HOMES
Inspired surroundings The Flack’s Courtyard House is designed around a central concept BY JOANNA BASTIAN
F
or many years, Sean and Margot Flack spent long weekends in the Methow Valley where their kids learned to ski. When the time was right, they bought a parcel of land near Mazama and built the Courtyard House. After many years of admiring other courtyard homes, and the homes of friends that were inspired by surrounding landscapes, the Flacks had collected ideas of what their Courtyard House should include. They met with local designers/ builders Molly and Jeff Patterson of the Patterson Company to discuss a courtyard design with open communal spaces and efficient bedrooms. The three-bedroom, two-bath Courtyard House is orientated to look out onto a small creek and the
ski trail, a choice that the Flacks felt strongly was most private for their surrounding neighbors, and a view that they desired. The home is designed around a central courtyard, with eight separate entryways that can be opened in pleasant weather. The three bedrooms, living area and a multi-purpose room all open up to the courtyard and the sound of the creek. “The courtyard design pulled everything inward for both their privacy and that of their neighbors,” designer Molly Patterson said. The combined kitchen and living area is a comfortable size with floor-to-ceiling windows to the courtyard overlooking the ski trail, and a two-sided fireplace that can be enjoyed from both inside the living area and outside in the courtyard. The window views and double-sided fireplace create a feeling of transparency between inside and outside. Unobtrusive lighting fixtures add to the ambiance of a spacious, naturally lit common room. Patterson said, “I think the lighting in this house was really a spectacular addition. We went above and beyond with the details of lighting beams and walls.” Patterson noted that the exterior step lights are perfect for dark skies and are motion-detected. The kitchen island and bathroom vanities also have motion-detected lights. Well-designed cabinetry blends into the surroundings,
making the combined kitchen and living area feel less utilitarian, and more like a gathering space. The steel work and beams were done by Mark and Leone Edson of Methow Valley Industrial. The electrical work was completed by Jason Miller of Tamarack Electric.
BLENDING IN
The Flacks knew what they wanted on the exterior of the home. “We wanted the exterior to be environmentally friendly and blend in with surroundings,” Sean said. Margot continued, “We wanted an earthy look, and recommended the Japanese tradition of shou-sugi-ban.” This process preserves the wood by heavily charring it, making the wood fire-retardant and resistant to rot, insects and decay. The exterior of the Courtyard House is lightly torched fir siding and board form concrete wall. Two main entries are
custom-made to blend into the cedar entrance areas. Patterson and her dad, Jerry Hickey, carefully selected vertical boards that lined up seamlessly to the exterior of the home, and Hickey built the custom doors. Inside, the pattern continues as the multi-hued boards are perfectly matched along the walls and extended onto the ceiling. This effect makes a small entryway look and feel spacious. One entryway serves as a mudroom, with benches lining one wall for ease in removing boots and shoes, and cabinets and drawers to hold coats, hats, boots and more. The second entryway is the laundry room, perfect for peeling off soiled layers and tossing directly into the washing machine. Both points of entry lead into the communal area that is anchored on one side by a floor-toceiling fireplace. The masonry is composed of grey stonework
PHOTO COURTESY OF PATTERSON COMPANY 15
