Into the Woods

The Pacific Northwest is a gorgeous area, and it is not uncommon for homeowners to try and bring some of that serenity and beauty into their homes. Some do it by incorporating elements indoors such as rough-scraped timbers and earthy tones into the living space. Others, such as the natural architecture of the home featured …

Moving a house before moving in

The photo below is a computer rendering of a finished English style country home. Designing and planning for this lovely home was straight forward enough, except for one catch. A house already occupied the land. The current house had been a family home for over 30 years and was still in excellent condition. Simply demolishing …

Design with Constraints

It is always great when clients come to us knowing just what they want. Want an indoor home tennis court? Sure. Bowling lane and rec room? No problem. Fully equipped exercise room? Done. Our Issaquah architects can do all of that and more while adhering to zoning a building codes that restrict height and size. …

Unique Project in Bellevue

At Gelotte Hommas, we design homes that will stand the test of time and look beautiful doing it. However, on occasion the needs of the homeowner change and therefore the home needs to change as well. This is what happened at a residence in Bellevue, WA. A few years ago, Curtis Gelotte and Eric Drivdahl …

A Remodel with an Asian Flair

This extraordinary craftsman house started its life as two story vacation cabin in the 1930’s. While the original had its charm, it also had access problems due to the steep slope on which it was built and generally needed an update. To make it easier to get into the house, a third story was build …

Options for Outdoor Living

It may only be late February but here in Seattle the crocus and daffodils are already blooming which turns our thoughts to outdoor entertainment. The exterior space of a home says just as much about the inhabitants as the interior space. Today’s post is an overview of some of the outdoor living spaces that Gelotte …

The Balcony Beckons

Balconies are romantic. Unlike a patio or porch, which are usually on the ground and have multiple access points, a balcony resides on an upper floor and you can only get there through the building.  This instantly makes the space more intimate and often improves the view. Could your home use a private balcony? Here …

Italian Inspiration

Have you always dreamed of living in Italy but have work or family obligations that keep you here? Well the next best thing to living in Italy is living in a beautiful Italian inspired home. This style can be called many things, Mediterranean, Tuscan, Italian or Etruscan. No matter what you call it, everyone can …

Kirkland Bungalow

The word bungalow might conjure up the image of a quaint little shack near a beach, but that is not all that bungalows have to offer. In the book Bungalow (published 1911) the author, Harry Saylor defines a bungalow as having “an open floor plan, low-pitched roof and essential large front porch”. With that definition, …

Belly Up to the Bar

Entertaining family and friends is one of the great joys in life. It can be even more enjoyable when you can host them at your own home bar. A home bar can be incorporated into any style of home and be either small or large. Here are a few examples of exquisite home bars that …