HOMES
Geared for Methow living ‘Super minimal’ house is designed for recreation and relaxation BY DON NELSON
W
hen it came to buying land and building a place in the Methow Valley, Heidi Durham and Leslie Garrard had their parameters firmly in place.
They love the Methow. They relentlessly recreate here, in all seasons, and require a ton of “gear” for their activities. They intend to retire here some day. In the meantime, the Seattle couple needed a practical and personable space to hang out in with their dog and son. But they couldn’t afford a full-size house just yet, so they decided to inhabit the valley in stages. With the help of a perceptive real estate agent, creative architect and detail-driven builder, Durham and Garrard have come up with the ideal solution: a 700-square-foot, self-contained
jewel that they call the “Gear Studio,” situated in a meadow off of Highway 20 a bit east of the Mazama Junction. In the compact but bright, efficient space, the gear is the décor. Some of the house’s dimensions were actually determined by the length of their paddle boards, which are mounted on one wall. Climbing equipment, skis, bicycles and kayaks are neatly hung from the walls or stowed in every nook and cranny. “The gear is the art,” Durham said. The airy, well-lighted space also includes a small living/dining area, free-standing wood stove, work counter, full bath, sauna and outdoor shower on the first level. A full-size garage door rolls up to open the space to the outdoors. In the loft, reached via a steep PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHNSTON ARCHITECTS
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