Photographer: Rafael Soldi | ArchDaily

Morning Rituals: Architecture of Breakfast Spaces

Olivia Poston — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Breakfast nooks emerged in the early twentieth century in response to increasing domestic density and shifting ideas about everyday life. Rooted in the American Arts and Crafts movement and popularized through bungalow housing of the 1910s and 1920s, they evolved from the more formal Victorian breakfast room into compact, built-in spaces embedded within the kitchen. As houses grew smaller and more economical, architects and millwork companies used fixed benches and tables to occupy corners, alcoves, and bay windows that might otherwise be inefficient. These light-filled enclosures provided an affordable means of concentrating daily activities while preserving comfort and spatial clarity.

Pho Bac House / SHED Architecture & Design

Hadir Al Koshta — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Situated on a narrow 2,835-square-foot lot nestled between two large houses in Seattle's Leschi neighborhood, this home enjoys close proximity to Frink Park and framed views of the Cascades and Lake Washington.

The Mori House / SHED Architecture & Design

Pilar Caballero — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 16:00:00 +0000

Originally designed by prominent Pacific Northwest architect Saul Zaik, this 1963 mid-century modern house is remodeled for a young, minimalist family.

West Seattle Chalet / SHED Architecture & Design

Pilar Caballero — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 16:00:00 +0000

Designed for a couple who lived in Switzerland for 15 years, the West Seattle Chalet is inspired by the jagged peaks of the Swiss Alps and targets net-zero energy efficiency. The interior is both warm and minimal, with large windows framing views of the surrounding garden and Olympic mountains. Clad entirely in wood, it is a contemporary chalet in the Pacific Northwest.

Orcas House / Allied8

Hadir Al Koshta — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 16:00:00 +0000

The Orcas House is a modern linear home, cantilevered off a cliff exposed to stunning views to the north and south. The aging Kebony on the exterior blends in with the bark of the trees on site, and the bright interior is open, monochromatic and modern. The suspended loft is tall enough to stand up at 6', offering flexibility for play, sleep, or workspace. It was designed by Leah Martin, co-founder of Allied8 Architects, to make the most of the site, the views, and the light.

Lark House / SHED Architecture & Design

Pilar Caballero — Wed, 01 May 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Originally designed by prominent Seattle architect Al Bumgardner, this 1958 mid-century house was reimagined to reflect the storied lives of its new inhabitants while holding reverence to its architectural significance. Located in West Seattle, the house sits atop a cliff with sweeping views of Vashon Island, the Olympic Mountains, and Puget Sound.

Sanitation in Modern Houses: 12 Projects that Explore Different Bathroom Typologies and Layouts

Dima Stouhi — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 07:30:00 +0000

Despite being the smallest rooms of houses, bathrooms have always been one of the most challenging and critical to design, which often left them fairly simplified. The past few years, however, saw these spaces undergo significant change; what was once only limited to functionality, ease of maintenance, and privacy, is now being given a strong character with pops of color, classic fixtures, and patterned surfaces. Similarly for public bathrooms, where "functionality" and "ease of maintenance" are now complimented with aesthetics, technology, and high quality finishing. In this interior focus, we explore the three main bathroom typologies used in residential projects, and look at how architects have employed them through 12 examples.

Golden House / SHED Architecture & Design

Luciana Pejić — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 18:00:00 +0000

What was once an adult living facility with good bones is now a carefully renovated midcentury gem thanks to the vision and expertise of SHED Architecture & Design. With stunning views and the detailing of classic Pacific Northwest architecture, the SHED team took on the challenge of rejuvenating the home for a family of five and restoring the aura of the Golden House.

Cloud Ranch / Best Practice Architecture

Andreas Luco — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 18:00:00 +0000

Cloud Ranch is not your typical retreat; designed for a Seattleite who fell in love with the once agricultural center turned creative arts hub of Tieton, Washington. The homeowner enlisted Best Practice Architecture to design a modest dwelling with respect for the spirit of the community and history of the chosen site — an old mom-and-pop orchard housing a decommissioned apple processing facility. The design team developed a thoughtful concept inspired by the town’s mission to bridge the gap between the agricultural and arts communities.

Steel Stacks House / Hybrid

Andreas Luco — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 21:00:00 +0000

A Townhome You’d Actually Like to Live In: Cor-ten Clad, Bright, and Private. On a commercial lot, an existing, single-story building was in disarray and disrepair. Seattle-based Hybrid was approached by the owner to partner on a redevelopment plan to tap into the lot’s high potential– creating four spacious homes, each with a flex space for extra income or living space. These are not your average townhomes; with a striking corten exterior and close connection to a new cafe, the homes were designed to stand out while rooting into the street and neighborhood. In addition to the flex space, Steel Stacks offers a private yard, tall ceilings, lots of light, and a spacious, enclosed rooftop deck, or skyroom.

Courtyard House on a Steep Site / Robert Hutchison Architecture + Tom Maul Architecture & Design

Valeria Silva — Fri, 21 Feb 2020 17:00:00 +0000

The site for this residence is a steeply sloped, 50-foot-by-400-foot site on the western shore of Mercer Island. A challenging site, several landslides over time led to the demolition of former residences on and adjoining the site, while remaining houses neighbor the property just a few feet to the north and south. While specifically designed for a husband and wife and their two children, the owner requested that the residence also be designed as a speculative development should they wish to sell the property in the future. Strict height limitations imposed by zoning regulations necessitated that a large portion of the residence be placed below grade.

This Place Office / Olson Kundig

Daniel Tapia — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 17:00:00 +0000

This Place is a digital design studio with locations in London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Seattle. The design for their Seattle workplace in the Fremont neighborhood illustrates This Place’s core work approach, emphasizing collaborative, open and multifunctional spaces. The digital design studio is divided into three interconnected zones: a collective open workspace at the core that encourages focus, with semi-private project breakout spaces to encourage collaboration and multi-purpose social areas radiating from it and ringing the perimeter.

Elm Coffee Roasters / Olson Kundig

Daniel Tapia — Fri, 12 Jul 2019 17:00:00 +0000

Designed to emphasize the unpretentious service and handcrafted coffee for which Elm is known, the warm and bright café on the ground floor of the new 9th & Thomas mixed-use building—also by Olson Kundig—is an inviting extension of Elm’s original café in Seattle’s Pioneer Square neighborhood.

Madison Park Ranch House / SHED Architecture & Design

Pilar Caballero — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 17:00:00 +0000

When the homeowners purchased their 1959 house, its humble beginnings as a ranch house was buried beneath layers of ad hoc changes over the years. Previous owners tried to transform the midcentury ranch house into something it wasn’t and filled the backyard with a number of bulky structures that didn’t fit the needs of the new homeowners.

Offices and Workplaces: Examples in Plan

Fabian Dejtiar — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 07:00:00 +0000

The functional distribution plays a fundamental role in the contemporary design of offices and places for work. The study of the architecture plan shows an interesting form of approach; not only allows for proper logistics and circulation but find efficient variations and innovations that will enable better workspaces that adapt to the current needs.

Ghost Cabin / SHED Architecture & Design

Rayen Sagredo — Fri, 16 Nov 2018 12:00:00 +0000

“Ghost Cabin” is a site specific installation located in Seattle’s Chophouse Row. The installation is inspired by the site’s historical past—a frontier homestead whose foundations still lie below the courtyard. By re-imagining the frontier cabin in heavy cedar planks, the artists pay homage to the site’s history and create a focal point for the public space.

Hillside Midcentury / SHED Architecture & Design

Pilar Caballero — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 18:00:00 +0000

SHED Architecture & Design, together with interior designer Jennie Gruss, gave this 1957 midcentury home—originally designed by PNW architect, Arnold Gangnes—a fresh update for a young family in Seattle, Washington. The design team set out to restore the home’s midcentury elements back to their original intent, while also integrating some of the firm’s own modern details.

Capitol Hill House / SHED Architecture & Design

Daniel Tapia — Sun, 05 Nov 2017 13:00:00 +0000

The homeowners were attracted to the 40’ x 120’ lot for its central location in Seattle’s East Capitol Hill neighborhood. They approached SHED Architecture & Design looking for an economical, efficient, low-maintenance, and modern version of a traditional Seattle house – one with primary living spaces on the main floor and three bedrooms above. Having come from a culture with a tradition of courtyard houses, creating comfortable outdoor spaces with free- owing connections to the interior living areas was paramount.