On the western shore of Lake Washington in Seattle, the remodeled Black Pine House honors the home’s history while incorporating the owners’ passion for traditional Japanese architecture and design. Drawing inspiration from the home’s midcentury bones and the surrounding landscape, SHED Architecture & Design overhauled the interior and exterior alongside Whelbilt Homes.
The exterior’s lower level, formed with white brick, anchors two levels of Nakamoto Forestry’s authentic Suyaki Yakisugi. Commonly known as shou sugi ban, Yakisugi is made exclusively from Japanese cypress and intensely burned as a preservative heat treatment. SHED chose a tung oil black stain to complement the house’s wooded backdrop.
The main level interiors were opened to create an open living, kitchen, and dining area to maximize views of the lake—and, on clear days, Mount Rainier. The upper floors were reworked to include en-suite bedrooms, while the basement was equipped with a kitchenette, large living room, laundry room, and new bathroom, offering an entertainment-ready space with easy access to the lake. A detached accessory dwelling unit (DADU) was added to the west side of the homesite to serve as a garage, boat house, office space, guest quarters, and additional storage. The DADU is dressed in the same Suyaki cladding to visually connect the structures.
Project Details
Award: Merit
Category: Renovations & Additions
Architect: SHED Architecture & Design
Builder: Whelbilt Homes
Location: Seattle
Size: 6,500 square feet
