SHED Architecture remodel an outdated 1967 house to a modern residence for a young couple
The 1967 architect-designed home is located on a lush site right outside of Seattle in Kirkland’s Bridle Trails neighborhood. An overgrown site, outdated kitchen, compartmentalized bathrooms, and unfinished basement were some of the big concerns but most of all, the cluttered floor plan and oddly placed partition walls made the home too convoluted for modern lifestyles.
In 2013, a young couple from Chicago recognized the potential of the 2,970 square foot home and decided it was the perfect place to raise a family.
SHED Architecture & Design were hired to exploit the site’s potential by creating open, airy spaces with controlled views, transforming the outdated residence into a home more suitable for the modern family.
The SHED team wanted to leverage as much of the existing framework volume as possible; seeking to transform the spaces through selective improvements and targeted interventions.
Eliminating walls & shifting the corridor in the basement helps simplify and clarify the circulation pattern, while providing more direct access to the new carport and site to the north.
By relocating the mechanical room, a new bathroom could be inserted, allowing the kids to have a bathroom of their own.
On the main floor, walls adjacent to the fireplace were removed to allow for a true open plan with a central hearth. This decision also allowed for a larger kitchen, formal dining room, and a more prominent living space overlooking the lush backyard.
Vaulting the ceiling in those spaces also enhanced the newfound open plan. Retaining a more humble entry soffit negotiates the lower ceiling height in the hall, which now finishes into an expansive master suite with private deck access.
The palette blends mid-century motifs like flagstone flooring, wood panels, and slat screens with more contemporary materials like concrete brick, Milestone, and Douglas Fir.
Locally sourced Douglas Fir gives the casework and paneling a contemporary, Pacific Northwest feel. Milestone plaster creates a truly unique atmosphere in the bathrooms while also avoiding fussy tile work.
Photography by: Mark Woods
