Blue Water Design Build

10/15/2026

A beautiful renovation takes more than a great vision. It takes someone who knows how to bring all the moving pieces together.

Katie is the glue that helps turn big plans into beautifully executed spaces.
We Are Blue Water.

10/13/2026

It's hard to believe these are the same four walls. A little vision, thoughtful design and a whole lot of craftsmanship can make a huge impact.

That's the Blue Water difference.

10/08/2026

Behind every beautiful space are a whole lot of decisions. And for nearly 20 years, Donna has been helping Blue Water clients turn those decisions into homes they love.
From the first ideas to the final details, she’s been part of bringing countless visions to life.

10/06/2026

The bones were there, but the vision changed everything. For us, the best transformations aren’t just about making a home look different. They’re about making it work better for the people who love it.
We’ll be sharing more of our favorite Blue Water transformations here. Stay tuned!

10/02/2026

You see the finished projects. Now we want you to meet the people behind them. 💙

Over the next few weeks, we’re introducing the team that brings every Blue Water project to
life, from the first idea to the final detail. Welcome to We are Blue Water. First up, the man who continued the legacy.

09/29/2026

Cost-plus or fixed price?

If you are comparing remodeling proposals and cannot figure out why they look so different, the answer is usually contract structure.

Our latest article explains how each one works, who carries the risk of unknown conditions, and why the distinction matters more on remodeling projects than on new construction:

Cost-plus or fixed price? Blue Water Design Build explains how each contract structure works, who carries the risk, and why remodeling projects are different.

09/23/2026

Turning a basement into a legal rental unit in Seattle is absolutely possible. It is called an attached accessory dwelling unit, or AADU, and plenty of homeowners are doing it.

But the obstacles are usually not what people expect. Ceiling height, emergency egress, and creating a separate entrance are what determine whether a given basement is a candidate.

If your basement already has decent height and a walkout or daylight condition, you are in good shape. If it needs all three created from scratch, the numbers get much harder, and that is worth knowing before you get attached to the idea.

Our latest article walks through the full picture, including what makes a basement legally habitable and why egress windows are structural work rather than a window swap:

Can you turn a Seattle basement into a legal rental unit? Blue Water Design Build covers AADU requirements, the three things that decide it, and what to check first.

09/01/2026

After a bathroom flood left this space needing to be put back together, we helped our clients turn an unexpected repair into an opportunity to create exactly what they wanted.

Instead of simply restoring what was there before, we upgraded the space with a walk-in tiled shower, built-in bench, warm wood vanity, and finishes that feel modern, functional, and completely their own.

Because sometimes putting your home back together means making it even better than it was before.

08/28/2026

Where coastal vibes meet city living.

Our clients loved their neighborhood and knew they wanted to stay, but their home had become too small and simply wasn’t functioning for the way they lived.

Rather than leave the neighborhood they loved, we worked side by side with them to reimagine the entire home, creating more space, better function, and a cohesive design that feels light, warm, and just a little coastal.

The result is a home designed around the way they live now, and a forever home that can grow with them for years to come.

Swipe through to see this full-house transformation!

08/25/2026

Permitting is one of the least glamorous parts of residential construction and one of the most consequential.

Homeowners planning a kitchen remodel often do not realize where the line sits. Cosmetic work generally does not require a permit. But relocating a sink, adding circuits, or removing a wall does, and the distinction is not always obvious until demolition is underway.

The complexity increases across the Puget Sound region, where Seattle, Shoreline, Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mill Creek, and unincorporated county areas each maintain their own requirements and review timelines. Assuming that what applied to a project in one jurisdiction applies in another is a common and avoidable error.

Our latest article lays out what requires a permit, what does not, where the grey areas are, and what happens when permits get skipped.

Do you need a permit for a kitchen remodel in Seattle? Blue Water Design Build explains which work requires one, which does not, and what happens if you skip it.