Full Interior Remodel & Penthouse Addition
Minecraft House
A targeted interior remodel transforming an ’80s dream home into a “now” dream home.
These homeowners proposed the design challenge perfectly: “You can take the house out of 1989, but can you take the 1989 out of the house?” You sure can, it turns out, even when the project scope is for an interior remodel only, leaving alterations of the Minecraft-like exterior for another time. Before the refresh, this home’s interior featured a full suite of ‘80s-era design choices: a curved wall serving out arcs of large-format floor tile, glass block windows, extra fireplaces in illogical locations, tubular railings (even featuring a lightning bolt accent), and plenty of tubular door and cabinet hardware. While it was likely quite on-trend in 1989, 30 years later it just didn't hold up.
Guides in Design
The front door opens into a bright foyer with a beautiful staircase and window that lead the eye through the house. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Guides in Design
The front door opens into a bright foyer with a beautiful staircase and window that lead the eye through the house. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Breaking Barriers
Breaking up the wall with wooden slats and choosing an open bookshelf allows for natural light to reach the foyer while also granting guests a peek into the common spaces, creating a more open view without fully opening the floor plan. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Breaking Barriers
Breaking up the wall with wooden slats and choosing an open bookshelf allows for natural light to reach the foyer while also granting guests a peek into the common spaces, creating a more open view without fully opening the floor plan. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Moments of Interest
The dark coloring of the custom metal railing running horizontally along the stairs creates an eye-catching contrast as it intersects the vertical slats of the wood partition. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Moments of Interest
The dark coloring of the custom metal railing running horizontally along the stairs creates an eye-catching contrast as it intersects the vertical slats of the wood partition. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Crisp Details
Keeping in line with the modern detail of the home, rather than adding a diagonal trim piece to cover the material transition, the stair edge is detailed with a crisp reveal. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Crisp Details
Keeping in line with the modern detail of the home, rather than adding a diagonal trim piece to cover the material transition, the stair edge is detailed with a crisp reveal. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Neutral Base
To let the home’s bright accents shine, creamy whites and natural wood finishes prevail as the base of the palette. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Neutral Base
To let the home’s bright accents shine, creamy whites and natural wood finishes prevail as the base of the palette. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Subtle Attractions
Tall, floor-to-ceiling storage with warm accents isn’t just for convenience — the long, straight doors create a pleasing symmetry and pattern that draws the attention of visitors. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Subtle Attractions
Tall, floor-to-ceiling storage with warm accents isn’t just for convenience — the long, straight doors create a pleasing symmetry and pattern that draws the attention of visitors. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Classic Color Combos
Cream and gold are a timeless color combination, breathing new life into this 80s-era home. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Classic Color Combos
Cream and gold are a timeless color combination, breathing new life into this 80s-era home. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Kick Off Your Boots
The tile-laden entry is the optimal place to kick off muddy boots — common Seattle footwear — without dirtying that gorgeous hardwood flooring. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Kick Off Your Boots
The tile-laden entry is the optimal place to kick off muddy boots — common Seattle footwear — without dirtying that gorgeous hardwood flooring. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Fun Flooring
Snaking geometric patterns on the bathroom floor are a fun contrast against the clean, neutral cabinetry, walls, and countertop. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Fun Flooring
Snaking geometric patterns on the bathroom floor are a fun contrast against the clean, neutral cabinetry, walls, and countertop. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Color Your World
Accent colors like blue, green, and red brighten up the foyer and dining room and give the space its own distinct character. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Color Your World
Accent colors like blue, green, and red brighten up the foyer and dining room and give the space its own distinct character. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Keeping Character Intact
Small touches, such as the dining chairs and lamp, are a small-but-meaningful nod to the house’s retro roots. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Keeping Character Intact
Small touches, such as the dining chairs and lamp, are a small-but-meaningful nod to the house’s retro roots. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Mood Lighting
This light fixture with frosted, round shades is a fun accent that provides a warm ambiance for family dinner. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Mood Lighting
This light fixture with frosted, round shades is a fun accent that provides a warm ambiance for family dinner. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Breakfast Bar
The updated kitchen features a large island with bar seating for casual meals. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Breakfast Bar
The updated kitchen features a large island with bar seating for casual meals. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Den Dreams
The living room features a large sofa, fireplace, and large windows — giving this space a contemporary cosmetic update that’s now bright, functional, and cozy. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Den Dreams
The living room features a large sofa, fireplace, and large windows — giving this space a contemporary cosmetic update that’s now bright, functional, and cozy. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Minecraft House
Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
In fact, the only addition to the home is a penthouse on the roof. Now, rather than having a home office in the basement, it's an office with a stunning view. Plus, moving the office out of the basement opened up that space for a kid-friendly family room.
By stacking the new staircase to the penthouse over the existing stairwell and using the opening of a former, large, pyramidal skylight, we were able to keep structural costs of the addition down, while gaining much-needed new functional space.
Minecraft House
Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Beyond updating the finishes, the homeowners sought a more open, spacious, and airy floor plan. Removing the centrally-located, curved feature wall meant the main floor could finally feel unified: linking the kitchen, entry hall, stairway, and a former home theater reinvented as a bright and open dining room. Without adding any floor space, the house now feels larger, laid out for a more modern way of living. Full interior remodel now complete, the home feels open, clean, and modern — ready to face its next 30 years.
Winning Features
Although other fireplaces were removed from the home, this one was obviously a keeper as the gorgeous, sturdy anchor of the living room. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Winning Features
Although other fireplaces were removed from the home, this one was obviously a keeper as the gorgeous, sturdy anchor of the living room. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Complementary Colors
Sleek, slim golden accents pair perfectly with navy cabinetry as two complementary colors meet to make a classic and elegant pairing. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Complementary Colors
Sleek, slim golden accents pair perfectly with navy cabinetry as two complementary colors meet to make a classic and elegant pairing. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Clever Components
The wood-paneled accent wall not only creates contrast against the railing — it allows natural light to be accessed from the upstairs and dining room windows. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Clever Components
The wood-paneled accent wall not only creates contrast against the railing — it allows natural light to be accessed from the upstairs and dining room windows. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Making It Modern
Soft colors, an abundance of organic material, up-to-date appliances, and ample natural light all work together to pull this home out of the ‘80s and into the now. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Making It Modern
Soft colors, an abundance of organic material, up-to-date appliances, and ample natural light all work together to pull this home out of the ‘80s and into the now. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Celebrating Colorful Cookware
Leaving one cabinet as open shelves creates not only easy-access, but lets colorful cookware act as decor when not in use. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Celebrating Colorful Cookware
Leaving one cabinet as open shelves creates not only easy-access, but lets colorful cookware act as decor when not in use. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
From Stairway to Skylight
In a cost-efficient strategy, this stairwell leading to a newly built penthouse was stacked above the existing staircase up through a former skylight, which was repurposed as the penthouse door. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
From Stairway to Skylight
In a cost-efficient strategy, this stairwell leading to a newly built penthouse was stacked above the existing staircase up through a former skylight, which was repurposed as the penthouse door. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Penthouse Access
A second staircase was installed on the second story to create a penthouse office space. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Penthouse Access
A second staircase was installed on the second story to create a penthouse office space. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Elements of Now
A theme of clean, straight lines, like the staircase fixtures and railing, help bring a modern appeal to the previously dated design of this ’80s-era home. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Elements of Now
A theme of clean, straight lines, like the staircase fixtures and railing, help bring a modern appeal to the previously dated design of this ’80s-era home. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Shaping the Style
Clean, precise angles create a variety of simple shapes and lines that are pleasing to the eye. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Shaping the Style
Clean, precise angles create a variety of simple shapes and lines that are pleasing to the eye. Minecraft House | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.
Notes & Credits
This project was built by Damskov Construction.
Photography by Tina Witherspoon.
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Our design services encompass architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture, with teams specializing in projects across the spectrum, from single-family homes to multifamily and mixed-use buildings, and from boutique commercial spaces to civic spaces, like parks. We love designing the integrated fabric of structures, spaces, and places that create vibrant neighborhoods.
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