After owning their property for more than 20 years, our clients decided it was time to make Orcas more of a permanent home. The 50 year old cabin where their kids had spent every summer was carefully picked up and moved about 600 feet away from its original location and began a new role as Guest House. The new house was built on the original cabin site, and was designed to be a generous, light filled family home that took advantage of sunny views across fields to the south and northward into mature forest.
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Large French Doors open up the Dining room to the outside.
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The ceramic tile floor in the Entry was chosen with dogs and 8 months of Orcas mud season in mind.
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The Great room is a 2 story light-filled volume with the Dining Table at the Center. One of the Owners is a pastry chef and the kitchen was designed to be both the heart of the home and a baking laboratory.
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A high-efficiency wood fired masonry heater supplements in-floor heat. Built in casework throughout the house was inspired by classic Shaker designs.
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A reading nook on the stair landing takes advantage of sunset views to the northwest. Skylights and a two story window wall bring light deep into the house, especially on dark winter days.
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An office on the second floor is designed to function as a writer’s retreat for one of the Owners, an author. Windows were placed to take advantage of views over the adjacent fields. Two works of stained glass — family heirlooms — were worked into the design.
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An indoor “Romeo and Juliet” window opens from the Main Bedroom suite into the Great Room below. It both captures light from the light filled great room, and serves as a holler hole between spaces.
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The bathrooms were designed to be simple and light filled, with durable materials and custom designed cabinets.
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A wide south-facing terrace is designed for entertaining.
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