Before & After: A Timeworn Midcentury Home Gets a Reverent Renovation

SHED Architecture + Design preserves the character of a 1959 dwelling in Washington while streamlining the plan, enlarging the kitchen, and building out a kids’ "lair."

Before & After: A Timeworn Midcentury Home Gets a Reverent Renovation

SHED Architecture + Design preserves the character of a 1959 dwelling in Washington while streamlining the plan, enlarging the kitchen, and building out a kids’ "lair."

Lutron Sivoia automatic roller shades in a custom valance were mounted to the window mullions, which were also painted Benjamin Moore

This post-and-beam home in Shoreline, Washington, has lived many past lives. It was was originally built in 1959, later divided up to serve as a retirement facility, and eventually purchased by a couple with three children. The family tasked SHED Architecture + Design with converting the structure back into a single-family home (with a larger kitchen and plenty of storage)—without compromising its midcentury character. "There were some existing, beautiful textures that the owners were really drawn to," says project architect Rebecca Marsh.

This 4,080-square-foot house in Shoreline, Wahington was a former adult living facility, that has since been converted into a single-family home by Seattle firm SHED Architecture & Design.

Seattle firm SHED Architecture & Design converted this 4,080-square-foot property from a a former adult living facility to a single-family home. "The wall of glazing facing toward the West is still one of the most striking elements of the house," says designer Rebecca Marsh.

Photo: Rafael Soldi

The interplay of old and new becomes apparent as soon as you walk into the living room, which showcases the home’s original structure, large windows, and cedar-lined ceiling.

Here, the firm built new white oak storage to frame an L-shaped couch positioned to take in the incredible view. One of the cabinets holds a DJ station, for when the owner wants to spin. "Both clients have a large record collection, and one DJs," says Marsh. "So that was something that they thought would be super prime to integrate into their living room." 

Before: Entry 

Before: The owners

Before: The owners "really wanted to retain the midcentury feel and character of the house," says Marsh—so the design team kept the existing cedar ceiling and slate floors.

Courtesy of SHED Architecture & Design

After: Entry 

A floating Ipe bench now sits outside the front door, juxtaposed against siding painted Benjamin Moore

A floating Ipe bench sits outside the front door. The siding is painted Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron, and the panels beside the door now have reeded glass.

Photo: Rafael Soldi

See the full story on Dwell.com: Before & After: A Timeworn Midcentury Home Gets a Reverent Renovation
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