Greenwood Residence

The owners spent years searching for a property in Seattle’s Greenwood neighborhood, drawn to its local restaurants, transit, and exceptional walkability. Their vision was specific: a home filled with natural light, an open floor plan, three bedrooms and two bathrooms on the second floor, a detached garage, and a simple contemporary exterior. Achieving this required finding a house for a substantial remodel or a vacant lot for a new build. We worked closely with the owners and their realtor throughout this process, touring several potential houses and sites.

They ultimately purchased a home with the intent of retaining the original foundation. By working within the existing footprint, we created an open-concept main floor and a second story featuring three bedrooms, two baths, and a dedicated laundry room. The design also includes a large "attic" that can easily be finished into a third-floor playroom or guest suite. To keep the project on budget, we focused on simple design and smart material choices. We prioritized high-quality materials for high-interaction areas like the front porch, front door, and back deck, while utilizing painted cement board siding for the remainder of the exterior.

CLIENT REVIEW:
When we decided to add a level our 1922 home, we spoke with several design/build firms in Seattle. Joel was the only one that brought a vision with him on what our house could become. We chose Bakken to do the job because they understood how to do a major addition while maintaining the original character. We iterated several times on the design, and we liked the way that Joel incorporated our feedback and made the design feel like our own.

When we got to the end of the design phase, Joel put together a comprehensive cost estimate, including notes on areas that were uncertain. Joel was transparent with costs along the way and gave thorough notes whenever there was deviation from the original budget. There are always surprises in major projects like these, and we were happy with how the cost was managed to stay within 10% margin on the budget.

Although Bakken is a small firm, they have great relationships with the contractors they work with. Joel managed the schedule well and completed the project on time. We were very happy with how the project turned out and would recommend Bakken Design Build for a home remodel project.

Photography: Jesse L. Young