February 14, 2024

Best Practice completes 14-year remodel of Phinney craftsman

Photos by Rafael Soldi [enlarge]

The home is called Bread & Butter in reference to its yellow exterior paint and a “loaf-shaped” second story addition.

Best Practice Architecture is celebrating the recent completion of a project 14 years in the making that has remodeled an outdated craftsman home in Phinney Ridge into a modern residence for a family of five.

The craftsman was built in 1909. Work comprised extensive interior remodeling, exterior paint, and a 447-square-foot second-floor addition that includes a new primary bedroom, “spa-like” bathroom, and a home office.

With the addition, the home is now 3,000 square feet plus a 350-square-foot garage, also designed by Best Practice and added in the final phase of work.

The homeowners Julie and Chris Lubke, both practicing structural engineers, purchased the craftsman in 2009. At the time, the property is described as poorly updated and stripped of its original charm.

Their vision was to remodel the home in a way that restored that charm while also adding contemporary design elements and innovations for modern living.

Best Practice had previously worked with the Lubke's in their capacity as engineers. Phase one of the remodel commenced shortly after the couple purchased the house and consisted of an entry porch remodel and a coat of gray and butter-yellow paint to the exterior.

Phase two began in 2011 while the Lubke's were expecting their first child. This phase was more extensive and comprised a comprehensive update to the main floor of the home, expanding and brightening the kitchen, and introducing a laundry room and full bath.

Fast forward to 2020, with a bustling household of now three children, the Lubke's needed more space and initiated the third and final phase of work. The craftsman's transformative journey concluded with the second-floor addition and new 350-square-foot detached garage.

The addition is composed of two contemporary volumes which Best Practice designed to be distinct yet complementary to the scale of the original house.

[enlarge]

The home’s main level was comprehensively updated in 2011.

[enlarge]

The craftsman is pictured prior to remodeling.

One volume contains the new primary bedroom and home office for Smith Lubke Structural Design (which acted as the structural engineer for this in-house project).

The second volume houses the “spa–like” bathroom and a spacious walk-in closet. A generous landing, three children's rooms, a second bathroom, and play areas, including a small kid-sized loft at the top of the stair landing, round out the second addition volume.

Addition interiors echo the craftsman style of the main floor, elevated with a colorful twist that includes seafoam green tile in the primary bathroom and an array of bright hues in the second bathroom which is principally used by the Lubke's children.

The new garage highlights the family's structural engineering expertise and has a 13-foot concrete wall that doubles as a backdrop to the home's main yard. It is also prepped for a future Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit.

Dolan Construction was the general contractor for phase three. Phases one and two were built by Chris and Julie Lubke. (Editor’s note: A previous version of the article incorrectly identified Dolan Construction as the contractor for all three phases).