4770 Ohio Ave S
Ste B
Seattle, WA 98134
info@paxsonfay.com
For many years, Kirsten and Rick lived in a very rural part of the Kitsap Peninsula, across the Puget Sound from Seattle. “We were living out in the woods,” says Kirsten. “The closest town was 25 minutes away, and gas was 25 minutes away. We loved it—it was beautiful and quiet, but a little too remote.”
The couple started looking for something closer in, when Kirsten’s oldest daughter came across a listing for a 1930s brick farmhouse on about two acres in Silverdale. The Dyes Inlet property was once an oyster farm, and the residence had the same quiet, rustic quality as the home they were leaving.
Courtesy of SHED Architecture & Design
SHED Architecture & Design worked with Joe Gates Construction to preserve the brick shell, while making room in the 2,182-square-foot plan for two complete bedroom suites upstairs, an open main level, and a finished basement. To the left is a partially buried concrete 380-square-foot “boat bunker,” which acts as a windbreak and provides storage for gear.
Photo: Rafael Soldi
The couple were surprised at the find. “Silverdale is a community that grew up around a mall,” says Kirsten. “It has a Costco, a Trader Joe’s, and all the franchise restaurants. But we came to see the house, and it was this little corner of paradise right in the heart of Silverdale. Its original, rural nature had been preserved.”
Courtesy of SHED Architecture & Design
Photo: Rafael Soldi
Less paradisical was the home’s interior, which still had its original 1930s layout—complete with compartmentalized rooms, low ceilings in the upstairs bedrooms, and few windows to capture views of the inlet. Still, there was something about the brick that captivated the couple—it isn’t a common building material in the area, and it still bore the original builder’s initials in a flourish on the east facade.
Courtesy of SHED Architecture & Design
Photo: Rafael Soldi
After purchasing the property, Kirsten and Rick set about updating the farmhouse to suit their lifestyle. Their grown children and grandchildren come to stay for extended periods, so they needed more space and privacy than the existing three-bedroom / one-full-bathroom home offered. While researching local firms, they discovered SHED Architecture & Design, and they consulted with the firm about how to best proceed.
Photo: Rafael Soldi
Photo: Rafael Soldi
SHED principal Prentis Hale was struck by the uniqueness of the brick home, and thought the best approach was to preserve the integrity of the original structure while reorganizing the interior plan. “This was a 1930s brick house with some charm and character that didn’t deserve to be torn down,” says Hale. “It had been part of the fabric of Silverdale for a while, but the interior really no longer worked for the way people live these days.”
The firm came up with a master plan for the site that would convert the brick house into a guest residence for visiting family, and create a separate primary house for Kirsten and Rick. (They’ve just broken ground on the latter.)
Courtesy of SHED Architecture & Design
Photo: Rafael Soldi
Photo: Rafael Soldi
Photo: Rafael Soldi
SHED worked with Joe Gates Construction to keep the roof’s pitch, as well as the east and west facades, most of the window openings on those faces, and the OG initials. They took more liberties with the North and South facades.
On the water side, they extended the dormer all the way across to make room for two bedroom suites upstairs, and inserted new windows in the dormer to capture the views. “It neatly arranged itself in a very centralized, symmetrical (as we could make it) floor plan on the upper level,” says Hale. SHED mirrored that symmetry on the lower level, with two large sets of sliding-glass doors that align with the dormers above and connect the main living spaces to the view.
The firm also leaned into asymmetry by exaggerating the roof overhang at the rear facade to create a protected porch. Other exterior elements, like a simple steel canopy above the front door, and a metal railing, sync up with that dramatic move.
Courtesy of SHED Architecture & Design
Photo: Rafael Soldi
Kirsten says she wanted the interior to feel “both light and airy, but to also have the character of a farmhouse.” To hit these notes, the design team selectively applied white shiplap to the entry, kitchen, and custom cabinetry upstairs. The wood paneling also serves a functional purpose: “I like something that can get dented,” says Kirsten.
To sync the home with the surrounding landscape, the team selected deep-blue floor tile for the bathroom, and pale green upholstery for a window seat. “It’s the opposite of a rabbit warren, which is what it felt like before,” says Kirsten. “Now, everything opens to the water and sky.”
Courtesy of SHED Architecture & Design
Photo: Rafael Soldi
Courtesy of SHED Architecture & Design
Photo: Rafael Soldi
Courtesy of SHED Architecture & Design
Photo: Rafael Soldi
Courtesy of SHED Architecture & Design
Photo: Rafael Soldi
Photo: Rafael Soldi
Photo: Rafael Soldi
Photo: Rafael Soldi
More Before & After stories:
Clever Changes Bring Out the Charm in a 1920s Seattle Bungalow
A Timeworn Midcentury Home Gets a Reverent Renovation
A Kandinsky Print Inspires a Seattle Rambler’s Radiant Remodel
Project Credits:
Architecture: SHED Architecture & Design / @shedarchitecture
Builder: Joe Gates Construction
Structural Engineer: Todd Perbix
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.
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.
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.
colby wood
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.
stasha vincent
communications specialist
stasha@paxsonfay.com
Originally from Spokane, Washington, Stasha relocated to Seattle after completing her studies in communications at Eastern Washington University. Over the past seven years, she has held various communication roles at Amazon, specializing in crisis communication and brand reputation. In June of 2023, Stasha joined Paxson Fay as a Communications Specialist, providing her with the opportunity to blend her communications expertise with her passion for design. Stasha focuses on PR efforts for a variety of clients at Paxson Fay.
We are looking for a star communications specialist to join our team, leading creative brands in their communications efforts across platforms. 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.