A complete redesign and gut remodel of this floating home brought it up to date for a family of four

Located on one of the premier docks on Lake Union, this house had been originally built for just a couple and their occasional guests. The new owners wanted to retain the open feel but create a new master suite, a pair of bedrooms for their children, and a home office/guest room, plus a full roof deck. We removed all the finish materials, inside and out, and completely gutted the interior to create a blank canvas. On the exterior, the new design introduced a bold contrast of black wood boards above white cement panel cladding. Bright red boards were interlaced with them to create a unique design signature that recalls the Japanese Inkan, the square stamp used on documents. The blackened boards use a traditional Japanese technique called Shou Sugi Ban, which chars the outer layer to create a durable weather resistant surface. The materials were chosen not just for their color composition but also for their very low maintenance.

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