Houzz Tour: Dream Views Wow on Seattle's Lake Washington

These Seattle homeowners once lived in a traditional home without a close connection to the outdoors; they dreamed of a house on Lake Washington with a view of Mount Rainier and indoor spaces that flowed outside. And now they have it.

Architect John DeForest, project architect Ted Cameron, and the rest of team worked with them on a contemporary design that positions the main living spaces between a serene entry courtyard and a series of lakeside terraces. Suspended ceilings, large windows and lift-slide doors provide easy access to the landscape and vast views of Lake Washington and the mountains beyond.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of 5, with 2 kids grown and out of the house
Location: Lake Washington, Seattle
Size: 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, 2 half baths, plus media and exercise rooms

The house sits between Lake Washington and a narrow street, so DeForest had choreograph a balance between privacy along the street and opening up to the views.

On the public side he created a series of screens that give the exterior interest and rhythm, while also providing privacy. A fence at the ground level provides a first layer of privacy from the street, while a wall of glass opens the house to the courtyard; at the bedroom level, a ribbon of channel glass is modulated by periodic windows to afford views of the hillside from the upper hall, and a large sheltering roof ties it all together.


Large overhangs protect the windows and siding from Seattle's wet climate. A hill to the west protects this west-facing facade from the summer sun.

DeForest broke up the long courtyard fence with a series of staggered ipe panels with channel glass in between. Channel glass, more commonly found in commercial construction, consists of U-shaped pieces that form an insulated cavity to meet the energy code. "During the day it fills the house with diffuse natural light," DeForest says.


At night the channel glass is illuminated from within, creating a series of glowing light columns. "We loved the way it turned the front of the house into a glowing band of light," he says.


The progression through the space starts at this courtyard entry gate. Board-formed concrete gives way to ipe wood as you move into the courtyard; a steel gate allows views through to the channel glass.

The concrete form's rough-sawn boards have an interesting texture and color variation, easing the transition between the concrete and horizontal boards.


A turn to the right leads to a large pivoting door, which marks the subtle line between indoors and out.


This is the view back toward the street. The wood fence makes the courtyard an integral part of the home.

The dramatic pivoting door is 5 feet, 4 inches wide and 9 feet, 7 inches high; this stands up to the scale of the ceilings, which soar up to 21 feet.

Pivoting door: custom, Great Northwest Door


The 9-foot, 7-inch-tall lift-slide doors act as disappearing walls. Two of these 13-foot-wide doors open to the entry courtyard. An exterior deck extends the interior wood flooring.

Marly limestone floors and walnut floors and stair treads warm the interior. "We designed the steel staircase to minimize the appearance of the structure when viewed from the side, so that the space would just flow through," DeForest says.


The same board-formed concrete used at the entry is also used indoors. The pocket door fits into a subtle saw-cut slot to close off the powder room, allowing the wall to extend past the room when the door is tucked away.

Sink: honed Absolute Black granite Veneto Pedestal Sink, Stone Forest; tile: Coal Mix MUD Wood Chip Mosaic (stacked), Stone Source; faucet: wall-mounted single-lever basin mixer, Dornbracht


A constellation of Bocci ball pendants add light in front of the glowing channel glass over the entry hall. "The bands of clear and obscure glass open up different, surprising views," DeForest says.


The kitchen is a key transitional space in form and function; the owners wanted a workspace that would welcome guests and provide a hub for entertaining. Two islands offer plenty of room for multiple cooks.

The Marly limestone floors, stained white oak cabinets and honed Colonial Gold granite continue the feeling of warmth in the contemporary space. A glass tile backsplash and glass cabinet doors reflect the light.

"It was important that the stone floor and cabinets worked together," DeForest says. "Rift-sawn white oak gave us the ability to get just the right stain."

Cabinets: Woodway Woodworks; backsplash tiles: Glacier Glass 4- by 12-inch tiles (stacked) in 45/Raw Silk, Stone Source; counters: granite, Meta Marble & Granite


On the back side of the house, things go from layered and protected to wide-open views of Lake Washington, the Cascade mountain range and Mount Rainier. "I am so glad were able to integrate that gorgeous existing pine tree into the design," DeForest says.

The freestanding fireplace (left) is wrapped in walnut wood; Marly limestone continues on the floor. "With the interior designer, Nancy Burfiend, we looked far and wide for stone with this combination of neutral tones and a rustic finish. For a stone tile, it feels very warm and even casual," he says.

Lift-slide doors: Weiland


This gravity-defying corner has "the skyhook effect," a reference to structural engineers' comments that impractical architects think buildings are supported by skyhooks, DeForest says, adding, "Well, this one is!" A steel frame above carries much of the weight. The result is lightness and a seamless transition from the living room to the terrace.


The second story affords a view of this green roof, which spans the media room, entry walk and powder room. High, motorized horizontal windows provide views to the trees across the street and natural ventilation.





Views from the guest room and its balcony make it hard to leave these areas. The guest bathroom is all about glass. The mix includes channel, transparent and etched glass to make the most of the natural light.


The lake, Mount Rainier and more of the Cascade range deliver the view of the owners' dreams right outside their bedroom.

URL: Houzz Tour: Dream Views Wow on Seattle's Lake Washington http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-21202.html