Practically situated, artfully designed

‘Industrial’ cabin makes great use of Chewuch River site

BY JULIA BABKINA

When Steve Saunders and his wife, Ulrike Langer, visited the Methow Valley in 2016, they didn’t anticipate that would lead to building a house across from Steve’s former home. As fate would have it, that’s exactly what happened.

Saunders’ and Langer’s home, a two-bedroom, two-bath home on 18 acres above the Chewuch River near Winthrop, was built between 2018 and 2021 on land adjacent to the property Saunders had lived on with his former wife.

“I was showing Ully around and showing her where I used to live, and this property that I was part-owner of, and telling her it was on the market and we were trying to sell it,” said Saunders — who had moved back to Seattle, where he met Langer.

“And I said, do you really have to sell it?” interjected Langer. “I thought it would be a shame if it sells, so can we take it off the market and see what happens?”

“And it didn’t sell, thank God, and a year later we were married,” said Saunders. The couple took the property off the market in 2016, purchased it in 2017, and had their first meeting with architects in

January 2018.

“Ironically, I can sit in my new office and look right across at my old office,” said Saunders. Or at least in the winter, before the aspens bloom, added Langer.

“The house is deliberately oriented in a way that we see as little [of] other houses as possible, which becomes more and more impossible because there is so much construction all around,” said Langer.

INDOORS, OUTDOORS

The 1,350-square-foot home is an industrial cabin style. Concrete floors and dark steel backsplashes integrate seamlessly with natural elements like exposed glulam beams and distressed wood siding. The home is cruciform shape, the center of which is the kitchen. The two bedrooms are on opposite ends of the home, creating privacy while honoring the open space between them.

Two islands, topped with dark leathered granite countertops, a style Saunders and Langer carried from their home in Seattle, provides ample room for storage and meal prep in an open floor plan. The kitchen looks onto the glasswalled living room with views of the hills descending into the Chewuch River. The glass expanse invites the outdoors in while preserving the comforts of home.

Radiant floor heat and a wood stove keep the cabin cozy in the winter. With only one mature tree on the site, lead architect Margo Peterson-Aspholm, of Prentiss+Balance+Wickline Architects, had to incorporate shaded areas for the summer months. A high eave extends to shade the riverside deck off the living room and an extended rake covers the walkway to the home’s entrance.

But it is the outdoor “room” between the main house and the garage that Saunders and Langer say they spend most of their time in during the summer. The room has retractable awnings to maximize flexibility.

The exterior walls of the bedrooms are corrugated steel that is designed to rust, which not only complements the distressed wood siding but also its natural surroundings. A built-in outdoor shower advances the motif of indoor-outdoor living.

Langer took it upon herself to build a shed, which she finished last summer. Saunders cut the boards, but “Ully pounded 95% of the nails,” said Saunders. The boards came from a house in Seattle built in the 1920s.

“We wanted a modern design shed,” said Langer. “What’s the point of having a designer cabin and then looking at an ugly shed? We wanted something that’s not an eyesore.”

Peterson-Aspholm said Saunders and Langer built their home at an opportune time. Today, the cost to build a high-end home in the valley is at least $400 to $500 per square foot due to increased demand, cost of materials, and shortage of sub-contractors like plumbers and electricians. Ten years ago, it was about $300 per square foot. Saunders’ and Langer’s home would cost 30% more to build today, said Peterson-Aspholm.

“People don’t believe me, and I can barely believe me,” she said.

“The quality of craftsmanship generally doesn’t vary with the budget. That’s not always the case, but we’re really lucky in the Methow to have such a great group of pretty talented contractors,” said Peterson-Aspholm. Saunders and Langer worked with Phil Dietz of Lost River Construction as their contractor.

“If you keep your house small, you can keep the level of finish of higher,” said Peterson-Aspholm.

Personal Art

Finishing touches to the home are the interior design components Langer artfully combined through smart buys from Wayfair, Ikea, Etsy, and second-hand furniture stores, but perhaps the most notable pièces de résistance is the artwork that hangs in their home.

Two works by the late Sean McCabe, a popular art teacher at Liberty Bell High School, hang in the living room. The paintings, one of a skate skier and one of a classic skier, are a reflection of Saunders and Langer as a couple.

“It had to be these two because Steve is a classic skier and I’m a skate skier,” said Langer.

The pieces hold special meaning for Saunders, who knew McCabe personally. McCabe died of a rare form of thyroid cancer in 2009.

The couple has developed a tradition since moving into the home.

“Every year, for Christmas for [the past] three years, we have been gifting each other art,” said Langer. “It all has to be Methow Art.”

A prominent metal wall sculpture by local artist and musician Terry Hunt hangs near the entryway. The material came from the site of the old Wagner Mill in Twisp. A triptych painting by Ginger Reddington, another artist from the Methow, adorns their guest room.

The pandemic ushered a wave of demand to live in the Methow. For Peterson-Aspholm’s firm, 2021 was one of the busiest years — so much so that they hired three more architects. While there was a rush of people trying to get their houses started during the pandemic, Saunders and Langer were trying to get theirs finished.

The couple camped inside their home when access was limited to their outdoor shower, kitchen sink, microwave, and construction porta-potty. Their first meal cooked inside their home was a big deal, said Langer, but not less significant than getting their post office box in Winthrop.

“The moment we took possession of the post box, that was the moment we made this our primary residence,” said Langer. “Getting a post box, that was symbolic, okay we live here now.” with so many mortgage options, it’s important to have a knowledgeable resource to guide you through the process with consistent communication. We’ll take the time to discuss your needs and review various

Call

Shelli Schlotfeldt Mortgage Loan Offcer Wenatchee

Super Admin US Bank Demo Mortgage Loan Officer Somewhere office: 555-555-5555 | cell: 777-777-7777 superadminusb@usbank.test

NMLS # 123456

Angela Agent Real Estate Agent

Eden Prairie office: 952-977-8620 | cell: 952-977-8617 angela.agent@example.com

NMLS # 505005484 are available in all states for all loan amounts. Interest rates and program terms are subject to change without notice. Visit usbank.com to learn more about US Bank products and services. Mortgage, home equity and credit products are offered by U.S. Bank National Association. Deposit products are offered by U.S. Bank National Association. Member FDIC. ©2022 U.S. Bank