This tiny house renovation project began when Seattle-based couple Ilga and Kyle Parmentier were searching for a place for an aging family member to live in their neighborhood of Maple Leaf. Because of a shortage of affordable housing in Seattle, moving to a larger house in the city was not an option. So Seattle-based Best Practice Architecture converted what was once a backyard garage into a 571-square-foot tiny house.
BEFORE: The project began when the Parmentiers couldn’t find appropriate housing in their neighborhood for their mother. With a growing family, they didn’t have enough space in their house to accommodate her needs and maintain the privacy everyone in the family wanted—but they did have a garage that had potential.
BEFORE: Best Practice saw converting the client’s existing garage (previously used as storage) as the perfect solution. The team started from the existing footprint and extended the space up the yard’s slope.
The exterior of the Granny Pad, as it’s been dubbed, is covered in tight knot vertical cedar siding stained black for privacy and a sleek look. Inside, custom plywood panels and polished concrete warm up the open layout. The kitchen is placed along one wall to take advantage of a backyard view.
AFTER: The pop of pink on the front door is an unexpected but fun touch.Photo: Sozinho Imagery
AFTER: The small footprint of the conversion is unnoticed in the careful design and plan of the space, which makes it appear much more open and spacious than it seems from the outside.
AFTER: The tight knot vertical cedar siding with black stain creates an understated exterior that feels fresh and modern. Plus, the simple roof line blends in well with the yard’s coniferous trees.Photo: Sozinho Imagery
AFTER: The Granny Pad leans into the 6-foot natural grade of the yard, bridging the elevation to create volume inside.Photo: Sozinho Imagery
The tiny house, lit through a range of skylights from the slanted ceilings, is comprised of a living, dining, and kitchen area, a bedroom, and a spacious bathroom. The lofted space above the bathroom, which is accessed by a ladder, will be used as storage for the time being, but it could easily be transformed into an office or sleeping loft, according to the Best Practice team. They also considered future uses of the space as a possible rental unit, studio, office, or other income-generating project for the family. The low-maintenance dwelling is a great example of how to create necessary space.
The kitchen, set centrally and lit brightly, was an essential part of the plan for the family. The structure was kept single-level to promote accessibility and aging in place.
A short walk from the entryway through the bedroom takes you to a closet/laundry and the bathroom.
In contrast to the sleek exterior, the inside of the DADU (detached additional dwelling unit) is voluminous and bright, finished with plywood panels and polished concrete floors. Making the most of 571 square feet, a simple vernacular shape and sight lines from the front door to the rear yard create a relaxed roominess.Photo: Sozinho Imagery
The Granny Pad offers an insight into possible solutions to the housing affordability crisis and an option for multigenerational living as people vie to keep family in one place, with the added luxury of privacy and space. It’s also an opportunity for architects and dreamers to come up with unique designs.
The loft is currently used for storage, but could serve a multitude of functions as needs evolve: office, second bedroom, TV room, and more. The bedroom is open to the light and to the rest of the space to ease accessibility and create the best possible sense of volume.
The stair to the loft is lined with custom plywood paneling and has a steel-and-glass railing for safety. This space provides a quick connection to the upper rear yard and a terrific vantage point to view the lofty space below.
The exposed rafters, warm plywood detailing, and polished floor create a comforting and cheerful environment for the DADU. The sleeping area tucked around the corner maintains both contact and privacy: A simple vintage dresser fitted with a new pink painted back panel is the only element that creates a modest separation of the living and sleeping area.
A Dutch door allowing access to the side yard is swung open to allow air to flow in. The concrete foundation is highlighted in gray, the color continuing the door’s natural design. At every step of the way, the design team chose matching, connecting lines, maximizing visual consistency—helping the small space feel uncluttered.
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meet the team
We’re a team (and a dog named Evie) 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.
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.
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.
Claire Butwinick specializes in marketing and social media strategy, copywriting, and public relations. Formerly the Assistant Editor at GRAY Magazine, an international architecture and design publication based in Seattle, Claire brings to Paxson Fay her editorial background and a passion for all things design. In addition to her writing experience, Claire is a seasoned public speaker, moderating a number of panel discussions with IDS Vancouver and Be Original Americas, and hosting the 2019 GRAY Awards. Last year, she took her speaking skills virtual, conducting several Instagram Live interviews with designers amid the pandemic. A graduate from the University of Washington’s School of Communication: Journalism, Claire was honored with a Pioneer News Group Excellence Award for Visual Journalism, selected for the Communication department’s prestigious Career Exploration scholarship, and nominated for a Hearst National Journalism Award. Her work also appears in GRAY Magazine, Office Insight, SagaCity’s Jewish in Seattle Magazine, and more.
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.
Chloe Edwards is a PNW native and recent Summa cum laude graduate from the University of Washington, where she studied Communication and Anthropology. While interning with the strategic communications firm Parsons + Co. Chloe developed skills in messaging and branding development, media outreach, and social media management. Chloe joined the Paxson Fay team as an intern in the fall of 2020. At Paxson Fay, Chloe creates social media content for a variety of client campaigns and profiles and leads engagement on several accounts, coordinates internal communications efforts, and assists with media outreach. As Paxson Fay's full-time Communications Assistant she uses her experience to achieve social media marketing, content strategy, and media relations success for clients and for the Paxson Fay brand.
Originally from Las Vegas, Ryan (they/them) graduated from the University of Washington (Go Dawgs!) and considers Seattle to be home. Ryan’s career has shifted many times - from being a campaign organizer in politics to being a professional photographer and wedding planner - but they have always gravitated towards the art of marketing and know it's their true calling. After working at multiple start-ups and building digital campaigns for companies like Google and Amazon, Ryan is excited to be a part of a team that aligns with their passions for architecture and design. Ryan is bringing years of marketing, data analysis, and social media experience to the team and is thrilled to start supporting clients in achieving their marketing goals.
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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
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clients
Here is a little taste of who we love to work with and what we love to do.
