Design Build — Capitol Hill, Seattle
Building in
Capitol Hill homeowners tend to have a clear vision and high expectations. The neighborhood's design culture is genuine — this isn't a place where generic contractor work goes unnoticed — and we've always appreciated working here because of it. Our best Capitol Hill projects have come from clients who knew exactly what they wanted and hired us because we could actually execute it.
The Capitol Hill Kitchen is a good illustration of what we do in this neighborhood. The clients had a bold aesthetic direction — custom cabinetry, open shelving, a specific fixture palette — and a home that had been updated piecemeal over the decades in ways that created real structural and mechanical complications behind the walls. Gut renovations in older Capitol Hill homes almost always surface surprises: knob-and-tube wiring that needs to come out, cast iron drain lines that should have been replaced years ago, framing that was modified without permits at some point in the 1970s. Experience matters here.
Capitol Hill's urban density also creates project conditions that suburban contractors aren't always equipped for. Parking restrictions, neighbor proximity, noise ordinances, and limited staging areas are realities on most blocks here. Our crew is used to working in tight urban conditions without creating headaches for neighbors or clients. We've had jobs where the only way to move materials was through the house itself, and we've managed that without damaging anything.
New construction on Capitol Hill is increasingly infill-focused — small lots, zero-lot-line conditions, and the ongoing tension between what the zoning allows and what the neighborhood design review process will actually approve. If you're looking at a new build on an in-fill lot here, the pre-application conference with Seattle DCI is worth doing before you invest significantly in design.
Capitol Hill's tree protection rules are among the stricter in Seattle. If there are significant trees on or near your property, a tree assessment early in the design process will save you from designing around assumptions that turn out to be wrong. We coordinate this as a standard part of our pre-design work on Capitol Hill projects.
"Talented, professional and most importantly — just really great people to work with."