Remodeling
Joyous Renovation
An upgrade on this Kirkland rambler allows the owners to stay in their neighborhood and near friends—for many more years of backyard barbecues and Friday night get-togethers


before
THE CHALLENGE: Twenty-plus years of good times with their neighbors convinced David and Joy Thielsen to never move. So when they wanted an upgraded home, they decided to remodel. Their Kirkland neighborhood is in transition, with midcentury box ramblers like theirs sitting next to new million-dollar homes. David and Joy wanted to make a contemporary statement but were sensitive to the area’s conservative feel.

THE SOLUTION: An architect and principal of Thielsen Architects, David gave the building an intriguing but subtle new look. The 2,060-square-foot home now has three bedrooms, two baths and a loft master suite.  “We wanted to fit in,” he says. “We’re certainly making an architectural statement, but it’s understated.” A new covered patio creates space for future backyard barbecues. Exterior materials—rich cedar, corrugated metal and standing seam metal roofing—blend in with the area. “The architecture is different from everything else in the neighborhood, but we scaled it the same,” Joy says.  “We’re here because of our neighbors,” David adds. “And now, we see this as a place we’ll stay.”

  • The warmth of native red cedar siding is a comforting contrast to the cool of the bright metal trim.
  • Above the patio, Deglas translucent fiberglass panels let in light but block out harmful UV rays.
  • Galvalume steel roofing is aesthetically pleasing and durable—and easy to clean.

Design Details
architect  David Thielsen, Thielsen Architects, 720 Market St., Ste. C, Kirkland, (425) 828-0333