Simple Living

by Jim | Oct 5, 2022

Simple Living

LIVE | TRADITIONAL

“Broken Auger” ranch

Every home we design is a reflection, not of us, but of you. These owners wanted a smaller house and simpler lifestyle in a relaxed setting.

Perched on a high point of a large open field, this home has excellent views of the surrounding property and Mt. Baker beyond. Ample windows and skylights bring in plenty of natural light while the natural tongue and groove wood ceilings help create a bright and warm space. The owners desired a smaller footprint with a higher attention to detail which allowed for unique items such as the large ridge skylight, douglas fir cabinets trim, radiant floor heat, as well as metal clad wood windows. Through the careful use of materials this home is a clear expression of its homeowners desire to live simply.

Features: Ridge skylight • Natural finishes and materials • Radiant floor heat • Xeriscaped landscaping for reduced water consumption

PHOTO ALBUM

Construction: Big Mountain Construction

Country Cottage

by Jim | Oct 4, 2022

Country Cottage

LIVE | TRADITIONAL

John & Sue’s JOURNEY

The path toward your new home can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to –– not if you have the right guide. Here’s a closeup look at one couple’s adventure.

This home takes full advantage of the expansive bay views that the site boasts, with a majority of the home’s windows oriented towards the water, and opens onto a large deck. Being in the Northwest, part of the deck is covered with infrared heat panels, making it a prime spot for relaxing and barbecuing. The exterior is clad in untreated Alaskan Yellow Cedar which will turn a nice silver color as it weathers. The living room features a floor-to-ceiling rock fireplace with the hearth extending the full width of the room, creating great spaces for reading and storage. Through the use of car decking as the finish floor material on the upper level, the floor framing and beam structure are able to be exposed creating an inviting and warm finish to the overall space.

Features: 3 bedroom, 2 bath • Carport with secure storage • Covered deck equipped with infrared heat panels • 1,800 sq. ft.

DISCOVERY

This was to be their second home… a getaway. They wanted a cottage feeling, a relaxed atmosphere with a big open living space including a loft.

The client also wanted a second master bedroom downstairs in case they decided to make this their retirement home and age would prevent them from sleeping upstairs. But for now, it would be a guest room.

They wanted to use natural materials throughout the home with as much exposed wood as possible. They were very specific in wanting no drywall.

DESIGN

We designed the home with an exposed wood ceiling. The wood for the floor above was also the exposed ceiling for the kitchen below.

We placed large windows in the front facing their view of the Georgia Straights. This let in as much natural light as possible. So much so, that they needed very little indoor lighting during the day.

Instead of drywall, we used shiplap on the walls with a transparent stain to show the grain.

We used Alaskan yellow cedar for siding, leaving it unfinished, allowing it to silver with age.

BUDGET

Normally, we work with the contractor from the beginning of a project to assure everyone is on the same page regarding the budget.

But in this case, the client wanted the drawings first so they could get bids from several contractors. We designed the project, then they bid it out. This was a unique approach, but once a contractor was chosen, the drawings helped keep the project on budget.

DOCUMENTS

Construction and other documents required quite a bit of detail because of the unique approach to the building, including special materials, the exposed car decking in the kitchen, exposed beams, and shiplap.

PERMITTING

Permitting for this site was a bit of a challenge. We had to be aware of archeological concerns to be sure we weren’t disturbing any Native American middens, or other historical artifacts. Fortunately, there weren’t any.

Due to the weather conditions in the area, storm water runoff could have been an issue. We were only allowed 2500 square feet of impervious surface, including the house and driveway. So we had to get creative

We designed a rain garden to absorb the excess water. A rain garden is a recess in the ground that the water can drain into and then soak into the soil without sending it offsite. It was planted with native plants to control all the water. The rain garden was designed with a grid system strong enough to support fire trucks.

CONSTRUCTION

Construction went very well. The contractor appreciated the detailed construction documents, and we were very happy with their timelines and quality of work.

PHOTO ALBUM

Construction: Janzen Custom Builders Photography: Jim W. Smith

Refuge

by Jim | Oct 6, 2022

Refuge

LIVE | CONTEMPORARY

Family Gathering

Family is important in any home design. In this case, the client wanted areas in her home where her visiting family (and grandchildren) could have their own space for extended stays.

Our client wanted a contemporary home that fit well within a forested setting.

And, motivated by the Covid restrictions, she wanted her home to be a comfortable refuge for her family, allowing them plenty of private space for extended stays.

The building is surrounded by windows to give a feeling of living within the environment instead of being separated from it.

There are separate entries into the house, two master suites, one near the front and one in the back, with adjoining children’s rooms. This gives her family some privacy while still sharing the living room and kitchen areas.

Features: Covered outdoor entertainment space • Private pet area • Lots of wall space for artwork • corten steel wall feature

PHOTO ALBUM

Photography: Greenwoods Photographic Arts

Full Remodel

by Jim | Sep 30, 2022

Full Remodel

LIVE/REMODEL/ADDITION

New from Old

Do you like where you’re living, but your house needs some serious work, maybe even a complete remodeling? We can help.

This was a full house remodel addition including the basement, main floor, and upper floor. They wanted an outside view overlooking the water, so we added a porch on the upper floor.

As this would possibly be their last home, we design it to allow handicapped access from the alley to the main floor.

The old home had water infiltration in its basement that we resolved with proper sealing and drainage.

Features: Waterfront view from top floor • Large outdoor entertainment space • Handicap accessibility

PHOTO ALBUM

Construction: Hindman Construction

New Look

by Jim | Mar 13, 2023

New Look

LIVE/Remodel

Beach-front Remodel

Our client was surprised at how much we could do despite the small size of their site

The remodel of this existing A-frame cabin with a previous addition and carport was limited to the original footprint by site constraints. The carport became a 1-car garage with a room added above it, while the rest of the house was transformed into a cape-cod style residence. The house was redone on a modest budget, with the owners doing some of the work themselves.

Features: Attached 1-car garage • 2 bedroom, 2½ bath • Loft • 1,500 Sq.Ft.