LAVANADU is a detached dwelling unit and garage located near Seward Park in Seattle and is the companion to our RAMBLER renovation. After completing a full house remodel with Best Practice in 2022, the clients continued to work with BP on converting their existing garage into a new structure. On the lower level, a new 2 car garage expands the original footprint with an area for a home gym. The new exterior stair leads up to an airy and open studio apartment with views of the lake. With an efficient kitchen, a groovy bathroom, and creative bed nook that creates a private sleeping area out of storage cabinets, the 700 square foot space can easily accommodate guests, short term rentals, or long-term family stays.
The existing garage had an interesting location on the site; in front of the main residence and adjacent to an overlarge asphalt driveway that covered the entire front yard. Sadly, the neglected building was failing, and, together with the drive, contributed to the lackluster curb appeal for the property. Keeping the new structure within the existing footprint of the garage was necessary to make sure that we did not disturb the (enormous) Big Leaf Maple that lives in the front yard, nor require any changes to the existing curb cut. The siting also maintains a nice relationship between the main house, garage, and the pathway to the existing backyard deck, allowing folks to move easily between them.
The DADU was designed as one large room with a centrally located “service cube” of semi-custom casework, around which all programmatic spaces and functions circulate in a loop. An entry niche with custom bench lead to a simple galley kitchen, with the service cube on one side providing a large wall of storage. The kitchen opens up to an airy living & dining room, with a window wall of views to the lake beyond on one side, and the casework cube providing a backdrop of storage and display. Around the corner, a cozy bed nook is carved into cube, the cabinetry serving as closet, shelving, and privacy. It simultaneously creates a secluded area for sleeping without disrupting the lofty, expansive space. Opposite the bed, a bay window cantilevers over the private side of the property, making for a sunny reading nook.
Upstairs, the clients wished for a “no-nonsense,” straightforward space that felt lofty and open, despite its small size. The 2nd story allows the studio to have views ABOVE the main house, towards the tall pine trees at the back of the site as well as a peek-a-boo view of Lake Washington. The offset gable form of the roof generates a large South facing surface for a future solar panel installation and creates a cathedral like space on the interior. Structural metal collar ties in the ceiling were powder-coated blue to punctuate the upper volume with color.
Past the bed nook is colorfully tiled bathroom. A lively stone remnant vanity with bench provides an anchor for the room, while the toilet sits quietly in its own small cubicle – the only fully enclosed space in the whole project!
Team:
Contractor: Keen Eye Build
Structural Engineering: Harriott Valentine Engineers
Landscape Design: Erin Lau Design
Landscape Installation: Imperial Hardscape
Photo Credit: Ed Sozinho
Materials Used:
Garage Door – Elegant EL100 aluminum & glass door
Windows – Milgard Ultra (new windows)
Exterior Sconce – Industrial Static Wall Sconce in “Watermelon”
Dining Room Pendant – Kartell F1/Y Pendant in Sky Blue
Living Room Sconce – Dutton Brown Color Boom Double Swing Arm Sconce in Cobalt
Bump Out Window Sconce – Schoolhouse Eduard Pivot Sconce, Shell White
Bath Light – Dutton Brown Color Vogue Sconce in Cobalt
Toilet Room Pendant – Dutton Brown Color Cap 10” Pendant in Colbalt
Bath Tile – Fireclay Natural Press Tile in CARMINE (satin sheen)
Fireclay Natura Press Tile in EGYPTIAN BLUE (satin sheen)
Kitchen Tile – Dal Tile 4x4 tile in BRIGHT WHITE with custom BLUE grout
Kitchen Counter – Richlite Birch Redstone
Shower Kit – Kohler Purist w/ Shift Hand shower in Chrome
Bathroom Sink – Kohler Verticyl
Bathroom Faucet – Kohler Parallel Chrome
Toilet – Toto
Paint – All Benjamin Moore; Chantilly Lace, Mayan Gold, Athens Blue, Slate Blue
