FALLING ALDER

When we set out to buy a house in the Seattle area in 2018, our list was short: small, affordable, and unique. After a 6-month long search that enlisted two real estate agents, over 80 house tours, and 3 offers, we arrived here: a 1965 John Burrows original.

John Burrows is largely unknown beyond north King County, Washington. He was not a trained architect, but rather a builder with a keen eye for design. Burrows specialized in what can be classified as "Northwest Contemporary." He built over 60 houses between the mid-1950s and the 1980s. At the time of their construction, these homes were located in unincorporated King county --a key detail considering nearly all these homes were built on steep lots no sane person would touch. Today, these homes are nearly completely located in Kenmore, Lake Forest Park, and Shoreline --with a few sprinkled in Kirkland and Edmonds.

Our house fits the typical profile of a Burrows, with a few special features. Among the typical details: 4+ bedrooms, 2+ baths (2.75), approximately 2000 sf (2170sf), steep slope (holy sh!t), carport, and a sprawling deck. And the unique: a low pitch roof, trapezoidal floor plan, and insane number of doors (7!).

Through this website and other social media, we are documenting our journey of rehabilitating this special home to its former glory while making it our own.