For one devoted Seahawks fan, game day isn’t just about the kickoff; it’s about the entire experience. Living nearly 50 miles outside of the city made getting to Lumen Field a full-day commitment, so when the opportunity came to purchase a downtown penthouse in Belltown, the vision was clear: create the ultimate home base for entertaining, relaxing, and pre-gaming before every home game. Better Builders was brought in to transform the entire penthouse, reworking the entryway, kitchen, four bathrooms, and laundry room into a sleek, contemporary space with Seattle sports at its core. From the moment you step inside, the design sets the stage with bold lighting, high-end finishes, and a layout built for gathering. The kitchen was crafted with seamless entertaining in mind, while each bathroom was elevated with clean lines and modern touches. But the centerpiece is the living space. Designed around the ultimate TV and lighting setup, the room delivers an immersive viewing experience where every Seahawks play feels larger than life. It’s more than a remodel; it’s a celebration of Seattle spirit, bringing friends together for good food, big games, and unforgettable nights in the heart of the city.

This Kirkland kitchen and dining addition transformed a tight 1970s galley layout into a spacious, entertainer-ready kitchen designed for modern living. To create the room the homeowners needed, the southwest exterior wall was removed, and a carefully planned addition expanded the footprint, while eliminating the partial wall between the kitchen and dining room, opening the floor plan for better flow and connection. The new space features white Bellmont shaker cabinetry, PentalQuartz® Zion countertops, and warm chestnut bamboo flooring, layered with recessed lighting, statement pendants, and under-cabinet LEDs for a bright, functional finish. The expanded layout also allowed for a full laundry room and a generous walk-in pantry with built-in storage and a frosted glass door etched with “Pantry.” High-performance appliances, including a Sub-Zero refrigerator, Wolf range, pot filler, and apron-front farmhouse sink, complete the chef-ready design.

Example of a 1950s bedroom design in Orange County

Manufacturer: Starmark Cabinetry Style: Maple Stratford w/ H Edge and Five Piece Drawer Fronts Finish: Paint – Macadamia w/ Nickel Glaze Countertop: Soapstone (Customer’s Own) Sink: 16-Gauge Stainless Steel Single Bowl Under-mount Faucet: (Customer's Own) Backsplash Tile: Hand-cut and glazed (Customer’s Own) Hardware: Brushed Nickel 160mm/96mm pulls and 38mm knobs (Richelieu) Designer: Devon Moore Contractor: Customer's Own

Completed in 2015, the Othello House was designed by PRDG Architecture + Design and built by Better Builders as a striking example of modern living in West Seattle. Though the homeowners chose not to pursue formal certification, the project was built to meet the rigorous standards of a Five-Star Built Green™ home. From the ground up, sustainability and style were equally prioritized. The build preserved native vegetation, retained mature trees on-site, exceeded Washington State Energy Code requirements, and recycled over 70% of construction waste by weight. Recycled-content materials were thoughtfully incorporated throughout, reinforcing the home’s eco-conscious foundation. Large windows on all sides flood the interiors with natural light, while the surrounding landscaping is designed to highlight lush greenery and native plantings. The result is a home that combines premium modern design with environmental responsibility—proving that sustainable construction can also deliver the ultimate in comfort and function.

This modern transitional kitchen in Arbor Heights, Seattle, combines timeless aesthetic with practical design. Navy blue shaker cabinets contrast beautifully with white quartz countertops, while a bold Moroccan star and cross tile backsplash adds personality. A large kitchen island with open shelving provides storage and prep space, perfect for cooking and entertaining. Skylights, hardwood floors, and stainless steel appliances complete this light-filled, functional layout, ideal for family living.

Photography by Natalie Marotta Bungalows are lovable homes, but how can they be better? Along with many of our clients, we find that older (early 20th c.) homes have a lot of character and a comfortable scale, but are leaky, damp (especially in the basement), have fair to poor air quality, and use unconscionable amounts of fossil fuels to heat. The owners of this bungalow were ready to change that, and wanted to do so with minimal upfront carbon emissions as well. The gut renovation included replacing the basement slab and providing capillary breaks and insulation continuously below grade. The brick structure was treated with a fluid-applied air and water barrier from the interior and insulated entirely with cellulose, a carbon-storing insulation. The roof used HFO-blown spray foam to provide sufficient insulation while allowing headroom for bedrooms, bathrooms, and laundry. One great benefit of a full renovation is the possibility of reconfiguring spaces to suit the family’s lifestyle, and to make the best of indoor-outdoor connections. We opened up the main rooms on the first floor, creating a family gathering spot with a view to the back yard, and a spacious kitchen that supports the family’s commitment to cooking for healthy eating. The stair uses a north-facing skylight to bring light from above into the middle of the home, where it was previously dark. As a decarbonization retrofit, the inefficient furnace was replaced with two small ducted heat pump systems, water heating and clothes drying are powered by air-source heat pumps, and cooking uses an induction cooktop plus electric ovens. Energy recovery ventilation provides filtered fresh air continuous exhaust from the kitchen, baths, and laundry, and supplies fresh, highly filtered air to bedrooms and living spaces. The Better Bungalow now makes sense for the 21st century–it now fits the owners’ life-patterns, is super comfortable, has great air quality, and uses a fraction of the energy it did before, greatly lowering the demand on the utility grid. In the near future, when solar PV is installed, it can achieve net zero or near net zero emissions, and with battery backup, can provide great resilience in the event of power outages.

Detail of the custom wood slat wainscoting in the Madison Park Moody Playroom: A Flexible Guest Suite. Vertical stained wood slats add warmth, texture, and protection along the lower half of the wall, while a lively animal and floral wallpaper above brings color and pattern to this first-floor kids’ playroom and guest space. The combination of durable paneling and whimsical wallpaper creates a family-friendly backdrop that feels elevated enough to welcome overnight guests.

Manufacturer: Ultracraft Style: Maple Royalton Paint w/ Glaze: Arctic White w/ Nickel Glaze Countertop: Cambria Quartz - Laneshaw Sinks & Fixtures: Blanco Diamond Under-mount ¾ sink in “Café Brown” Backsplash Tile: Genesee Tile 3” x 12” glass subway in “Sand” Designer: Devon Moore Contractor: NJB Construction Services LLC

Looking at two different views of this same home (this photo and next), we can see how the grading from the garage area allows step free access to the first floor from the driveway. This approach resulted in a height difference from driveway to front porch of only a few inches. While creating at least one elegant, step free route into a home can be a design, budget, and engineering challenge, when planned from the outset many creative solutions can be applied. Next to the garage door is the cased opening to the gently sloping walkway which ascends to the level of the porch.

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Bathroom - traditional beige tile and stone tile bathroom idea in Chicago

This modern transitional kitchen in Arbor Heights, Seattle, combines timeless aesthetic with practical design. Navy blue shaker cabinets contrast beautifully with white quartz countertops, while a bold Moroccan star and cross tile backsplash adds personality. A large kitchen island with open shelving provides storage and prep space, perfect for cooking and entertaining. Skylights, hardwood floors, and stainless steel appliances complete this light-filled, functional layout, ideal for family living.

Bathroom - transitional bathroom idea in Seattle

Manufacturer: Starmark Cabinetry Style: Ridgeville w/ Matching Five Piece Drawer Headers Finish: Maple Macadamia w/ Latte Glaze Countertop: Giallo Ornamental (Eagle Marble & Granite) Sink: Stainless Steel 60/40 Faucet: Customer’s Own Backsplash/Floor Tile: Customer’s Own Hardware: Hardware Resources Designer: Devon Moore Contractors: NJB Construction Services

Manufacturer: Grabill Cabinetry Style: Maple Devonshire w/ P4 Panel, E12 Edge, and Five Piece Drawer Fronts Finish: Paint – White Pepper Countertop: Ice White Granite (Customer’s Own) Sink: (Customer’s Own) Faucet: (Customer's Own) Backsplash Tile: Virginia Tile (Customer’s Own) Hardware: Cairo 96mm/128mm Pulls in Brushed Oil Rubbed Bronze (Hardware Resources) Designer: Devon Moore Contractor: Customer's Own

In collaboration with architect Gustavo Penengo of PRDG Architecture & Design, Better Builders brought this bold contemporary vision to life. Built using modular construction on a steep lot once considered “unbuildable,” the home required a highly engineered foundation with H-piles driven 40 feet into the hillside. The offsite-built sections allowed for precision assembly and made possible dramatic cantilevers, expansive views of the Sound, and an energy-efficient design. The finished home showcases modern architecture at its finest—creative, sustainable, and perfectly suited to its unique site.

betters designs

Photography by Natalie Marotta Bungalows are lovable homes, but how can they be better? Along with many of our clients, we find that older (early 20th c.) homes have a lot of character and a comfortable scale, but are leaky, damp (especially in the basement), have fair to poor air quality, and use unconscionable amounts of fossil fuels to heat. The owners of this bungalow were ready to change that, and wanted to do so with minimal upfront carbon emissions as well. The gut renovation included replacing the basement slab and providing capillary breaks and insulation continuously below grade. The brick structure was treated with a fluid-applied air and water barrier from the interior and insulated entirely with cellulose, a carbon-storing insulation. The roof used HFO-blown spray foam to provide sufficient insulation while allowing headroom for bedrooms, bathrooms, and laundry. One great benefit of a full renovation is the possibility of reconfiguring spaces to suit the family’s lifestyle, and to make the best of indoor-outdoor connections. We opened up the main rooms on the first floor, creating a family gathering spot with a view to the back yard, and a spacious kitchen that supports the family’s commitment to cooking for healthy eating. The stair uses a north-facing skylight to bring light from above into the middle of the home, where it was previously dark. As a decarbonization retrofit, the inefficient furnace was replaced with two small ducted heat pump systems, water heating and clothes drying are powered by air-source heat pumps, and cooking uses an induction cooktop plus electric ovens. Energy recovery ventilation provides filtered fresh air continuous exhaust from the kitchen, baths, and laundry, and supplies fresh, highly filtered air to bedrooms and living spaces. The Better Bungalow now makes sense for the 21st century–it now fits the owners’ life-patterns, is super comfortable, has great air quality, and uses a fraction of the energy it did before, greatly lowering the demand on the utility grid. In the near future, when solar PV is installed, it can achieve net zero or near net zero emissions, and with battery backup, can provide great resilience in the event of power outages.

Better Homes & Garden
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