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Of geometry and gemstones
Showcasing picturesque views of city skyline and natural landscape, a Seattle couple's three-story dream home finds inspiration in the geometry of precious gemstones and of mid-century modern architecture.
The house's crystalline massing and angled roof create a space that resembles an emerald-cut diamond faceted with expansive windows framing enviable vistas.
» Personality driven, modern design
Owners Rebecca Bridge and her husband, Evan Lundgren, are lifelong residents of the Seattle area. From a young age, Bridge learned to appreciate the region's beauty and the geology. As an adult, she became a gemologist working for a local jeweler.
With her strong connection to work and family, Bridge chose to remain in the Magnolia neighborhood where she grew up. After she and Lundgren married, they were ready to move from a condominium into a more spacious place with room to grow. They purchased a one-story with a basement, but knew that it would require extensive renovation.
To help create their dream home, they contacted Joseph McKinstry Construction Company who put them in touch with Janof Architecture. They wanted a home designed around entertaining their extended family, who all live nearby. And it was essential to maximize their spectacular views of downtown Seattle, Mt. Baker and Mt. Rainier, says architectural firm principal, Amy Janof, AIA.
Listening and observing the couple's interests, the architect sought to connect the design style to the owners themselves. We based the design on Rebecca's interests in gems, describes Janof. Gemology and architecture share a sense of carefully constructed facets. How you angle and shape a gem to highlight the way it catches the light and presents its best features can be very similar to how you design a home.
» Enhancing the view, respecting the climate
Janof and her firm have earned a reputation for designing comfortable modern homes personalized to their owners and optimized for the surrounding view. Inviting her perspective on what contemporary homes need from a window system, Kolbe Windows & Doors included Janof in the early development of its VistaLuxe Collection.
They asked what I'd want if I could have the perfect window line for a modern house, Janof remembers. Kolbe did an amazing job. VistaLuxe is incredible. In particular, she mentions the consistent alignment and matching sightlines on both fixed and operating windows. Large panes of glass, narrow frames and slim, unobtrusive hardware contribute to an enhanced viewing experience.
On the Bridge-Lundgren home, Janof chose Kolbe's VistaLuxe Collection windows and doors with an Accent Style exterior, where the sash is recessed from the frame to add visual depth and interest. The exteriors are finished in a clean Timberwolf gray color. Maintaining the desirable, neat, clean and consistent appearance, field-finished Vertical Grain Fir was selected on the interior for all of Kolbe's windows and doors.
It's so nice to have the beauty of a wood window and the exterior protection of (aluminum) cladding, which we need in this climate, adds Janof. With respect to climate, Seattle has one of the strictest energy codes in the U.S. We met the code without any issue as the windows offer a 0.30 U-value.
» Visionary concept, precise construction
Joseph McKinstry Construction Company worked closely with Janof to ensure the 4,620-square-foot home's design was properly implemented. Amy and I have worked together for quite a few years on quite a few projects, notes Joseph McKinstry, company president. She always comes up with something out of the box. For the Bridge home, she showed us something completely different than the home that previously had been on that site and the new owners were delighted.
Finished on schedule in Spring 2016, Janof also is quick to credit the contributions of Kolbe's team and its local distributor Classic Window Products' Mike Cler. Kolbe is a joy to deal with. Their customer service is great and they helped me figure it all out. Mike was instrumental in making sure everything works the way it should.
» Contemporary look, customized expression
Anything that Amy dreams up, I give her options to figure what's possible, says Cler, who has worked with Janof on other Seattle projects. She knew what she wanted on the Bridge house and we started early in the process together. It really was the angles that drove this house design and taking advantage of the views. I helped coordinate with the contractor to implement her vision and assist in overcoming challenges.
While the living room's corner windows are the most complex, the windows in the master bedroom and bath are the most massive. These are huge units – too big to have them mulled together as single piece. Kolbe helped minimize the necessary connections, keeping the jambs as small as possible, Janof emphasizes.
To maintain Janof's signature aesthetic, Cler says, The sheetrock wraps over the jambs to keep the modern look. We use all direct set units except where operable units are designated. The bedroom looks like a whole window wall, but actually is made of 14 separate window units running South to East. The largest of these are seven 6-by-12 foot units, topped with seven 6-by-4-foot trapezoid windows.
Throughout the home, Janof says, The windows go right up to the ceiling plane. The glass is within a 1/4 inch of the roofline. The roofline itself is tilted on the diagonal, sloping corner to corner at 15 degrees.
After most of the windows were installed, Bridge admits that she initially had mixed feelings walking through the space. I felt a little like I was in a fishbowl and worried that there were too many windows. I thought maybe we should cover them. I even went so far as to get measurements for drapes and blinds. But I was wrong; after we moved in I realized I didn't want to cover them. The whole point is to see out of them. The windows capture views in every direction of the house. No matter where you look, there's something beautiful to see.
The house's crystalline massing and angled roof create a space that resembles an emerald-cut diamond faceted with expansive windows framing enviable vistas.
» Personality driven, modern design
Owners Rebecca Bridge and her husband, Evan Lundgren, are lifelong residents of the Seattle area. From a young age, Bridge learned to appreciate the region's beauty and the geology. As an adult, she became a gemologist working for a local jeweler.
With her strong connection to work and family, Bridge chose to remain in the Magnolia neighborhood where she grew up. After she and Lundgren married, they were ready to move from a condominium into a more spacious place with room to grow. They purchased a one-story with a basement, but knew that it would require extensive renovation.
To help create their dream home, they contacted Joseph McKinstry Construction Company who put them in touch with Janof Architecture. They wanted a home designed around entertaining their extended family, who all live nearby. And it was essential to maximize their spectacular views of downtown Seattle, Mt. Baker and Mt. Rainier, says architectural firm principal, Amy Janof, AIA.
Listening and observing the couple's interests, the architect sought to connect the design style to the owners themselves. We based the design on Rebecca's interests in gems, describes Janof. Gemology and architecture share a sense of carefully constructed facets. How you angle and shape a gem to highlight the way it catches the light and presents its best features can be very similar to how you design a home.
» Enhancing the view, respecting the climate
Janof and her firm have earned a reputation for designing comfortable modern homes personalized to their owners and optimized for the surrounding view. Inviting her perspective on what contemporary homes need from a window system, Kolbe Windows & Doors included Janof in the early development of its VistaLuxe Collection.
They asked what I'd want if I could have the perfect window line for a modern house, Janof remembers. Kolbe did an amazing job. VistaLuxe is incredible. In particular, she mentions the consistent alignment and matching sightlines on both fixed and operating windows. Large panes of glass, narrow frames and slim, unobtrusive hardware contribute to an enhanced viewing experience.
On the Bridge-Lundgren home, Janof chose Kolbe's VistaLuxe Collection windows and doors with an Accent Style exterior, where the sash is recessed from the frame to add visual depth and interest. The exteriors are finished in a clean Timberwolf gray color. Maintaining the desirable, neat, clean and consistent appearance, field-finished Vertical Grain Fir was selected on the interior for all of Kolbe's windows and doors.
It's so nice to have the beauty of a wood window and the exterior protection of (aluminum) cladding, which we need in this climate, adds Janof. With respect to climate, Seattle has one of the strictest energy codes in the U.S. We met the code without any issue as the windows offer a 0.30 U-value.
» Visionary concept, precise construction
Joseph McKinstry Construction Company worked closely with Janof to ensure the 4,620-square-foot home's design was properly implemented. Amy and I have worked together for quite a few years on quite a few projects, notes Joseph McKinstry, company president. She always comes up with something out of the box. For the Bridge home, she showed us something completely different than the home that previously had been on that site and the new owners were delighted.
Finished on schedule in Spring 2016, Janof also is quick to credit the contributions of Kolbe's team and its local distributor Classic Window Products' Mike Cler. Kolbe is a joy to deal with. Their customer service is great and they helped me figure it all out. Mike was instrumental in making sure everything works the way it should.
» Contemporary look, customized expression
Anything that Amy dreams up, I give her options to figure what's possible, says Cler, who has worked with Janof on other Seattle projects. She knew what she wanted on the Bridge house and we started early in the process together. It really was the angles that drove this house design and taking advantage of the views. I helped coordinate with the contractor to implement her vision and assist in overcoming challenges.
While the living room's corner windows are the most complex, the windows in the master bedroom and bath are the most massive. These are huge units – too big to have them mulled together as single piece. Kolbe helped minimize the necessary connections, keeping the jambs as small as possible, Janof emphasizes.
To maintain Janof's signature aesthetic, Cler says, The sheetrock wraps over the jambs to keep the modern look. We use all direct set units except where operable units are designated. The bedroom looks like a whole window wall, but actually is made of 14 separate window units running South to East. The largest of these are seven 6-by-12 foot units, topped with seven 6-by-4-foot trapezoid windows.
Throughout the home, Janof says, The windows go right up to the ceiling plane. The glass is within a 1/4 inch of the roofline. The roofline itself is tilted on the diagonal, sloping corner to corner at 15 degrees.
After most of the windows were installed, Bridge admits that she initially had mixed feelings walking through the space. I felt a little like I was in a fishbowl and worried that there were too many windows. I thought maybe we should cover them. I even went so far as to get measurements for drapes and blinds. But I was wrong; after we moved in I realized I didn't want to cover them. The whole point is to see out of them. The windows capture views in every direction of the house. No matter where you look, there's something beautiful to see.
