An untouched 50’s rambler opens up to the sky and tree canopies, embracing the surrounding woods & lake views. Morning light floods in through the remodeled kitchen’s gable-end windows, as the views sweep around the corner. The dining room is perched at a diagonal, opening onto a wrap around deck, evoking treehouse vibes. The transformation of this home inspires a sense of retreat, while allowing for gatherings, big & small.
Read MorePERCH: Embracing the Woods
An untouched 60’s rambler opens up to the sky and tree canopies, embracing the surrounding woods & lake views. Morning light floods in through the remodeled kitchen’s gable-end windows, as the views sweep around the corner. The dining room is perched at a diagonal, opening onto a wrap around deck, evoking treehouse vibes. The transformation of this home inspires a sense of retreat, while allowing for gatherings, big & small.
Read MoreModern Nostalgia Homes
Five years ago today (March 31st, 2016), I proudly swung open my Design | Build doors on Mercer Island, with an idea towards changing the way I both approached and regarded my profession. My talented team and I ventured down the creative path with a diverse array of residential clients, and while each home was as unique as their owner, commonalities emerged. Slowly but surely, a new design and lifestyle approach began to take shape in my mind – one that, despite its name, is actually very forward-thinking. I call it ‘Modern Nostalgia.’
Though the pandemic helped to accelerate my outlook, it occurred to me that the fast-paced, ever-changing demands of modern living can be tempered by our collective longing for simpler times through thoughtful design. Think about all the things you ask of your home - especially these days. Does it nurture you, or sap your energy? Do you move through your daily routine with ease (even when the outside world is turbulent and stressful)? Or is your home hectic instead of restorative?
The brave new world of post-pandemic America will demand our time and attention in unprecedented ways. Lines will continue to blur between our personal and professional lives. As an Architect and Builder, I feel the urgency to create authentic spaces that allow us to heal, regroup and emerge stronger and more grounded.
Home is as much a state of mind as a physical space. In shifting our design focus towards the intangible, ephemeral, soulful qualities of our built environment, we make room for the transformative impact our homes could have on the quality of our lives.
In celebration and honor of our Five-Year Anniversary, here are five recent works that each exemplify the Five Tenets of ‘Modern Nostalgia’ Homes.
Grounded | Soulful | Transformative | Authentic | Sexy but Practical
Read MoreTransformative. [Glamour Rambler]
When I first purchased this house in West Seattle, I did so not because of what was there, but because of what the property could support, and what the existing structure could help create. In other words, for its transformative potential.
When I think in terms of the transformative potential of an existing structure and its land, I’m primarily occupied with the idea of a shift in lifestyle. It’s not an exercise in what I can get away with, but rather, how the occupants want to live in their new environment. In other words, what’s the best way to achieve their new lifestyle with the resources at hand. How can a well-designed home transform you?
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