Perched above Seattle’s Alki Beach, Alki Lookout is a 2,706-square-foot home originally built as a log cabin in 1910. After two remodels, the century-old residence had spectacular views of Puget Sound, Bainbridge Island, and the Olympic Mountains, but lacked a cohesive interior identity. Seattle-based studio Shed reworked the house into a more playful retreat using bold colors, expressive patterns, and warm wood.
The homeowners, who had both lived in Southern California, wanted the renovation to recall the warmth and spontaneity of their beach experiences. Shed described the resulting palette as a “serious surf palette,” while avoiding conventional coastal design motifs. The project retained much of the existing structure to meet budget requirements, focusing instead on targeted architectural changes and carefully selected materials.
One of the most consequential changes was switching the positions of the kitchen and dining areas. The former dining room occupied an awkward circulation zone, while the new built-in banquette sits beside a window overlooking the water. The reconfiguration also improved movement through the main level and strengthened the connection between the kitchen, dining, and living spaces.
Custom vertical-grain fir cabinetry adds warmth to the kitchen, alongside pink Concrete Collaborative countertops and a Pink Dahlia backsplash from Zia Tile. A tiled fin wall clad in Alex Proba’s Moroccan Mix tile for Concrete Collaborative helps organize the living area and establishes the project’s main combination of salmon, yellow, and blue tones. According to Shed principal Prentis Hale, the homeowners’ enthusiasm for the tile helped set the direction for the rest of the renovation.
In the living room, a pink sofa, custom fir screens, and built-in window seating create spaces for gathering while preserving views of the water. White oak flooring and warm wood surfaces balance the more vibrant elements. The bathrooms continue the theme with geometric tile, terrazzo, and wood cabinetry. In the guest bathroom, undulating blue-and-white Zia Tile is paired with Hygge & West’s Underwater World wallpaper for an abstract marine effect.
The primary suite combines the colorful approach with practical improvements. By reworking the stair area, Shed expanded storage to approximately two and a half times its original capacity. The new arrangement includes closets, cabinetry, and a custom built-in bed with concealed drawers. A mirrored transom above the bedroom entrance reflects light and makes the space feel taller.
The exterior gained its most distinctive feature after construction revealed that the siding needed to be replaced to address a waterproofing issue. The homeowners used the opportunity to commission Seattle artist Stevie Shao to paint a wildlife mural across the facade. The artwork depicts whales, osprey, and cranes, along with an axolotl added at their daughter’s request.
Visible from the beach below, the mural extends the home’s colorful interior character into the surrounding neighborhood. Together with the revised floor plan and expressive material palette, it gives Alki Lookout a stronger identity while maintaining its connection to the coastal landscape.
Sources: Design Milk.