We are honored to be recognized for two outstanding projects we completed last year, which both exemplify what our company does best: help people love where they live. This past weekend, our team attended the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties’ 2018 REX Awards ceremony to receive not one, but two, awards! Both projects were as complex as they were rewarding, so it’s a true testament to the work of our management, designer and crew that we are recognized for these projects.
Modern Farmhouse Basement
The first award, Major Remodeling Excellence—Basement Remodel, was for our Modern Farmhouse Basement design-build project.
From an unfinished, 6-foot-tall basement to an industrial, farmhouse suite—this house lift and remodel in Sunset Hill was an incredible feat. The family of four had many dreams: a large space for movie nights, a guest suite, an office nook and a sewing station. Since there was little room to build an addition, we lifted the home and finished the basement. Beyond bringing the ceiling height to code, we increased the functionality of the basement tenfold.
We added a kitchenette, bathroom, fireplace, and murphy bed. We creatively designed “spaces within spaces,” such as the kitchen sewing station with ample natural light, the office nook under the stairs, and the bed for conversion to a suite. Specialized storage was added for toys next to the fireplace and tall ski storage across from the stairs. Every wall, nook, and cabinet with a specific purpose to fit the family’s unique needs. Our designer chose a modern, farmhouse aesthetic, accomplished with: a sliding barn door, wood countertops, polished concrete floors, subway tile, barn lighting, and a large exposed beam. Simple, clean and convertible as a guest suite, this basement now maximizes every inch of space.
Contemporary Whole House Remodel
The second award, Green Remodeling Excellence, was for our build of a Contemporary Home With Chef’s Kitchen designed by CAST Architecture.
Recently featured on the Northwest Green Home Tour, it achieved 3-Star Built Green certification for its air-tight envelope, energy and water conservation, and our recycling/reuse efforts. The owners wanted to stay in their neighborhood, but add a 2nd floor and modernize their 1912 cottage, so we took it down to the foundation and rebuilt it as a contemporary, sustainable home. Our team guided the construction and execution to be as sustainable as possible within the existing design.
Interior green specs include: low-VOC paint, 70%+ recycle rate, EnergyStar appliances, water-based floor stain, dual-flush toilets, LED lighting and durable (often local) materials. Even the built-in shoe storage at the front door helps prevent dirt and germs from spreading. Many of these things make the home healthier and lead to long-term cost savings, which was more important to the client than budgetary constraints. The kitchen has a massive, single-slab quartz countertop and stainless steel prep area. The 2nd floor master suite is entered through a full-height, 220lb door that retracts flush into the wall. Below, the basement is a suite of its own: a semi-separate dwelling with a bedroom, bathroom and side entrance. Simple, but great for visitors!
From lead abatement, to a particularly rainy season during framing, building this home was challenging and required focus through its detailed finish. The clean lines of the design required extreme attention to spacing, from the baseboards up to the exposed floor joists. The home is now an open-concept with better flow, functionality, natural light, and pops of color to reflect the owners’ personalities.
Some of our most senior crew members worked on these projects. A special congratulations to our Carpenter Andy Ryan and Project Manager Ken Pearson for their expertise and execution. We’re also thrilled to showcase the work of our in-house designer Cat Schmidt, who has transformed dozens of Seattle homes with her thoughtful designs–including this Modern Farmhouse Basement. We’re looking forward to wrapping up more (hopefully) award-winning projects this year!
