A Home for 3 Generations — at a Place They Know Well
A father rebuilds on the site of his childhood home to accommodate family and make the most of waterfront views
Becky Harris
22 October 2017
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
Photos by Benjamin Benschneider
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Three generations: Mom, Dad, their three kids and one of the homeowners’ mothers
Location: Seattle
Size: 6,000 square feet (557 square meters); five bedrooms; five full and two half bathrooms
Designer: DeForest Architects
The backstory: The original house was the childhood home of one of the homeowners. It had been added on to over the years but didn’t take full advantage of the view. “It was a difficult decision but he chose to create a new home for his family while preserving special trees and the teahouse at the end of the dock,” architect John DeForest says.
The approach: A carefully edited materials palette was key to this design. These materials connect the house to the landscape and beyond. “Exposed concrete walls form the armature for the major spaces and run from inside to out,” DeForest says. The architect added Cor-Ten steel to the front door and some of the exterior cladding. “The steel will age to a rich patina,” he says. The wood siding is stained cedar. The different tiers of the roofline break up the massing and give the large home’s exterior pleasing proportions.
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Three generations: Mom, Dad, their three kids and one of the homeowners’ mothers
Location: Seattle
Size: 6,000 square feet (557 square meters); five bedrooms; five full and two half bathrooms
Designer: DeForest Architects
The backstory: The original house was the childhood home of one of the homeowners. It had been added on to over the years but didn’t take full advantage of the view. “It was a difficult decision but he chose to create a new home for his family while preserving special trees and the teahouse at the end of the dock,” architect John DeForest says.
The approach: A carefully edited materials palette was key to this design. These materials connect the house to the landscape and beyond. “Exposed concrete walls form the armature for the major spaces and run from inside to out,” DeForest says. The architect added Cor-Ten steel to the front door and some of the exterior cladding. “The steel will age to a rich patina,” he says. The wood siding is stained cedar. The different tiers of the roofline break up the massing and give the large home’s exterior pleasing proportions.
The Great Room
The great room encompasses the dining and living areas in one large space, with soaring 13½-foot ceilings. A polished concrete floor, wood beams and a tongue-and-groove cedar ceiling create cohesion throughout the open plan of the public spaces. “The subtle natural variation in concrete color and texture ground the house and contrast with warmer materials like wood and furnishings,” DeForest says.
The layout: The house consists of three volumes. The main one encompasses the public areas. The second is a private master suite that includes a den. The third, the second floor, houses the bedrooms and bathrooms for the kids and their grandmother. Most of these spaces get the water views, while more utilitarian areas like the laundry room face the street.
The Dining Area
Upon entering the home, visitors are drawn in by a view clear across the dining area to Union Bay. The proportions in the room were carefully considered: The cantilevered sideboard’s size relates to the fireplace, and the fact that it floats ties it in to the ceiling.
The teahouse: The structure out on the dock was existing and holds many memories for the homeowner.
Cantilevered buffet: Meyer Wells
The great room encompasses the dining and living areas in one large space, with soaring 13½-foot ceilings. A polished concrete floor, wood beams and a tongue-and-groove cedar ceiling create cohesion throughout the open plan of the public spaces. “The subtle natural variation in concrete color and texture ground the house and contrast with warmer materials like wood and furnishings,” DeForest says.
The layout: The house consists of three volumes. The main one encompasses the public areas. The second is a private master suite that includes a den. The third, the second floor, houses the bedrooms and bathrooms for the kids and their grandmother. Most of these spaces get the water views, while more utilitarian areas like the laundry room face the street.
The Dining Area
Upon entering the home, visitors are drawn in by a view clear across the dining area to Union Bay. The proportions in the room were carefully considered: The cantilevered sideboard’s size relates to the fireplace, and the fact that it floats ties it in to the ceiling.
The teahouse: The structure out on the dock was existing and holds many memories for the homeowner.
Cantilevered buffet: Meyer Wells
The fireplace: The fireplace is two-sided, adding warmth to the living and dining areas. Along with area rugs, it helps define the rooms without dividing them. It’s covered in subtly varied steel finishes.
Indoor-outdoor living: The lift-slide doors open and pocket into the walls to completely open up the inside to the yard and views. DeForest also created strong connections between indoors and out via the materials. Check out the dotted concrete walls on the far left and right of this photo. “Form-tie holes give them scale,” DeForest says.
Indoor-outdoor living: The lift-slide doors open and pocket into the walls to completely open up the inside to the yard and views. DeForest also created strong connections between indoors and out via the materials. Check out the dotted concrete walls on the far left and right of this photo. “Form-tie holes give them scale,” DeForest says.
Lighting: All of the lighting was chosen to complement the architecture. In the case of the handblown clear glass chandelier over the dining table, it relates to the sea and sky and Seattle’s legacy of glassblowing.
Branching Bubble chandelier: Lindsey Adelman
Branching Bubble chandelier: Lindsey Adelman
The Living Area
The ceiling: “The clerestory windows give the ceiling structure a visual lightness and balance natural light within the space,” DeForest says. “Without that balance, the western sun can be quite strong and create glare.”
The art: Its proportions form a long rectilinear block in keeping with the rest of the space.
Adjacent spaces: Complementing the lofty main space are alcoves for the entry and piano. Large translucent sliding panels afford the office and family spaces more privacy when desired. At the back of the photo, you can catch a glimpse into the master suite’s den and its dramatic view of a large tree. The den has workstations for the couple as well as full-height casework that houses the family’s extensive book collection, favorite objects and family photos.
The ceiling: “The clerestory windows give the ceiling structure a visual lightness and balance natural light within the space,” DeForest says. “Without that balance, the western sun can be quite strong and create glare.”
The art: Its proportions form a long rectilinear block in keeping with the rest of the space.
Adjacent spaces: Complementing the lofty main space are alcoves for the entry and piano. Large translucent sliding panels afford the office and family spaces more privacy when desired. At the back of the photo, you can catch a glimpse into the master suite’s den and its dramatic view of a large tree. The den has workstations for the couple as well as full-height casework that houses the family’s extensive book collection, favorite objects and family photos.
Panels: “Large brushed acrylic sliding panels between the master suite and great room offer more privacy when needed without sacrificing natural light,” DeForest says.
The Water-Facing Facade
This photo gives you a good idea of the layout, with the master suite just out of view, the more formal living and dining spaces in the center and the more casual family room and kitchen to the right. The second story is above the kitchen and family room.
This photo gives you a good idea of the layout, with the master suite just out of view, the more formal living and dining spaces in the center and the more casual family room and kitchen to the right. The second story is above the kitchen and family room.
The Breakfast Nook
The more casual eat-in area off the kitchen also takes in the view. Low-slung Danish chairs keep the view across the table clear. If you look through the window you can see how a mixture of concrete and sod eases the transition out to the lawn.
The more casual eat-in area off the kitchen also takes in the view. Low-slung Danish chairs keep the view across the table clear. If you look through the window you can see how a mixture of concrete and sod eases the transition out to the lawn.
The Family Room and Kitchen
“The goal was to create a natural connection between family activities while giving spaces for cooking, family dining and hanging out distinct identities,” DeForest says. “Family rooms in older homes are often relegated to an isolated corner. In this one, it is designed to be the hub of everyday life. It is connected to the kitchen, breakfast nook, family entry and stairs.” In addition to the generous seating area, a wall of cabinets conceals two homework stations and abundant storage.
The kitchen: The kitchen fits in seamlessly with its quiet materials palette. The cabinets are rift-cut white oak and the counters and backsplash are a quartz composite by Pental. A station in front of the windows provides a perch with a view for getting work done. It also has a sink and can serve as a wet bar and buffet.
“The goal was to create a natural connection between family activities while giving spaces for cooking, family dining and hanging out distinct identities,” DeForest says. “Family rooms in older homes are often relegated to an isolated corner. In this one, it is designed to be the hub of everyday life. It is connected to the kitchen, breakfast nook, family entry and stairs.” In addition to the generous seating area, a wall of cabinets conceals two homework stations and abundant storage.
The kitchen: The kitchen fits in seamlessly with its quiet materials palette. The cabinets are rift-cut white oak and the counters and backsplash are a quartz composite by Pental. A station in front of the windows provides a perch with a view for getting work done. It also has a sink and can serve as a wet bar and buffet.
Here’s another brushed acrylic sliding panel, this one between the kitchen and great room.
Staircase: “Inspired by the beauty of structures in nature, this stair features elegantly tapered steel stringers and cantilevered translucent acrylic panels,” DeForest says.
The Master Bedroom
A switch in materials and scale differentiates the more private spaces. “Fresh white walls contrast with warm wood flooring here,” DeForest says. The floors are rift-cut and quartered white oak and the accent wall is teak.
With a lower ceiling, the master suite has a more enclosed, cozy feel, enhanced by the warmth of the teak. “The master suite ceiling height is 9 feet,” DeForest says. “What is important is the proportion between the size of the room and the height of the ceiling.”
The bedroom opens to a small private terrace overlooking the teahouse and lake.
A switch in materials and scale differentiates the more private spaces. “Fresh white walls contrast with warm wood flooring here,” DeForest says. The floors are rift-cut and quartered white oak and the accent wall is teak.
With a lower ceiling, the master suite has a more enclosed, cozy feel, enhanced by the warmth of the teak. “The master suite ceiling height is 9 feet,” DeForest says. “What is important is the proportion between the size of the room and the height of the ceiling.”
The bedroom opens to a small private terrace overlooking the teahouse and lake.
The bed and accent wall: The built-in bed and teak wall were a collaboration with the interior designer, Nancy Burfiend. The headboard incorporates the nightstands, creating a pleasing, cohesive look. The linear fireplace is wrapped in a custom steel surround and ledge. And the size and placement of the headboard band plays off the band of negative space on the fireplace.
The Master Bath
“The master bath reflects the clients’ desire for a place to reflect, relax and enjoy their surroundings. Soft lighting, teak paneling and a wall of glass facing the lake give the space a Zen-like feel,” DeForest says.
A sculptural, freestanding white bathtub is the star of the space, providing contrast to all of the warm wood. The flooring is Deco-Pour, a half-inch-thick topping similar to terrazzo. Another sculptural light navigates the space between the tub and the ceiling.
“The master bath reflects the clients’ desire for a place to reflect, relax and enjoy their surroundings. Soft lighting, teak paneling and a wall of glass facing the lake give the space a Zen-like feel,” DeForest says.
A sculptural, freestanding white bathtub is the star of the space, providing contrast to all of the warm wood. The flooring is Deco-Pour, a half-inch-thick topping similar to terrazzo. Another sculptural light navigates the space between the tub and the ceiling.
The marble marks the shower stall. For privacy, there’s a slatted wood screen outside to shield the bath from the adjacent property; note how it continues from inside to out. There’s also a discreet recessed roller blind at the top of the window.
Light: Raimond suspension light LED orb, Moooi
Interior designer: NB Design Group
Landscaper: Allworth Design
Contractor: Lockhart Suver
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Light: Raimond suspension light LED orb, Moooi
Interior designer: NB Design Group
Landscaper: Allworth Design
Contractor: Lockhart Suver
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
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So thoughtfully done, one of the greatest homes I've ever seen on Houzz, just spectacular! Wish I could find an architect this good, but they don't exist in my town.
@toomanycats, have you tried searching for an architect in your area via Houzz? Just plug in your town here:
https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architect/
You can check out their work and find one that feels right to you.
Also, lots of architects are willing to work remotely. In fact, I've seen DeForest Architects projects that were completed quite far from where they are based.
Amazing !