StudioPatina
High bank waterfront Kitsap Peninsula Washington State
The home, built in the 1950's, integrated an unused basement providing a teen suite, two bathrooms, a guest bedroom, media room, laundry room, and exercise space doubling the overall square footage. Carving the exterior down to the base of the foundation also provided egress and visual connection to the outside gardens while allowing daylight to flood the space along the east side. The entire house was gutted and insulated (there was none before) and wired for future solar panels and an electric car recharge station. Solar tubes to increase light penetration as well as high operable clerestory windows for stack - effect circulation to relieve the occasional hot summer days completed the renovation for a Filipino couple and their son.
The KITCHEN also served as the dining area on the long counter - the owners decided to not replace the original formal dining room. Recycled stone veneer along the counter (to protect from kicking feet) was also used on the fireplace wall behind. A custom walnut butcher - block table spanned the 8' wide kitchen and a recycling center under the counter near the back door made it convenient to separate cans, glass, paper and plastic from the garbage.
Entering the MASTER SUITE through double doors of frosted glass that allow privacy and light to penetrate into the hall, the bedroom was papered in grass cloth on the wall behind the bed and ceiling above to mimic the grass huts in the Philippines and act as a gesture of embrace. Touches of the Orient throughout the home can be seen in the emphasis on horizontal lines and chairs and stools made of bamboo or teak. A nod to the water can be seen in the use of capiz shells in the bathroom tile and light fixtures, small shells embedded in the kitchen back splash, and black and white photos in the guest bedroom. Organic mattresses, bedding, upholstery were emphasized.
The one room without any windows became the MEDIA ROOM. Organic wool carpet padding was used as a 'wallpaper' to soften the exterior concrete foundation wall and prevent the sound from bouncing.
The GUEST BEDROOM walls and owners' bed were painted in 4 different hues of white to subtlety distinguish and soften the space while bouncing the natural light around in the daylight basement room. Window treatments and 18" limestone used throughout the house created unity.
