They Brought a Touch of Japan to Their Lakeside Renovation
A couple used architectural photos from their travels as inspiration for the overhaul of a 1950s home in Seattle.
A couple used architectural photos from their travels as inspiration for the overhaul of a 1950s home in Seattle.
When Seattle resident Jeremy Lewis got an enthusiastic call from his wife with a hot lead on a property for their family of five, she immediately caught his attention. The only catch: the house needed work. "My wife called me to say, ‘I found a good home for us, it’s a project for sure, but it has incredible bones and potential on a really cool lot,’" he recalls. "She was right!"
The "really cool lot" that Jeremy’s wife was describing was on the western shore of Lake Washington, with 270-degree views stretching clear across the lake and to the Cascade Mountains beyond. The existing home was a midcentury charmer that had been designed and built for the current (and only) residents. Despite the incredible bones and architectural appeal, the home was in disrepair when the Lewises purchased it from the original owners.
The use of Nakamoto Forestry’s shou sugi ban siding over brick is a nod to the home’s original facade, while evoking the materiality of Japanese architecture.
Photo by Rafael Soldi
Tapping Seattle-based SHED Architecture and Design, the couple expressed a clear directive—celebrate the original structure, while making it work for their family of five. "Although it had good bones, the original house was not in good shape," says SHED design principal Prentis Hale. "We honored the house first and foremost by not tearing it down."
A sleek slatted screen matches the proportions of the wall of glass blocks it replaced.
Photo by Rafael Soldi
Beyond the striking facade, the interior stair was preserved in place. The original radiused walls and curved brass stair railing were period elements the homeowners were eager to keep intact during the renovation.
Photo by Rafael Soldi
See the full story on Dwell.com: They Brought a Touch of Japan to Their Lakeside Renovation
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