The homeowners of Renton Hill House approached Seattle-based design-build firm, Collaborative, wanting to make some modern updates to their long-time family home. The homeowners decided to keep their home’s existing footprint and opted to update the layout to better align with their changing needs and social lifestyle. The design-build team worked together with the homeowners to reimagine the original home, engaging local fabricators and tradesmen to craft a finely detailed and contemporary solution for living and entertaining.
The integration of the original layout and modern redesign maintain a sense of a place made for family, designed to encourage time spent together. Key elements such as a custom cast-in-place concrete fireplace, a central stair, and a 18’ basalt tile feature wall encourage gathering and anchor the living spaces while oversized sliding door systems blend the interior with exterior to create seamless transitions. The main stair features a single steel stringer, which supports solid walnut treads and a weightless blackened steel balustrade. The double-height space features a textured backdrop of basalt tile that guides the way to the bedrooms and accessory dwelling unit (ADU). The fireplace acts as the heart of the Renton Hill House, connecting the kitchen, sitting room and entry with a strong material palette of concrete and steel.
The hearth appears to float above the floor, integrating a blackened steel media cabinet featuring two independently controlled, back-to-back televisions which rise and disappear completely to reconnect kitchen and living room. The reimagined media room, a previous addition made to the original home, opens up to the outdoor entertainment zone featuring an extensive patio, pool, pool house, outdoor kitchen and two fireplaces.
Completing this project through a design-build process allowed the team to have extensive control throughout, down to detailing the baseboard relief, fabricating custom countertops, and reusing small elements from the home’s prior life. The final result is a finely-crafted home designed to bring people together and built with materials meant to age beautifully as the house is passed down through generations.
