Kynä design

Kynä design Seattle area residential designer specializing in new construction, renovations, additions, and consulting

This is a project I've been working on that is currently going through the permitting process. The jurisdiction it is in...
10/23/2025

This is a project I've been working on that is currently going through the permitting process. The jurisdiction it is in seems to require material and color selections as part of the review process so I got to spend an afternoon "coloring."
This is a small cottage that is turning into a 4000-ish square foot home with two story living room ceilings, a very large kitchen, two primary suites, and so much more.
To orient yourself when you compare photos, in the original photo, the window to the right of the front door and the garage are in the same place in the new build. That's about all that remains the same. This is a very ambitious project.

Another project completed (this one was actually finished in January of 2025). The clients had already been through one ...
10/17/2025

Another project completed (this one was actually finished in January of 2025). The clients had already been through one round of renovations to redo their kitchen, but were ready to do some more major work in a phase two. They wanted to add a roof deck above their living room. This was a VERY technically challenging project because the living room did not have a very tall ceiling and the floor structure of the second floor was only about 8" thick. When building a roof deck, there needs to be enough room for not only structure, but also slope for water to drain, and a level finish surface. Working with the structural engineer, we did our best to only drop the living room ceiling a couple inches by getting creative with framing and adding some beams to help keep things slim.
As well as the roof deck, we also vaulted the primary bedroom, redid all three bathrooms, added a basement bedroom, and updated the rest of the basement respectfully bringing it into the 21st century.
Unfortunately I didn't take many interior photos for this project so I do not have many "befores" for comparison.
Also, I want to give credit to the owners' flawless taste in finishes. This house turned out so bright and beautiful.

A smaller but still impactful project. The owners of this Ballard home wanted a more functional deck that was covered an...
10/15/2025

A smaller but still impactful project. The owners of this Ballard home wanted a more functional deck that was covered and heated so they could use it year-round. The design integrates the architecture of the existing house so that it looks like the deck has always been there. Alair construction did a fabulous job on this build!

This project was done in partnership with The Phinery interior design. The professional photos have not been taken yet, ...
10/11/2025

This project was done in partnership with The Phinery interior design. The professional photos have not been taken yet, but I'm so amazed by the transformation that I had to share it early.
This home is over 100 years old, and got a complete renovation inside and out. Almost every interior wall was moved to create the open, modern interior that the owner wanted. The result is a much more functional two bedroom home that feels spacious, open, and bright.

Another project complete!This home got a full exterior facelift including new siding, trim, lighting, decks, and some la...
10/11/2025

Another project complete!
This home got a full exterior facelift including new siding, trim, lighting, decks, and some landscape.
The interior of the house got a full upgrade including new kitchen cabinets, counters, appliances, new bathroom fixtures, vanities, hardware, new flooring, and lighting throughout.

This is a cute little 3 bedroom new build I am designing in Maple Valley in the woods.
08/31/2024

This is a cute little 3 bedroom new build I am designing in Maple Valley in the woods.

A cabin near Suncadia, WA that I designed last year is now under construction. The cabin that was previously there was c...
08/21/2024

A cabin near Suncadia, WA that I designed last year is now under construction. The cabin that was previously there was completely destroyed in an electrical fire. The owner had years of fond memories and wanted to rebuild a similar structure with a little bit more functionality for a growing family.
Always happy to receive updates from clients on construction progress when I'm not directly overseeing it.

Nothing like starting the morning with a trip to a job site! This home in Seattle is getting a new dormer, roof deck, an...
08/01/2024

Nothing like starting the morning with a trip to a job site! This home in Seattle is getting a new dormer, roof deck, and a basement remodel. Stay tuned for more progress photos!

07/23/2024

Welcome to kynä design! Hi, I'm Danielle Anderson, owner and designer. I have over 20 years of experience in the field of architectural design. I started my career in residential design, but have also done public works projects, medical planning projects, and commercial design, before landing back in residential work. I have experience with new construction, additions, renovations, as well as flip projects. I started kynä design a few years ago and have been having so much fun ever since. I have acquired building permits in several jurisdictions including Seattle, Lynnwood, Des Moines, Kirkland, Kenmore, Tacoma, Mountlake Terrace, Pierce County, Kittitas County, and San Juan County - with more in the works.
On my page I'll be sharing some insights about how to begin a residential project, why it's important to hire a designer, and also some of the projects I currently have in design and construction phases.

To start with, where did kynä come from?
It means pencil in Finnish. I am very proud of my Finnish ancestry, my favorite architect was Finnish (Alvar Aalto), so it seemed perfect to give a nod to my heritage with the name of my business.
kynä is pronounced: kynæ

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Des Moines, WA

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+12064092113

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