Our clients envisioned a spacious kitchen and addition designed for hosting friends and giving their family a place to connect. The existing home was limited in entertaining space and functionality, with the dining and living room spaces separated on opposite sides of the kitchen.
Inspired by their South Indian heritage, they envisioned a new space that incorporated imported design elements, warm lighting, and natural wood tones to complement their decor and create a bright and welcoming environment.
The centerpiece of the addition was an Oonjal, a swing that is traditionally hung in Indian living rooms. The swing and brass hardware were sourced from India, which presented some logistical challenges. After the swing was damaged due to humidity changes during shipping, our team salvaged the base and combined it with a new mahogany top to match the style of the surrounding benches.
Mahogany benches wrapped around each side of the addition, providing seating and hosting space. As an added bonus, hidden storage space was built into each bench, with soft close hinges added for ease of use.
“I really enjoyed the challenge of working on a project with an Indian aesthetic—it featured design elements that were quite different from our typical American projects. We were able to establish a blended style by selecting rich mahogany wood finishes, subtle brass details, and an intricate floor tile detail as a center focal point.”
An existing deck was demolished to make room for the new addition. The new deck was outfitted with an overhead fan and pergola, with room for patio furniture to watch Pullman sunsets from.
“This was our first project under the new Washington Energy Code, making it a valuable learning experience as we worked to engineer the building science and calculations needed to meet the new energy point requirements.
The clients were incredibly hospitable and kind throughout the entire process. At the end, they even hosted a celebration meal for the whole team, which made for a truly wonderful evening.”