The remodeled kitchen at the Wallingford Urban Farmhouse.

Urban Farmhouse

Urban Farmhouse

The remodeled kitchen at the Wallingford Urban Farmhouse.

This charming old farmhouse is home to a young couple with two rambunctious boys who love to garden, get dirty, pester their chickens and run around outside as much as possible. The house is located in a walkable urban village on a very tight and steep lot with challenging zoning restrictions. The owners have been focused on building up for added square footage, and looking at the roof for much needed outdoor space. There’s also an amazing view overlooking Lake Union and downtown Seattle from way up high!

wallinfgord urban farmhouse exterior showing the third story addition with roof deck

They came to us wanting to remodel, add a full new second story addition to replace the existing cramped 1/2 story, and also, if possible, to add a THIRD story bonus room with access to a large roof deck. After careful calculations around height limit regulations, we came up with an architectural design that met the challenge! We relocated the stairs so that they now become a 3-level light well between the main floor and spectacular roof deck, including a semi private family room on the new second floor, surrounded by the family’s bedrooms.  The main floor plan has been reorganized to allow for more open living, and with indoor/outdoor connection to small deck areas in side and rear yards.

Front entryway to the Wallingford Urban Farmhouse featuring a fun vintage shelf made from the front of an old tata motorcar.

The floor plans have been dramatically opened up to accommodate an active family lifestyle; the interiors are styled to impart a rural feel but with a definite fresh, contemporary vibe.

Day lit remodeled kitchen with island in the Urban Farmhouse, Wallingford, Seattle.

Getting more light into the house on this tight lot was a big goal. Spacious window seats with big windows onto small side-yard gardens create a feeling of more space and connection to the outdoors.

Built in window bench with storage for the breakfast nook in the kitchen of the Urban Farmhouse, Wallingford Seattle.
Pendants over central island in the Wallingford Urban Farmhouse kitchen remodel.

Where outdoor views look into neighboring homes, the windows feature frosted glass so the room is still filled with light, yet private.

soaking tub in a brightly lit bathroom with built in storage niche shelves in the Master bath of the Urban Farmhouse in Wallingford, Seattle.
Master bath remodel with day lit wet room shower alcove in the Urban Farmhouse, Wallingford, Seattle.
The kids bathroom features simply patterned black and white subway tiles and a pop of color with the blue cabinetry in the Wallingford Urban Farmhouse.

The rooftop deck features artificial turf, which is now where the boys race around and burn off energy. The rooftop is also a great entertaining space, served by a wet bar in what we now call the “tower room”, reminiscent of western fire lookouts!

Built in storage and bench adjacent to the stairs with glass panel railing in the Urban Farmhouse, Wallingford, Seattle.
Tower bonus room on the third story addition with a view towards downtown Seattle.
The roof deck with AstroTurf and glass panel railing overlooking lake Union and Seattle on the third story addition of the Urban Farmhouse in Wallingford.

Our owners love their neighborhood, the density, the convenience of living so close to Lake Union, and especially how they now have all this new outside space – up on the roof!

For more background story on the design of this project, see our blog!

Photos by Ed Sozinho

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Categories: Additions, Contemporary, Remodels, Transitional, All

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