Renovated 1960s Home With An Airy Color Palette

This home called Mercer Modern, takes its name from its location – Mercer Island, a land mass in a freshwater lake just west of Seattle. It used to be a 50-year-old dwelling in Washington that has been renovated by US firm Wittman Estes Architecture + Landscape.

Nestled into a hillside, the two-storey house is afforded views of the water and the city skyline. The clients desired a home with a casual atmosphere and a fluid connection between the interior and the surrounding terrain. The original house had great bones but was disconnected from the outdoors and expansive property, and now it’s well-connected to the outside.

Windows and doors were replaced in certain areas, new exterior lighting was installed, and facades were painted a creamy white. Where necessary, old columns and beams were replaced with steel columns and glue-laminated timber beams. Atop a garage, the team created a new outdoor deck with built-in seating and ipe wood decking. Cedar slats surround the deck, allowing sunlight to filter through while blocking views from neighboring homes. A concrete-and-glass stair connects the elevated terrace to the backyard.

Inside the dwelling, rooms were made bright and airy through the removal of walls and the addition of glazing, along with the incorporation of light-toned finishes and decor. The materials reflect the easy, relaxed nature of the redesign – opening up the heart of the home to not only the outdoors but also to natural, sustainable textures.  The breezy and lightweight feeling of the material palette encourages the family to step outside and connect with the sunlight, all while enjoying the views of Lake Washington and the downtown Seattle skyline.