Modern Architecture
Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Pacific Northwest Landscape Inspires a Seattle Home
Sweeping views, an intimate courtyard and local materials create an inviting atmosphere
Perched above Elliott Bay in Seattle, this home stuns with its panoramic views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. Responding to the vistas, the narrow lot, and his clients’ love of the great outdoors and passion for sustainable design, architect Nils Finne employed his signature strategy of “crafted modernism” to create a warm, inviting contemporary home that celebrates the unique landscape of the Pacific Northwest.
The water-jet-cut rusted steel fence at the front entry provides privacy but also gives some hints about the home’s interior. Finne likes to combine hand-drawn patterns inspired by nature with the technology afforded by machinery. This pattern on the fence and gate is the inverse of a pattern he originally created with an ink brush for the interior staircase.
The house wraps around this courtyard, which provides a sheltered and intimate outdoor space. Entering through the gate, you’re drawn into the courtyard by a straight path and by the sound of water splashing from roof downspouts onto basalt boulders below. “This landscape becomes the foyer of the house,” Finne says.
The enclosed courtyard stands in stark contrast to the sublime vistas on the house’s bay-facing side — views you get a glimpse of through the house.
“The Columbia River Gorge is known for its basalt formations,” Finne says. The boulders in the courtyard nod to the landscape of the Pacific Northwest, and also provide a Japanese meditation garden sensibility. Finne designed the slope of the roof to collect Seattle’s ample rainwater and spill it down onto the rocks. He also installed a system that can keep the water flowing on dry days.
The enclosed courtyard stands in stark contrast to the sublime vistas on the house’s bay-facing side — views you get a glimpse of through the house.
“The Columbia River Gorge is known for its basalt formations,” Finne says. The boulders in the courtyard nod to the landscape of the Pacific Northwest, and also provide a Japanese meditation garden sensibility. Finne designed the slope of the roof to collect Seattle’s ample rainwater and spill it down onto the rocks. He also installed a system that can keep the water flowing on dry days.
By placing the boulders on heavy-duty stands, Finne made them appear to float atop or hover just above the surface of the water in the reflecting pool, depending on how full the pool is. “I was inspired by the way [artist] Andy Goldsworthy intensifies nature and makes us see it in a way we’ve never seen before,” he says.
The local boulders have scooped tops to prevent the water from splashing too much after its 10-foot drop. A crane was needed to move the rocks into place.
The local boulders have scooped tops to prevent the water from splashing too much after its 10-foot drop. A crane was needed to move the rocks into place.
After passing through the courtyard, you turn 90 degrees to find the front door, which was designed by Finne. The entry experience connects the indoor and outdoor spaces.
Rather than creating a typical coat closet in the entryway, Finne designed a recessed armoire for coats and bags. “The idea is that it’s more of a piece of furniture than a closet,” he says.
The armoire foreshadows some of the details we’ll see elsewhere in the house. Finne chose beechwood for the cabinetry throughout the first floor and then designed a hand-drawn pattern inspired by the landscape. The pattern was carved into the wood using a CNC router and is repeated elsewhere in the home. This combination of hand drawing and modern technology is what Finne refers to as “crafted modernism.”
The ceiling is well-organized thanks to some thoughtful design moves. Rather than peppering the expanse with recessed lights, Finne recessed lines of beech into the ceiling, then added the lights to them, creating bands of light. “This was a way to bring the warm wood element to the ceiling plane,” he says.
Rather than creating a typical coat closet in the entryway, Finne designed a recessed armoire for coats and bags. “The idea is that it’s more of a piece of furniture than a closet,” he says.
The armoire foreshadows some of the details we’ll see elsewhere in the house. Finne chose beechwood for the cabinetry throughout the first floor and then designed a hand-drawn pattern inspired by the landscape. The pattern was carved into the wood using a CNC router and is repeated elsewhere in the home. This combination of hand drawing and modern technology is what Finne refers to as “crafted modernism.”
The ceiling is well-organized thanks to some thoughtful design moves. Rather than peppering the expanse with recessed lights, Finne recessed lines of beech into the ceiling, then added the lights to them, creating bands of light. “This was a way to bring the warm wood element to the ceiling plane,” he says.
Beyond the coat closet, you turn left to pass through this open hall next to the staircase. Large windows that look out to the courtyard are opposite the stairs. The space is quite open yet still more compressed than the large open-plan area that awaits.
On the railing is the pattern Finne hand-drew with an ink brush before turning to modern technology for manufacturing. He and his team transferred the drawings to AutoCAD and tweaked the design to comply with codes. (For example, no opening on a railing can be large enough to allow a 4-inch sphere to pass through it.) They set the repeat for the pattern and then sent the AutoCAD file off to the water-jet-cutting shop, where a huge machine created the railings.
On the railing is the pattern Finne hand-drew with an ink brush before turning to modern technology for manufacturing. He and his team transferred the drawings to AutoCAD and tweaked the design to comply with codes. (For example, no opening on a railing can be large enough to allow a 4-inch sphere to pass through it.) They set the repeat for the pattern and then sent the AutoCAD file off to the water-jet-cutting shop, where a huge machine created the railings.
A contoured wooden handrail fits comfortably under the hand.
However, contoured handrails do have their challenges. “Contoured railings don’t do curves very easily,” Finne explains. He turned this challenge into a design opportunity, creating a lighter look at the corners on both the railing and handrail and drawing attention to the way the railings meet.
Just past the staircase is the 18-foot-long kitchen and its very long island; the dining room is just beyond and the living room is to the left. The house opens up and unfolds the farther you move into it.
The landscape-patterned beechwood makes another appearance on the cabinetry in the kitchen. Believe it or not, the relief in this pattern is only slightly more than a quarter-inch deep.
The island plays with balance and symmetry, with a cast-glass breakfast counter jutting out on one side and a cantilever on the other. The refrigerator is hidden within the cabinetry on the left and the stove is on the right; the sink in the island completes the work triangle.
Maintaining the uncluttered look of the kitchen is easy for the homeowners thanks to a large pantry, located through the satin-etched glass door on the left. It contains food, all of the small appliances, counter space and another sink. The door on the right leads to a powder room.
Maintaining the uncluttered look of the kitchen is easy for the homeowners thanks to a large pantry, located through the satin-etched glass door on the left. It contains food, all of the small appliances, counter space and another sink. The door on the right leads to a powder room.
Finne created continuity with the red oak floors, which flow through the entire first floor; through the materials and cabinetry details; and also with the ceiling, suspending lights from sinuous, landscape-inspired metal pieces that hang from more wood recesses. The three curvy pieces of metal are all one continuous line that travels from the two panels over the island to the one over the dining table.
In addition to the lighting, other elements connect the dining room to the rest of the space. A built-in buffet cantilevers about 10 inches off the floor. Its satin-etched glass doors pick up on the cabinet, pantry and powder room doors in the kitchen.
The view goes straight through the living room from the courtyard thanks to large windows and doors and the clerestory. These openings also provide light and ventilation; the overhangs outside keep the sun from beating directly into the house. Other sustainable features include a radiant hydronic heat system, LED lighting and insulation that’s 40% higher than code. The house is wired for photovoltaic roof panels and there is an EV charging station in the garage.
The ceiling unfolds and dips along the roofline, its shape emphasized by Douglas fir beams. The shape helps collect the rainwater for one of the courtyard’s spouts. The rest of the home’s roof directs the water to the other spout.
The ceiling unfolds and dips along the roofline, its shape emphasized by Douglas fir beams. The shape helps collect the rainwater for one of the courtyard’s spouts. The rest of the home’s roof directs the water to the other spout.
Like the boulders in the courtyard, the fireplace wall is textured basalt, another connection to the landscape. The rock is interrupted by an accent band of rusted steel panels around the firebox. The metal has a painterly quality — it’s a more refined version of what was used on the front gate. Finne designed the landscape-inspired coffee table and the rug.
Armchairs: antique Biedermeier
Armchairs: antique Biedermeier
The mantel is crafted of limestone slabs that shift back and forth within a steel channel and play off the cantilevers on the exterior. The mantel and hearth are good spots for the homeowners to display the Pacific Northwest Native American art they collect.
In the powder room, Finne used satin-etched glass on the wall, which faces the side yard. “You don’t need to turn any lights on in here during the day,” he says.
The room plays with this lightness, with a counter that looks as though it’s floating and a mirror and sconces suspended from stainless aircraft cables. The mirror frame brings the steel element seen on the stair railings and fireplace into the powder room. Fine used water-conserving fixtures throughout the home.
The room plays with this lightness, with a counter that looks as though it’s floating and a mirror and sconces suspended from stainless aircraft cables. The mirror frame brings the steel element seen on the stair railings and fireplace into the powder room. Fine used water-conserving fixtures throughout the home.
The master bedroom is surrounded on three sides by tall glass walls, resulting in spectacular views. Unobtrusive motorized shades retract into the ceiling. The upstairs also has radiant heat that works under carpeting, providing a soft and warm surface for bare feet.
The master bathroom has big views of Puget Sound and the mountains as well. Cantilevered cherry cabinets continue the floating motif. They were designed by Finne, who even designed the towel bars. The floors have bands of texture running through them.
In the mirror’s reflection you can see another of Finne’s hand-drawn patterns. This is on a glass wall between the bathroom and a hallway. Across the hallway is an office. (Not to worry: The toilet is tucked away in a water closet for privacy.)
In the mirror’s reflection you can see another of Finne’s hand-drawn patterns. This is on a glass wall between the bathroom and a hallway. Across the hallway is an office. (Not to worry: The toilet is tucked away in a water closet for privacy.)
Here’s a close-up of the ink brush pattern Finne designed for the glass wall. It looks etched but it’s actually film applied to the glass.
We end the tour with a view of the courtyard at dusk, an image that highlights the contrast between the more intimate enclosed space and the sweeping vistas of water and mountains that await those who step inside.
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Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple of empty nesters
Location: Seattle
Size: 3,600 square feet (334 square meters); three bedrooms, 3½ bathrooms
This side of the house faces Puget Sound and is completely open to the spectacular views. Dramatic cantilevers, overhangs and diagonals make a strong statement along the coastline.
Architect Nils Finne used two types of siding on the house to articulate the different stories. The first level is clad in darker, wider, more broadly spaced cedar, which anchors the house in the way a stone base would. A band wraps around the house between the two stories and expresses the thickness between the first-story ceiling and the second-story floor. The second level is clad in lighter-colored, narrower, more tightly spaced tongue-and-groove boards, adding a sense of lightness as the eye travels up toward the sky.