This Seattle Couple Figured Out How to Put a Double-Height Art Studio in Their Home

Most people want to leave their work at the office, but when an artist and an engineer in Seattle started to think about their ideal home, work was actually central to their discussions. The young couple turned to Heliotrope Architects to help them create a contemporary property that would be the perfect spot to display — and create — art. But, at the same time, they asked that the address still appear like it belonged in the neighborhood. "We wanted the structure to look like a house, not a box," principal Mike Mora said. "And the clients wanted to be good neighbors, so the physical characteristics of the other houses on the street influenced the size, shape, and construction of the new design." On the inside, modernity was key. The firm created a double-height art studio that's connected to the living area by a set of stairs, making it feel separate but still accessible. And on the outside, Mora made sure that the aesthetic fit in with the surroundings. The team kept the exterior more traditional, while framing views of the front and rear courtyards with expansive windows. In the end, the couple's 3,500-square-foot residence is a fusion of two mindsets: work with play, and old with new.