Kirkland Waterfront Custom
Location: Lake Washington waterfront in Kirkland, WA
Design Goals: Inspired by the sweeping Lake Washington views from this Kirkland waterfront property, the design of this contemporary high-performance custom home focused on creating a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor living across all three floors. At the heart of the home, a two-story floating steel and walnut staircase serves as an artistic centerpiece, allowing southern light to filter throughout the interior and visually linking all levels. The main floor features an open floor plan that integrates the kitchen, dining, sitting, and living areas, balancing dramatic water views with intimate spatial experiences. The living room’s soaring ceilings create a sense of light and airiness, while the dining and kitchen maintain a more personal scale with 9-foot ceilings. Expansive floor-to-ceiling windows and large sliding glass doors connect the main floor to a covered, waterproof deck, framing unobstructed lake views and extending the living space outdoors. The upper floor houses the primary suite, complete with a spa-like bathroom designed for retreat and relaxation. The lower floor opens directly to the backyard, providing easy access to the beach and boat dock. This level is centered on recreation, featuring billiards, a wet bar, and additional bedrooms, as well as a laundry room and storage for small boats and water toys. Throughout the home, durable, low-maintenance heated polished concrete floors provide comfort and practicality, while a residential elevator ensures accessibility and adaptability, allowing the homeowners to age in place and enjoy this stunning property for years to come.
Style: Contemporary
Design Challenges + Site Constraints: This Kirkland waterfront property presented a series of significant design and engineering challenges. Strict height limits and floor area ratio restrictions constrained the size of the house, requiring careful planning to maximize usable space while remaining within regulatory limits. The site was further restricted by the proximity to the shoreline and associated critical area buffers, limiting development to the footprint of the existing house and necessitating a sensitive approach to siting and massing. During construction, an old septic system and fill was discovered beneath the original structure, which required the new home to be supported on an extensive network of pin piles. These constraints demanded careful coordination between design, structural engineering, and permitting to create a home that could fully embrace its lakefront setting while meeting all regulatory, environmental, and site-specific requirements.
Team:
+ Architecture: H2D Architecture + Design
+ Interior Design: H2D Architecture + Design
+ Built by: Carlisle Classic Homes
+ Photography: Christopher Nelson Photography