Local architecture studio SHED Architecture & Design has completed an innovative renovation of a 1927 building, transforming the historic structure into a compact two-level residence with a striking black exterior for Quynh-Vy Pham, owner of the acclaimed Vietnamese Phở Bắc restaurants in Seattle's Little Saigon neighborhood. The project carefully preserves the building's layered history while creating a modern living space that reflects the owner's lifestyle and honors her late brother's legacy.

The 1,000-square-foot building has served multiple purposes throughout its nearly century-long history, originally functioning as a studio for Seattle impressionist artist Louise Crow before being converted into a church. Pham inherited the property from her late brother, who had initially begun renovation work on the structure. The building sits on a 2,835-square-foot non-conforming lot in Seattle's Leschi neighborhood near Frink Park, positioned between two larger residential properties.

SHED Architecture & Design expanded the original single-story structure by adding a second floor and a half-story dedicated to storage and mechanical systems, increasing the total living space to 1,858 square feet while carefully preserving the building's original structural elements. Project architect Rebecca Marsh explained that "The Phở Bắc House is the result of a layering of histories, both personal and local, to create a compact home that reflects the way that Quynh-Vy lives, works and entertains. The design pulled from the history of the existing structure, its past functions and the desire to honor her brother's legacy."

The home's exterior features a distinctive north facade characterized by charcoal grey fiberglass shingles that serve as an economical tribute to the building's original cedar siding. A large historic window from 1927 was enlarged to maximize natural light and painted pink as a deliberate reference to the signature color of Pham's restaurants and her brother's early renovation efforts. The original window frame was creatively repurposed into an interior screen and stair guardrail, ensuring that elements of the structure's history remain visible throughout the home.

The interior layout prioritizes natural light, circulation, and openness, with social spaces designed to flow seamlessly from interior to exterior areas. The linear arrangement of the home takes advantage of framed views of the Cascade Mountains and Lake Washington. The ground floor houses the main living areas, including living room, dining room, and kitchen spaces that open directly onto a large back patio, creating an ideal environment for entertaining.

The upper floor provides private accommodations with two bedrooms, a shared bathroom, and a sitting room that leads to a roof deck overlooking the street. Ceiling heights vary throughout the home to create dynamic connections between rooms, giving the compact residence an open and generous feel despite its modest square footage. A half-level is cleverly tucked into the street-side retaining wall to provide additional storage and house mechanical systems.

The material palette thoughtfully incorporates durable, cost-effective new materials alongside carefully reused elements from the property's previous incarnations. Notable salvaged pieces include a brass pendant light fixture from the building's former church period that now hangs in the stairwell, and reclaimed beams that frame the dining room. These historical elements are complemented by contemporary walnut finishes and pink accent details that tie back to the restaurant's branding.

SHED collaborated with Brooklyn-based design firm Space Theory to develop flexible storage solutions that maximize the home's functionality. A custom bench spans the length of the home, serving multiple purposes as integrated seating, storage, display space, and media center. The dining room features upper cabinets accessible by a library ladder that extends the kitchen's storage capacity, demonstrating creative solutions for small-space living.

This project represents part of SHED's ongoing work in Pacific Northwest residential renovations. Recent completed projects include a Portland house centered around a dramatic skylight, a West Seattle home featuring a jagged roof inspired by Swiss mountain peaks, and a Shoreline residence converted from a midcentury assisted living facility. The Phở Bắc House renovation was completed in collaboration with Ambrose Construction as the general contractor, Todd Perbix as structural engineer, and Space Theory providing custom casework, with photography documented by Rafael Soldi.