4770 Ohio Ave S
Ste B
Seattle, WA 98134
info@paxsonfay.com
From a bunkhouse to a do-it-all shed, these Washington backyard projects expand life at home
written by Melissa Dalton
In 2018, the owners of this classic Seattle Craftsman in the Madrona neighborhood wrapped up an extensive, top-to-bottom remodel, which included an enlarged kitchen with a small desk, covered outdoor spaces, a finished basement for the kids to play and a newly landscaped backyard with a shed. Then came the pandemic.
The parents soon decided that they needed their own place to retreat while at home and started eyeing the backyard shed. “It was a complimentary design to the house, but a very simple box with a door,” said Ian Butcher, architect and founding partner of Best Practice Architecture, who guided the couple’s main remodel and returned to maximize their outbuilding into a multipurpose studio. “They wanted to revise the shed to incorporate an office, and then also have a place where they could exercise.”
Butcher configured the 217-square-foot interior to contain, not just the much-needed desk, but storage for a random assortment of things, like wine, road bikes and children’s skis, as well as a dedicated spot for yoga. The interior design was kept simple, so as not to clutter the small footprint, and choices for the material palette cost effective.
Butcher specified beech plywood for the custom cabinetry and ceiling. That light wood is contrasted with an inky black rubber mat for the floor, opposite wall and corner for hanging bikes. The mat was chosen for its functionality, in order to cushion movement and protect the wall from scuffs, but also its “dense blackness.” “It makes the plywood really pop,” said Butcher, noting that using the material in a monochromatic fashion is “a more volumetric effect rather than decorative.” When all the doors are closed, the desk niche looks like any other cabinet, but offers a “little surprise” when opened, thanks to an interior covered in mint green, an accent color in the main house.
Photo by Rafael Soldi
At the opposite end of the room, a large accordion window overlooks the garden, making for a pretty backdrop for yoga or Zoom calls, and a custom concrete bench is flush with the sill. “That can be a spot for one of their children to read while dad is wrapping up work, or guests can come in from the BBQ and have a private conversation,” said Butcher. And since finishing up in 2021, the clients use it all the time, whether for work, winding down or to grab a bottle of wine from the mini fridge for happy hour on the patio.
GUEMES ISLAND
Pamela Austin’s bunkhouse on Guemes Island prioritizes space for family gatherings. Photo by Dain Susman
Photos by Dain Susman
A Compact Bunkhouse Complements a Century-Old Log Cabin
Tucked among the trees along the banks of Guemes Island, you might just catch a glimpse of Pamela Austin’s log cabin from the water. “If you don’t know it’s there, you can’t see it,” said Austin. According to the neighbors, the small cabin has sat in the same spot since the 1940s. Before that, it was built on Lopez Island about 100 years ago, then disassembled, and floated over to this one. By the time Austin bought it in 2000, it was “moldy and mice infested,” said Austin. “But I could see that it would be a really simple place. Nothing precious. The kids could run in with sandy feet and nothing would get hurt.”
Plywood construction brings a healthy, biophilic feel to the sleeping area. Photo by Dain Susman
Austin and her then husband cleaned it up, getting rid of the mice, and keeping much of the rest as is. At 450 square feet, the cabin is one room, with a fireplace at one end and kitchen at the other, and a built-in bed nook. “When the kids were little, we just put them on cots, and we were all together as a family,” said Austin. “Well, my kids are grown now and married and sleeping on a cot isn’t going to cut it.”
A stainless steel countertop and backsplash in the bathroom make for easy cleanup.
Not wanting family gatherings on the island to end because of a lack of sleeping accommodations, Austin reached out to Seattle-based SHED Architecture & Design for a solution: a petite, two-story bunkhouse that can sleep up to eleven, with a bathroom that handles multiple users, a built-in desk for emergency work sessions and a covered porch. A kitchenette and small communal hangout space ensures much of the gathering and cooking still happens at the main cabin, and at 590 square feet, the new building preserves as much of the surrounding property as possible. “The whole point was to keep things simple and small,” said Austin.
The bunkhouse kitchenette is simple but functional.
SHED sited the bunkhouse so that it mirrors the cabin’s position, with the entrance facing the drive and a massive skylight over the couch capturing views of the Bellingham Channel over the cabin roof. With Disdero log cabin siding on the lower portion and tongue and groove rough- sawn western red cedar ship cladding above, the exterior echoes the cabin and the dark stain blends into the trees, which were undisturbed during construction.
A custom couch beneath a skylight makes for a perfect reading room on cloudy days.
Inside, the materials were all chosen for their low-maintenance qualities, from the custom stainless-steel counter in the bathroom, to the plywood covered walls and built-in furniture, to the Marmoleum floor in the kitchenette. Interior designer Jennie Gruss helped Austin pick out textiles and colorful accents.
The bunkhouse kitchenette is simple but functional. Photo by Dain Susman
Now, thanks to the bunkhouse, the beloved cabin is still much loved for making new family memories, from hosting Austin’s August birthday weekend featuring lots of fresh crab, to holiday festivities for Thanksgiving and Christmas. “We wanted to stay true to this 100-year-old structure that really is so important to the site,” said SHED architect Georgine Botha. “And create a space that Pamela’s children could still continue to come back to with their own families.”
meet the team
We’re inspired by diverse design perspectives, innovation, technology, art, and the world around us. We live for the chance to create and disperse powerful, genuine messages that resonate.
tessa franchini
principal
tessa@paxsonfay.com
Tessa graduated from Fordham University in New York with a dual bachelor's degree in Communications and Political Science. During her time at Fordham, she worked for an interior designer and at NBC News where she developed her love for both design and communications. After graduating, Tessa managed marketing at 3form, a pioneer in the sustainable building products industry. During her tenure, 3form was repeatedly named one of the most recognized manufacturers in the design industry among architects and designers, and the company won multiple awards for its innovative product launches. After 3form, Tessa consulted on marketing efforts with leading product manufacturers in architecture and design before starting Paxson Fay with Amy.
amy golden
principal
amy@paxsonfay.com
Growing up in Seattle, Amy was always exploring the great outdoors but she found a particular thrill in traveling. During a visit to New York City at age 10, she knew that was where she wanted to live. After high school she left her home in the Pacific Northwest behind for the great unknown to attend Fordham University in the Bronx. Upon graduation, Amy received a phone call from CNN offering a job opportunity of a lifetime working in television ad sales at Manhattan's Time Warner Center. When a job opportunity in Los Angeles opened up a few years later, Amy couldn't say no to a new adventure back on the west coast. But Seattle eventually called her back home and Amy returned to pursue a Master's degree in Business Administration with the hopes of learning the skills she needed to feed her entrepreneurial spirit. Before graduating, Amy co-founded Paxson Fay with Tessa Andrews in 2015. Amy focuses on marketing strategy, public relations, social media, and partnerships.
colby wood
senior account executive
colby@paxsonfay.com
After graduating from Fordham University in New York City with a major in Communications and Media Studies and a handful of marketing and PR internships, Colby moved to Boston to manage marketing for a small, women-owned, creative consulting agency. While in that role, Colby managed public relations and marketing efforts for some of Boston's most prominent events and public art initiatives, including the Boston Pickle Fair and The Bulfinch Crossing Projections in downtown Boston. Colby gained experience crafting brand stories and identities through social media marketing and creative copywriting, seen through the successful launch of a premier Massachusetts adult-use dispensary and the revamp of her agency's own website. After two years, Colby decided it was time to figure out what the West Coast was all about. Looking to blend her marketing experience with her passion for design and architecture, Colby found Paxson Fay, where she focuses on social media strategy and management and public relations.
paige childs
communication specialist
paige@paxsonfay.com
As a child, Paige wanted to be an architect; but after falling in love with storytelling, the power of words, and yes, the show West Wing, she decided to pursue journalism at The George Washington University in the nation’s capital. Following graduation, Paige crafted communications for the beauty and banking industries. Craving space for creativity, she joined the small team that would reopen the congressionally designated National Children’s Museum. There, she played an integral role in establishing the museum’s brand, bringing it to life across digital channels, including social media, email, and advertising. After nearly eight years in DC, she decided it was time for a change of scenery. Having grown fond of the title Washingtonian, she made the cross-country move to Washington State. She landed in Seattle at Paxson Fay, where in true full circle fashion she is the architect of social media and public relations strategies for our architecture and design clients.
zoe mcphail
senior communications coordinator
zoe@paxsonfay.com
From San Francisco, California, Zoe moved to Seattle, Washington to pursue her undergraduate degree at the University of Washington. She graduated with a dual bachelor’s degree in Economics and Political Science. Shortly after graduation from UW, Zoe hopped across the pond to pursue her Master of Science in Urban Economics and Real Estate Finance at the London School of Economics. Focusing on Sustainable Development, she found herself drawn to adaptive reuse and preservation projects in the world of architecture and design. Building on prior marketing and social media experience, Zoe returned to the PNW in July of 2023 to work on social media strategy and content creation for clients at Paxson Fay.
martina povolo
communications assistant
martina@paxsonfay.com
Martina joined the Paxson Fay team as an intern when she was a senior at the University of Washington. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Public Interest Communications, Martina is now continuing with the team as a Communications Assistant. During her time at UW, Martina worked as the Special Sections Editor at the university’s newspapers where she won multiple awards for her front page spreads. Looking to blend her minors in real estate and environmental science with her focus in communications, Martina is passionate and excited to join the Paxson Fay team.
tara lyons
communications assistant
tara@paxsonfay.com
With roots in Napa and Denver, Tara ventured to the Pacific Northwest to pursue her academic journey at the University of Washington, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Education. Tara's love for writing began when she delved into songwriting, building on her pre-existing passion for singing and playing the piano. Following her undergraduate years, she returned to Paxson Fay, where she had previously interned, transitioning into the role of Communications Assistant. With a keen interest in PR and social media, Tara seamlessly integrates her creative flair into the professional realm. Outside of work, you'll find Tara passionately supporting the Kraken, embodying her love for both storytelling and sports.
We are hiring for our internship program! We are looking for an intern with a passion for design to help manage key communication channels. Click here to read more.
what we do
We are a communications firm founded in our passion for good design. Our unique approach to marketing and public relations in the architecture and design community has elevated our clients work to the next level. We’re backed by a talented community of creatives. From copywriters to social media experts, we provide a complete package of customized services. We strive to create a personal experience with each client, integrating teams and tackling your biggest marketing and public relations challenges from a high level. Then we help execute those plans ensuring lots of reporting along the way, with lots of coffee breaks in between because we’re from Seattle and that’s what we do.
marketing
marketing strategy
brand strategy
project management
partnerships acquisition and management
e-mail blasts
public relations
media strategy
content production
media communications and outreach
awards: strategy, content development and submissions
social
platform strategy and management
content production
targeted campaigns
results + reporting
advertising
advertising strategy
budget strategy + negotiation
calendar management
creative coordination
content
storytelling
copywriting
website and e-mail marketing
video: sourcing, storyboarding and scheduling
photography acquisition + curation
events
event management
sponsorships + partnerships
tradeshow coordination
press tours
clients
Here is a little taste of who we love to work with and what we love to do.