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ALASKA JUNCTION MODERN

West Seattle rebuild with newfound sunlight

When we began work on this property, there was a tiny (650-square-foot) shingled cottage with 5-foot-high ceilings inside an imposing grove of 75-foot-tall black locust trees. After envisioning the possibilities, we completely transformed the home into a sunlit contemporary with all the amenities of modern living.

While we had hoped to preserve the grove, when a windstorm downed one of the trees an arborist declared that the trees were failing, and were a safety hazard. We made the decision to retain the original footprint, but dig out a basement, which doubled the square footage of the home. Since the residence was on a slope, this allowed for an exterior door for exiting the basement. A large bedroom and flex room were added to the newly created space, which featured a polished concrete floor. Extra-wide stairs descend to this level, with a beautifully designed custom steel handrail adding panache.

We drew inspiration from the lot’s newfound sunlight, and installed a vaulted ceiling, large windows and skylights. With the addition of wide-plank solid white oak floors throughout the home, the interior glows with direct and reflected light.

The great room features a sleek, Venetian plaster fireplace, and the chef’s kitchen, with its massive wall of natural-walnut cabinets, is filled with professional appliances.  

A master suite was added with a vaulted ceiling and walk-in closet, and radiant heating was installed throughout the house, adding warmth to the light of this bright new contemporary. The finishing touch? The arborist used some of the wood from the black locusts to create beautiful lathe-turned bowls.

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