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The Wedge(wood) House Breathes New Life Into a 1970s Classic

ByMyProperty Life

In Seattle’s historic Wedgwood neighborhood, a 1970s home has been revitalized for modern living, thanks to a collaboration between Best Practice Architecture and Ainslie-Davis, a family-owned contracting firm with a sentimental connection to the property. The home, originally crafted by the late uncle of the Ainslie Davis team, has been reimagined to accommodate the evolving needs of a young family while respecting its architectural lineage.

The project, affectionately named The Wedge(wood), embodies a thoughtful balance of preservation and transformation. The redesign begins with the heart of the home – the kitchen. Outdated and enclosed, the space was opened up to establish a fluid connection to the dining area. A wooden bench now anchors the room, seamlessly transitioning between the kitchen and dining space. The addition of a lowered leaf on the kitchen island encourages the children’s active participation in meal prep, making the space as functional as it is welcoming.

Modern living room with a green sectional sofa, wooden partition, and circular coffee table. Open plan includes dining area with white chairs, and a kitchen in the background. Bright and airy space.

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The redesign also honors key original features, such as the sunken living room and its vintage wood-burning stove, giving nostalgic nods to the home’s past. To better integrate this space with the adjacent kitchen and dining areas, the architects replaced partial-height walls with custom wood shelving, maintaining openness while subtly delineating the zones. The shelves wrap the seating area without disrupting sightlines to the outdoors.

A modern living room with high ceilings, a black suspended fireplace, a flat-screen TV, wooden flooring, a gray sofa, a round coffee table, and a staircase leading to an upper floor.

A modern living room with wooden shelves, a globe pendant light, and a potted plant. Blue sofas are visible in the background against large windows.

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Modern kitchen with a yellow chair at a small table, cupcakes on the table, open shelf with decor, and a blurred person near the sink. Large windows with greenery in the background.

Modern kitchen with gray and white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, and a wooden island. A person is walking in the background near a laundry area.

A kitchen area with green cabinets and wooden shelves holding plants, books, bowls, and jars of beans and grains. Two rabbit figurines sit on the counter.

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Modern kitchen with white cabinets, wood countertops, and stainless steel appliances. A dining area with yellow and white chairs is nearby, and there are decorative plants and items on shelves.

Modern kitchen with light green cabinets, wooden countertops, large windows, and indoor plants. A table with chairs and a counter with two cupcakes are in the foreground.

Modern dining room with a wooden table, white and yellow chairs, a window view of greenery, and plants on the sill. Pendant light hangs above.

A cozy dining area with a wooden table, white chairs, and a window seat with plants. A built-in green cubby with hooks, shelves, and a bench is nearby. Natural light brightens the space.

One of the most significant structural changes was the conversion of a covered porch into a dedicated mudroom. In a city known for its rainy weather, this space – featuring patterned tiles and ample storage – provides a practical and cheerful entryway for managing wet gear. This update added valuable square footage to the home, directly addressing the needs of the active household.

A green entryway nook with shelves, hat and coat hooks, assorted boxes, shoes, a hanging gray sweater, a blue cap, wall art, and a potted plant. Modern pendant light above.

A laundry room with a sink, countertop, and a front-loading washing machine. A wooden drying rack above holds clothes. An open window allows natural light inside.

Upstairs, the renovations continued with the addition of a full bathroom and the reconfiguration of an underutilized great room into a bedroom and playroom for the family’s younger members. The primary suite underwent a transformation that maximized natural light from clerestory windows and introduced an airy connection between the bedroom and a newly designed spa-like bathroom. By removing the top portion of a dividing wall, the space now offers serene views of the surrounding trees and sky, enhancing the home’s tranquil ambiance.

Two children sit at a desk drawing, surrounded by colorful artwork in a bright room with wooden floors and a high, angled ceiling.

Cozy bedroom with wooden ceiling, bed with light gray bedding, stuffed toy, side shelves with plant and books, small construction toys on floor, and a window.

Modern bathroom with a freestanding white bathtub, black faucet, and large windows. Light wood floors and minimalist light gray cabinets are visible. Trees are seen through the windows.

Minimalist bathroom with a white bathtub, glass shower, and black faucet. A small plant sits on a stool next to the tub, and a towel hangs on the wall.

Modern bathroom with green tile walls, round sink on a white countertop, plant on the windowsill, three adjacent windows, and a light fixture with round bulbs above the mirror.

Modern house exterior with a geometric design, featuring wood paneling, a small porch with a round light fixture, and a colorful rug inside the entrance. Vegetation surrounds the house.

Modern two-story house with large windows, wood siding, and surrounded by trees under a clear sky.

For more information on Best Practice Architecture, visit bestpracticearchitecture.com.

Photography by Rafael Soldi, courtesy of Best Practice Architecture.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.

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