Chez Shay House near Lake Washington, Rural Home Remodel in Seattle, Northwest USA Real Estate Photos, Northwest USA Residence
November 19, 2025
Architects: Best Practice Architecture
Location: near Lake Washington, Pritchard Island neighborhood, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
A bright and whimsical oasis in the city.
Photos by Rafael Soldi Photography
Chez Shay, Seattle, Washington, USA
Chez Shay is a major conversion designed in collaboration with Best Practice, friendly clients and a particularly astute builder. Located near Lake Washington in Seattle's Pritchard Island neighborhood, the original home was built in 1919 on a wooded lot. Over the course of its lifespan, additions and modifications were made later. Although it was located among the nature preserve trees in the backyard and had some natural light, the spaces felt dated and didn't take advantage of the lakeside location.
The owners of Chez Shay purchased the home in 2019 and less than a year after moving in, there was an outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The start of the lockdown – working from home, socializing outdoors, constant time together at home – all coincided with the birth of their first child. While the couple loved their home for its quirky charm and oasis-in-a-city location, these major life upheavals made the need for renovations ever greater.
Looking for a collaborative approach between architect and builder, the owners turned to their friends at Best Practice and began seriously thinking about how they could transform the eccentric house. The couple, a writer and graphic designer, appreciated the old building's many charms and feared generic modernizations that would undermine them. It was determined that the existing house, although special, was not precious. Instead of trying to “fix” things, the team focused on some of the weirder aspects of the rooms and highlighted good qualities, such as: B. high ceilings, views of trees and recessed room volumes. Must-haves for the updated home included new bedrooms and bathrooms, separate work areas for each adult, a play area for teenagers, a new (more) open kitchen with dining areas, updating the lower unit and providing areas for the couple's creative hobbies to expand.
After a few rounds of design that included keeping an existing attic space away from the ice surface, the team moved to a new design that included a second-floor addition with a master suite and accompanying bathroom and walk-in closet. The design crystallized around a new plywood and perforated metal staircase leading to the new level, providing a backdrop to the living and dining room below and a perch overlooking the gathering spaces below. The bedroom offers views of the lake and treetops while providing much-needed privacy and another bathroom for the home.
Another major design step was to demolish some of the existing interior walls to redesign the living spaces. To achieve a completely open feel, the existing structure had to be reinforced with the addition of steel. Rather than concealing the change, the new steel beam and column were exposed and highlighted with a light coat of coral paint. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves line the high wall and house the family's prized saltwater aquarium. Skylights provide more diffused light and give the room a bright, yet cozy atmosphere.
A new vestibule provides ample buffer when entering the home, and the existing galley kitchen received much-needed upgrades to furniture, appliances and tiling. Rooms at the rear of the house have views of the nature reserve, and a dedicated double-height play area with a ladder leading to a suspended net has a cool porthole overlooking the treetops.
The basement has been converted into a functional space, with access to the backyard, storage room, a shared laundry room and a completely separate living unit with a kitchenette, bathroom, bedroom and living room. Although the residential unit is independent, it is connected to the main house above and is intended to be the future home of older family members.
Outdoor spaces include a covered side yard patio converted from an old garage. A new steel roof extends over the concrete seating area, creating an outdoor space. This terrace cascades down to the backyard, where you can view the preserve's trees up close. The front yard was redesigned around a large cedar tree and turned into a small patio to enjoy the morning sunlight and lake views. From the street, the new extension looks out onto the existing recessed volumes of the house. It is painted a light teal, contrasting with the dark color of the lower level.
The resulting renovation of this quirky home feels buttoned-up but fun and expressive. Bright pops of color, cheerful patterned wallpaper and creative lighting fixtures can be found throughout the project. It offers space for all family members and their hobbies and benefits from the beautiful location.
Chez Shay House, Lake Washington – Real Estate Information
Project details:
Location: Pritchard Island, Seattle, WA
Area: Lot Size: 5,644 sf
Stories: 2 stories + basement ADU
House footprint = 1,193 sf
Garage floor area = 133 sf
Basement footprint = 941 sf
Deck and patio improvements =430 sf
New second floor addition = 380 sf
Overall new and improved areas:
● House = 2,514 sf
● Garage = 133 sf
● Decks and patios = 430 sf
Architect: Best Practice Architecture
Structure: Harriott Valentine
Contractor: Kaable Design Build
Tiles and wallpaper: Praxis Builders
Bespoke Furniture: Bodhi Builders
Custom Steel: Seattle Metal Fabrication
Landscaping: GA Tree Service
Photographer: Rafael Soldi Photography
Best practices
Best practices is an agile, design-intensive architecture firm based in Seattle, WA, founded in 2011. This architectural firm deals with a diverse range of work, from residential projects to large office and cultural projects.
The team draws inspiration from customers' needs and choreographs intuitive experiences, while striving to deliver innovative solutions that explore the precarious balance between content, beauty and function. Best Practice was awarded the 2019 AIA Northwest and Pacific Regions Emerging Firm Award.
Chez Shay House, Lake Washington Property, Seattle, USA, images/information received 181125
Location: Pritchard Island, Seattle, Lake Washington, WA, United States of America.
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