Height of invention: an airy Seattle home celebrates earth-friendly design

Sunset, June, 2005 by Peter O. Whiteley

"It's a loft in disguise," says Don Ice about his remarkable 2,300-square-foot home. Its peaked roof blends handsomely into an older Seattle neighborhood while hiding a dramatic interior. Designer-builder Joe Schneider organized the main floor around a two-story, barrel-vaulted room containing the living-dining area and kitchen; identical upper-level bedroom suites overlook that space and a striking double stairway along one side, reinforcing the airy effect.

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Ice was drawn to the house's openness and flexibility and its innovative use of materials. Shoji-style doors open or close whole bedroom walls, and the kitchen island is on casters so it can roll to one side when he wants more room for a dining table. "I liked the warm color of the recycled wood," says Ice. "Seeing a whole staircase made of it was cool."

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Recycled materials add character

* Salvaged Douglas fir beams support the loft rooms and frame the stairs.

* Recycled floorboards panel the kitchen walls.

* Reused fir studs are part of the railing and exterior decking.

* Salvaged cast-iron radiators connect to a state-of-the-art boiler system.

* Secondhand cabinets form the base for the kitchen island.

DESIGN: J.A.S. Design Build, Seattle (www.jasdesignbuild.com or 206/547-6242)

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