Before & After: How a Seattle Couple Gave Their Boring Garage the Best View in the House

When Rachel Lauter and Sean Vanaman were trying to decide if they should convert their standard Seattle garage into a detached ADU, their decision was made after they climbed up on its roof. "That’s when we realized the view was going to be pretty incredible," recalls Rachel.

Sure enough, adding a second-floor unit to the 400-square-foot garage would give them a flex space and guest quarters—and great sight lines to nearby Lake Washington. The couple already knew that the garage needed a new foundation. "It was sinking into the earth," says Rachel. Granted the extensive work needed to save the building, they decided to tack on a new  level too, which is allowed per Seattle’s density rules.

"We started brainstorming with Best Practice Architecture about building something on top of the garage to have more usable space," says Rachel, referring to the firm they worked with to remodel their 1953 rambler in 2022, which Dwell previously covered. "We wanted to build something that felt like it could have a lot of uses."

Before: Exterior 

After: Exterior 

Architect Ian Butcher wanted the new building to complement the main house, framing the entrance to the property and anchoring the driveway, while also letting it "be its own thing," he says. To that end, Butcher expanded the lower level to 710 square feet, keeping its functionality as a two-car garage while adding a small gym (with a window), a utility space (with a water heater, laundry machines, and a sink), gear storage, and an area for Sean’s woodworking studio.