Situated on the north end of Seattle’s historic Capitol Hill neighborhood, the property slopes steeply to the northeast, providing the home with panoramic views of Portage Bay, Lake Washington, and the Cascade Mountains beyond. The two-story 1920’s home was completely renovated and a third-story “attic” was constructed to create a private retreat for the family with a home office, a living area, a project area for the owners’ children, outdoor entertainment space and abundant storage.

The attic addition simultaneously affords two kinds of seemingly disparate atmospheres: the intimacy of an attic and the panorama of sweeping rooftop views. Intimacy is created through a ceiling-scape finished with 2” strips of bamboo. Flooring, stair and cabinets are constructed of palm. The deck, visually perceived as an extension of the interior space, is surfaced in ipe and becomes part of the panorama. Full-height storage cabinets and doors are continuous with the walls, creating an overall feeling of openness in the space.