Transforming a 1919 Seattle Home: A Renovation Journey Between Memory and Modernity

In 1919, a couple from Seattle stood before a modest home on Pritchard Island, falling in love with the charm of the Lakedale neighborhood and the ancient trees surrounding it. For decades, this historic house held many memories, but with changing circumstances and a global pandemic, the limitations of its old layout became clear. The growing family found themselves in urgent need of space that suited their new reality without losing the home’s original spirit they loved. From this dilemma, a creative partnership with their friends at The Best Practice architecture firm was born, transforming its quirky rooms and dated additions into a contemporary residence rich with character and function.

The Bold Façade: A Visual Dialogue Between Old and New

From the street, the new addition announces itself with confidence. The house is no longer a silent mass but an architectural statement. The vibrant “teal” color coating the upper floor intentionally contrasts with the darker hues of the lower levels, a bold design move that tells a story of modernization without erasing the original. This color was not merely an aesthetic choice but a tool to distinguish the new from the old. The redesigned front garden wraps fluidly around a large cedar tree, drawing a path that leads visitors to a sun-drenched backyard patio with serene views of Lake Washington.

BEFORE - See how a bright teal addition transformed the street view of this 1919 Seattle home while preserving its historic layers.

See how a bright teal addition transformed the street view of this 1919 Seattle home while preserving its historic layers.

The Organic Link: Complete Integration with Nature

The original house had long suffered from isolation from its beautiful natural surroundings. The renovation redefined this relationship. In the rear, walls were strategically opened up to welcome views of the natural reserve, and pathways and entrances were reshaped to create a natural flow between inside and out. The barrier is no longer clear, and the transition between spaces becomes a continuous visual and sensory experience. Even the old garage was transformed; it became a covered side patio, protected by a light steel canopy extending over concrete benches, forming a permanent “outdoor room” that opens onto the backyard and serves as a stage for family gatherings under the trees.

BEFORE - A reimagined basement with an ADU provides flexible living for extended family.

A reimagined basement with an ADU provides flexible living for extended family.

The Beating Heart of the Home: Liberating the Interior Spaces

The original main floor was fragmented by dense walls that stifled light and movement. Liberating this space was the biggest challenge. Load-bearing walls were replaced with steel beams and supports, which were not hidden but celebrated as a primary aesthetic element by painting them a vibrant coral color. The result is a unified, strikingly bright living space, featuring floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and centered around the family’s masterpiece: a saltwater aquarium. Skylights bathe the area in carefully studied sunlight, maintaining warmth while ensuring the space’s vitality.

The Kitchen: From a Utility Room to a Hub of Vitality

The old kitchen was isolated in a corner of the house, making it a purely functional place away from the pulse of family life. The project integrated it completely with the dining area, creating an open space that encourages interaction. New cabinets, modern tiles, and updated appliances enhanced functional efficiency, while the central island became a main attraction, doubling as a food preparation area and an informal spot for quick meals, finally turning the kitchen into the true heart of the home.

BEFORE - The updated kitchen flows into the dining nook with fresh cabinetry, tile, and appliances.

Play Spaces: Where Fun Meets Imagination

The double-height playroom is perhaps the space that most expresses the spirit of this renovation. It is not just a room but a miniature world for creativity and fun. A ladder leads to a suspended net, while large, round windows frame views of the trees like living natural paintings. This quirky element, both functional and enjoyable, embodies the project’s success in embracing eccentricity rather than suppressing it. Residents and guests ascend to the second floor via a staircase that has itself become a work of art, made of plywood with a perforated metal railing, forming a focal visual point overlooking the life on the floor below.

A Private Sanctuary: A New Primary Suite on the Second Floor

As the family grew, the need for parental privacy became indispensable. The project added a new primary suite on the second floor, representing a quiet haven away from the hustle and bustle of the common areas. With panoramic views of the lake and treetops, a built-in walk-in closet, and a luxurious full bathroom, this suite provides comfort and relaxation while keeping the parents connected to the family activity below.

BEFORE - The new bedroom enjoys treetop and lake views while offering privacy and comfort.

The new bedroom enjoys treetop and lake views while offering privacy and comfort.

The Basement: Reviving a Neglected Space

The basement is no longer just a storage area; it has been transformed into a vibrant, integrated space. The new design connects it seamlessly with the backyard patio and includes a laundry area and smart storage serving the main house. More importantly, it contains a fully independent Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) with a small kitchen, a private bathroom, and a bedroom, designed to accommodate extended family members or guests, offering exceptional living flexibility while maintaining autonomy.

Final Touches: Strong Character in Every Detail

The bold spirit of the renovation extended to the bathrooms, which were updated to reflect the home’s overall personality. Square wall tiles, patterned wallpaper, and round lighting fixtures were used in a composition that balances modernity and a classic touch. The design evolved organically during implementation, responding to the home’s original quirks and working to enhance them, ultimately focusing on solutions that celebrate the generous height, the natural flood of light, and the unique, irreplaceable character.

Conclusion: A House with a New Soul

Now, after the transformation is complete, “Chez Shay” is no longer just a house from 1919; it has become a living narrative of architecture’s ability to embrace the past and adopt the future. It is a dwelling saturated with light, full of fun, and practical in its finest details. This renovation not only solved a space crisis but succeeded in being a celebration of the quirkiness that made this house, in the first place, worth preserving and loving.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

The article discusses the transformation of a historic Seattle home to suit contemporary living needs while preserving its character. The design raises questions about the integration of the new, distinctly colored mass with the surrounding urban fabric, as the stark contrast may create a visual disconnection in the streetscape. Furthermore, the reliance on exposed structural elements, such as the painted steel beams, presents challenges regarding the integration of structural and aesthetic systems and may limit the flexibility of future internal partitions. However, the project offers an intelligent solution in enhancing movement flow and the visual relationship between the interior spaces and the exterior gardens, thereby improving the living experience.