Victorian ADU New Construction, Capitol Hill, Seattle, WA
Additional Dwelling Unit – Space and Architectural Planning, Kitchen and Bathroom Design and Specifications, Hardwood Flooring, Lighting Fixtures, Plumbing Fixtures, Appliances, Wall Paint Color Scheme, Small Space Design Solutions
The ADU was designed to serve as a rental apartment in the basement of this large Capitol Hill home in Seattle. The house, originally built in 1902, still had its original floor plan in tact. The ADU was designed to echo the sentiment of the main house in sentiment and style, while retaining its own, unique identity.
Together, these clients and Belltown Design decided to incorporate some of the Industrial Age style with it’s Victorian flair. The ADU is a “Hi Lo Mix” of building materials, geared towards easy living in a small space. This remodel has a $100,000 price tag.
Our architectural drawings reflect an open concept. The kitchen was separated from the rest of the apartment with a short, peninsula and industrial style pendant lights. We incorporated Shaker Style warm white painted cabinetry, with period authentic glass fronts and oil rubbed bronze bin pulls. The appliances are modern, apartment size, in stainless steel, with schoolhouse lighting fixtures. The white subway tiles go all the way up to the ceiling, with dark grout and reclaimed wood floating shelves.
The main beam remained “raw” and rustic; optimizing this structural feature to create a statement. With Seattle’s own Plank and Grain, we designed and built a moving wall between the bedroom and living room with reclaimed wood from the house. These natural building materials lend themselves to the vintage sentiment we aimed to achieve.
The lighting is a mix of Industrial style and Art Deco. These fixtures are unique configurations of shapes and metal finishes, creating layers of light on dimmers within this small space. Lighting makes for versatility in a space like this, ranging from ambient to task with dimmer capabilities.
Our bathroom materials selections were made carefully, emphasizing a decorative element with encaustic floor tiles from Granada Tile. The cement tiles date way back, and are a perfect, non-slip flooring material for the bathroom, and easy to repair. We tiled the bathroom tub and shower surround with 3 x 9” gray porcelain subway tiles and light grout, tiling up to 48” on the wall. All of our bathroom fixtures are brushed nickel, and a large bathroom storage closet was designed to created coveted storage space in a small apartment.
Our interior passage doors are fir wood stained cherry, five panel, like the rest of the house. We like the Eastlake style door hardware for its exotic patterns, and artful casting, a style in the era of this house. With the dark hardwood floors, this ADU had both a contemporary and historical feel.
A simple, warm white wood slat window treatment finishes off the space; along with a well designed utility room with washer dryer and plentiful storage; a sought after rental, in this booming Seattle market.
