A Mercer Island Home with Classic Appeal | Home + Garden

Sometimes, the most beautiful homes are located on the most challenging lots. This 8,427-square-foot Mercer Island home was built on a stunning slice of waterfront complete with a sloping hillside, narrow driveway, and other restrictions.

But the team at Stuart Silk Architects of Seattle was up to the challenge, and the home was completed in 2021. The team also designed the interiors of the home, including choosing finishes, new furnishings, window treatments, decorative light fixtures, and reupholstering existing furnishings. Many features were sourced from showrooms at the Seattle Design Center.

The home captures views of Lake Washington, Seward Park, and the Seattle skyline and was created for a family of four who often has friends and family visit. It looks like a well-kept classic abode thanks to the Shingle Style design, which is timeless and often seen along East Coast waterfronts. Inside, the traditional beauty transcends throughout, with coffered ceilings, elaborate use of wood paneling, and a stunning staircase that would make the perfect backdrop for family photos and grand entrances. Everything is light and bright thanks to skylights and many windows. There is even a balcony — a perfect place to sip coffee in the morning. 

Go Outside

“The other important thing was to utilize the outdoor space along the waterfront, with easy access to terraces that they could walk out onto from the main living spaces. We accomplished these goals by designing a home with a back wall that is the retaining wall of the site’s slope and stretching the home along the site parallel to the waterfront so that we could orient the home toward the lake and maximize the views and the activity along the waterfront,” according to Stuart Silk Architects.

Open Sesame

An exterior terrace stairway opens thanks to hydraulics. This is genius, as it allows easy access from the lawn to the lake and offers storage for all those cool water toys as it connects to the basement.

Backyard Bliss

“The style of the home is inspired by iconic Shingle Style ‘cottages’ built along the Eastern seaboard. These uniquely American homes have a relaxed feel about them that seems to fit perfectly into the lakeside setting. While the home has the traditional feel of a classic Shingle Style home, it has a modern floor plan that maximizes the openness between the main rooms of the home where the family can gather together,” According to Stuart Silk Architects.

The Coziest Room

This home is full of open spaces, white paint, and light. But the living room’s shadowy paint, drapery, and furniture makes it a moody exception. It’s a place to unwind and get lost in a book or have a cozy movie night with the family.

Wine and Dine

The dining area looks into the open floor-plan kitchen and offers plenty of seating and ease when entertaining.

Unwind Here

This dreamy soaking tub with a view of the lake is perfection. The blingy light fixture takes the glam up a notch.

A Gathering Place

Everyone tends to gather in the kitchen, and this one is designed for it. The counters and backsplash beautifully complement each other, and the giant cabinets offer plenty of storage.

Credits:

Stuart Silk Architects project team: Stuart Silk, Dave King, and Janae Klein

Structural engineer: Harriott Valentine

Civil engineer: DR Strong Geotechnical: The Galli Group

Shoring design: Ground Support PLLC

Landscape design: SSA / Owner

Contractor: King Construction

Windows: Kolbe

Many of the interior design elements featured in this home were sourced from Seattle Design Center.