This Shoreline, Washington home—about 15 minutes outside of Seattle—was built in 2001 and began as a typical builder-grade property. “Our clients have thoughtfully transformed it over time with a lot of care and intention since purchasing it,” says interior designer Becca Meyer of BB Meyer Design.

Before the pandemic, the couple lived in a tiny apartment in San Francisco. They then spent time in Texas to be closer to family, soon got engaged, and realized they needed to find a city that would support both of their careers while offering the lifestyle they were hoping for. “Between the two of them, they had lived in five states and twelve different apartments since graduating college, and they were ready to find a place where they could settle down, start a family, and create a home of their own,” Becca notes.

Seattle quickly rose to the top of their list, thanks to the cooler climate and easy access to nature and outdoor activities. “Our client spotted a listing that had been sitting on the market for nearly thirty days, which was unusual during such a fast-moving market,” she recalls. “Assuming something must be wrong, they asked their realtor to investigate. After a FaceTime walkthrough revealed that the house was simply overpriced when first listed, they quickly made an offer at asking price without ever seeing it in person. The sellers immediately accepted.”

While the house had great bones, it was very much in its original builder-grade condition and clearly needed thoughtful updates—presenting a great opportunity to transform it into something meaningful and truly their own. “After living with the home for several years and welcoming two children, they were ready to reimagine the kitchen and adjoining sitting room as one unified space,” Becca recalls. “They reached out to us to transform what had once been an awkward, storage-limited area into a warm and functional kitchen designed for everyday family life. They were drawn to BB Meyer Design for our lived-in, layered aesthetic and our approach to creating spaces that feel both elevated and supportive of life’s meaningful moments. Being California-based also felt like a natural connection for them, offering a nod to their Bay Area roots.”

Their goal was to create a kitchen that felt beautiful, cozy, and inviting while also being highly functional for daily life with two young boys. Storage and usable cabinetry were top priorities. “They came to us with a clear vision for how they wanted the space to feel, and we helped translate that into a cohesive design that balanced warmth, durability, and thoughtful functionality for their family,” Becca shares.

They reworked the layout to better support how the family actually lives. “The original kitchen had an awkward peninsula and limited flow, so we removed it and introduced a central island to ground the space and create a natural gathering point,” the designer notes. “We also reconfigured circulation throughout the room, including closing an adjacent office door to allow for better appliance placement and a more functional cooking zone.”

Beyond the core kitchen, they also designed a custom pantry wall to maximize storage while maintaining a streamlined look and added a bar area in the dining room to support entertaining and everyday use.

To combat Seattle’s often cloudy climate, they leaned on a balanced palette with light, neutral tones that feel warm and grounded. The cabinets, built by Competition Cabinets, are painted Sherwin-Williams Natural Linen. For the countertops and backsplash, Becca selected Cambria’s Dovestone Quartz and carried the material up and around the window to create a subtle frame. “The quartz beautifully mimics the movement of natural stone while requiring very little maintenance, making it a practical choice for a busy family kitchen,” she says. “It was also a more cost-effective option for the clients since they don’t necessarily see this as their forever home.”

Throughout the design process, they kept returning to the idea of creating a kitchen that feels truly lived in—“not precious or untouchable, but elevated in a way that invites daily use,” Becca reflects. “Understanding the family’s routines and rituals was essential: how they drink their coffee, how mornings unfold, where keys are dropped at the end of the day. These details shaped the design just as much as materials or layout decisions. I think you deeply feel that energy in this kitchen, that it was designed to embrace real life—and a growing family.”