Kirkland: The Perfect Locale for Your Custom Home
Kirkland is an idyllic Western Washington city and recommended by many Kirkland architects. Located in the northeast corner of Lake Washington, it’s natural beauty, sweeping lake views, and vibrant community makes it one of Washington’s most desirable places to live. Kirkland has undergone extensive development and fits the bill for those looking to find the niche between bustling and affluent city and quiet suburb, full of activity, quality dining, and entertainment. With its walkable downtown area and lively night life it is 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, Kirkland is one of Washington’s most sought-after living destinations. We are honored to serve as Kirkland architects.
Kirkland Architects Share Their Favorite Highlights
- Top tier school system: Kirkland is a part of the Lake Washington School District, which consistently ranks as one of the best in the country. It includes 33 elementary schools, 14 middle schools, and nine high schools dispersed throughout the Kirkland, Redmond and Sammamish areas.
- A dynamic city: As of April 1, 2019, Kirkland’s population was estimated to be 93,000, making it the sixth largest city in King County and the thirteenth largest in the state. Beyond the charming downtown, Kirkland is defined by an eclectic mix of fourteen neighborhoods, each with their own distinct origins and unique character.
- An ideal place: Kirkland is renowned as both a perfect place for professionals and families to set down roots and call home, as well as a vibrant tourist destination. It is consistently ranked as one of the top five best places to live and visit in Washington State.
- Ample recreation: Kirkland is home to dozens of parks, beaches, and recreation areas. The encounters with Lake Washington are unavoidable with a plethora of activities, views, and scenes to choose. From O.O. Denny Park to Juanita Beach, anyone who loves being by the water will love this community.
Life in Downtown Kirkland
From the luxurious Woodmark Hotel and the gorgeous waterfront views at Carillon Point to the convenient access to quaint and quirky shops on Market Street, Kirkland residents have an eclectic mix of restaurant, bars, and entertainment options spanning the length of the shoreside. The Market Neighborhood is the historic and geographical center of Kirkland and was once home to city founder Peter Kirk.
A summer highlight for many residents is the Wednesday Farmer’s Market at Marina Bay Park. Another popular attraction is the Kirkland Arts Center—and all of this is just minutes away from the signature sculptures at Houghton Beach Park where city residents can tap into the beauty of the lake with ease.
Life in Downtown Kirkland
Just across the lake from downtown Seattle, Kirkland has easy access to the Pacific Northwest’s largest city via the 520 Bridge. Breathtaking views of Mount Rainier and proximity to the scenic Sammamish Plateau and vineyards of Woodinville make destination seeking and discovery a common part of the experience of the Kirkland resident experience.
Kirkland Architects Provide Home Design Suited to Your Tastes
Kirkland architecture is just as diverse and dynamic as the city itself. The first Kirkland architects were English settlers who saw the purpose of what they built primarily in terms of the function that it served. The labor of trading goods on the lake was incorporated with the simple and tasteful elegance of the homes they built which sought to satisfy the need for leisure and family connection after a long day’s work.
As Kirkland grew and annexed many of the surrounding neighborhoods, home designers were free to adapt their designs to suit the tastes of the location they were designing for. Residential architects in surrounding neighborhoods leaned into contemporary modern design aesthetics – tasteful and chic. They also found demand for traditional designs reinvented for modern living. Many designs pulled inspiration of the surrounding environment drawing from trees, water, and hills.
Custom home designers are always in high demand from Kirkland residents seeking to establish a sense of home in these premier neighborhoods. Kirkland’s luxury architects have made their mark with spectacular homes from Juanita to Houghton Beach.
The Perfect Neighborhoods for Your Custom Home
Much of Kirkland’s attraction lies just beyond its downtown hub. The surrounding neighborhoods are coveted places to live; Bookended by Bridle Trails just to the south, and Kingsgate to the north, the livability scores of all fourteen neighborhoods are exceptional.
One of the most beautiful Kirkland neighborhoods is Juanita, which rests on a bay of Lake Washington. It boasts some of the highest property values in the state. Another wonderful neighborhood for custom homes is the Highlands, located just to the north of downtown. With easy access to schools, four community parks, it is an ideal setting to raise a family.
Featured Gelotte Hommas Drivdahl Architecture Project: Tuscan Transformation
At Gelotte Hommas Drivdahl Architecture, one of our favorite Kirkland custom projects is our Tuscan Transformation home. Curtis Gelotte and Eric Drivdahl’s Tuscan Estate captures the role of story in architectural artistry. The client desired to imbue an existing Kirkland home with an air of Tuscany, encapsulating the best of Tuscan architecture through the ages.
Eric and Scott crafted a compelling tale to guide them through the design. The narrative describes how a humble Italian farm evolved over generations as subsequent heirs acquired wealth. Beamed ceilings and stone walls grace the “early” rooms of the home while Carrara marble and Venetian plaster adorn the “additions.” The architects aspired to authenticity in all details of the home: From the lack of baseboards, to the terra cotta tile flooring, to an antique Italian marble tub the art of story and architecture triumph.
Kirkland Architects for Your Home
As local Kirkland architects, we constantly pursue the art of architecture as the calling for our work. The constantly evolving community of Kirkland 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 Kirkland 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.