For years, the home occupying this lot was thought to be the island’s ugliest. Built in the 1970s, the pseudo French provincial–style house—complete with faux mansard roof—was an eyesore but structurally sound, and it had a desirable floor plan. As a result, Designs Northwest Architects opted to rework only the exterior; any interior alterations would be minor and strictly cosmetic. The biggest undertaking was removing the mansard to expose the original structure with its flat roof. The team also removed a chamfered bay window, adding a new squared-off bay clad in corrugated metal. On the side of the house facing the water, small windows were replaced with a double-height glazing system. Aside from these major changes, cedar shingles replaced the vinyl siding, the garage was re-clad and outfitted with new aluminum overhead doors, and an arbor-inspired detail was added to give depth to the front facade. Inside, the formerly dark beams were lightened to give them a driftwood appearance; and the removal of shag carpeting from the stair exposed the wood treads, which were complemented with a steel-cable rail for a more contemporary feel.

Designer Designs Northwest Architects, designsnw.com

Builder Impel Construction, impelconstruction.com

Location Camano Island, Wash.

Photos Lucas Henning, courtesy of Designs Northwest Architects

From Fine Homebuilding #289

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