Rooted and reimagined.

In Ballard, Studio Below is a reinvention of space—blending writing, music, and gathering under one historic roof. OYAM worked with a young family to transform their basement and below-grade garage into a writing studio, music room, and living area that supports their creative life together.

The couple—an author and a musician—wanted to stay rooted in their neighborhood while updating the spaces they call home. The renovation brings in daylight, texture, and warmth through a large pivot door and durable, metal-framed interior glazing that visually connects the studio to the outdoors. Wood built-ins add both elegance and utility, offering essential storage and organization within a compact footprint.

The project reflects a broader shift among modern families—choosing to invest in place, adapt what exists, and shape homes that evolve alongside them, rather than uprooting and starting over elsewhere.