Sean Meyers
Small-Scale Sensitivity
Whole-house renovation respects the aesthetics of its Capitol Hill neighborhood
Miriam Larson founded Story Architecture in the belief that, if she dug deep enough, each house and the family that lives in it would have a story to tell. In time, she would also conclude that some books are perfectly happy to be judged by their covers.
Minecraft Motivation
Couple uses video game for renovation inspiration
They had a hard time visualizing what their new home might look like, so they turned to Minecraft, a hugely popular video game Microsoft markets as a tool for creative types to “battle mobs, construct shelter, and explore the landscape.” They had been playing the game for years, and didn’t need to consult the box for instructions. Michael served as Minecraft’s chief creative officer for seven years before moving on to Fortnite.
A Light-Filled Oasis
Mercer Island residence embraces natural beauty by drawing it inside
When Kent and Lisa Sacia decided to put a bow on their latest remodeling triumph, they turned to a trusted collaborator, Sander Groves Landscaping President Dan Groves. He was more than happy to take on the project, a reimagining of a 1972 Northwest contemporary by a noted Mercer Island architect. “I am in a position to…
Living: The Lightness of Seeing
Challenging ‘Lopez Lookout’ project places a premium on spectacular scenery
The regulators and nesting eagles weren’t the only ones peering on with interest. The third largest of the San Juan Islands at 30 square miles, Lopez is home to about 3,000 year-round residents known for friendly waves at about anything that moves. Islanders are also known for their intense interest in protecting their remarkable environment….
A Poetic Quality of Light
Portage Bay floating home embodies a feeling of spaciousness
Suzanne Stefan rides a housing bubble that bursts many times each day. Stefan, a cofounder of Seattle architecture firm Studio DIAA, combined light, sound, and materials to create a bright, 650-square-foot floating home on Portage Bay (the eastern arm of Lake Union) that reverentially reflects its idyllic surroundings. Bright, but not dazzling, as glare, contrast,…
Silverdale’s Farmhouse Facelift
Farmhouse design has become a hot decorating trend. One in Silverdale posed a unique set of challenges.
Editor’s note: The homeowners asked that their last names not be used. Kirsten and Rick weren’t looking to make a statement in 2018 when they decided to move to Silverdale, a Kitsap peninsula community that catnaps around the northern yaw of Dyes Inlet. Their daughter had spotted a real estate ad with a blurry thumbnail…
100 Years of Seattle Modernism
UNIQUE STRUCTURES REVEAL SEATTLE’S PENCHANT FOR DESIGN
Modernism is a 20th-century style roughly defined by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as encompassing “individual design movements that expressed modern ideals in different ways. Technical innovation, experimentation, and rethinking the way humans lived in and used the designed environment, whether buildings or landscapes.” Frank Lloyd Wright launched his firm in Chicago in 1893,…
Turning the Other Peak at Suncadia
SUNCADIA VACATION HOME REFLECTS FAMILY’S OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
Interrupting their travels to build a vacation home from scratch was the last thing on the minds of Sherri and Ali Anissipour in 2019 when they went on an anniversary holiday to Suncadia resort, located about 90 minutes east of their Seattle home. “We wanted to travel the world,” Sherri says, “not go to the…
AIA Home: Goodbye 1970
Family fixes design flaws to bring midcentury home into modern era
“Treehouse” by Floisand Studio Architects returns to glory a Ralph D. Anderson home that had lost its compass. Nick and Rachel Lenington purchased the 1970 Mercer Island home in 2010, attracted to the quiet neighborhood because of its midcentury vibe, big, west-facing windows, and abundant wildlife. An advertised water view didn’t really pan out, but…
Living: This Kitchen Really Cooks
Remodel preserves Victorian charm
Raised on an off-the-grid ranch in southern Oregon, Mandy Lozano took a don’t-fence-me-in approach to renovating her kitchen in Seattle’s Squire Park neighborhood. She sought to balance a respect for the 1900 Victorian’s heritage with a genetic predisposition toward creative license. “I don’t care for modern technology that much, and I don’t like fussy or…
Seattle Passive House Respects The Environment
Passive House in Ballard treats the environment with respect
Rade and Eli Trimceski didn’t set out to save the planet when they commissioned their new home in Ballard, but the planet sent its regards anyway. Designed and built by First Lamp Architects of Seattle, the project was named the Passive House Institute U.S. (PHIUS) National Home of the Year in 2020. Billed as “the…