Should I Stay or Should I go? Design & Permitting Process.

January 28, 2026

Ever wondered if it is better to substantially remodel and/or add-on to your existing home, rather than sell and buy another? Real estate values have gone up considerably, and in our current seller's market, it's the buying-back-in that can be costly if it's not timed just right.

Considering the resources involved in the design, permitting, & construction process, is it worth it to leverage the appreciation gained in your current house and transform it into your dream home?

The simple answer is: It depends. Each property is unique, and each family is different. The best thing to do is explore all options and make informed decisions with the help of your professional real estate, design, & build community.

We recently ventured down this decision-making process with our Mercer Island clients. They purchased a lovely 1,800 SF lakefront home a few years ago, but it didn't meet their family's personality & lifestyle. They selected Suzanne Zahr as their Architect to help lead them down a path of discovery that would ultimately result in an informed "go / no-go" decision.

With each phase of the design process, new insights were creatively explored and considered. Here's a brief summary of our collaborative journey in creating their 4,500 SF dream home.

Realtors Private Tour: Architect's Home + DADU on Mercer Island

December 16, 2025

Enjoy a sneak peek into an Architect’s new home on Mercer Island. Perched uphill from her recently built 750 SF Guest House, Suzanne Zahr’s beautiful 3,300 SF family home is organized around a featured ‘spine wall’ running North-South, paying homage to an indigenous rammed earth building methodology. A split ridge roof with clerestory windows is seated above, allowing for natural light to travel through the main living areas from dawn to dusk. Thoughtful site orientation and efficient space planning enable passive solar design to maximize heat retention and minimize energy use, which ultimately offers a general sense of ambient well-being. Taking advantage of the sloped site, the stormwater gravity flows into an on-site detention tank, minimizing the impact to municipal stormwater drainage system that flows into Lake Washington.

Storybook Pond Residence.

November 17, 2025

Surrounded by towering maple and pine trees, a babbling brook leading to a frog pond, the scene is set for an Artist’s studio and family home. The extensive transformation in Duvall, WA is rooted in connecting an open layout to its natural environment.

Large gable-end windows compliment a continuous 30’ ridge skylight, flooding the main living space with warm diffused light. An expansive kitchen opens to the dining area and is booked-ended by a living room with a stone wrapped fireplace. This great room connects to a large outdoor deck, bridging the garden views.

This home is designed to the specific programming needs of our client, allowing for a tranquil primary suite with a floating tub and custom sauna. Other amenities include a dog-washing mud room, hydraulic elevator, art studio space with a private deck overlooking the landscape, providing ample inspiration.

From elegant detailing to larger architectural concepts creating clear axes and open flow, this design offers a nod to the previous farmhouse home, while introducing a modern experience. A carefully curated material palette brings natural elements inside and out, with stone wrapped walls, natural finishes, warm textures and accents of wood throughout, blending into its surrounding landscape.

PERSIAN GARDEN by Monir & Mehdi Ghanbeigy.

November 17, 2025

SZ Gallery’s 5th Persian Garden, opening [First] Friday, December 5, 2025, is an exhibit that tells culturally rich stories of Persian culture through contemporary and classically-influenced pieces. Monir & Mehdi Ghanbeigy from Iran have created multimedia artwork together since 1970, combining Mehdi’s detailed work with Persian miniatures and painting, Monir’s background in ceramics, and their mutual love for the history of Persian art.

Monir and Mehdi began working together in Iran before they moved to England for further training at London and Canterbury College of Art. After returning to Iran in 1980, they developed a novel style in ceramics and painting, influenced by both modern art as well as the very rich traditions of Persian pottery and storybook miniatures. They have shown their art at numerous national and international exhibitions, including the 2012 Venice Biennial, and have taught for many years at several universities in Iran and in their private workshop. Their pieces are permanently on exhibit at the Contemporary Art Museum in Iran, as well as several museums around the world.