"Tucked into the quiet, tree-heavy folds of Seattle's Denny Blaine neighborhood, Alder House offers a compelling case study in how architecture can mature gracefully without erasing its past. The project, led by SHED Architecture & Design, takes a distinctly 1990s residence - once loud in both color and form - and transforms it into a calm, energy-conscious home that feels deeply attuned to its wooded surroundings."
"Inside, the homeowners' desire for a modern retreat shaped the overhauled layout. At the heart of the transformation is the kitchen, which was repositioned and expanded to become the home's social anchor. By eliminating a small, underused den near the entry and extending the footprint slightly westward, the design team created a generous, light-filled space organized around a central island. From here, sightlines and circulation flow more naturally into adjacent living areas, reinforcing a sense of openness without sacrificing intimacy."
Alder House sits on a sloping, tree-lined lot in Seattle with filtered southern light and an alley-level garage. SHED retained traces of the original 1990s house while reworking spatial organization to improve cohesion and landscape engagement. An angled path and elevated deck mediate arrival and prioritize movement through the wooded site. The kitchen was relocated and expanded as a social center with a central island, enhanced sightlines, and better circulation into living areas. Large sliding and folding west-facing doors dissolve interior-exterior boundaries and bring the forest into daily life. The design emphasizes calm, energy-conscious living and site responsiveness.
Read at Design Milk
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