Building or remodeling a house on Lake Washington or the Sound? You likely need a written shoreline exemption, not a full permit. How it works in 2026.
Planning a home elevator in a new custom home in Washington: who permits it (L&I or Seattle SDCI), ASME A17.1 rules, shaft, pit, drive types, cost drivers.
Seattle’s tree code for new homes, teardowns and additions: tiers, Tier 2 removal, protection areas, permit plans and in-lieu fees, as of 2026.
The 2021 Washington State Energy Code for a new Seattle or Eastside home: credits by size, heat pump vs gas, walls, windows, air testing and the EV circuit.
How construction-to-permanent loans, draws and land equity work, and what a lender needs from the design side before it will fund a custom home in Washington.
Remodel, add on, or tear down and rebuild? Real 2026 Seattle and Eastside costs, the code threshold that decides many projects, and a scorecard for your house.
Designing a lakefront home on Lake Washington or Lake Sammamish: shoreline permits, buildable area, real cost per square foot, and the timeline to expect.
Custom home architect David Meade AIA NCARB designs one-of-a-kind homes across Seattle, WA. Piper Cole Architects, licensed AIA firm serving Seattle since 2000.
By David Meade, AIA, NCARB | Piper Cole Architects 📄 Table of Contents Designing on the Lake: A Different Set
By David Meade, AIA, NCARB | Piper Cole Architects 📄 Table of Contents What Makes Kirkland Custom Home Lots Unique
Talk to the architect
Call David Meade directly. No form, no queue, no sales team. Licensed architect serving Kirkland, Bellevue, Seattle and the wider Eastside since 2000.
Most calls are answered the same day.