Bothell: The Perfect Locale for Your Custom Home
Bothell, an early Western Washington logging community, is nestled against the winding Sammamish River located to the northeast of Lake Washington. While Bothell has undergone extensive recent development it still retains its original small-town charm with its walkable downtown area and annual community parade—making it one of the best cities for custom home builds on the Eastside.
Filled with natural beauty, proximity to both I5 and 405 interstates, top-ranked schools, and a close-knit community, Bothell is one of Washington’s most sought-after living destinations. We’re honored to serve as Bothell architects.
Bothell Architects Share Their Favorite Highlights
- Top tier school system: Bothell is a part of the Northshore School District, which consistently ranks as one of the best in the country. The district Includes 20 elementary schools, 6 middle schools, and 4 high schools and serves the communities of Bothell, Brier, Woodinville, and Kenmore.
- A growing suburban enclave: As of 2019, Bothell’s population was estimated to be 47,000, making it the 30th largest city in the state of Washington. In addition to a vibrant downtown, Bothell is an eclectic mix of 19 neighborhoods, each with their own distinct functions and unique character.
- An ideal place: Bothell has a reputation as a perfect place for locals, relocating professionals, retirees, and families to set down roots and call home. Bothell has exceptionally high safety ratings and is a very clean, attractive community to live in.
- Ample recreation: Bothell is home to dozens of wineries, breweries, restaurants, parks, and recreation areas. Encountering the deluge of both natural environments and fun attractions is an inevitable part of living here.
Life in Downtown Bothell
In downtown Bothell, residents will discover a city that has masterfully woven its rich historical character into its substantial modern development. Historic Bothell harkens to a turn of the century era of logging and farming with old buildings repurposed into the many attractive shops and eateries. The Hillcrest Bakery, a local favorite, has been operating continuously for over 60 years.
Just down Bothell Way, a stretch of repurposed buildings has been transformed into an engaging recreation space. The McMenamin’s Anderson School bills itself as a “Disneyland For Adults,” and has flipped a sprawling, century-old schoolhouse into a collection of quirky bars, restaurants, hotels, and recreation areas.
The Bothell Landing is a quiet park near downtown that occupies both sides of the Sammamish River, linked by an iconic footbridge. Boardwalk trails lead you through wetlands where you can rent a kayak and float down the river. At the edge of Washington Wine Country, tasting rooms are always within a short walk from whatever part of downtown you find yourself in.
Building a Life in the Greater Bothell Area
Just 30 minutes from Seattle, Bothell has relatively easy access to the Pacific Northwest’s largest city via I-405. While no doubt establishing itself as a premiere city, Bothell shares its borders with some elite company. Kenmore, Lake Forest Park, and Kirkland are filled with beautiful Lake Washington beaches and fun urban/suburban areas to explore, shop, and relax. The vineyards and wineries of Woodinville are just a few minutes away and make destination-seeking a common part of the Bothell resident experience.
Bothell Neighborhoods Perfect for Custom Homes
The heavily wooded, quiet neighborhoods of Bothell are considered among the best and safest to live. On the north end of the city, residents encounter the North Creek neighborhood. This area is filled with high priced, medium to large single-family homes mostly built in the last 20 years. North Creek Park is a wonderful community destination for walking and playing. Canyon Park carries the most name recognition in the city and is centrally located. Homes here are often grandiose and stately and, with easy access to major arterials, local shopping, and a plethora of school options, Canyon Park is a desirable place to settle down and develop your dream home project.
Bothell Architects Provide Home Design Suited to Your Tastes
Bothell architecture is rooted in its origins as a timber and farming community—roots that were incorporated into more modern aesthetics as the area underwent natural expansion and growth. The first Bothell architects were early settlers who saw the purpose of what they built primarily in terms of the function that it served. Log cabin style homes, farmhouses, and sprawling estates were common (some of which have been preserved and can be seen in the Bothell Landing Park.)
As the area developed and annexed many of the surrounding neighborhoods, Bothell home designers were free to adapt their designs to suit the tastes of the location they were designing for. Bothell residential architects can lean into classical/traditional design aesthetics with a synthesis of modern living. The recent influx of tech jobs and new affluence has brought a corresponding demand for spacious homes with modern aesthetics without abandoning inspiration from the natural environment.
Custom home designers are always in high demand from Bothell residents seeking to establish a sense of home in these premiere neighborhoods. Bothell luxury architects have made their mark with spectacular homes from North Creek to Juanita Drive.
Featured Project: Hollywood Hills Retreat
This project emerged from the owners’ desire for great design in a smaller footprint. At 2,700 square feet, the home is efficient and reflects the owner’s personality. Integrated with the outdoors, it mirrors the beauty of its woodland surroundings with rustic, three-inch horizontal log siding and natural stone accents. The metal roof lends a modern air while serving to effortlessly shed pine needles and debris.
Inside, the main living area uses a great room design to share space, allowing the dining, kitchen, and family room spaces to mingle. Lift-and-slide doors extend the living area into the outdoors. A stunning stone and steel fireplace anchors the main living area, mixing modern elements with timeless stone and wood materials.
With three bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, Hollywood Hills Retreat makes space for guests and entertaining. The master suite caters to the homeowner’s natural flow of activity as it connects the bedroom, bathroom, closet, laundry room, and mudroom in a seamless, logical path. Hollywood Hills Retreat exists to bring beauty and functionality together, demonstrating that true quality supersedes quantity. This is the art of architecture.
Bothell Architects for Your Home
As local Bothell architects, we constantly pursue the art of architecture as the calling for our work. The constantly evolving community of Bothell provides us with an endless opportunity to answer this calling in original and dynamic ways. We delight in the process of merging the preferences and imaginations of our clients with the distinct character of Bothell as they build their dream home.
Every project presents a new opportunity to consider more deeply how we merge form with function, and to paint a portrait in architecture of our clients’ unique lifestyles. Serving that purpose is our life’s work and greatest honor. To learn more about designing your dream home, contact us.