This project is a major renovation of a mid-century home originally built in the 1960s, located in the Innis Arden neighborhood of Shoreline. The property sits between two distinct conditions. To the west and northwest, views toward Puget Sound and the mountains are uninterrupted. To the east, the site is defined by the Innis Arden Reserve, with a stream and mature trees forming a protected forest edge.

The goal was to preserve the spirit of the original house, particularly in the kitchen, dining, and living areas, while expanding and updating it for contemporary living. The original L-shaped plan was maintained and extended with a new addition that increases the home’s footprint without overpowering it. The existing sloped roof was restored, and the new roof mirrors its geometry, resulting in a distinctive butterfly roof that unifies old and new.

Clerestory windows run beneath the roofline, bringing daylight deep into the house. Natural light reaches the bedrooms, the main living spaces, and even the garage, reinforcing the sense that the home is shaped by light rather than enclosed by walls. Between the original structure and the addition, a vertical void forms the new entry sequence. Upon entering, the house opens up immediately, connecting occupants to the views beyond.

The lower level has been repurposed to include an entertainment room and a guest suite, extending the home’s usability while keeping primary living spaces oriented toward light and landscape above.

In addition to the inherent challenges of a major renovation, the project required careful navigation of steep slopes, wetlands and stream buffers, and HOA approvals. These constraints informed the design and were successfully addressed during the permitting process.

The result is a renewed mid-century home that remains rooted in its original character while opening fully to its surroundings. Forest lies to one side, water and sky to the other, brought together under a single, unifying roof.

‍