Enjoy a sneak peek into an Architect’s new home on Mercer Island. Perched uphill from her recently built 750 SF Guest House, Suzanne Zahr’s beautiful 3,300 SF family home is organized around a featured ‘spine wall’ running North-South, paying homage to an indigenous rammed earth building methodology. A split ridge roof with clerestory windows is seated above, allowing for natural light to travel through the main living areas from dawn to dusk. Thoughtful site orientation and efficient space planning enable passive solar design to maximize heat retention and minimize energy use, which ultimately offers a general sense of ambient well-being. Taking advantage of the sloped site, the stormwater gravity flows into an on-site detention tank, minimizing the impact to municipal stormwater drainage system that flows into Lake Washington.
This high-performance building envelope includes strategically located, cross-ventilation through triple-glazed aluminum windows and doors, optimized insulation to minimize thermal bridging, airtightness, and vapor barrier control – all yielding better indoor air quality and increased building resilience. The lower floor concrete slab and uphill retaining walls act as a thermal mass, absorbing heat on hot summer days, keeping the garden terrace bedrooms cool at night. During the winter, this same concrete slab radiates hydronic heat, ensuring year-round, seasonal comfort. Exterior and interior finishes throughout are durable and grounded in earthy-modern tones and textures, offering the occasional artisanal flourish, promoting a relaxed and welcoming environment. Solar-ready, this home features energy-saving lighting design, automatic shading and Control4 smart-home technology. Plumbing fixtures have been selected for their timeless beauty and low-flow efficiency. Artwork & furnishings are layered in to enhance and personalize each space.
Images: Suzanne Zahr
Just downhill from the main house, the Guest House is nestled into the hillside, as it opens towards Western sunsets and views. With one bedroom, one bath, two sleeping lofts and a sleeper sofa, this tiny home can accommodate 6 guests comfortably. Finishes have been selected to express an earthy-modern vibe, approachable yet sophisticated.
Artisanal tilework is woven into a finish palette of natural stone, concrete and wood. Warm lighting is accented by sculptural pendants and controlled with integrated smart-home technology. Its live-roof blankets this Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit (DADU), keeping it warm on cool nights and absorbs the heat on sunny days. Cozy, but uncompromised.
Images: Suzanne Zahr
The Nook House is a 30-year exploration of urban living, density, and craftsmanship by architects Lisa Chadbourne and Daren Doss. Set on a 7,600-square-foot lot in Seattle’s Central District, the project transformed a single-house property into a compact family compound of three distinct structures connected through layered landscape and shared outdoor spaces. Completed in 2025, the 2,400-square-foot all-electric home was designed to increase density while preserving light, privacy, and a strong connection to nature. The L-shaped plan creates a lush entry courtyard planted with ferns and maples, while carefully framed views and outdoor rooms make the urban site feel expansive.
Cost efficiency and hands-on construction shaped the project from the beginning. Daren acted as general contractor, completing much of the work himself, while Lisa sourced and purchased materials and finishes with trade discounts. Corrugated aluminum siding, high-performance windows, exterior insulation, and rooftop solar support the home’s long-term resilience and low operational footprint. Inside, compact and flexible spaces support family life, with living areas opening directly to the yard and an upper-level retreat overlooking planted roof decks. The result is a deeply personal project that reflects the firm’s ethos: thoughtful density, careful craft, and meaningful connection to landscape and daily life.
Images: Rafael Soldi
Set along the shores of Lake Washington, this fully reimagined residence reflects its owners; their growing family, generous approach to entertaining, and appreciation for high-level design. Interiors by Popov led the turnkey transformation, from contractor selection, architectural coordination, and permitting through full interior and exterior design, project stewardship, furnishing and home outfitting. A renewed façade, redesigned front entrance, Shou Sugi Ban wood detailing, and custom wood-and-iron pivot door create a striking sense of arrival. The rebuilt waterside terracing deck provides distinct areas for lounging, alfresco dining, and effortless dock access.
Through thoughtful space planning, ingenuity, and a reworked entrance, the kitchen doubled in size within the home’s existing footprint. The redesigned entry now feels inviting and authentic, establishing the character of the interiors beyond.
An unused part of the lower level of the home, accessible only from the exterior, was reintegrated into the main home as a sophisticated entertainment destination featuring a private theater, surround sound, wet bar, and concealed hydraulic guest bed.
Every element—from original art and collected books to thoughtfully integrated children’s toys—contributes to a home that feels refined yet personal: a true support system for living, gathering, and growing.
Images courtesy Interiors by Popov
Set along the shores of Lake Washington, this fully reimagined residence reflects its owners; their growing family, generous approach to entertaining, and appreciation for high-level design. Interiors by Popov led the turnkey transformation, from contractor selection, architectural coordination, and permitting through full interior and exterior design, project stewardship, furnishing and home outfitting. A renewed façade, redesigned front entrance, Shou Sugi Ban wood detailing, and custom wood-and-iron pivot door create a striking sense of arrival. The rebuilt waterside terracing deck provides distinct areas for lounging, alfresco dining, and effortless dock access.
Through thoughtful space planning, ingenuity, and a reworked entrance, the kitchen doubled in size within the home’s existing footprint. The redesigned entry now feels inviting and authentic, establishing the character of the interiors beyond.
An unused part of the lower level of the home, accessible only from the exterior, was reintegrated into the main home as a sophisticated entertainment destination featuring a private theater, surround sound, wet bar, and concealed hydraulic guest bed.
Every element—from original art and collected books to thoughtfully integrated children’s toys—contributes to a home that feels refined yet personal: a true support system for living, gathering, and growing.
A deeper focus on some of our outstanding 2026 Tour homes.
