Variated greens and soft plants include Mahonia Soft Caress and Fatsia Japonica. Bright ferns and hostas add a pop of color against the darker materials. The Japanese maple re tained from the original landscape was moved into an oversized planter street side for maximum visual impact. Bamboo is a dynamic part of the plan, adding additional delineation of separate spaces and softening solid and angular walls.
front yard space into private, outdoor living. The modest 507 square feet of available garden was exposed to the bustling urban neighborhood road, had views to the driveway, and encompassed the access route to the front door. The small family wanted to create an urban oasis where they could as comfortably linger outside as they would in any room within the house.
“I approached the design the same way an architect would approach building a custom home,” said Eckley. “What is the family’s lifestyle, and what rooms and functionality do they want? In this case, a living room and an outdoor workspace, connected by an outdoor hallway and an entryway allowing access to the front door.”
Eckley works with the same golden rules venerated by interior designers when considering spacing, furnishings, privacy, and light. “For a small space like this, functionality comes first.” His grounding philosophy is that a garden space becomes an extension of the residence, giving reason and invitation to go outside.
The garden is now contemporary but luxurious, with a layering of colors, heights, and distinct rooms. The eye is encouraged to roam using high-contrast materials like concrete, steel, and cedar, experiencing depth and perspective despite the humble footprint.
From the driveway, entrance is granted via a large custom metal gate by Tetters Metal Fab through the vestibule of overlapping concrete walls. Even if the gate is open, the garden is obscured from view. Once inside, a gathering room with a custom-poured concrete fire fea ture and durable outdoor seating is to the left. The home has traditional outdoor dining on its sun-exposed west side, so this space is what Eckley calls “resort-style dining.” The large lip of the fire feature provides ample room to prop drinks, plates, and feet.
Passing beyond the home’s front door, the cast-in-place concrete pavers lift and separate, stretching to the outdoor workspace. “Conceptually, the idea is to encourage a slowing down to conscious movement as you walk to the deck,” Eckley said. “The homeowner wanted an inviting, comfortable, and calming room. As you walk, you’re obligated to bring awareness to becoming present in the space. It’s a subtle shift in perspective.”
Overall, the homeowners wanted a space inspired by the lush retreats they had seen in Bali. Eckley accomplished that tropical lushness in the temperate environment of the Pacific
Furniture takes on organic forms communing with the natural surroundings, like the West Elm Montauk Chair and the stone-shaped ottoman by Soma Stone. A gunmetal steel wall softened with horizontal cedar slats clarifies the room without feeling boxed in. Affectionately dubbed “Yann’s deck,” the homeowner wanted a private place to work outside, or linger meditatively surrounded by lush greenery.
Northwest with two fundamental techniques. First, he utilized raised planters throughout, bringing green and organic elements comfortably into eye level.
Secondly, he mixed an array of plants that would look attractive and full in the visually arresting hardscapes throughout the change in seasons. “Plants like Japanese Forest Grass that get cut back four months out of the year simply reveal more of the garden’s beautiful base structures,” Eckley says. “This foundation allows for the use of plants that have some seasonality without the garden looking dead during the winter months.”
For this garden, the variety of textures, sizes, and colors happen without flowers, another technique for building in year-round, consistent lushness. Other thoughtful details include artistic landscape lighting with sophisticated and discreet fixtures, a built-in sound system with subwoofer and directional speakers, ceramic accent planters, and a sweet, half-stone water bowl for the resident pup.
“Outdoor lighting is important in creating intimacy and accessibility to a garden space,” said Eckley. “It gives the garden a second life at night.” In addition to the pathway and features lighting, Eckley added an up light across the base of the steel and cedar slate wall in the outdoor work and meditation room. “It bathes that whole area in a warmth from the illuminated edge.”
The result is an integrated extension of the home’s living spaces which just happen to be outside. “Every detail here was carefully considered to play well together,” said Eckley. “It’s a cohesive, multi-functional space that’s beautiful any day of the year.”
PROJECT SOURCES | LANDSCAPE DESIGN + CONSTRUCTION Scot Eckley Inc., scoteckley.com
Can you trace your interest in landscape construction and design back to a particular influence?
I am a landscape designer because I am not a very good swimmer. In college, I wanted a summer job where I could work outside, and I knew I would not pass the lifeguard test. A friend got me a job with the landscape company where he worked. I worked on the construc tion crew. The company designed and installed beautiful residential gardens, so I was exposed to some amazing landscapes throughout Puget Sound. One of the first job sites I worked on was installing the landscape at Paul Allen’s estate on Mercer Island. At the time, I was finishing an English degree at the University of Washington and was interested in studying fashion design. I had started teaching my self how to sew and pattern making. Slowly, plants, stone walls and hardscape design began replacing my fascination with fabric, seams and fashion.
What is your firm’s ideal project?
We love creating spaces for outdoor living — spaces for gathering, lounging, dining, cooking and play. We especially enjoy the challenge of designing and maximizing small or awkward spaces.
Your work is nationally recognized for using materials in new and novel ways and coming up with creative, cost-conscious solutions. Does the ambition of installing or designing a unique, forward-thinking garden mean that the bar is continually raised for you personally?
I have always been driven to find great solutions for our clients in response to the their goals, the site and their budget. Each project is unique, so it makes sense that each design and response is unique.
Your firm often works with and installs gardens designed by notable landscape architects; how does the collaborative process foster innovation?
When I first started SEI in 2000, most of our work was installing gar dens and landscapes designed by some of the Northwest’s top land scape architects and garden designers. I consider working with these designers to install their projects my master’s degree. In the past 10 years, SEI has grown and we now focus on working with clients where we both design and install the landscape. SEI is a great group of landscape architects, landscape designers, project managers, and craftspeople, so now the collaboration takes place among our team, our clients, and building partners.
How do you approach or decide on the overall “feel” of a garden?
This is a blend of numerous factors. The home, the site, the client’s input, the budget, and our perspective and expertise are all part of this. That said, our natural inclination is for designing low mainte nance outdoor spaces with strong hardscape designs that look great all year long.
What’s next on the boards?
We continue to work on spaces for outdoor living and entertaining. We’re currently designing several covered outdoor dining and loung ing spaces. We’re working with a company that specializes in the fabrication and installation of these and are excited by the possibili ties. One of the dining spaces we are working on will include heaters, lighting, a TV and a decked out kitchen.
Favorite travel destination for inspiration?
Anywhere with my wife. She is an interior designer with a background in art history. We are always traveling somewhere new.
What are some of your favorite public or private gardens?
The High Line, The Sound Cylinder (Parc de la Villette), Twin Silo Community Park in Fort Collins and the Baroque and Renaissance gardens of Italy.
Three words that most appropriately sum up your approach to landscape design are… Design for enjoyment.
written by MELISSA DALTON photography by ANDREW POGUE
The Yo-Ju Courtyard House is designed by Wittman Estes and built by DME Construction. It opens to a rear courtyard, which fosters privacy and a place for the owners’ three children to play. Expansive glass doors by Quantum line two walls, so as to merge the interior and exterior, and create partial views through the main floor. In the dining room, a Dylan Dining Table from CB2 is lit by a Stix LED Pendant Light by Sonneman Lighting.
WITTMAN ESTES AND DME CONSTRUCTION CRAFT A PRIVATE RETREAT SURROUNDED BY NATURE IN THE MOST UNLIKELY OF PLACES: A BUSY CITY STREET.
DESPITE ITS LOCATION ON A BUSY ARTERIAL STREET IN THE CLYDE NEIGHBORHOOD OF BELLEVUE, this home is an oasis of calm. “The question was how to create a house that has safe, protective exposure to the busy street, while also feeling very open and private on the inside,” says architect Matt Wittman, who is principal alongside landscape designer Jody Estes at the Seattle-based firm Wittman Estes.
Thanks to the firm’s interdisciplinary approach of seamlessly connecting nature and architecture, their answer to the site’s innate problems was an adroit one: to flank the home’s front and back in private courtyards. “In all of our projects, we often think about landscape principles first,” says Wittman.
Now, entrance from the sidewalk is granted through a black stained cedar fence, itself stepped back from the sidewalk by a softening row of trees and grasses. A concrete path leads through the entry courtyard, where beds of grasses and ornamental trees intertwine with the hardscaping. This first courtyard acts as a buffer between house and street, creates a safe place for children and dogs to play, and marks the first in a series of layers throughout the property. “As you move through the home, there are these various threshold layers,” says Wittman. “This idea goes back to the concept of Yo-Ju.”
Yo-Ju, says the firm, means “secluded living” in Mandarin Chinese, and was the guiding principle for the house’s overall concept, also giving it its name: Yo-Ju Courtyard House. The concept draws on Chinese landscape and courtyard design, as well as Chinese landscape painting techniques, which employ layers to create a feeling of depth. “Historically, these lots had bigger [house] square footages that were more spread out,” says Wittman. But by utilizing such techniques, the design team succeeded in making the home’s interior spaces live much larger.
The clients’ goals were to ensure safe outdoor zones for their three small children, privacy from the busy road, and an interior that balances shared living spaces with more private spots for everyone to retreat – all within 3,460 square feet. Wittman laid out the communal living areas so they wrap around the rear exterior courtyard, then lined two walls in glass doors that peel back from the corner. Thus, standing in the living room offers partial views into the rest of the main floor, through the layers of glass and floating oak casework, as well as into the rear courtyard, with its own layer of landscaping. The eye “doesn’t know something is not that far distance-wise, because the layers give it depth,” says Wittman.
Key to the home’s successful execution was the thoughtful building approach led by DME Construction. “Not only do these details need to work aesthetically, but as the builder, you have to think about how the structure carries these corners that appear to be free floating. How do you get those beams to work with the lighting placement, and so on,” says David Elwell, president of DME. “So that in the finished product, no one thinks about the structural elements that are there.”
The kitchen is by Henrybuilt, utilizing plank-matched grey oak and Ravey Europly for the cabinetry. Ivory solid surface counters join a back-painted white glass backsplash. Micro Cone LED Pendant Light by Sonneman Lighting hangs above the island. The fireplace façade is formed from raw steel, and the stairs and screen are fashioned from grey oak. The floors are concrete.
Instead, the focus is on the experience of moving through the house. Materials play a big part in blurring the borders between inside and out, and from room to room. Things like the grey oak casework woven throughout, as well as a steel fireplace façade that seems to hover over the windows. Concrete flooring sweeps from inside to an exterior path. Upstairs, the program gets more private, with the bedrooms and an art room placed there, and the continuity of materials ensures it flows effortlessly with the floor below.
All of this speaks to how the home deftly balances opposites, utilizing another ancient Chinese landscape design concept called the “Big Hide.” “That means you’re within an environment with a lot of people and things around you, but you’re secluded within that,” says Wittman. Best of all, as the neighborhood grows up around the house, so too will the courtyard plantings, and the seclusion and serenity that the entire project fosters. “As the buildings all around get bigger and denser, and the street busier, you’re almost hiding in plain sight,” says Wittman. “The gardens make you feel like you’re still in nature.”
CONTACTOR DME Construction dmeconstruction.com
ARCHITECT, INTERIOR DESIGN & LANDSCAPE DESIGN
Wittman Estes wittman-estes.com
PAVERS Mutual Materials mutualmaterials.com
TAMMARA STROUD INTERIOR DESIGN www.tammarastroud.com
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DANVER STAINLESS OUTDOOR KITCHENS www.danver.com
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ALDERBROOK RESORT & SPA www.alderbrookresort.com
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....................................... 35
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