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SHED Architecture’s Alder House on Dwell

Before & After: Here’s What It Took to Warm Up a Drafty ’90s Home in Seattle

A couple say goodbye to glass bricks as they tap SHED Architecture for an energy-efficient remodel with fresh insulation, ash millwork, and a whole new flow.

There’s drafty, and then there’s relocating the living room couch because no one can sit by the window in the fall and winter. That’s exactly what Eric and Kristin Courtemanche did in their 1990 home in Seattle’s Denny Blaine neighborhood, where they live with their three children. “We had to move away from all that glass because it was so cold,” recalls Eric. The couple bought the house off-market in 2015 because they loved the neighborhood, but as the years passed they discovered many of its problems.

The windows were at the end of their life. There was water intrusion. “There was not just moss, but full-on vegetation growing out of the exterior siding,” says Kristin. The deck was sagging, and the lower level was so damp that it could only be used for storage, which was a waste of space. Plus, this being a ’90s build, “There was a lot of glass brick,” says Eric. “Signature nineties, but also, not doing anything to keep the envelope insulated.”

Before: Front Exterior

Before: Eric and Kristin Courtemanche bought this 1990 house in Seattle in 2015. They worked with SHED Architecture & Design on a whole-house remodel that involved removing the cornice at the roof to simplify the exterior lines and remediating the roof assembly.

After: Front Exterior

Exterior, House Building Type, Flat RoofLine, and Wood Siding Material After adding layers of exterior insulation and new windows, the team replaced the rotting siding with open-gap cedar cladding and Cor-Ten steel accents.
After adding layers of exterior insulation and new windows, the team replaced the rotting siding with open-gap cedar cladding and Cor-Ten steel accents.

The couple, who call themselves “original fans” of Dwell—”We remember the ‘Fruit Bowl Manifesto,’” says Kristin—had seen the work of local firm SHED Architecture & Design, and reached out to them about a remodel and an energy efficiency tune-up. Their question throughout the process was, “‘How can we be green?’” says Eric. The answer involved a whole-house deep energy retrofit, says SHED project architect Robert Arlt.

“That was one of their goals from the very beginning,” adds design principal Thomas Schaer. “A lot of people allow that to slip away as they identify their dream tile, or when the budget numbers come in, but they did not falter. They were very targeted in their approach to get the biggest bang for the buck.”

Before: Entry

Before: SHED wanted to preserve the entry bridge and the curved walls inside, but they took out the glass blocks.

Before: SHED wanted to preserve the entry bridge and the curved walls inside, but they took out the glass blocks.

After: Entry

Hallway and Light Hardwood Floor SHED replaced a solid wall at the stairwell with a slat wall, which allows natural light to filter in and hit the curved wall of a powder bathroom. "When you come inside, you get these really nice gradations of light," says project architect Robert Arlt.

SHED replaced a solid wall at the stairwell with a slat wall, which allows natural light to filter in and hit the curved wall of a powder bathroom. “When you come inside, you get these really nice gradations of light,” says project architect Robert Arlt.

Storage Room, Shelves Storage Type, and Cabinet Storage Type All of the casework is wrapped in ash wood veneer, including this built-in cabinet and the floating shelves at the landing.

All of the casework is wrapped in ash wood veneer, including this built-in cabinet and the floating shelves at the landing.

Using WUFI, a modeling software for Passive House construction, the firm presented the couple with a plan, wherein the owners were able to see the effects of their choices—from the appliances, to the windows and exterior insulation. “That allowed us to test a few different options and then compare with the budget,” says Arlt.

In the end, Eric and Kristin opted to incorporate several strategies to reduce their energy demand, although they didn’t go for full Passive House certification in order to stay within budget. They converted the house to all-electric and energy-efficient appliances, added continuous exterior insulation with rainscreen cladding for reduced thermal bridging, and set up a whole-house ventilation and air filtration system. Lastly, they chose to install a photovoltaic array, rather than upgrading to triple-pane windows, as the solar panels are slated to offset 87% of their energy use.

The design team compares the new layers of exterior insulation to a winter coat, or a blanket enclosing the house. “When you put that blanket around everything, it’s a really meaningful difference,” says Schaer.

Before: Living Room

Before: The existing living room windows were very drafty, and at the top there was an opening to the upstairs primary bedroom.

Before: The existing living room windows were very drafty, and at the top there was an opening to the upstairs primary bedroom.

After: Living Room

Living Room, End Tables, Storage, Coffee Tables, Bookcase, Sofa, Chair, Wood Burning Fireplace, Ceiling Lighting, Light Hardwood Floor, and Standard Layout Fireplace SHED replaced the drafty windows with tall sliding glass doors to connect to the deck. The Acre lounge chairs and Turn side table are both by Blu Dot.

SHED replaced the drafty windows with tall sliding glass doors to connect to the deck. The Acre lounge chairs and Turn side table are both by Blu Dot.

Before: Fireplace

Before: The step down into the living room was a tripping hazard. "We had a couple people fall on that occasionally," says Kristin.

Before: The step down into the living room was a tripping hazard. “We had a couple people fall on that occasionally,” says Kristin.

After: Fireplace

Living Room, Chair, Coffee Tables, Sofa, End Tables, Standard Layout Fireplace, Ceiling Lighting, Storage, Light Hardwood Floor, Wood Burning Fireplace, and Shelves A woodstove by Stuv is anchored by a bookshelf and firewood storage cubbeys.

A woodstove by Stuv is anchored by a bookshelf and firewood storage cubbeys.

The team also made some updates to bring the house out of the ’90s. “In general, we want to do as little as possible to get a good result when we’re remodeling a house,” says Schaer. To that end, they emphasized the home’s strengths, like the entry bridge and the curved wall of a powder bathroom just across from the front door, and they removed clutter, like the choppy, mismatched square windows, and the interior walls that hampered the floor plan.

They started by salvaging space from a den/office to enlarge the kitchen, since Eric and Kristin are big bakers and entertainers. Then SHED took down walls to open the kitchen to the rest of the plan, leaving only a structural post, and added a large sliding glass door to connect the living room to a rebuilt deck. Now, the two doors lead outside, creating an easy, circular flow between the deck (which is the couple’s only flat outdoor space) and the main living spaces.

Before: Dining Room

Before: Previously, only the dining room had doors to the deck.

Before: Previously, only the dining room had doors to the deck.

After: Dining Room

Dining Room, Ceiling Lighting, Pendant Lighting, Table, Chair, and Light Hardwood Floor The table is surrounded by vintage Emeco Navy chairs, and a Flos Glo-Ball pendant light hangs overhead.

The table is surrounded by vintage Emeco Navy chairs, and a Flos Glo-Ball pendant light hangs overhead.

Before: Kitchen

Before: There’s a glimpse of the office behind the kitchen. SHED removed the wall between the two rooms to enlarge the kitchen, and cleaned up the soffits, which were concealing old HVAC systems, to create a continuous ceiling plane.
Before: There’s a glimpse of the office behind the kitchen. SHED removed the wall between the two rooms to enlarge the kitchen, and cleaned up the soffits, which were concealing old HVAC systems, to create a continuous ceiling plane.

After: Kitchen

Kitchen, Wall Oven, Refrigerator, Wood Cabinet, Engineered Quartz Counter, Dishwasher, Recessed Lighting, Cooktops, Ceramic Tile Backsplashe, Ceiling Lighting, Light Hardwood Floor, and Undermount Sink The new kitchen layout allows sight lines to the entry from the slot window beside the buffet. "Now they have a sense of who’s coming and going," says Arlt. "And the dogs love it."

The new kitchen layout allows sight lines to the entry from the slot window beside the buffet. “Now they have a sense of who’s coming and going,” says Arlt. “And the dogs love it.”

Windows, Wood, and Picture Window Type The countertop is 4030 Pebble by Caesarstone atop custom ash cabinetry. The faucet is by Dornbracht.

The countertop is 4030 Pebble by Caesarstone atop custom ash cabinetry. The faucet is by Dornbracht.

Kitchen, Engineered Quartz Counter, Dishwasher, Light Hardwood Floor, Ceramic Tile Backsplashe, Wood Cabinet, Ceiling Lighting, Refrigerator, Recessed Lighting, Undermount Sink, Wall Oven, and Cooktops The backsplash tile in Neptune is from Fireclay. When friends come over for parties, they help themselves to a glass from the cupboard. "It feels very organic," says Kristin.

The backsplash tile in Neptune is from Fireclay. When friends come over for parties, they help themselves to a glass from the cupboard. “It feels very organic,” says Kristin.

Hallway and Light Hardwood Floor "We’re always trying to get curves into projects," says Schaer, because they "feel good," light hits them nicely, and curves are easier for people to maneuver around. SHED added a radial edge to the structural post, which corresponds to the powder room wall, as well as shelving for cookbooks.

“We’re always trying to get curves into projects,” says Schaer, because they “feel good,” light hits them nicely, and curves are easier for people to maneuver around. SHED added a radial edge to the structural post, which corresponds to the powder room wall, as well as shelving for cookbooks.

Built-in Ash casework, like the half-wall that bridges the living and dining room, the mudroom area in the basement, and an upstairs reading nook, pulls the house together across its three floors. It also fulfills the clients’ brief for a “Nordic palette,” which Eric describes as “blonde wood, grey concrete, and black as an accent.”

Before: Primary Suite

Before: SHED removed soffits throughout the house to reduce visual clutter.

Before: SHED removed soffits throughout the house to reduce visual clutter.

After: Primary Suite

Bath Room, Soaking Tub, Ceramic Tile Floor, Drop In Tub, Undermount Sink, Ceiling Lighting, Full Shower, Accent Lighting, Wall Lighting, and Ceramic Tile Wall The vanity has Dornbracht faucets and Swing SLW5 sconces from Delray.

The vanity has Dornbracht faucets and Swing SLW5 sconces from Delray.

These days, it’s easy to keep every room of the house at a balmy 68 degrees. “It’s boring, but I think the temperature management makes such a huge difference,” says Kristin. “We spent so much of our energy previously trying to manipulate things so that we were comfortable, whether it was taking clothes on and off, or trying to put heavy drapery over the single-pane windows.”

Even so, their current favorite spot isn’t even inside: It’s the deck, where family members tends to gather, or just sit solo with a book. When Kristin’s family calls, they ask, “‘What’d you do this weekend? Did you get any deck time in?’” she says. “That whole area, from the kitchen and dining room, extending out to the deck, is the family hub now.”

Before: Primary Suite

Before: SHED replaced the mismatched windows in the bathroom with new ribbon windows.

Before: SHED replaced the mismatched windows in the bathroom with new ribbon windows.

After: Primary Suite

Bath Room, Undermount Sink, Ceiling Lighting, Soaking Tub, Wall Lighting, Full Shower, Ceramic Tile Floor, Drop In Tub, Accent Lighting, and Ceramic Tile Wall The Hood River Gloss wall tile is by Fireclay, and the Daltile floor tile is Outlander in Marine.

The Hood River Gloss wall tile is by Fireclay, and the Daltile floor tile is Outlander in Marine.

Bedroom, Bed, Chair, Night Stands, Lamps, Light Hardwood Floor, and Table Lighting In the bedroom, a Womb chair and ottoman by Eero Saarinen for Knoll sit beside a Nelson Thin-Edge bedside table by George Nelson for Herman Miller. The Pixo Plus table lamp is by Pablo Designs.

In the bedroom, a Womb chair and ottoman by Eero Saarinen for Knoll sit beside a Nelson Thin-Edge bedside table by George Nelson for Herman Miller. The Pixo Plus table lamp is by Pablo Designs.

After: Hall Reading Nook

Storage Room and Cabinet Storage Type This area was previously open to the floor below, so SHED filled it with a built-in window seat and reading nook, with Isaac sconces from Schoolhouse.

This area was previously open to the floor below, so SHED filled it with a built-in window seat and reading nook, with Isaac sconces from Schoolhouse.

After: Basement

Storage Room and Cabinet Storage Type A mudroom off the garage has ash casework that matches the rest of the house.

A mudroom off the garage has ash casework that matches the rest of the house.

Shed & Studio, Living Space Room Type, Family Room Room Type, and Den Room Type Thanks to the changes to the building envelope and the remediation of water intrusion, the basement is now a great hangout space.

Thanks to the changes to the building envelope and the remediation of water intrusion, the basement is now a great hangout space.

Shed & Studio, Living Space Room Type, and Living Room Room Type The family added a Murphy bed in the basement for guests.

The family added a Murphy bed in the basement for guests.

Before: Rear Exterior

Before: Kristin refers to the previous rear facade as the "gauntlet," as maneuvering cars into the garage between the many structural posts was a frustrating experience.

Before: Kristin refers to the previous rear facade as the “gauntlet,” as maneuvering cars into the garage between the many structural posts was a frustrating experience.

After: Rear Exterior

Exterior, Flat RoofLine, House Building Type, and Wood Siding Material SHED rebuilt the deck to have only two support posts. An integrated planter faced with Cor-Ten steel ties into the front facade.

SHED rebuilt the deck to have only two support posts. An integrated planter faced with Cor-Ten steel ties into the front facade.

Exterior, House Building Type, Wood Siding Material, and Flat RoofLine Hay Palissade armchairs and side chairs are ready for the family’s "deck time."

Hay Palissade armchairs and side chairs are ready for the family’s “deck time.”

Floor plan of Alder House by SHED Architecture & Design

Floor plan of Alder House by SHED Architecture & Design

Photos: Rafael Soldi

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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

Originally from Seattle, Amy left her home in the Pacific Northwest to attend Fordham University, fulfilling her dream of living in New York City. After graduating with a BS in business administration, specializing in marketing and minoring in economics, Amy began her career in advertising sales at CNN and the Hallmark Channel in New York and LA. However, Amy’s love of writing, design, and connection with people ultimately led her to PR. While finishing her MBA back home at Seattle University, in 2015, Amy cofounded Paxson Fay with her friend and business partner, Tessa, driven by a shared vision to build a PR agency that reflected their values and passions. At Paxson Fay, Amy thrives in media relations and pitch development, enjoying the process of diving deep into each client’s story to craft compelling narratives that resonate with editors and journalists. Amy has a particular passion for architecture-focused projects, and securing SHED’s feature in The New York Times was an especially rewarding moment, as they were her first client. Another major career milestone was helping build out Paxson Fay’s talented team, fostering an environment where young professionals can grow their skills and pursue their passions. Outside of work, Amy loves spending time with her family, chasing after her two little boys, exploring Seattle’s restaurant scene, traveling with friends, and reading.

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

account executive
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.

martina povolo

account coordinator
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

account coordinator
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.

Internships

PR & Digital Interns

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.

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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.

PUBLIC47

Stinson

Syndicate Smith

Delta Marine

Coronet LED

The Miller Hull Partnership

Vulcan Real Estate

Nakamoto Forestry

Best Practice Architecture

NICO Sayulita

SHED Architecture & Design

Ted Bradley Studio

Dyna Builders

GOODLAND

Stephenson Design Collective

BuildingWork

Casework

Love Schack Architecture

Graphite Design Group

3form

LightArt

People People

Space.City

Only Good Things

Keeps

Abodian Inc.

Hightower

Chown Hardware

Grand Rapids Chair Co

Modern Shed

Union Wood Co

Hybrid

Acentech

Heliotrope Architects

GRAY Magazine

Signal Architecture + Research

Kate Duncan / ADDRESS

House of Sorcery

Móz Architectural Metals

Springboard

Dwell Development

Interstyle

Michael Courtney Design

IWOODLOVE