This 1911 craftsman home in Fremont underwent a basement remodel, blending practical solutions with a dash of funkiness. Initially challenged by low ceilings, our design strategically utilized space between the joists to create an illusion of higher ceilings. Tackling the obstacles of existing pipes, ducts, and wires, we installed T&G between rafters at varying heights. Painting the entire ceiling white helped lighten and unify the space. The owner is an audiophile and loves a great sound system. He had specific requirements for the media room’s performance, which we balanced with fixtures and finishes to enhance the aesthetic, highlighted by a dramatic ombre wall. Functionality was key, adding a custom sliding door to separate the office and living spaces, a new laundry room, storage room, and transforming the garage into a workshop space. This remodel gracefully marries practicality with creative and quirky flair that is perfect for the neighborhood and this particular owner.

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Located in the Arroyos Heights neighborhood of Seattle, this project transformed a mid-century single-story home with a partially finished basement into a modern, energy-efficient two-story residence, with a remodeled basement space. A 600-square-foot second-story primary suite addition now crowns the home, offering sweeping views of the Puget Sound and serving as a focal point of the redesign.

The main level was reconfigured to create an open-concept layout, connecting the living, dining, and kitchen areas for a more cohesive and inviting space. A new view deck was added to the front of the house, maximizing the home’s connection to the stunning vistas.

The new second level features a vaulted-ceiling primary bedroom with sweeping corner views to Puget Sound. The primary bathroom contains a walk-in two-person shower, separate water closet and walk-in closet.

The basement underwent a complete remodel, now housing a guest bedroom with an ensuite bathroom, a laundry room, a family room featuring a wet bar, and a dedicated office space. These updates provide versatility and expanded living areas suited for the owner’s various needs, and separate spaces for their visiting guests.

Exterior improvements include regrading the front yard, replacing rockeries with retaining walls, and designing a revised pathway to the front entry, ensuring a polished and welcoming outdoor experience. Additionally, the home was designed with sustainability in mind, featuring insulation that surpasses code requirements and large solar arrays on the south and west-facing roofs.

 

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When the owners of this early 1900’s craftsman style home asked for a space that was able to transform from a large open family room to a closed guest room and separate media room, we got really excited! They were open to mixing old and new, and we saw that an opportunity to explore some unusual design ideas.

As with many basement projects, before we began the design, we took care of some infrastructure issues. We installed a drainage system to ensure the basement stays dry (it does), relocated an electrical panel, and replaced an aging gas boiler in a new location (getting rid of a lot of unnecessary overhead pipes in the process). After our client was sure the basement would remain dry, we then worked together to design a series of sliding glass panels, which were custom made by a local metal fabricator. The panels can be locked in various positions to divide the space or fully enclose a guest room. For the flooring, we kept the original concrete slab floor, but stained it a rich color. The ceiling height was adequate, but not great, so we took advantage of the space between the joists for a large portion of the space by refinishing the existing fir joists and extending the drywall up to the subfloor above. This visually makes the room feel larger and helps to define the space.

 

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When life circumstances change it often necessitates rethinking real estate needs. For our client, a recent divorce caused her to rethink the amount of space she needed. Instead of selling her Wallingford home, she converted a partially finished basement into a rentable one bedroom apartment.

The design incorporates an open kitchen, dining and living room to allow the tenant flexibility in furniture layout depending on their needs. A large bedroom with ample storage includes a new egress window exit. A bathroom with tiled shower is located nearby, yet is also convenient for guests to use. A shared laundry and mechanical space allows the owner access to mechanical equipment without having to enter the tenant’s space. A new heating system was installed for the basement incorporating radiant heat in a new stained concrete slab.

 

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