12/08/2023
This beautiful historic house looked like it had been built by Keebler elves before we began a major remodel to update it for a young family. The stairway was only 16 inches wide, and was supported by cantilevered peeled branches. Built in 1914, it was lined with dark wood and had an 80’s kitchen. Its log beams were structurally unsound and there was no space to hide wiring or plumbing—almost unmodernizeable. And yet it was wonderfully quirky, part of Beaux Arts Village on the shores of Lake Washington, and on the National Historic Register. We needed to make it functional while saving its integrity.
We inserted steel beams into the log beams to provide structural stability, and hid wires and plumbing in incredibly sneaky places. We left quirky things in place. We brightened up the interior with judicious use of white paint.
The result is incredibly inviting, a respectful preservation, and a great family home. The Keebler elves would be proud.
