Lichtenstein Studio

BACKYARD COTTAGES — GREEN DESIGN — SEATTLE DADU

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

This backyard art studio and guest house design has a traditional quality, while modern materials such as fiber cement panels and a metal roof skew the style toward contemporary. 

This cottage has an open floor plan, abundant natural light, and outdoor access. With other uses in mind, this small home was sited for privacy and doesn’t intrude on the main home or the neighbors. 

The dining area in the center of the home is flanked by French doors on each side to maintain an impression of depth and openness. The living room beyond the dining space has a vaulted ceiling and large rolling doors with etched glass panes that can be closed for privacy.

Square feet: 563

Green Design: Constructed with extensive use of recycled building materials and reclaimed fir structural members.

Award:
Fine Homebuilding, Reader’s Choice Award, 2015 Annual Houses Issue

Featured:
See Lichtenstein Studio in Seattle Magazine.

Tim Hammer of CAST was the lead on my project. Backyard cottages were a relatively new product type in Seattle and the studio was one of the first to be permitted in north Seattle. During both design and construction, CAST far exceeded my expectations in terms of providing technical (and moral!) support, and Tim was a clear communicator and a steady navigator through the challenges of designing and building a small space, in a tight area, under new regulations.

The studio's large French doors and window placement and treatment (matte glass) preserve privacy while filtering in bright natural light and providing opportunities to blur the lines between indoor and outdoor space. Tim guided the careful and creative use of salvaged fir beams as structural members and car-decking as flooring, unusual but worthwhile pursuits. The thoughtful layout offers privacy while also providing good flow around communal areas. All in all, the Studio is evidence that small-space living can be as elegant and beautiful as any dream home. Perhaps the best evidence of my positive experience with Tim is that my husband and I recently hired CAST for a second project - a house remodel.
— homeowner