This remodel for an intergenerational family is a beautiful design. More and more communities are coming together and adopting a more open-living concept. I think this is a wonderful way to incorporate the new space! Working within a small footprint, this remodel for an intergenerational family incorporated simple elements to open up the space both inside and outside.
By Janice Rohlf, Fine Homebuilding
For this remodel, the aim was a better connection between the home and the backyard, which the client, an intergenerational family, shares freely with neighboring families. The residents on the block have chosen not to incorporate fences into their backyards, encouraging free movement among homes. Built on a narrow, 25-ft.- wide lot, the original house was only 19 ft. wide. To open it up, the architects wanted to incorporate a wide sliding door on the main floor, which wouldn’t allow for enough bearing walls to remain. The solution was to swap out the classic wood-frame structural system for a steel moment frame welded together before construction. The result is a home open along the entire width of the garden, invisibly structurally sound and visibly inviting.
The interiors were split up into remodeled spaces and new construction. Given the modest footprint of the house, it was important that one couldn’t distinguish the new construction from the remodeled space, which ultimately makes the spaces feel more generous in size. The raw-steel stair sits at the intersection of the new and old buildings.
Skylights at the top of the stairs draw light down into the middle of the footprint and augment the beautiful surface of the steel. To take the focus away from the 1970s-era low ceilings in the remodeled space, the quartz backsplash was extended from countertop to ceiling. In addition, the usual upper cabinets were eliminated in favor of a single linear shelf. These two design moves make the wall the focus instead of the ceiling.
Architect: Allied8
Builder: Envision
Location: Seattle
Photographer: Rafael Soldi
Let me help you find your space connecting to the outdoors and your surrounding community/family! If it doesn’t already exist, I have some incredible resources to help you make it happen. Give me a call at (510) 406-4836
Best,
Joujou
