The Boathouse

This is a house tour piece, not an energy-upgrade story, but it's worth noting for anyone renovating an older home near water. A 1920s beach cottage on Puget Sound in Seattle got a third-floor addition designed to hold up to salt air and coastal weather while opening up to the outdoors.

The 800-square-foot addition adds a primary suite and office, with a semi-enclosed deck that uses sliding doors, louvered screens, and a roll-down exterior shade to blend indoor and outdoor space. The design leans on marine-inspired details like porthole windows and a built-in bench that folds out into a bed.

For durability against saltwater conditions, the builders swapped wood railings for powder-coated aluminum ones made to match the home's original look, since wood breaks down faster in that environment. They also used ipé decking, a dense hardwood known for holding up outdoors, installed over a waterproof membrane roof. A fireplace in the courtyard and steps down to the beach extend the living space outside across several levels.

There's no rebate or program news here, and nothing about heat pumps, insulation, or air sealing. It's really a design showcase, useful mainly if you're curious how architects handle material choices and outdoor-indoor living in a harsh coastal climate, or if you're planning your own waterfront renovation and want ideas for weather-resistant materials like aluminum railings or ipé decking.