Walking through the front door, you take in the sun's western rays and the calm of Lake Washington or the drip of rain hitting choppy gray waters. Either way there is something - ironically - grounding about the sight, as you find yourself stopped in the moment pondering the quiet beauty of the lake and Seattle skyline beyond.

This remodel, our 2nd project for this family of four, sought to enhance the home's connection to the outdoors and view and provide places for the family to gather and entertain. For budget reasons, we limited the gut and remodel of the original 4100 SF, L-shaped split-level to the home's west wing, although we did rework the exterior, including designing a new roof line, entry and deck/patio.

The original home, like many of its age, had low roof eaves, ceilings, and windows along with small compartmentalized rooms. Raising the ceiling height, opening up the living spaces, and strengthening the home's connection to the backyard and view were priorities, as was locating the kitchen in the center of the main living space.

The central kitchen location gave the family the opportunity to cook, eat, meet up and hang out all together in one space. A new concrete patio elevated above the backyard, custom designed glass and steel exterior stair and Ipe upper deck connect the home to the backyard (and the view) from all levels.