Location: Seattle
Architect: Rob Harrison
This extensive remodel and second-floor addition included beautifully finished apitong mahogany flooring, salvaged from boxcars. Shingles made from salvaged computer housing was used for the roofing. The new second-floor deck looks out onto Lake Washington and the Cascades.
"One of the most passionate, experienced and knowledgable green contractors in Seattle." –Rob Harrison
Location: Seattle
Architect: Vic Opperman
This major remodel of a 1940 house included a new kitchen and a three-bedroom second-floor addition. Only low-toxic materials were used, and a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) was installed. The house was carefully air sealed and insulated to make it much more energy efficient. New decks on two levels take advantage of the views.
Location: Issaquah
This project involved a whole-house remodel of a home built in 1983 on the shores of Lake Sammamish. This remodel was designed to make the home more livable and practical for the family. They gave high priority to making their home energy-efficient and healthy. The owner, David Bangs, is an expert in energy-efficient lighting and used the remodel as a lighting design lab, with beautiful and highly energy-efficient results. Lighting was done with a combination of warm-toned LED, compact fluorescent, and halogen IR bulbs. Spot lighting is done with artfully curved track lighting and wall spots.
The project began with the ReStore salvaging a wide variety of materials, including cabinets, doors, windows, plumbing and electrical fixtures, and a gas fireplace. Other salvaged items were reused by friends and neighbors. A large entrance chandelier and mirror were reused at a bar one of the workers on the job opened in Wallingford called the Grizzled Lizard.
FSC lumber was used for framing and for the cabinets. Interior walls were removed during the project to allow for a more open first-floor plan. Jobsite recycling was done by a provider that claims a 98% recycling rate.
The house already had a highly efficient heat pump heating system, an efficient water heater, and exterior walls insulated beyond code. During the project, attic insulation was increased to R-50, air tightness was significantly improved to .29 ACH, and the hot water recirculation system was expanded.
Throughout the project, a great deal of attention was given to creating good indoor air quality. All materials and finishes were low toxic, with no added urea formaldehyde. The project was able to take advantage of a new wall paint version that was both zero VOC, had a flat shine, and could be wiped down for cleaning. Quiet fans on timers were installed in each of the bathrooms. New wool carpeting was installed upstairs.
EcoCribz Episode One: Practical Green
Location: Seattle
Architect: Rob Harrison
This whole-house remodel of an early 1900s house involved finishing the basement, adding a new porch, and gutting the upper two floors. It included all new systems, close attention to healthy materials, and a significant energy upgrade. The project included a new Rumford fireplace in the living room. All trim and surfaces were chosen to carefully match the original craftsman style of the house.
Location: Seattle
This project involved enlarging the living room of a house built in 1911. This seamless addition was done by carefully enclosing the front porch, which doubled the size of the existing living room. It included a meticulous attention to detail in matching and extending the historic trim work and the wall and ceiling surfaces. It is virtually impossible to see where the original living room meets the new addition.
Location: Whidbey Island
Designer: Gordon Walker
Featured in Pacific Magazine, this custom cedar gazebo for Paul and Pam Schell's home on South Whidbey Island was built in the European style. It provides an ideal viewing platform for the wildlife attracted to the pond, including eagles, a great-horned owl, ducks, otters, and herons.
Pacific Magazine: Schell Gazebo
Location: Seattle
Architect: Butch Reifert
This project involved a second-floor addition and remodel of the existing house on the top of Queen Anne Hill. The project included gutting the existing 1,000-square-foot structure and building two small first-floor additions and a full second floor. The project featured numerous waste reductions and resource-efficient components. When the project was completed, the owners joked that they couldn’t get any yard work done because passersby kept stopping to tell them how beautiful their house was.
Location: Medina
Architect: Rob Harrison
Photos courtesy Rob Harrison
The primary challenge here was providing a safer and healthier environment for our client, who had multiple chemical sensitivity. Indoor air quality was paramount. Our client tested all of the over 120 materials (chosen from the least toxic available) we proposed to use in the project, from cabinet finishes to joint compound and caulks. Only five or six were rejected.
We were hired for our expertise in healthy building, although this was our first project for a client with MCS.
