About Denny Blaine Residence

This landmark home was originally designed by architect Sherwood D. Ford in the early 1920’s and is in the Denny Blaine neighborhood of Seattle. Born out of the English Arts and Crafts movement, the house has steeply sloping slate roofs, plaster walls and interior craftsmanship still intact from the original design. The site offered a unique floor plan that angled the massing to respond to the curving hillside and road below and grant sweeping views of Lake Washington.

With young children and a contemporary lifestyle, our clients wanted to update areas of the home where previous remodeling had occurred that did not express the level of craftsmanship and function needed for a modern day family. We removed the elevator shaft and the servant’s stair and entrance, then reconfigured the dining room and butler’s pantry to create a voluminous kitchen with breakfast nook, family room, functional mudroom, and a home office for our client and the kids to share. A gracious covered terrace and fireplace were added to the family room to allow year round indoor/outdoor living in the Pacific Northwest.

The attic was converted into entertainment and craft space for the kids and their friends while the basement is a space for the parents and their friends, which includes a wine room, media and billiard room with bar, fitness room, and bath. The project increased natural light in the house, improved the view and sightlines between the spaces, and made circulation between the rooms more efficient. Insulation, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and audio video systems were modified and installed to provide a like-new function in a timeless aesthetic. Interiors and finishes in the project embrace a contemporary spirit while respecting the character and classic grandeur of the home’s original design and details.