The Oles’ house, situated on an east facing ridge in Magnolia, enjoys stunning views to downtown Seattle and Mt. Rainier. The original galley kitchen was narrow, dark and completely segregated form the adjoining living and dining spaces. A sink window looked into the garage and there were no less than 4 separate doorways which severely compromised the kitchen’s efficiency. The new kitchen expanded slightly into the garage to capture underused space and take better advantage of existing angled plan geometry. In addition to creating a more dynamic space, the kitchen also takes better advantage of the corner views. Existing walls and doorways were removed to render the fireplace mass a free-standing object that mediates between the kitchen, dining room and living room spaces in a more open and connected way. A strategically placed work center screens views of the kitchen surfaces from the dining table.
