westerbeck | architecture

I met Cary through an Interior Designer friend, and I am so glad we made the connection. We have been working on a project in Kenmore together, and I appreciate the professionalism and creativity of Cary and his team. He is conscientious with every detail, and responds quickly to questions and concerns. I would highly recommend Cary as your Architect of choice. Can't wait to work with you on other projects, Cary!

I have worked with Cary on several projects and recommend him and his architectural services highly! He is open to dialogue about design ideas on a project, understands the construction process and costs associated, and is so fun to work with. He's respectful of the clients' needs and budget as well as all subs on the job. He's very creative and talented and a pleasure to work with!

We hired Westerbeck I Architecture to help us with a design for a modern gardening/artist shed, to be built on Vashon Island, with a few aesthetic requests and specific site requirements. We provided them with some drawings and a model and they came back with a perfect design, balancing modern with traditional, including some additions that improved the integrity of the structure. They were so easy to work with and responsive to our requests and served just the role we wanted, as technical and aesthetic requirements. We were extremely happy with the service and work, from Westerbeck I Architecture, and we would not hesitate to include them, and/or refer them to friends, for future projects. Dean and Paul

Working with Cary has been a pleasure. We were looking at new construction and he was the first to tell us about the value of buying a mid-century home in a good location. We called him moments after we stepped into a just-listed home and he showed up at the door 10 minutes later to walk us through and comment on the home's detail and build quality. He helped us look beyond clutter and pointed out things we would have never looked at or appreciated. He gave his architectural stamp of approval on the dream home we had been seeking. Based on his insights, we made an offer on this home the next day just in time to avoid a frenzy of interest and activity from other potential buyers the next day. He joined us for 3-4 hours during the inspection and helped us sort out the many considerations that led us to eventually move forward with the purchase. We later worked with Cary to design our remodel and he provided us with drawings that were approved by the city's permit department in four days, instead of the usual 2-3 weeks. Since permitting, he's supported us with everything from assuring contractor work quality, selection of lighting and bamboo flooring, and consultation during the inevitable bumps in the road encountered during a remodel. Whether it was 8 a.m or 10 p.m., he made himself available to answer the numerous questions that cross the minds of new homeowners. We are literally a week away from completing our remodel and we are thrilled to be so close to moving in. In the end, Cary was right about the good bones of this home and we ran into very few surprises. He helped us to remodel in a way that honored the home's architectural traditions and customized it to our particular tastes. I would highly recommend Cary to anyone looking to build or remodel a home.

Cary worked with our existing home and designed a remodel that incorporated both the traditional architecture of the building and the more modern esthetic that we were hoping for. The result was a beautiful combination of form and function and we love our remodeled home. He created the plans for a remodel of the kitchen, which combined three smaller rooms into one. He also figured out how to move the basement staircase to create more space for the kitchen. The basement was also remodeled during this process as well.

Everybody has their story of a project gone wrong but this one went perfect. We had a mudslide three years back and our entire entryway, which included 20 plus steps, two landing areas, planters, and a large deck at entry level was compromised and needed to be replaced. It was a very difficult site as the entry was on a very steep slope and would require a tremendous amount of earth structural work for support of both the hill and the deck. Carey to the rescue. He worked really well with both the city engineers and our construction company and that was no small task. We now have a beautiful deck/entry that also would be the first place I would go stand in case of an earthquake. My vision of the deck and my wifes vision of the deck were very different but Cary smoothed around that obstacle and came up with a great design. I am pretty sure you can see photos of this effort on his website. Nothing but good to say about our experience. - dr bob feasel

A simple roof replacement became not-so-simple after discovering underlying structural issues with the construction of our chimney. I needed an architect and engineer to get me through a planning and permitting process. Cary Westerbeck came to me through a referral. He was sensitive to the unexpected situation I found myself in. He came up with a plan, brought in the right people, worked with the city and helped me get through the process. He was extremely attentive and available throughout the project and made every effort to come up with ideas and solutions to keep costs in check. The outcome was good. It looks great. I will definitely be using Cary for future projects.

We bought our retirement house, knowing that to make it our own we would need to make some changes. Cary took my ideas and made them practical AND beautiful. The work was extensive, so the cost was high, but he helped us find contractors able to make the changes while maximizing the improvements on a budget. He knew many of the specialists we would need to employ--surveyor & architectural engineer and was readily able to answer questions from the city planners. Cary provided help throughout the renovation. He followed up when engineering and technical problems were encountered during the construction phase--sometimes caused by our need for a less expensive approach. Cary's professionalism and creativity were exceptional. He met every deadline and provided great advice throughout the work. I would go to him again for my house or for any future architectural project.

It is the rare firm that can perform at the very highest level of talent, professionalism and excellence, with projects as diverse as the recent lake house remodel that I recently worked on with Westerbeck Architecture. I'm an interior designer here in Seattle and I have had the pleasure of working with Cary on various different projects. But our recent Lake Washington remodel expressed his talents without missing a beat. Expertly navigating the differing philosophies of the owners, designing a truly personal residence on sloping land with many environmental/water front restrictions. He shares his attention to detail, his experience in dealing with codes, rules, and regulations, his ability to provide excellence within budgetary restrictions and dedication to addressing client desires and needs reasonably and with a sense of humor and reality. These are the traits that make this 1.5 yr lake house project the most remarkable of my 15 yr career as a designer. Cary Westerbeck provides an experience that makes the process seem fun and effortless, regardless of the nature of the project. He has made my clients dream home a reality, with heart and enthusiasm. My experience working with Westerbeck Architecture on every project has been truly something special. Heather MacMillan Interior Designer hsMAC Design 206-313-7769

Cary provided a deck design and a basement bathroom remodel. He was amazing to work with and engaged my husband and I throughout the process. Once we decided to begin, he was a great help with determining our contractor and the onerous permit process we had to go through. When needed he helped us change the design to work with our budget. We will continue to be involved with his company when we begin our bathroom remodel and any other projects. He's very flexible and willing to work on small design projects for us.

My Wife and I had the pleasure of working with Cary Westerbeck of Westerbeck architecture on the design of our kitchen expansion and renovation in our 1925 craftsman bungalow. We were extremely happy with the services that Westerbeck architecture provided. In working with Cary, he had an amazing knowledge and expertise in keeping his work era specific for our project. The work that he provided was timely and very detail oriented. When working on a project of this caliber, communication is key and Cary was very easy to stay in touch with and was very prompt on answering any questions or concerns we may have had. Communication with us the homeowners, and our general contractor was outstanding. My wife and I feel that Westerbeck architecture went above and beyond to help us through this project, and for that we are grateful and with his work this project ran exceptionally smooth for a major renovation. I would highly recommend Westerbeck architecture to anyone looking to have architectural work done. Respectfully, Eric Malmassari