Phinney Ridge DADU

This project came from our clients' need for a comfortable, self-sufficient space where family and friends could stay with privacy. The original structure was a two-car garage with a small shop underneath. We completely removed it and built the new structure from the ground up within the existing footprint.

The client wanted the space to feel open and expansive with plenty of natural light, which we achieved by vaulting the ceiling, adding skylights, and incorporating large windows. The finished DADU includes a small kitchen, ¾ bathroom, powder room, loft bedroom, washer/dryer closet, living and dining area, storage, and a basement shop.

It was important that we echo the craftsman details of the main house with a modern feel. Inside, that meant V.G. fir trim, hardwood flooring, shaker-style cabinets and doors, large-format floor tile, white subway tile, white quartz countertops, and a farmhouse sink. Design highlights include exposed beams, tile inlay on the stair treads, and a porthole window in the powder room door as a nod to Ballard's maritime history. To maximize space, the washer and dryer tuck into the angled closet below the stairs.

On the exterior, we used double-hung windows, a shaker-style glass entry door, and painted shingles and trim. Custom carriage doors for the outdoor storage area reference the old garage. The space runs entirely on electricity for energy efficiency, with a ductless minisplit for heating and cooling and a heat pump water heater.