Portrait of Seattle Volume 44

PORTRAIT OF SEATTLE H O M E

G A R D E N

T R A V E L

A N D

L I F E S T Y L E

M A G A Z I N E

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HOEDEMAKER PFEIFFER’S FIELDHOUSE Biodynamic Winemaking in the Northwest

WATERFRONT MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN

by Cambium Landscape

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Celebrating Years of NW Design!

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DISPLAY UNTIL 12/30/19

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Color Refresh

Kitchen Design

The latest showroom finds

Crafting a Gig Harbor Classic

Venini Glass Interview with Marc Thorpe

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French Art de Vivre

Playback. Large 4-seat sofa and modular composition per element in solid leather, designed by Maurizio Manzoni.

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contents

VOLUME 44

Home + Garden 62

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KITCHEN + BATH DESIGN Appliances are taking center stage, with jolts of color and varied metals and finishes. Wood and quartz are being combined to create a seamless look from the kitchen to the island to the family room space. Backsplashes are getting taller and taking up the entire wall. Contemporary European-style cabinets with hidden handles and LED/ interior lighting continue their popularity, while farmhouse style takes on new hues, lending to a cozy atmosphere with a nostalgic flair.

24 SUSTAINABLE DREAM HOME Stuart Silk Architects worked with a couple to build a sustainable, yet elegant contemporary hillside home that embraces expansive views of Lake Washington and the Cascades.

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FIELDHOUSE

92 66

Inspired by early 20th-century national parks buildings, Hoedemaker Pfeiffer set out to create a secluded, yet playful retreat to enhance their clients’ vacation home on Whidbey Island. Using Pacific Northwest materials and sensibilities, the fieldhouse is designed for sport and recreation.

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GIG HARBOR CLASSIC A client with a desire for a classic East Coast aesthetic modernized in the Pacific Northwest achieved her vision thanks to a major renovation by Marianne Simon Design and Ripple Design Studio.

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EYE ON DESIGN If you’re looking to enliven your home, we’ve gathered some trending colors for everything from your sofa to wall paint. Hazelnut, lilac gray, muted pastels and soft clay offer perfect accents that never overwhelm. Mushroom-hued furnishings and deep green provide a fresh take on neutral rooms.

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A LC H E M Y CO L L E C T I O N S

C AM E R I C H by Alc hemy

2 1 1 1 1 S T AV E, S E AT T L E, WA 9 8 1 2 1 T. 2 0 6 . 4 4 1 . 2 3 5 0

2 0 2 9 2 N D AV E. S E AT T L E, WA 98121 T. 2 06. 448. 3309

W W W. A LC H E M YCO L L E C T I O N S. CO M

W W W. C AM E R I C H SEAT TL E. COM

contents

VOLUME 44

Travel + Lifestyle

44

62 VENINI GLASS

100

84 WATERFRONT

MARC THORPE’S ‘UNITY’ COLLECTION

MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN

100

We talk with New York-based architect and industrial designer Marc Thorpe about ‘Unity’, a collection of vessels for renowned Murano glass manufacturer Venini.

A recent renovation of a 1990s home built on the Western shores of Mercer Island features a tropical landscape design by Seattle’s Cambium, Inc., done in Mediterranean Villa style – with an abundance of plants bursting with color, unique flower formations and reach-forthe-sky height.

BIODYNAMIC WINEMAKING IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

66 CALIFORNIA DREAMING This midcentury home on Mercer Island had great bones and an outstanding location, but felt closed-off inside. A thoughtful remodel from Wittman Estes Architecture + Landscape and Treebird Construction mingled the best of California modernism with a distinctly Northwest aesthetic.

74 CREEKSIDE MODERN Working collaboratively, a visionary client and NB Design Group partnered to create this supremely serene escape, transforming a ranch-style home nestled in nature into a zen-like retreat for an active family of five.

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BACK TO THE LAND Biodynamic winemaking is garnering attention all over the world and its agricultural practices are being championed by about two dozen dedicated Northwest wineries. We visit several visionaries and hear their stories.

RIVER HOUSE

Recipe Index

After decades spent dreaming of building a house on his Vancouver property by the Columbia River, Gary Miller and his wife Dell Ann Dyar, overcame complex permitting laws, density requirements, and BNSF Railroad permit, to build a modern home along the wooded river’s edge. Designed by Carmel architect Erik Dyar of Dyar Architecture.

23 Dark Chocolate and Fresh Oregon Cherry Cobbler

on the cover Hoedemaker Pfeiffer Architects create a secluded, yet playful retreat fieldhouse on Whidbey Island. photography by ©Andrew Giammarco

EXPAND YOUR

POSSIBILITIES

Our new Pella® Architect Series® contemporary windows and patio doors offer stunning modern features and finishes, bringing beautiful inspiration to your home.

EXPLORE ARCHITECT SERIES THE COLLECTION PELLA WINDOW & DOOR SHOWROOM Seattle 11818 Northcreek Pkwy, Suite 105 Bothell, WA 98011 Portland 13535 SW 72nd Ave., Suite 145 Tigard, OR 97223 (425) 287-8283 www.pella.com

publisher’s

LETTER

PUBLISHER Claudia M. Brown EDITOR/SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Kiki Meletis ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER Anna Williams PREPRESS PRODUCTION William Campbell

BIODYNAMIC WINEMAKING IS GARNERING ATTENTION ALL OVER THE WORLD and its

agricultural practices are being championed by about two dozen dedicated Northwest wineries, some big, some small. The benefits are many, the most important being that it puts a vineyard in sync with the environment. No chemicals, no pesticides or herbicides. The entire ecosystem is self-contained on the property using an orchestrated system of farming methods involving plants, insects, bees, birds, and animals and the calendar. We visit several visionaries to hear their stories.

Hoedemaker Pfeiffer’s Whidbey Island “Fieldhouse” is a secluded retreat designed for their clients’ many pursuits for sports and recreation.

A separate structure from the family’s vacation home, is situated amid a fruit orchard, wetland ponds and an open field. The mix of glass and stone offers light-filled flexible spaces, both covered and open, with a full indoor/outdoor kitchen and grill, and a cozy hearth – making it ideal for entertaining up to 60 people, no matter the weather.

Interior designer Marianne Simon teamed with architect Jim Dearth of Ripple Design Studio on a Gig Harbor classic farmhouse renovation.

Their clients’ love of East Coast aesthetic paired nicely with Northwest style. Capturing a stunning waterfront view, the kitchen has a mix of subway

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tiles, open shelving, exposed beams for warmth, and a vaulted ceiling. The renovation ultimately included adding a two-bedroom carriage house for guests, a mudroom, and garage, in addition to the dramatic redo of the home’s interior.

A waterfront Mediterranean villa style garden

by Seattle’s Cambium Landscape was designed specifically for a southwest facing microclimate on Mercer Island. With plenty of sun and protection from the hillside, brightly colored tropical plants are allowed to flourish in ways not typical of the Northwest. Their client’s passion for plants is showcased throughout the terraces and grounds.

If what you see in these pages inspires you and you’re considering a remodel, build, or décor update, check out the portfolios of some of the Northwest’s most talented design professionals on our website www.PortraitMagazine.com/ portfolios.

PHOTOGRAPHERS Tim Bies Miranda Estes Natalia Dotto Andrew Giammarco Andrea Johnson Haris Kenjar David Papazian Rob Perry David L Reamer Derek Reeves Rafael Soldi John Valls CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Katie Kervin Donna Pizzi Margarett Waterbury PUBLISHED BY Portrait Publications SUBSCRIBE Online www.PortraitMagazine.com Or mail check payable to Portrait Publications PO Box 9097 Portland, Oregon 97207-9097 503.203.1373 $10 $18 $24

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@portrait_mags on Twitter @portrait.magazine.usa on Instagram © Copyright 2019 Portrait Publications, Claudia Brown + Company, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written permission. Every effort has been made to ensure the information published is current and correct. However, conditions beyond our control may change the accuracy over time.

LUXURY KITCHEN & BATH DESIGN

Tel: 425.454.9000 www.schoenerinteriors.com

roomandboard.com

surface + home 2

FALL FOR HEMLOCK • NEW HUES

The debut cookbook from cult favorite Austin bakery and beer garden Easy Tiger, Bread on the Table: Recipes for Making and Enjoying Europe’s Most Beloved Breads www.powells.com

GET THE LOOK

Hello Hemlock

1

1. DEDICATED SPACE B&B Italia’s Convivium storage unit features beautifully engineered mechanisms and luxurious leather lined drawers. www.divafurniture.com 2. DESIGN CHEMISTRY Inspired by the flat-bottomed Erlenmeyer flask, the Erlenmeyer Mini Pendant has a handcrafted collar circling the clear, thick blown-glass flask. www.hubbardtonforge.com 3. CHESTNUT WASH Thinly sliced pieces of rattan peel enhance Arteriors Cameron Stool’s natural characteristics, and the double-layer of its open-form. In a warm chestnut wash finish. www.jgarnerhome.com

Calke Green No.34 farrow-ball.com 3

4. QUINTESSENTIAL COOK Properly European, La Cornue and designer Matthew Quinn offer custom colors that complement the grace of classic architectural lines yet foster a modern statement in the kitchen.

The Grand Palais 180 Château series shown in Quintessential Teal with Brass trim. www.lacornueusa.com

Stately forest greens that play on tradition pair with confident and classic plaids to create a grounded palette for the season. (top) Toboggan Plaid in Hemlock (below) Chessford in Thyme www.kravet.com 4

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CHIC MODERN KITCHEN DESIGN

Leicht’s Bondi | Valais kitchen marries carbon grey and alpine natural oak to sustain a unique but classic modern kitchen look. Kitchen unit fronts which are continuous and fluid combine with open shelving to bring a blend of harmony and function to the range. The island and kitchen units feature innovative storage solutions. Through German Kitchen Center. www.germankitchencenter.com

surface + home

surface + home

1

NAVY • TAILORED • BRASS (right) Hudson Valley Lighting’s Coffey Pendant, in aged brass, pairs texturally layered simplicity with a sculptural thick glass shade and the beauty of an Edison-style bulb. www.hudsonvalleylighting.com

2

1. LET THEM EAT CAKE A nostalgic ode to the joy of homemade cake, beautifully photographed with easy mixand-match recipes. Simple Cake: All You Need to Keep Your Friends and Family in Cake www.powells.com 2. NATURAL STONE Cleveland Park in Thassos/ Bianco Carrara and Capitol in Dolomite, from MIR Mosaic DC Metro Collection. www.mir-mosaic.com

(above) Bold color and curved lines are combined together in Michael Aram’s Twist Dinnerware Collection in Midnight.

Through Schoener Interiors www.schoenerinteriors.com

3. TIMELESS + TAILORED A timeless silhouette, Bernhardt’s Slope Bar Stool in chalk finish. www.bernhardt.com

(below) Michael Aram’s Molten Frost serving set with individually welded beads. www.michaelaram.com

4. IMPECCABLE DESIGN Viking Tuscany Series 48 Inch Pro-Style Dual Fuel Range in Dark Blue. www.vikingrange.com

3

(above) A rich interior cushion collection in jacquard patterns and a harmony of colors. Cushion covers in Canevas Lagoon. www.le-jacquard-francais.com

Smoke

Cornforth White No. 228 2122-40 Farrow & Ball benjaminmoore.com

4

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IN THE NAVY

Antique-style brass pulls, shaker cabinets and Cambria Torquay quartz that offers a beautiful marble-like appearance bring this navy blue kitchen to attention. An instant classic, Cambria Torquay is maintenance free and requires no sealing or polishing. Simply wipe the surface with a soft cloth and warm water, and mild soap if desired, to keep your Cambria spotless. Available through

www.cambriausa.com

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BOOKSHELF l Cookbooks

Scratch Kitchen 503.850.8915

LUNCH DINNER BRUNCH

828 SW 2ND AVE. PORTLAND (CORNER OF SW 2ND & TAYLOR)

Q-PORTLAND.COM

The Women’s Heritage Sourcebook: Bringing Homesteading to Everyday Life

by Ashley Moore (Welcome Books)

The book of the movement that applies homegrown practices of self-sufficiency to modern life.

Homesteading is a lifestyle of self-reliance and sustainability, characterized by home gardening and animal husbandry, food preservation, and even the small-scale production of textiles, clothing, and craftwork. This indispensable reference book is divided into three sections: food (from sourdough bread baking to pickling vegetables to fermenting kefir), herbalism (from growing an herbal garden to making skin and hair care products to foraging), and animal husbandry (from beekeeping to buying, raising, and owning chickens, cows, and pigs) .

Thank You for Smoking

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by Paula Disbrowe (TenSpeed Press) Award-winning author and grilling expert Paula Disbrowe.

Featuring an impressive array of smoke-infused recipes that extend well beyond the realm of rib joints with a wide range of

recipes easy enough for weeknight cooking like Ginger Garlic Chicken and San Antonio-Style Flank Steak Tacos, as well as longer smokes like Smoky Chuck Roast with Coffee and Whiskey or Holiday Ham with Red Boat Salt, this varied collection also includes ideas for smoking vegetables, grains, nuts, and seeds for fresh, plant-based dishes.

Batch Cocktails: MakeAhead Pitcher Drinks for Every Occasion

by Maggie Hoffman (Ten Speed Press) Maggie Hoffman offers 65 delicious and creative cocktails that you don’t have to stir or shake to order; rather, they are designed to stay fresh when made ahead and served out of a pitcher.

Recipes such as Tongue in Cheek (gin, Meyer lemon, thyme, Cocchi Rosa), Friendly Fires (mezcal, chile vodka, watermelon, lime), Birds & Bees Punch (rum, cucumber, green tea, lemon), and even alcohol-free options are organized by flavor profile—herbal, boozy, bitter, fruity and tart, and so on—to make choosing and whipping up a perfect pitcher of cocktails a total breeze.

Local Harvest SCONES

CHERRY FILLING

CREAM CHEESE ICE CREAM

2 ½ quarts Pitted cherries

4 C milk

1 C Cocoa Powder

2 C Sugar

3 C sugar

2 Tbsp Baking Powder

1 C Lemon juice

24 yolks

½ Tsp Salt

½ C Water

1 ½ lb cream cheese

1 C Chopped dark chocolate

5 Tbsp Flour

3 C sour cream

6 oz Butter, cold, cubed

½ Tsp Salt

4 tsp vanilla

3 C Heavy Cream

2 Tbsp Cognac

Pinch salt

4 C All purpose flour

Method – Mix dry ingredients, then add

© David L. Reamer

butter. Mix in cream, then press flat on a well floured surface. Press or roll to 1 ½ inches then cut out scones with large oval cutter. Press scraps together, flatten and cut again.

3 oz Butter, cold, cubed To Brush: ½ C Cream ¼ C Raw Sugar (crushed)

Method – Mix and put in baking dish.

Method – Combine Boil milk and 2 cups sugar. Temper in the yolks and 1 cup sugar.

Blend in the cream cheese while hot. Cool down,then blend in sour cream, vanilla and salt.

Dot with butter and then top with scones.

Brush the scones with the cream and then sprinkle with crushed sugar cubes. Bake at 325 until biscuits are done. Tent with foil if starting to brown.

Dark Chocolate and Fresh Oregon Cherry Cobbler recipe by Executive Chef Annie Cuggino Q RESTAURANT & BAR www.q-portland.com

SUSTAINABLE DREAM HOME written by DONNA PIZZI photography by DEREK REEVES & ROB PERRY

© Derek Reeves

THIS COUPLE’S DREAM TO BUILD A VERY SUSTAINABLE, YET ELEGANT CONTEMPORARY HILLSIDE HOME WRAPPED IN RICH, WARM HORIZONTAL CUT STONE THAT WOULD ALSO EMBRACE ITS EXPANSIVE VIEWS OF LAKE WASHINGTON AND THE CASCADES BECAME AN AWARD-WINNING REALITY WHEN STUART SILK ARCHITECTS CAME ON BOARD.

PREVIOUS PAGE A cantilevered staircase with glass railing sits against interior/exterior envelope of Amber Rose flame cut stone contrasting with cold rolled blackened steel fireplace. Gregorious|Pineo Battista dining table; Holly Hunt chairs; blown/cast glass Trinh Nguyen artwork. THIS PAGE Exposed steel columns draw the eye to Steve Jensen’s wood carving “Tangled Lines.” Insulated oak ceiling adds visual warmth while trapping sound. Weiland glass doors and clerestory windows open onto spectacular views. Quarter sawn rift white oak flooring meets porcelain tile entry.

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FROM THE MOMENT THIS PACIFIC NORTHWEST COUPLE BEGAN IMAGINING THE HOME they wished to build on their hillside property overlooking Lake Washington, they began collecting photos of homes they had seen and liked – one from Napa, another from Spain and a third of gray stone with white veining.

“The things I knew I wanted from the beginning,” recalls Silk’s client, who notes wistfully that in another life she might have become an architect or designer because she so enjoys working with a blank slate and then seeing the vision materialize, “was a lot of light, big windows across the east side of the house, a sense of space - contemporary but with a warm aesthetic, and with room for art.”

The couple had started the project – which required razing the c. 1920s traditional home then on the site - with a younger architect. “After a month or so, we realized we didn’t have the level of confidence we wanted and began looking for someone who had a reputation for listening to clients, had done a lot of work in the area, inspired confidence in their ability and whose aesthetic I trusted.”

Enter Stuart Silk and his Senior Associate Mike McFadden of Stuart Silk Architects of Seattle whose work they admired.

“Our client was a driving force and an integral part of the design team and an equal partner. She grew up in Madrid and later lived in France and has a European design sensibility flavored by her experience,” recalls Silk. “Her unique perspective made it exciting. Just when you think America is on the cutting edge, you find new barriers being broken in Europe both literally and figuratively. This sensibility made her and her husband wonderful partners in the process.”

The process began with a written narrative and the images both parties collected. “The images our client brought resonated strongly and stayed with us throughout the project,” says Silk, who likes to build an Excel spread sheet as well for each room along with its size projected onto the sheet. “Then we add up the square footage to see if it’s in line with the homeowners’ goals and objectives,” says Silk.

Following the architects’ survey, environmental permitting and feasibility study, and after the homeowners and architects agree on their objectives, Silk’s team starts to pencil sketch the design prior to developing hardline sketches on the computer.

© Derek Reeves

“We ended up with four different schemes with significant differences,” recalls Silk, “There was much debate as to how high the ceiling in the public areas should be.” After settling on 12’-6” high ceilings, they knew they could not add a second story, which is when the concept for the H-Shaped design took form with the living, dining rooms, stairway and entry in the public areas, and two wings dedicated to the private areas.

“One of the conceptual ideas for the house was to create three pavilions,” says Silk, “with the public areas in the middle, and two wings on the side which are delineated by two water features, giving the illusion that the water cuts through the house, but doesn’t. The two wings, which includes the kitchen off the public dining area in the private zone, are defined by the stone walls.”

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© Rob Perry

© Rob Perry

Several different kinds of materials were considered briefly for the exterior beside the stone, including stucco and wood. “Finding the right stone selection was the single most important and challenging decision of the project,” recalls Silk. “It resulted in many field trips to stone yards, buildings out of our area, and samplings from Europe that were shipped to us.”

One such field trip included meeting in San Jose to look at a building clad in the Amber Rose stone, introduced to Silk Architects by a stone supplier from Wisconsin that was sourced from Spain.

“The San Jose building was in large flat panels and a very different application suitable for an institutional building,” says Silk. “We ended up designing our own unique pattern of narrower pieces that were flamed to create a textural, tactile quality that is more residential in feel. We added a ribbon of clerestory windows just below the roof on the street side to bring in light and provide privacy. This ribbon gives the illusion that the roof is floating. If the whole facade had been solid stone, it would look like a fortress; we wanted to create a balance of openness and closeness that was not foreboding.”

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“I wanted the warmth of this rosy stone,” says the client, “We were conflicted, however, because there is a quarry not too far from here with a buff colored stone that would have been more economical because of the local transportation cost and less carbon footprint associated with its delivery, but I really wanted the one that was most beautiful, and this stone was far and away the most aesthetically appealing.”

“We cut individual pieces three to five feet long of three different widths, like very long bricks,” says Silk. “It was very time consuming, but it allowed us to see the full range of the color of the stone. You won’t find the same pattern on any other building.”

LEFT Two water features, running perpendicular to house, appear as if they carry water coursing through the house. Horizontal oak plank entry door echoes stacked stone façade. Large porcelain tile entry flooring is

by Porcelanosa. Wndows are clad exterior/ wood interior. THIS PAGE Amber Rose flame stone clad exterior is cut and stacked into three varied sizes to show texture and complex color range. Clerestory windows wrap the home for light yet ensure privacy from street. The Scot Eckley, Inc. landscape design features a gingko tree in a crushed gravel court at right; red Japanese maple left.

An important goal was the couple’s desire for a sustainable, healthy home. We integrated many features including solar panels, a green roof over the central pavilion, and cisterns for recycling roof runoff.

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© Rob Perry

LEFT A very sculptural cold rolled blackened steel structure – a creative zone at the entry - purposefully interrupts a view through the dining room, while providing display areas for the homeowners’ treasured painting by Colorado artist Ingrid Magidson, and an equally sculptural plant. RIGHT Upper black kitchen cabinet ties visually to the blackened steel entry piece and fireplace and recurs in the island’s footing.

Waterfall marble island top countered by a Wolf Cooktop, Vent-a-Hood and repeating marble backsplash. Miele refrigerator is framed by kitchen cabinetry by Warner Cabinets.

Š Rob Perry

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© Derek Reeves

The builder, Bender Custom Construction of Bellevue, well-known in the Pacific Northwest for a 36-year history of building premier custom homes, recommended Scot Eckley, Inc. for the landscape design.

Eckley, who transitioned from an English Lit degree to a passion for fashion design before making an about face into landscape architecture, attributes the dramatic switch to the summers he spent working with Rodney L. Juntunen in his magnificently designed gardens. That experience taught Eckley to honor the architectural design by mirroring its style in his choices.

“The stone had already been chosen when I came on board,” recalls Eckley, “which helped us to pick hardscape materials that mirrored Silk’s strong aesthetic, including rusted corten steel that harmonized really nicely with the stone.”

“In order to reiterate the strong H-shape architecture delineated by its glass and stone panels,” says Eckley, “most of the plantings were done in the same kind of simple massings, with only one planting per bed, not five different ones, thereby creating a simple, yet well-defined texture that pleases the eye.”

To complement the view toward the lake, Eckley planted a 36” tall Yew hedge as a type of infinity edge that lifts the eye up away from the slope toward the panoramic view of Lake Washington, Bellevue and Cascade Mountains.

“It was a great project with a really good team,” adds Eckley.

Certainly, Stuart Silk Architects having achieved the LEED Gold/5-Star Built Certification, as well as a 2012 Masonry Institute of Washington Honor Award for Excellence in Masonry Design was gratifying for all concerned. The homeowners agree, “after the crazy number of decisions that had to be made over the four-year period, moving in was the ultimate moment of satisfaction, thanks to our wonderful team.”

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PROJECT SOURCES CONTRACTOR Bender Custom Construction www.bendercustomconstruction.com ARCHITECT Stuart Silk Architects www.stuartsilk.com INTERIOR DESIGN Stuart Silk Architects www.stuartsilk.com LANDSCAPE DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION Scot Eckley Inc. www.scoteckley.com PLUMBING FIXTURES Best Plumbing www.bestplumbing.com WINDOWS Windows Doors & More www.windowshowroom.com Kitchen Appliances: Gaggenau, Wolf, Vent-a-hood, Miele, Sub-Zero, Fisher Paykel

What has led to your firm’s continued success over the past 30-plus years?

© Natalia Dotto

Shoptalk l Stuart Silk

Silk — Our team. We are led by incredibly talented folks including Amanda Cavassa, Dave King, David Marchetti, Michael McFadden, and Brie Nakamura.

These individuals represent the firm’s future. As a group, we work collaboratively and share design authorship. We emphasize our values over the bottom line and prioritize the importance of integrity. We promote from within by offering continuous training for our people which instills loyalty and engagement and reinforces our structure as an employee owned company.

How have you seen your career evolve over the past decades? Has your personal approach to architecture changed?

Silk — Although we are constantly improving our methods and means, our approach to architecture has not changed since the firm’s inception: We honor each client’s goal to create a home that is unique to them and is functional, light-filled, and beautiful. We view each new relationship as a partnership and a shared journey of discovery. We work to create a supportive environment, so each client feels comfortable to engage deeply. This ensures a sense of true ownership. In this process we continuously search for new solutions to questions of functionality and aesthetics.

When did you add interior designers to your team?

Silk — Everyone that works here has a strong affinity with how people are intimately connected to the spaces we design. We wanted to take that a step further and ten years ago we hired our first interior designer to take it to the next level.

This has resulted in a truly integrated, holistic approach that provides a seamless experience for our clients.

How long has sustainability been a focus for your practice?

Silk — We have been actively focused on sustainable design for the last 12 years.

We approach each client with a menu of green options that they can choose from to make their home as healthy and sustainable as possible. Our clients become our partners in reviewing options based upon their goals, upfront costs, and long-term benefits.

Outside of architecture, what other fields are you are most interested in and how do they influence your work?

Silk — Physics and philosophy fascinate me. I am endlessly curious and always seeking to better understand how our world works. I like to try to understand things through the lens of science, and when that sometimes fails, I turn to philosophy.

What can you tell us about your approach to materials?

Silk — Materials reinforce our aesthetic objectives and convey meaning. We prefer tactile materials with texture and movement that enrich the experience.

What do you think about the advancements in the materials and products industry in relation to the aesthetics of your work?

Silk — There are many new materials available today that weren’t available ten to twenty years ago. These materials improve a building’s overall performance and expand the range of creative solutions.

How is context an important element in your projects?

Silk — Every project begins with a careful analysis of each site’s context including sun, wind, views, and surroundings. Responding thoughtfully to context is critical to a home’s success, whether it is in the city, the mountains, on an island, or the desert.

Favorite travel destination for inspiration?

Silk — I love visiting Japan. Their culture’s approach towards building always shows commitment to uncluttered, hand-crafted solutions that seem to defy style and yet have resonated for centuries. It carries over to all facets of life.

A small grocery store or delicatessen is a beautiful work of art with everything

Stuart Silk, Principal Stuart Silk Architects arranged thoughtfully showing attention to every detail.

What project is your office currently working on?

Silk — We are working on a very exciting Mid-Century home in the Palm Springs area as well as a family compound on the shores of Lake Chelan.

Best way to spend a long weekend in Seattle?

Silk — Hanging with my grandkids, going on a hike in the Cascades, and dinner with friends.

How did you get into architecture?

Silk — My mother is very passionate about art and architecture and introduced me to art at a young age. When I was twelve, we went on a three-month-long family trip to central Europe and visited eight different countries. The trip left a big impression on me. She claims I scaled every bell tower in Europe. I fell in love with the many cultures I experienced, the architecture, and even painted watercolors of picturesque sites.

Later, while in college, I studied fine art and art history. One year a few friends got together and rented a ski house in Vermont for the winter. The house was designed by avant-garde architect David Sellers and was called the ‘Bridge House’. This house was a 3-dimensional sculpture with six levels and many interconnected spaces. This was like nothing I’d ever experienced. David had gone to Yale (where I ended up going) and was bigger than life. The house had been on the cover of Life Magazine. I thought, “Wow, this is really cool!” That’s when the notion of becoming an architect was hatched.

Apart from architecture, what are you passionate about?

Silk — I love to hike, fly fish, and bird watch. These passions are what led me to the Pacific Northwest and bring me in touch with the natural world which informs the work we do. I have an active yoga practice which not only settles the mind but engages notions of balance and movement which are important to the thoughtful orchestration of the many aspects of design and function.

I also love to travel and observe the built environment which brings me closer to the roots and origins of western architecture as well as cutting edge modernism.

This grounding informs the work we do. I’m thrilled that quite a number of our staff also travel.

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LANE WILLIAMS ARCHITECTS 206.284.8355 LANEWILLIAMS.COM

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FIELDHOUSE written by KATIE KERVIN photography by ANDREW GIAMMARCO

INSPIRED BY EARLY 20TH-CENTURY NATIONAL PARKS BUILDINGS, HOEDEMAKER PFEIFFER SET OUT TO CREATE A SECLUDED, YET PLAYFUL RETREAT TO ENHANCE THEIR CLIENTS’ VACATION HOME ON WHIDBEY ISLAND. TAKING ADVANTAGE OF PACIFIC NORTHWEST MATERIALS AND SENSIBILITIES, THE FIELDHOUSE IS DESIGNED AS A PLACE FOR SPORT AND RECREATION.

PERCHED AMIDST A LARGELY UNDEVELOPED MEADOW ON WHIDBEY ISLAND SITS A FIELDHOUSE – envisioned to enhance a family’s vacation property north of Seattle. “This project was designed to make use of an upland piece of property that the clients didn’t have much use for,” explains architect Steve Hoedemaker, partner at noted Seattle design studio Hoedemaker Pfeiffer. The firm, which focuses on residential work along with lifestyle projects designed to enhance people’s lives, completed both the architecture and interiors for this new build recreational structure.

The secluded site, which features a fruit orchard, wetland ponds, and a field for games and sports, creates a pastoral backdrop for the fieldhouse itself, which harkens back to the development of state and national parks in the early 20th century, where nature and recreation were intended to merge. “The site was a previously logged property that was left in rough condition,” says Hoedemaker. “There was a lot of work to clear old debris and deal with water flowing across.” The designers, working with Kenneth Philp Landscape Architects, were able to channel the water into features on the property.

Conceived as a covered outdoor space surrounded by glass, the house features degrees of enclosure that allow it to be used on warm and cold days. Hoedemaker and his partner, Tim Pfeiffer, drew inspiration from the stone and timber structures built during the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps., Roosevelt’s public work relief program for unemployed young men. The “sophisticated” clients, says Hoedemaker, are Pacific Northwest natives, so it was also important to them that the building maintain a sense of place and long-lastingness, and the simple structure is 38

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crafted from durable local materials like timber and stone. Additional motivation, particularly for the client, came from memories of summers on Seattle’s waterfront and the regional architectural style pioneered by Ellsworth Storey.

The clients, who love to socialize, saw the site as an opportunity for both adults and children to play.

To that end, each part of the fieldhouse and site was designed for different purposes, and can host anywhere from four to 60 people. A sunroom with an inglenook (or partially enclosed fireplace hearth area) on one end, and a kitchen, grill, and bathrooms on the other join in the center around the covered outdoor patio. Operable glass doors can be closed to the elements, or opened to allow in light and warm air as weather permits.

ABOVE LEFT An impressive grill set in a shingled wall anchors one end of the structure, with hallways on either side that lead to the fieldhouse’s full kitchen and bathrooms. Custom picnic tables and benches by locally based Live Edge Woodworks are also focal points, and perfect for hosting large group meals. RIGHT The galley-style kitchen features vibrant red cabinetry with pulls from Cabinetry Northwest, and sleek stainless steel appliances.

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The building materials themselves get progressively lighter, from a solid stone base, to thick timber columns, rafters, and thinner purlins that support a single-plane shed roof. In keeping with the client and architects’ Pacific Northwest history and sensibilities, Douglas fir and cedar were harvested locally, the stone hails from Vancouver Island, and steel casement doors and windows were fabricated on the West Coast.

“There was a lot of involvement from the client, who was used to making decisions on projects,” Hoedemaker points out, noting that she was closely involved in the process. And because it is not a permanent residence, “nothing here was as personal. It could all be playful.” Indeed, this was also part of the attraction for the designers. “It’s rare you get an opportunity to work on a building that is the extension of a single idea rather than the result of programmatic requirements,” Hoedemaker explains. “To create something that isn’t about the need for shelter, kitchen, or bedrooms. It was a desire to play with a single concept and see where it went. It was partly a fantasy of mine and Pfeiffer’s to design this as a tool for getting people outdoors.”

LEFT The sunroom is marked by a large, hexagonal-shaped hanging pendant custom designed by Kerry Joyce that is an unexpected contrast to the other, more rustic elements in the space. Steel-framed casement doors can open to let in fresh air, and an inglenook, or partially enclosed fireplace creates a sense of coziness. The sunroom’s meadow views are enhanced by pops of color in cushions with fabric from Romo and Great Outdoors, and fabricated by Washington company Island Custom Upholstery. Pendleton throw blankets and a classic table and stools by Tirto Furniture are a natural fit for the outdoorsy space, along with folding chairs from locally based Terris Draheim. ABOVE The fieldhouse’s stone and timber architecture takes its cues from early 20th-century national park structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

PROJECT SOURCES CONTRACTOR Joseph McKinstry Construction Company www.jmcc.com ARCHITECT Hoedemaker Pfeiffer www.hoedemakerpfeiffer.com LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Kenneth Philp Landscape Architects www.kennethphilp.com WINDOWS Torrance Steel Window Company www.torrancesteelwindow.com

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8649 154th Avenue N.E. | Redmond, WA 98052 | 425.822.2378 classicwindowproducts.com

A Finer Touch Construction

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A CLIENT WITH A DESIRE FOR A CLASSIC EAST COAST AESTHETIC MODERNIZED IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST ACHIEVED HER VISION THANKS TO A MAJOR RENOVATION BY MARIANNE SIMON DESIGN AND RIPPLE DESIGN STUDIO.

GIG HARBOR CLASSIC written by KATIE KERVIN photography by HARIS KENJAR

A modern palette of white, black, and gray pervades this farmhouse-style renovation, enhanced by brushed brass accents and fixtures in both the carriage and main house kitchens, which include cabinet design by Signature Design & Cabinetry. The water view is paramount from the kitchen and dining room, where a mix of the client’s own furniture and vintage pieces tie in with the marble countertops and wood accents. Windows by Sierra Pacific.

Open shelving in the dining room is designed as a venue to display items from the client’s collection, and is backed by a feature subway-tiled that continues through to the kitchen. A new mudroom done in white shiplap serves as a connection between the added carriage house and garage and features the white oak flooring found throughout the home. Windows by Sierra Pacific.

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IN A WORLD SEEMINGLY CONSUMED BY THE FRIVOLITIES OF SOCIAL MEDIA (and people often focused on its negative impacts), it’s easy to forget the premise upon which Instagram was built: sharing beautiful images. Luckily, Seattle and Charleston, South Carolina-based designer Marianne Simon hasn’t lost sight. Her Instagram game is on point—so much so that her client for a stunning gut renovation in Gig Harbor, Washington actually found and reached out to her via the platform. “I had been following Marianne for some time and loved her aesthetic,” explains the homeowner, Janice Carpenter, who is originally from the East Coast. “I like the Pacific Northwest style, but I have a little different vision—more a traditional East Coast aesthetic.”

Carpenter and her husband had purchased their waterfront home in 2015, and immediately engaged Simon to begin to develop their vision for a present-day farmhouse. It was a far cry from the existing property, a very mid-1980s period style, according to architect Jim Dearth, principal of Seattle’s Ripple Design Studio. Based on their decade-long working history, Simon brought Ripple on board shortly after engaging with the client.

Though it was a major renovation (done in collaboration with Andersen Homes), surprisingly, says Dearth, the home’s existing ’80s-style massing lent itself to the clients’ vision for a contemporary farmhouse. “It naturally wanted to transition into what it became,” he points out. He essentially maintained the existing form, while creating an entirely new envelope, adding a carriage house and a garage connected to a shiplap-clad mudroom.

He also reorganized all the interior spaces—including flipping the kitchen from one side to the other.

The interiors, for their part, were designed to be at once beautiful plus comfortable and livable for the family. The newly added two-bedroom carriage house is a perfect place for guests, including the client’s college-aged son when he’s home for breaks. Its kitchen features dark gray cabinets complemented by brushed-brass handles, custom drop pendants, and smart white four-by-four wall tile.

Much of the furnishings are the client’s own and many are vintage, as Carpenter once owned a small antiques business and has amassed a robust collection over the years. “I was able to bring in some of the things that she already had to make it work and go with her style,” Simon says.

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In the main house’s kitchen and dining areas (complete with a stunning view over the water through black-framed Sierra Pacific windows), these items mix with white subway tile spanning one wall, open shelving to display the Carpenter’s pieces, and exposed beams that add warmth to the newly vaulted ceiling. The homeowners love to cook, so a dramatic La Cornue range, black with brushed brass, sits across from a long Carrara marble island that is presided over by basket pendants from France.

Shiplap appears again in the master bath, where a handmade blackened steel door frames the glass shower door, mimicking the mirror frames as well as the windows in other rooms. To soften, Simon added an antique chandelier and herringbone-patterned flooring. In this and the powder room, Carerra marble counters are pulled through from the kitchen, though set atop an existing dresser Carpenter owned for a unique touch. “We had to find something that was a good height,” Simon explains. “When you’re turning it into a vanity you don’t want it too high or too low.” The powder room’s wallpaper is in keeping with the home’s black, white, and gray palette, but adds a whimsical touch behind a gold-colored mirror.

And while Carpenter—who worked with a designer and architect for the first time on the project—was surprised by the large renovation’s long timeline, she was grateful to find two firms able to bring her vision to life. Simon adds: “I love the way the whole house came together. It’s really cohesive. I never want things to look disjointed, so I’m really happy with the palette, the materials used, and incorporating old and new. Even though it’s a renovation, it still looks warm and inviting, like somebody lives there.”

The master bathroom and powder room tie in multiple elements from the home, including marble countertops, black-framed mirrors and glass shower door that imitate the windows found elsewhere, shiplap walls, and brushed-brass hardware and fixtures. A cloudlike gray and white wallpaper in the powder room backs the client’s own vintage pine dresser repurposed into a vanity, with wall-mounted faucet and an antique mirror to round out the look.

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PROJECT SOURCES CONTRACTOR Andersen Homes www.andersenhomes.net ARCHITECT Ripple Design Studio www.rippledesignstudio.com INTERIOR DESIGN Marianne Simon Design www.mariannesimondesign.com WINDOWS + DOORS Sierra Pacific Windows: Classic Window Products www.classicwindowproducts.com Kitchen Appliances: La Cornue, Wolf, Sub-Zero; Plumbing Fixtures: Kohler, Newport Brass

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Exclusive Designer Lines CASE GOODS / UPHOLSTERY / FABRIC / ACCESSORIES

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Comfort, solidity, modernity and tradition are expressed by citing the Chesterfield spirit and capitonnĂŠ style in the Tufty Bed by designer Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia.

The leather or fabric cover is divided into squares, the distinctive feature of the series.

With a base that goes down to the floor, it allows the internal space to be used as a convenient compartment. Paired here with Surface storage unit, a highly customizable linear unit that has become an iconic object of modern furnishings produced in Italy.

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The deftly upholstered Zephyr lounge chair is simply strapping with leather loops supporting its bolster head pillow and a matte gold plated steel frame. Available with ottoman. From Century Furniture.

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design | WELL-TRAVELED

NATIV Collection by Raphael Navot for Roche Bobois. The incredibly soft nubuck leather of the Collection’s sofa, armchair, meridienne and day bed make it the perfect place to relax. The elegant silhouette of each piece is highlighted by a thin down that wraps around the headrest and extends down between the base and the seat. Through Roche Bobois www.roche-bobois.com

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Hand-cut pieces of wood are slatted into grooves along the frame of Arteriors Valencia Chandelier, each angled to create streaming rays of light.

Through J. Garner Home www.jgarnerhome.com Seed Design’s Apollo floor lamp aims to make a big impression. Married with wooden tripods along with a touch-dimmer device, at Alchemy Collections www.alchemycollections.com

1) Frank Ponterio’s Salotto Cabinet for Arteriors Home is the crown jewel of his debut collection. The vellum panels were inspired by a pair of bronze doors at Villa Necchi in Milan. Through www.jgarnerhome.com 2) Capturing everything you love about your favorite vintage T-shirt, Cyouchi’s Organic Jersey Sheets, through www.bedroomsandmore.com 3) Hand-loomed Linie Design’s Combination rug in Jade brings a gradient of pastel colors to your space. Through www.alchemycollections. com 4) From foxhound-hued Mohair to Tibetan sheepskin, Room & Board’s collection of brown & beige pillows add tonal texture to neutral rooms, www.roomandboard.com 5) Gamma Furniture’s leather Karl sofa fuses fashion and design with a Blade Stand base and elegant handbag-style armrests. Through www.alchemycollections.com

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Rainstorm SW 6230 sherwin-williams.com

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design | COSMOPOLITAN LUXE

Saba Bustier sofa’s elegant, curvy shape was inspired by the body-hugging corsets worn by ladies in the 19th century.

Its rigid shell embraces soft feather cushions, and its shape means it can be adapted to many different covers and uses.

Ergonomic comfort is combined with compact proportions, ideal for the modern home. The unique Saba Italia fabric collection offers an eclectic selection of Bustier covers for residential or contract furnishing. Fully removable covers. From Alchemy Collections, www.alchemycollections.com

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Designed by Delphine Chopard for Roche Bobois, the Nenuphar rug lays a vibrant foundation for this timelessly chic bedroom. The Contre-Jour bed with two sides upholstered in Ondea padded fabric creates a sleek silhouette with an aluminum base with black nickel finish. Neil table lamps with alabaster shades complement Brio Bedside tables, designed by Sacha Lakic. Charlie Ottomans accent the palette. All from Roche Bobois, www.roche-bobois.com

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design | URBAN ECLECTIC

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Liola Textile Design giclee print, from the design archive of Liola, a family-owned Italian textile company with a strong emphasis on playful graphic patterns. www.roomandboard.com

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1) Lustrous on one side, slightly matte on the other, Coyuchi’s organic sateen duvet cover. At Bedrooms and more, www.bedroomsandmore.com 2) The one light pendant from the Lydney collection by Hudson Valley is a perfect mix of form and function. Black and Polished Nickel finish, from www.hudsonvalleylighting.com 3) Smartly designed and richly finished, the Sienna Platform Bed from Greenington is a simply yet beautifully crafted piece of furniture that will bring style to your bedroom. Through www.bedroomsandmore.com 4) Inspired by mid-century design, Room & Board’s Goodwin sofa gives a nod to the past. Available at www.roomandboard.com 5) Adrian storage cabinet. Louvered center drawers crafted from a solid wood panel add unexpected texture and feature push-to-open functionality from www.roomandboard.com 6+7) Lively stripes enhance Barclay Butera’s striped pattern 34968-535 from Kravet; Izu Collection Utta print in Indigo reimagines Japanese ancient art, both from www.kravet.com

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A coordinated balance of vibrant colors and neutral colors give this living room life and variety. The Heriz rug lays the foundation for the color story that evolves throughout the Nadine chair, Reese sofa and Haruna Niiya wall art—continuing into the dining area, as well. All from Room & Board. www.roomandboard.com

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Caracole’s Modern Fusion brings together elements of dove grey glass, Ashen Oak, and modern hardware to create fresh new layers of style. Shown: The Fusion dining table is a study in contrast, it features a top finished in Ashen Oak paired with a base in a darker Charred Oak finish. Its clean lines offer a refreshingly simple silhouette that is understated yet memorable. Combining the best of style and storage, the Modern Fusion two-door cabinet features two adjustable shelves for loads of storage. Designed to complement with the Drawer and Accent Cabinets. All from Schoener Interiors. www.schoenerinteriors.com

design | TAILOR TO FIT The Aura Pendant is crafted using steel shaped and forged in Vermont. The LEDs, shielded by iron plates, create an even, soft glow. www.hubbardtonforge.com

Monk’s Cloth 0220 millerpaint.com

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1) Luxurious Elitis pillows, Balibar in Gris fumée and Rooftop in Night. At www.williamandwayne.com 2) Thin iron rods in a bronze finish shape the openform linear base of Arteriors’ large-scale round Lou Coffee Table. Through www.jgarnerhome.com 3) A unique geometric pattern surrounds Arteriors’ Callen Mirror. Framed in natural iron and heavily antiqued. Through www.jgarnerhome.com 4) The Duo Throw in Cumin is made in Arles Antique Merino wool, with pointillist designs and fringed finish. From www.le-jacquard-francais.com 5) Caracole’s debonair Svelte Chair is inspired by Italian design in the mid century. Leather and deep bronze accent this contemporary barrel chair.

Available through www.schoenerinteriors.com 6+7) New from Kravet, the Nate Berkus Well Traveled Collection, Shown: Resource Velvet in Sand and Globe Trot in Sparrow. Through www.kravet.com

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Lee Industry’s Extra Long Sofa with sloping side wings recalls traditional silhouettes, while small nailhead trim keep the look clean. Plush cushions make for a very luxurious sit. Shown in Winthrop Flint. Available through J Garner Home. www.jgarnerhome.com

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MEET THE DESIGNER Thursday, October 24th 5:00-7:00 pm Designer Marc Thorpe will be showcasing his new limited edition Unity Collection of Venini glass from Murano, Italy DIVA GROUP divafurnitureseattle.com

When you discover Marc Thorpe, you discover an entire world, literal and figurative – a synthesis of architecture and design, whether interior, graphic, product or furnishings, all centered around technology, and the power of creative collaboration.

After garnering a Masters in Architecture, with honors, from Parson School of Design in New York, and a bevy of architectural awards for his work, Thorpe founded Marc Thorpe Design in 2010 in New York City, with the intent of broadening the scope of his design work to embrace not only his clients, but also a global artistic community working together to create innovative avenues that nurture the design process.

Marc Thorpe, guest speaker at the Diva Group in Seattle this October, will present his Unity line of Venini glass from Murano, Italy, an extraordinary melding of cultures and countries from Italy to Senegal.

Available at www.divafurnitureseattle.com

An exclusive interview with

MARC THORPE interview by DONNA PIZZI

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INTERVIEW

l MARC THORPE

In the West African country of Senegal Thorpe discovered the beauty of African culture and craftsmanship.

The concept to combine the time honored glass craft of Venini with the unique techniques and artisanal approach of weaving in Senegal would be symbolic of our shared humanity and pay tribute to the artisans and their respected countries. Thorpe’s original sketch.

You’ve designed for several leading international brands. What were some of your early successes or most memorable projects at Marc Thorpe Design?

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The story of Unity for Venini is the story of Thorpe’s travels around the world, particularly Dakar, Senegal and Murano, Italy. Based in Murano, glassworks signed by Venini are made precious and recognizable thanks to respect for materials and constantly developing research.

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Thorpe — My first project in my late 20s, prior to forming MTD, was working together with Jerry Helling, Creative Director and CEO of Bernhardt Design, on a few pieces. He exhibited my work in Italy, where I began to explore other companies such as Moroso, Cappellini and Casamania, with which I began to collaborate.

Working in Europe with Patrizia Moroso, the legendary creative director of the avant garde brand Moroso, took me a lot of places.

We started with the Mark table, which was very important for me to be presented in such an arena and helped to establish my name as an American internationally. We also developed the Blur textile and sofa, Morning Glory table and the Husk collection which includes the M’Afrique outdoor collection produced in Senegal, West Africa.

You received your master’s degree in architecture from Parsons School of Design and completed undergraduate studies in graphic and industrial design. How have you integrated this multidisciplinary approach to your design?

Thorpe — The way I look at everything is that architecture is important in understanding scale, proportion and how things are put together. You shift that scale to product or furniture design, using your skillsets. For instance, being an architect has some relationship to senses, tactility, and is sensory driven. Furniture and product design should be created the same way, by engaging the senses. It’s a work of architecture on a smaller scale, yet different from traditional furniture design. I’m not interested in designing just anything; I’m very program- driven – with a solid concept, and serious programming, since there’s a certain degree of expression that needs to be communicated.

Your recent Unity collaboration with Venini merges Senegalese weaving and Murano Glass. Where did you draw inspiration from when creating the collection?

photo: Ivano Mercanzin

“By 15, my greatest desire was to travel to and study in Italy. I spent years studying with Italians, working in Italy, always having relationship with Venice and Milano, gravitating towards Venice and Murano.”

Thorpe — It had been my dream to work with Venini, who has a small network of designers in the Veneto region, including Luca Nichetto, who had worked with Venini and all the Murano glass furnaces as a designer. Luca became a close friend and mentor who later introduced me to the creative director at Venini. This lead to a conversation about producing a collaboration between Senegal and Murano. The concept of Unity, cultural exchange and cultural edifice allowed this project to manifest on its own. My being an American working in Italy who became an ambassador to Senegal to create a culturally rich artifact was born out of the collaboration of producing the woven African headrests base in Senegal and the blown glass tops in Murano.

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INTERVIEW

l MARC THORPE You have a family connection with Venini. How do you feel your early upbringing informed your design career?

Thorpe — My mother’s side is Italian. My grandmother was one of the first Veninis born in North America. There were a lot of small glass pieces in my home growing up that I was told were a part of our family, but as a kid, I didn’t understand what that meant. Eventually, I learned there was a company in Venice that produces glass: Cappellin Venini. Co-founder Paolo Venini (1895-1959), a former Milanese lawyer, is a great uncle. As I got older, aside from my father who’s a graphic designer, some of my first professors were all Italian. By 15, my greatest desire was to travel to and study in Italy. I spent years studying with Italians, working in Italy, always having relationship with Venice and Milano, gravitating towards Venice and Murano.

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“We’re doing more thinking about ethics, what these buildings are and how they are performing and the impact they can have on the planet and its people.”

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In past collaborations, you’ve talked about how you’ve enjoyed seeing craftsmen from different backgrounds and cultures come together to create a project. What has been most inspiring about this collaboration, especially considering this is the first time Venini has worked with African craftsmen?

Thorpe — Originally, the idea arose out of traveling to Africa where there are a lot of cultural artifacts. The African headrest, which is basically a pillow made of wood, is a unique humanistic form with a direct relationship to the body. The headrest is such a beautiful form that we decided to start with that. The framework is phase one of the process, which is hand welded with metal. You bend the rod, weld and cut it, and then manipulate it as you figure out the architecture. Next, the hand weaving is done using intricate, specialized techniques, since you must pull the threads just right to create the perfect curve and form, using a lot of trial and error. Thus, the base is produced in Dakar and Senegal, and the handblown top pieces in Murano. Finally, they nest together and complement each other. There is also a dialogue between both places at the same time. In Murano, certain tones for the glass are considered as possible in terms of synching up with the weaving in Senegal with a back and forth to find the right balance. We wanted the pieces to feel as though they were designed a long time ago, as done by Carlos Scarpa, who Paolo Venini hired in 1932, as an artistic consultant, who resurrected techniques reaching back to France in the late 1800s, including such techniques as Battuto or hand carving that resembles beaten metal, a signature element we, too, wanted to bring back. Our goal was to create the perfect balance of timeless and datelessness for these pieces.

What kinds of things do you make a note of during your travels to keep you inspired?

Thorpe — Architecture is a big part of it. History of places is another.

The food and people. Anthony Bourdain was able to get the best out of people from immersing himself in their environment and being inspired by everything that’s culturally related to that particular place.

How would you describe your aesthetic?

Thorpe — I’m a minimalist at heart for sure. I’ve had to say I’m a punk rock minimalist. Sex Pistols meets Brian Eno. Complete clash. That’s the beauty of it - some kind of balance between the two.

1) The H5 House directly addresses and anticipates the planets social and economic issues regarding the supply and demand of water in the 21st century.

2) Husk Chair. 3) Blur Sofa. 4) The bar at the Classic Car Club, Pier 76 in NYC.

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What’s next for Marc Thorpe Design?

(above) The Lyons Tower is located on a one-acre lot in downtown Mesa Arizona. Taking its formal inspiration from the landscape of Monument Valley, the tower is divided between various levels of public and private space.

Thorpe — We’ve been predominantly working in architecture, cultivating a relationship with architecture by doing more built work, sustainability and ecology. We want to create buildings that offer themselves up as a system - like harvesting water - buildings that have a degree of performance rather than just a place for general shelter. We’re doing more thinking about ethics, what these buildings are and how they are performing and the impact they can have on the planet and its people.

That’s where I’d like to take it. Of course, we can’t do it all the time. I’m also looking forward to coming to Seattle for the first time, exploring the city, getting into it.

D E S I G N PO R T R A I T.

Michel, seat system designed by Antonio Citterio. www.bebitalia.com B&B Italia and Maxalto Store Seattle by DIVA Group: 1300 Western Avenue Seattle, WA 98101 - T. 206 287 9992 www.divafurnitureseattle.com - seattle@divafurniture.com

CALIFORNIA DREAMING written by MARGARETT WATERBURY photography by RAFAEL SOLDIÂ

CALIFORNIA DREAMING, NORTHWEST SOUL. THIS MIDCENTURY HOME ON MERCER ISLAND HAD GREAT BONES AND AN OUTSTANDING LOCATION, BUT FELT CLOSED-OFF INSIDE. A THOUGHTFUL REMODEL FROM WITTMAN ESTES ARCHITECTURE + LANDSCAPE AND TREEBIRD CONSTRUCTION MINGLED THE BEST OF CALIFORNIA MODERNISM WITH A DISTINCTLY NORTHWEST ATTENTION TO CRAFT TO BRING UP THE CURTAINS AND LET THE LIGHT BACK IN.

WHEN THESE HOMEOWNERS BOUGHT A 1969 HOME on a 15,539 square foot lot in Seattle’s Mercer Island neighborhood, they knew they’d snagged a place with great midcentury lines and a killer view of Lake Washington. But they’d also inherited a formal, choppedup feel that didn’t line up with their family’s laid-back West Coast lifestyle. So they turned to Wittman Estes Architecture + Landscape, an integrative architecture and landscape design firm specializing in single family homes throughout the Northwest who teamed with Treebird Construction, to help make their new home feel like, well, home.

“Both homeowners came from southern California surfer culture,” says Matt Wittman, principal architect and partner at the firm. “They both work in the fashion industry, and we’d done some projects for them in the past. They have a great sensibility around textures and materiality, which was really fun to connect with,” says Matt. “It also resonated with our office because we’re from Washington but had studied architecture and landscape design in California. California modernism has always been something that really inspired us.”

The home had fallen into disrepair, and several aspects needed repairs. It also had a formal, interior layout that felt dated and out of place.

“They really wanted to rework the floor plan and layout to make it a more indoor-outdoor home,” says Matt. The remodel completely reconfigured the main living space, which had been divided into separate spaces for the kitchen and a formal dining area. The plan called for 68

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ABOVE The remodel included a major expansion of the windows. With the help of a structural engineer to rework the support, Matt and his team were able to extend the Loewen glass windows entirely across one corner of the room. RIGHT, TOP A built-in dining nook doubles as a craft and homework area for the homeowners’ kids. RIGHT, BOTTOM The same Carrera marble used for the countertops was also employed as a backsplash behind the Wolf range.

BELOW, TOP To screen the deck from neighboring homes, Treebird Construction installed a vertical slatted screen from cedar boards that would create privacy while still letting in plenty of light. BELOW, BOTTOM Steel stringer stairs with a cantilevered glass guardrail and precast concrete treads provide access to the deck while preserving the view. RIGHT The remodel retained many of the classic midcentury components of the home, like an offset fireplace and the wood paneled ceiling.

removing interior walls, creating a built-in dining nook, adding windows, remodeling the kitchen, and creating a new deck above the home’s garage. It all added up to a full-scale refresh that brought light, spaciousness, and ease into the aging structure.

From an aesthetic perspective, the major guiding principle for this remodel was a fusion of classic California cool with the quintessential Northwest emphasis on craft. “The owners wanted a beachy feel, and being a Pacific Northwest house, we have this other layer of wood and screens and oak cabinets,” says Matt. “It was really a fun balance between making it bright and light and open and getting at their surfer roots, and balancing that with the existing wood paneling and details of the house.”

One way that synthesis came together was the use of multiple types of wood. “The house had a lot of wood in it originally,” says Matt. “There were a lot of wood soffits and beams, but it felt very dark and orange.” During the remodel, some of the oak soffits and paneling were preserved,

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but re-stained to lighten the tone. Northwest cedar was also brought in screen the porch as well as create a slatted support under one section of the kitchen island.

To tone down the warm tones of all that wood, Matt and his team also incorporated new materials to add cooler colors and lighten up the space further. In addition to utilizing bright white paint for many interior surfaces, they also installed Ann Sacks terrazzo tile on the floor, and veined Carrera marble on the kitchen countertops.

Instead of a formal dining room, the Wttman Estes designed a dining nook lined with built-in benches. It’s a more casual approach that can easily accommodate a crowd for a dinner party, but happily serves double-duty as a homework and craft station for the family’s children. Storage compartments under every bench means there’s plenty of space to keep art supplies, toys, and outdoor cushions. At the far end of the dining nook, a set

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of custom-designed built-ins mixes closed and open storage, which keeps bulky items out of sight while also allowing for a curated art display space.

Building strong links between indoor and outdoor space is a central tenant of modern architecture. One of the most common ways designers accomplish it is quite literal: by installing wide sliding doors that make it easy to open a significant portion of a home to the outdoors. That strategy is definitely at work in this home, which boasts low-profile La Cantina open corner aluminum multi-slide doors between the kitchen and porch.

After creating an easy flow between the kitchen and porch, Matt and his team turned their attention to underscoring the conceptual links between the indoors and outdoors by extending the gesture of the built-in benches in the dining nook to the porch itself. That created a contiguous line of seating that makes the outdoors feel like a true extension of the interior of the home. “We tried to have the indoor bench be a balance with the outdoor bench, so people would use them equally,” explains Matt. The railing on the far side of the porch is made entirely of glass to preserve the view of Lake Washington, even when viewed from inside the house.

Wittman Estes Architecture + Landscape always likes to take a collaborative approach, but Matt says this project was particularly cooperative due to the homeowners’ experience in design. “It was a really fun collaboration,” says Matt. “We went back and forth with different material options and textiles, so we developed a similar design language and we evolved the project together.” The resulting home is proof that two different perspectives can come together to make a beautifully cohesive whole.

ABOVE The Outdoor space was a central focus for this remodel, including a new deck constructed on top of the home’s existing garage with Ipe, a super-strong tropical hardwood. “Ipe is very durable and low maintenance,” says Matt. “And it weathers naturally to a nice silver color.” Built-in benches on the deck mirror the benches constructed inside, creating an enhanced sense of flow between the indoors and the outdoors.

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PROJECT SOURCES CONTRACTOR Treebird Construction www.treebirdconstruction.com ARCHITECT Wittman Estes Architecture + Landscape www.wittman-estes.com LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Wittman Estes Architecture + Landscape www.wittman-estes.com WINDOWS Loewen Windows: Windows Doors & More www.windowshowroom.com Kitchen Appliances: Appliances: Sub-Zero, Wolf, Miele; Plumbing Fixtures: Ferguson: Kohler; Ann Sacks Tile & Stone

Our homes are built with expertise and an attention to detail that stands the test of time, an honest measure of sustainability. We love the challenge of merging unique designs and building materials to crate special places to live.

206.226.5094 l treebirdconstruction.com

Photo: John Granen

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WORKING COLLABORATIVELY, A VISIONARY CLIENT AND NB DESIGN GROUP PARTNERED TO CREATE THIS SUPREMELY SERENE ESCAPE, COMPLETELY TRANSFORMING A RANCH-STYLE HOME NESTLED IN NATURE INTO A ZEN-LIKE RETREAT FOR AN ACTIVE FAMILY OF FIVE.

CREEKSIDE MODERN written by KATIE KERVIN photography by TIM BIES

WHAT BEGAN AS A SIMPLE REFRESH OF AN ISSAQUAH FAMILY’S NEW HOME quickly evolved into a complete remodel and substantial relayout to create a clean and modern retreat. The clients, a couple who had moved to the Seattle area in 2005 from Edmonton, Alberta, initially engaged locally based NB Design Group for their first residence in the area, prior to their having any children. Then Meagan and Jamie Brunner went back to NB Design Group in 2013 when they moved to the Issaquah highlands with their kids. And for this third project, a home located at the base of Squak Mountain, “at first we simply wanted to update it,” Meagan explains. “It started with paint and snowballed from there.

As soon as we started thinking about changing one thing, it eventually led to a gut job.”

NB Design Group—established in 1988 by Nancy Burfiend and now with eight employees and a focus on high-end residential design—welcomed the expanded scope, especially considering the firm’s well-established relationship with the clients. “They are very great and soulful people,” Burfiend explains. “They are one of those clients that comes along, and there is something about their personalities that is beautiful.”

The couple, both entrepreneurs, purchased their home to get away from the city and open their three children up to nature. “We wanted to have an option to build and expand on our land depending on our kids interests and passions,” says Meagan of the tree-filled 5.6 acre property. It backs right onto Issaquah Creek, and active salmon run, and affords the family views of the famous paragliders from nearby Poo Poo Point who sail over their LEFT The double-height entry is awash in light thanks to clerestory windows, and artwork by Robin Layton is done in acrylic to add a bit of reflectivity.

ABOVE Indoor-outdoor fabrics from Architex and Christopher Farr Cloth are durable choices for the kitchen banquette, while artwork by Mia Farrington and Jennifer Gauthier brings visual interest to a nook located off the kitchen. Counter stool and dining chairs by Crate & Barrel and custom upholstered by Village Interiors.

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yard. Formerly an equestrian property, it even still has a garage across from the house with stables attached, and an old barn the family now uses as recreational space.

The scope began to become apparent when NB Design did its initial walkthrough noticing approximately 10 different types of flooring, and then progressed to a desire to redo the kitchen, add a bathroom, and so on, explains project designer Colleen Hart. “There were a fair amount of moving walls: We took from the existing gym and gave their daughter a bathroom and closet, and reworked the master bath and closet to make it more functional.” Ultimately, the changes were vital to improving the overall flow, something that was “so important for an active family,” Burfiend points out.

The transformation begins at the entry, a double-height space where clerestory windows bring in light and provide an airier feel compared to the coziness of the rest of the home. A large piece from Seattle artist and photographer Robin Layton graces one wall. “We introduced the clients to Robin and they got to take a private tour of her home and her space,” says Hart. “They saw that piece and really fell in love—it spoke to them.” Even with the artwork, there is a soothing quality that pervades, creating a sense of zen, which is a word the clients themselves often use to signify the importance of maintaining their relaxed vibe.

And while a calm feeling was paramount, designers also had to contend with the fact that the Brunners are a busy family, with three children and two dogs. A corner banquette in the kitchen, where the kids often do their homework and craft projects, for example, is done in indoor-outdoor fabric for durability. “From the beginning, the client said that nothing should be too precious. They didn’t want to tell the kids not to touch things or enjoy living in the space,” Hart says. Quartz countertops were also selected for their hardiness, and complement the sleek, vertical lines of the drawers for a clean look. But the “showstopper,” Hart points out, is the calacatta marble backsplash from Stone Source. “You see the kitchen from all the way back in the living room, and it’s a gorgeous visual.”

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LEFT Adding to the neutral-but-comfortable vibe, the formal living room’s sectional and lounge chair are from A. Rudin, with fabric by Holly Hunt, coffee table by LUMA, side tables from Restoration Hardware and Elan Atelier, and rug from Stacey Logan. RIGHT In the dining room, focal point artwork

by Aaron Hexom depicting a buffalo—an animal that has special significance to the family—adds an ethereal quality, and a crystal droplet light from Bone Simple is a decorative touch.

Rug from Stacey Logan.

Designers also used indoor-outdoor fabric on the large sectional that fills one corner of the formal, yet accessible, living room. The A. Rudin sofa itself was a holdover from the Brunner’s previous home (as were several other pieces, including dining table and benches and some lighting fixtures), with an additional section added to perfectly fit the space. Here, doors were replaced with picture windows to create more intimacy while maintaining a connection to the outdoors. Built-in casework (a consistent language throughout, as lots of storage helps the family keep a clutter-free home) divides the living and dining areas. And an accent wall adjacent to the casework is made from the same Calacatta found in the kitchen. “We had some left from the slab,” Burfiend says. “It’s really very striking and helps pull two rooms together.”

In the master bedroom, a large bed from Restoration Hardware is a focal point, purchased before NB Design Group was involved in the project but which works seamlessly in the space. A casework wall hides the TV and also functions as a divider, housing a secret door that leads to the master bath. A seating nook with an Eames lounge chair and built-in daybed offers a private spot for the entrepreneurs

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to do a bit of work or take a call. But the room’s highlight may well be the private garden (created by landscape architecture firm Land Morphology) that is separated from the rest of the garden by an Ipe fence, and features a small firepit and two-person hot tub—an escape for busy parents.

The new bathroom floorplan made way for a relocated steam shower and freestanding tub, and a suspended vanity reintroduces the Calacatta marble from the kitchen and living room. The majority of the room is done in easily cleanable porcelain tile, and, with the flip of a switch, the window can be fogged for privacy or cleared for a view to the outdoors.

Naturally, such a spectacular setting called for an equally impressive outdoor patio. “The design is modern with a hint of an Asian influence and, most importantly, very rectilinear,” says Land Morphology principal and owner Richard Hartlage. Precast concrete pavers in light and medium

ABOVE LEFT The master bedroom is a serene retreat overlooking a private patio, with a bed and nightstands from Restoration Hardware, Schumacher benches covered in Townsend Leather, and light-colored accessories from Room & Board, Village Interiors, Rubelli, C&C Milano, rug from Stacey Logan. ABOVE A crystal chandelier-style fixture from Vistosi adds some glamour to the pristine master bath, which is complete with a freestanding tub from Signature Hardware, a steam shower, and white porcelain tiles from Florida Tile.

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The family’s lush outdoor retreat, including access to Issaquah Creek, a lawn and meadow, and a putting green, was created by landscape architects Land Morphology.

On the patio, outdoor furniture from Restoration Hardware is shaded by a Barlow Tyrie umbrella, and hanging chairs from CB2 and poufs from Article are whimsical options.

gray create a platform for the freestanding furniture brought over from the previous residence, with replaced cushions in a slightly darker hue to better handle the weather. “With such a fun family, everything needs to have a little whimsy to it,” Hart adds. Thus the open lawn for play and a putting green were created by Hartlege and his team, and hanging chairs swing from the yard’s massive and striking Honey Locust tree.

“Our home and the nature surrounding us feels seamless,” Meagan says. “We love our outdoor space and with the months of rain we get here, we were able to maintain the feeling of still being a part of the outdoors. The simplicity of our interior brings the nature that surrounds us inside—our home feels alive.”

“They’re such a wonderful family and wonderful clients to work with,” Hart adds. “They have incredible taste and such a good eye.

It was a terrific experience working with them in a cooperative process.”

The pristine kitchen features vertical lines in the cabinetry, which is kept uncluttered thanks to tab pulls. Countertops from Pental Quartz are done in white, and a picture window above the sink overlooks the outdoor space.

PROJECT SOURCES INTERIOR DESIGN NB Design Group www.nbdesigngroup.net LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Land Morphology www.landmorphology.com LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOR Nussbaum Group www.nussbaumgroup.com Kitchen Appliances: Miele; Plumbing Fixtures: Kohler, Hansgrohe

WATERFRONT MEDITERRANEAN

A RECENT RENOVATION OF A 1990s HOME BUILT ON THE WESTERN SHORES OF MERCER ISLAND FEATURES A TROPICAL LANDSCAPE DESIGN BY SEATTLE’S CAMBIUM, INC., DONE IN MEDITERRANEAN VILLA STYLE – WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF PLANTS BURSTING WITH COLOR, UNIQUE FLOWER FORMATIONS AND REACH-FOR-THE-SKY HEIGHT. written by DONNA PIZZI photography by MIRANDA ESTES

Landscape architect Jason Breitling of Cambium, Inc., who undertook both landscape architecture and landscape construction, creates a romantic dining area in the back garden that cantilevers out over Lake Washington. Two towering propane patio heaters mimic the height of the distant city skyline as well as the graceful Abutilon (“Tiger Eye” – Flowering Maple) right, which Breitling pairs with other perennial tropical plants that thrive in the microclimate formed by the garden’s proximity to the lake, which helps moderate the temperature year-round.

The French limestone terrace acts as a wonderful foil for the joyful color display. Accenting the limestone and architecture, fine Italian Impruneta terra cotta containers are placed throughout the landscape.

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WHEN GUESTS TRAVEL THE HILLSIDE ROAD that approaches this recently renovated residence on the west side of Mercer Island, they encounter a sharp, hairpin turn that brings them to the home’s sumptuous entry courtyard at right and a garage tucked into a heavily planted slope at left. Getting out of the car is like stepping onto the grounds of a Mediterranean Villa, where a bounty of tropical plants flourishes in ways that seem impossible in the Pacific Northwest.

“It’s an incredible microclimate,” explains landscape architect Jason Breitling, of Cambium, Inc., in Seattle. “The residence faces southwest across Lake Washington, gets plenty of sun and is protected by the hillside behind it.”

In the years since Ronda Moulton of Ronda Elaine Design brought Breitling onto the project during a massive renovation by the same construction company that built the home in the 1990s – Ken Brooks Northbrook Construction Breitling has continued to work hand-in-glove with the homeowner, refreshing the design each summer. During that time, she has told him repeatedly that plants are her passion. They make her happy and the annual refresh is an opportunity to introduce new, exciting varieties to the garden.

“We worked closely together through the design process,” says Breitling. “She was and remains very particular about the plants she chooses. If I present her with a common plant, she will reject it – no geraniums! She loves interesting plants with a tropical character, unique flower shapes and upright form, but not spikey, prickly or weeping shapes.”

Since she loves to entertain, the owner wanted the gardens to be a continuation of the indoors for total indoor-outdoor living. When Breitling suggested using similar stone paving to the French limestone flooring found indoors for the patio, he assumed he’d use a local sandstone. When she insisted that they match exactly, the paving was ordered from the same French quarry.

Color remains a key element of the design. Orange is good, but not too bright.

Salmon is great, but not too pinky pink! Hedges ring the property – a green

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backdrop for the unique plant palette that pushes the boundaries of what is generally found in the Seattle area. “I know lots of people who might put Tibouchina Urvilleana aka Princess Flower or Abutilon – Flowering maple in pots, but I’ve never worked with anyone who wanted to plant it in the ground the way she did!”

Their many discussions about what fits the architectural style coupled with the owner’s lifestyle have always ended up with specifically chosen plants that create a cacophony of bright color. To wit, Anigozanthos “Yellow Gem” or Kangaroo paws. Lavandula angustifolia – Munstead dwarf English lavender. The fuzzy little leaves of Princess Flower and iridescent flower. The beautiful bell-shaped orange and yellow flowers of the Abutilon Tiger Eyes.

A recent addition introduces an outdoor kitchen on the south side, which complements the elevated patio sitting area for morning coffee and serves as a connecting piece between the kitchen and exterior, where a pass-through window brings food easily out onto the dining terrace.

Dramatic, multi-colored, Tropicana canna lilies are featured with great effect in the garden. Far from a cacophony, the plantings are carefully orchestrated employing complementary colors and contrasting textures.

“At Cambium, we like to engage with a client to understand what they love to do, then create spaces that support their lifestyle and complement the architecture of their home. This garden is about being outdoors amid the owner’s beloved plants and entertaining others amidst this beautiful lakeside setting.”

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Mediterranean Container Garden 7

1) Ensete 'Maurelii ' - Red banana 2) Culphea ignea – Firecracker plant 3) Celosia ‘Iintenz’ – Purple celosia 4) Dracena marginata ‘Colorama’ Variegated dracaena 5) Verbina ‘Lanai purple’ Purple trailing verbina 6) Senecio vitalis ‘Blue chalk fingers’ – Blue chalk fingers senecio 7) Lantana ‘Bandana red’ – Lantana

Shoptalk l Tim Moshier

What determined your passion for landscape design?

MOSHIER Since gardening as a child with my parents, I always had a love of plants and working outdoors with the earth. During college, I explored botany and the natural sciences, environmental psychology, and fine arts – which all led to an individualized concentration in Environmental Studies and Design.

Having learned of the profession, I pursued graduate school in landscape architecture. It is wonderful to create outdoor spaces, consider how people interact with them, study the visual and aesthetic as well as how natural systems affect the design.

Can you remember your first landscape design project? Describe it a bit.

MOSHIER Well, I’ve been landscaping since I was a fourteen-years-old, driving the riding mower around the neighborhood cutting lawns. I suppose one of my first ‘designs’ was for my parents' suburban landscape. It included a specimen Eastern White Pine -‘Fastigiata’ - which still stands today. It is a gorgeous native, soft needled pine that grows in a vertical form. I also designed a serpentine flagstone walk to their front door. When finished, the mason cut out wedges in the stone curb. He told me it was his ‘signature’... I made him fill it in.

If you had no limits (money, resources), what public landscape would you create?

MOSHIER In a collaborative public – private venture, a string of diverse parks and greenways running throughout the downtown Seattle area. Beautiful gardens, art exhibits and outdoor performance spaces, integral cafes, plazas and both placid and playful water features. To preserve the beauty and safety of select parks, they would be closed at night but open to all during the day, much like the UPS Waterfall Garden Park on Second Ave. It is such a shame that the Central Park-like, Seattle Commons was voted down in 1995. Hopefully, the new waterfront boulevard, piers and greenspaces will be a big success and add greatly to Seattle’s urban landscape.

What is your favorite local or international travel destination for inspiration?

MOSHIER One favorite must be London and the English countryside. London is a great world city, steeped in history, and bathed in 21st century energy, innovation and excitement. From ornate, heavy wrought iron fencing covered in layers and layers of modelled paint, to the iconic Shard, to provocative art exhibits at the Tate, there is much to fuel the imagination and spark ideas. And the gardens... The British are wholly enamored of gardening and landscapes, including conservatories and horticulture, great estate grounds, urban parks, backyard plots or townhouse terrace gardens. To a landscape architect and plant person, it can be overwhelming.

Can you tell us a bit about your own garden?

MOSHIER I’ve lived in my mid-century modern home for over twenty years now. The landscape has a contemporary bent. I have stainless steel mesh and Lexan plastic screens, monolithic concrete slabs with exposed black slag and injection molded furnishings. I appreciate more mass plantings with specimen focal points. However, as a plant person, my palette is diverse. I try different plants, changing it up as some thrive and others not so much. I use a lot of ornamental grasses, loving the textural effect they bring to plantings. The garden has matured and changed quite a bit over the years. In my youthful enthusiasm, I planted over twenty trees on a 6,000 square foot lot. Now I’m editing with a chainsaw.

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Tim Moshier, Partner & CEO Cambium Landscape What are a few of your favorite weekend pastimes?

MOSHIER Gardening. Cooking in the garden. Watching birds in the garden.

Sunbathing in the garden. Drinking wine in the garden. Chatting with friends in the garden. I also enjoy hiking, movies, farmers' markets, practicing Spanish, sampling microbrews, quick trips to Portland and Vancouver, touring architecture... However, my garden brings me the greatest joy.

What is one of your favorite Seattle area urban landscape projects?

MOSHIER Red Square at the University of Washington. It is the only vast, paved public space surrounded by buildings, in the city of such scale.

Reminiscent of European central plazas with its monolithic red brick paving and surrounding buildings. The space itself can be alive with activity, crowded with hundreds of people gathering for an event during the school year, or very peaceful and relaxing, inviting a stroll across it in the late evening sun of summer. Of course, I also have to mention the incredible nearby allees of flowering cherries – visually stunning in full bloom, and I think even prettier when the petals fall on the ground, some fresh, others turning brown, a perfect example of the Japanese philosophy of Wabi-sabi.

What projects are currently on the boards for Cambium Landscape?

MOSHIER A contemporary home landscape on Capitol hill in Seattle. The architect is using a lot of steel and architectural concrete. We’re bringing those elements into the landscape. In addition, the structure is wrapped around a courtyard much in a Japanese style. The interior garden must work from all viewing angles. It will be minimal in its execution as the client wanted this courtyard to be made-up of a maximum of three elements: water, rock, and singular planting. We of course, are lighting it also. The feature natural boulder will have to be set prior to framing of the house, requiring some careful consideration while setting it.

WHAT BEGAN AS A DREAM FOR RETIRED ORTHODONTIST GARY MILLER AND HIS WIFE DELL ANN DYAR turned into a decade-long project that ended with Miller selling the upper portion of his once 5-acre property to build their dream home on a rare, densely wooded 1.75 acre parcel located partially in the wetlands amidst the Columbia River’s 100 year flood plain.

“We worked for two years with the City of Vancouver to get a permit to build near the river on a property I’ve owned since 1975,” says Miller. Dell Ann’s son AIA architect Erik Dyar stepped into help them navigate through all the permit approval processes in 2006.

At first, Dyar, who at the time was still working for his mentor, the late, acclaimed, formerly Portland-based, FAIA architect John Thodos, in Carmel, designed a 2-story, 5,000 sq. ft. house with infiniti pool. That design was scuttled for a simpler, less expensive one, with 3,000 sq. ft. A central great room perched atop an uninhabited garage that lies below the flood plain is flanked by two cantilevered private wings, with the master bedroom suite on the east end and the guest suite on the west. The house sits on concrete piers, which are rooted in an elaborate footing foundation 2’8” above flood plain and 6’ above grade.

Having grown up on an Idaho farm, assisted in building a home in 1992, and re-building it after it burned down, Miller is accustomed to working with his hands.

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RIVER HOUSE written by DONNA PIZZI photography by DAVID PAPAZIAN

AFTER DECADES SPENT DREAMING OF BUILDING A HOUSE ON HIS VANCOUVER PROPERTY BY THE COLUMBIA RIVER, GARY MILLER AND HIS WIFE DELL ANN DYAR, OVERCAME COMPLEX PERMITTING LAWS, DENSITY REQUIREMENTS, AND BNSF RAILROAD PERMIT, TO BUILD A MODERN HOME ALONG THE WOODED RIVER’S EDGE DESIGNED BY CARMEL ARCHITECT ERIK DYAR OF DYAR ARCHITECTURE.

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PREVIOUS PAGE LEFT Spaced vertical mahogany boards create a screen framing metal clad wood Sierra Pacific windows. PREVIOUS PAGE RIGHT Miller glued hot-rolled steel plates to plywood to form the fireplace. THIS PAGE Dyar frames the great room’s expansive river view through Fleetwood’s Thermally Broken Aluminum windows and “probably best on market for price range” large sliding glass doors. Warm Douglas fir 16’ ceiling features hanging single bulb SoCo LED pendants which help mitigate the height. Eight Larme ET2 pendants are suspended over dining table. Elite Woodworks fir kitchen cabinets are Dyar’s design. Tech Lighting’s Alina Pendants hang above kitchen island.

“I wasn’t planning to be the builder or contractor on the job,” admits Miller, “but it turned out to be a really interesting retirement project, which began in 2012, when we got the permits, and lasted 3 years, finally moving in in December 2015.”

Dyar designed the home to suit his retired parents’ lifestyle. His mother Dell Ann, who loves to entertain, wanted modern architecture with warmth, thus her love for Douglas fir influenced the ceiling and cabinetry choices.

Miller is a wonderful cook, so Dyar’s kitchen design became an important element of the house. “It provides a lot of working space with easy access to the grill on the adjacent deck, while the convex island form extends out into the great room so guests can sit and connect with each other and the cook.”

Dyar’s use of wood, glass, concrete and steel in the home complement each other. “All good architecture,” he says, “has to synthesize a multitude of elements and considerations together: functionality, materiality, lived-experience into a built form that holds together and “really works.”

What “really works” in this house is the window on the low side of the great room, which brings in soft Northern light as it extends up vertically and across the roof, thus expanding the view out into the treetops. Fleetwood’s aluminum south-facing windows and large sliding doors open onto the expansive river view and out to a large, cantilevered deck.

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ABOVE Steel supports added to Fleetwood windows allow total transparency to fir ceiling.

Steel cabled deck railing with steel supports tied to cedar siding. RIGHT TOP Diamonte Pietre di Burgona porcelain tile lines master bath flooring and shower with dual shower heads on ceiling and wall. Purescape acrylic bathtub features tub filler from ceiling. Dual sink vanity with Cosmo Quartz Linen countertop. Electric window shades add privacy.

BOTTOM RIGHT Handcrafted mahogany entry door flanked by mahogany spaced-board screen over a fixed glass pane.

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One approaches the home from a private drive and enters via a steel framed staircase with reinforced slate tile for durability and strength. The great room is built in a shed roof form that extends up and out towards the river beyond. “This portion of the house is clad in standing seam metal and is the only portion of the house,” says Dyar, “that extends to and below grade to allow for the garage space.”

ARCHITECT Dyar Architecture www.dyararchitecture.com

“The garage is designed so it can flood,” explains Miller. “It has openings for water to run in and back out.

Without that, it would be like a boat and float away.”

WINDOWS & DOORS Fleetwood Windows & Doors www.fleetwoodusa.com

“We like Erik’s design a lot,” says Miller. “I did most of the building. Getting the right subcontractors was tough, since I’m not a regular builder. I worked daily with a young man knowledgeable about building.

Getting the metal I-Beams and paralams into place was so challenging, we hired a crane worker.”

WINDOWS Sierra Pacific Windows www.sierrapacificwindows.com

“Erik, being our son,” says Dell Ann, “spent a lot of time talking with us. He knew what we liked, that we wanted a separate suite on one end and a guest suite on the other. The hallways are like art galleries. Our 1895 Steinway, which he plays as an amateur classical pianist, has the library built around it.”

“It’s gratifying to me,” says Dyar, “to see my parent’s daily lives and outlook being uplifted by living in a home that matches their lifestyle and connects them back to nature via the river and wooded site. To see them being able to spend their later years in a design that brings them such joy - well, it’s why you become an architect.”

Dyar designed a unique master bedroom Douglas fir dresser whose back-panel doubles as the headboard for the couple’s king-size bed. Fleetwood windows with electric roller shades span the east-facing wing with views out to the river and the wooded wetlands. A hanging stained glass art piece left. Custom Masud Gray Flannel limestone fireplace surround extends 6” from the wall to frame gas insert.

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PROJECT SOURCES

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Kitchen & Bath Plumbing Fixtures: Grohe, Duravit, Danze, Delta, PureScape; Appliances: Thermador, Wolf, GE

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BACK TO THE LAND

COLLECTOR’S RETREAT Biodynamic Winemaking in the Pacific NW ©Andrea Johnson

written by MARGARETT WATERBURY

FOR SOME, WINE IS A BUSINESS. FOR OTHERS, IT’S A CALLING. “My dad is probably turning in his grave knowing I sell wine,” laughs Moe Momtazi, founder of biodynamically certified Maysara Winery and Momtazi Vineyard in McMinnville, Oregon. “He thought wine was too sacred to sell. In Zoroastrian culture and religion, wine is a very sacred thing.”

The Zoroastrians aren’t alone in viewing grapes’ transformation into wine as something approaching miraculous. In Catholic culture, wine literally embodies Christ’s blood. Wine holds a central place at the Passover table. And wine vessels have even been unearthed in Chinese tombs thousands of years old.

TOP Family-owned Bergstrom Wines distinctive barn near Dundee, Oregon. The winery Biodynamically produces Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from five estate vineyards. BELOW Moe Momtazi, owner of Maysara Winery and Momtazi Vineyard in McMinnville. FACING PAGE Sheep at home at King Estate, the largest Biodynamic certified vineyard in the US, at 1,000 acres, near Eugene, OR.

That reverent view is shared by a growing cadre of biodynamic winemakers who view the act of making, growing, sharing, and enjoying wine as being intimately connected with all things in nature. Biodynamics is a stricter-than-organic agricultural philosophy that puts the focus on sustainability, stewardship, keen attention, and a near-spiritual connection with the land and the life it sustains. It’s is on the rise around the world—including, perhaps unsurprisingly, the Pacific Northwest, long a pioneer in environmental consciousness—and wine is one area where it’s growing fastest.

Today, nearly two dozen vineyards or wineries in the Northwest are certified biodynamic. That includes the nation’s largest biodynamic vineyard, King Estate Winery in Eugene, Oregon, which farms more than 1,000 acres, 465 of which are planted to vine. These self-proclaimed “Kings of Pinot” showed the world that Oregon pinot gris could be great. Also joining the biodynamic ranks are some of the region’s most award-winning wineries, like Pinot Noir pioneer Ponzi Vineyards, cult-favorite Walla Walla producer Cayuse Vineyards helmed by French winemaker Christophe Baron, and the famed Beaux Freres estate in Oregon’s Ribbon Ridge AVA.

© Andrea Johnson

© Joe King

But what does it really mean for a vineyard to be biodynamic? Why would wineries do it? And, ultimately, does it really make for better wine?

OREGON

BEAUX FRÈRES www.beauxfreres.com BERGSTRÖM WINES www.bergstromwines.com BRICK HOUSE VINEYARD www.brickhousewines.com BROOKS WINERY www.brookswine.com COOPER MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS www.coopermountainwine.com COWHORN VINEYARD www.cowhornwine.com DE LANCELLOTTI FAMILY VINEYARDS delancellottifamilyvineyards.com DOMINO IV www.dominiowines.com FULLERTON WINES www.fullertonwines.com JOHAN VINEYARDS www.johanvineyards.com KEELER ESTATE VINEYARD www.keelerestatevineyard.com KING ESTATE www.kingestate.com MAYSARA WINERY www.maysara.com MONTINORE ESTATE www.montinore.com PONZI WINERY www.ponzivineyards.com SOLÉNA ESTATE www.solenaestate.com WINDERLEA VINEYARD & WINERY www.winderlea.com YOUNGBERG HILL www.youngberghill.com

WASHINGTON

WILRIDGE VINEYARD, WINERY & DISTILLERY www.wilridgewinery.com CAYUSE VINEYARDS www.cayusevineyards.com

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© Carolyn Wells-Kramer

What is Biodynamics?

Biodynamics is a system of agriculture based on principles described by Dr. Rudolf Steiner, an Austrian philosopher interested in the relationship between science and spirituality. (He also invented Waldorf education – talk about a polymath.)

“One of the core concepts of biodynamics is that it considers a farm as a living entity having its own soul and individuality,” explains Moe. Moe began planting the 200-acre Momtazi Vineyard in 1998, which was initially certified organic. He then transitioned the vineyard to biodynamic a few years later. “That to me is really important. Sometimes when you talk about it with people, they think you’re strange. I tell them, think of it this way.

Even if you don’t believe a farm is a living entity, if a farmer thinks that way, he’s going to treat it with respect, with care.”

Much like organics, biodynamic views soil fertility and health as paramount. It forbids the use of synthetic chemical sprays and treatments in favor of compost and manure, ideally generated within the farm itself. “The biodynamic farmer aspires to create a closed loop system,” explains Bill Steele, co-founder of biodynamically certified Cowhorn Vineyard & Garden in Oregon’s Applegate Valley AVA. “We’re challenged to minimize the inputs we bring in.” That means biodiversity—including crops as well as native biodiversity—is championed. “You won’t find a monocrop biodynamic farm anywhere in the world,” says Bill.

In addition to 25 acres of Rhône-style grapes on the 117-acre property, Cowhorn also grows asparagus, lavender, and a hazelnut and truffle orchard.

ABOVE Biodynamic Consultant, Philippe Armenier, considered to be one of the foremost practitioners of Biodynamic farming in the world, based upon the writings of Rudolph Steiner, who is best known in this country as the philosophical founder of the Waldorf Schools. Among Armenier’s Northwest clients are Cayuse (Walla Walla, WA) and Winderlea (Dundee, OR). BELOW A peaceful moment at Maysara Winery in McMinnville, OR.

© Andrea Johnson

BIODYNAMIC WINERIES OF THE NORTHWEST

Explore the Willamette Valley with Montinore Estate, one of the country’s largest producers of estate wines made from BiodynamicŽ grapes. montinore.com

Biodynamics also includes some practices with a more mystical bent. Planting, pruning, harvest, and other actions are often synchronized to advantageous lunar phases. Herbs and medicinal plants are used to treat crops. Special fertilizers called preparations are applied to compost and crops, the most famous of which is made by burying manure from a lactating cow in a hollow cow horn during the fall, then digging it up and using the contents to make a tincture in the spring.

“We actually grow the materials for all of our own biodynamic preparations onsite, with the exception of the cows and manure,” says Janie Brooks Heuck, managing director at Brooks Winery in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Brooks’ winery and estate vineyard are certified biodynamic. She says many of those plants, like yarrow and chamomile, serve double-duty as insectaries, attracting beneficial insects to the vineyard that help manage pests.

While those ideas might sound strange to the modern ear, in many ways, they represent a return to ideas about agriculture that persisted for the vast majority of human history. Moe was born and raised in Tehran, Iran. When he was first learning about biodynamics in the late 1990s, he says many of the practices reminded him of his grandparents, who farmed tea and rice on the Caspian Sea. “I realized it was just like my grandmother and great grandmother,” says Moe. “When we would get sick, they would treat us with plants by making tea with them and exposing the tea to the night skies to empower it.”

Western agriculture also has a rich tradition of looking to the skies to make decisions about what happens on the ground. “I was talking to my former vineyard manager when we were just starting, and I said all the stuff about composting and returning everything to the soil makes sense, but I’m not sure about these cosmic forces,” says Paul Beveridge, founder of biodynamically certified Wilridge Vineyard, Winery & Distillery in Yakima, Washington. “And he said ‘Oh, no, that’s the part that makes sense. That’s the Farmers’ Almanac. We’ve been doing that forever!’”

© Andrea Johnson

Momtazi Vineyards 532 acres in Willamette Valley have been Biodynamically farmed since their inception in 1997. The biological aspect is practiced throughout organic farming and includes; composting, cover cropping, green manuring, cultivation, companion planting and integration of animals throughout the farm. The dynamic effects are extremely important, they include planning and planting by a calendar (i.e. near and far stars), Biodynamic composting, peppering and radionics, along with homeopathy.

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Fo s t e r i n g c o m m u n i t y a n d p r o v i d i n g amazing experiences

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Why GrowBiodynamically?

With such strict standards, why are so many winemakers opting for biodynamics?

At Brooks Winery, biodynamics was part of the program from day one. Founder Jimi Brooks had been introduced to the practice working harvest in France in the 1990s, and brought it with him to winemaking roles at WillaKenzie Estate and Maysara Winery before starting his own vineyard in 2002 utilizing biodynamic practices. Jimi passed away in 2004, but his sister Janie carried on his commitment to biodynamic winegrowing and winemaking, eventually certifying the estate vineyard and winery in 2012.

© John Valls

© Andrea Johnson

More recently, Janie was grappling with a deer problem in Brooks’ estate vineyard. She noticed that the deer seemed to favor her vines over those of her neighbors. A quick tendril tasting revealed why: Brooks’ biodynamically grown vines had much sweeter vegetation, making them particularly tasty to peckish grazers. And it’s not just ruminants who find Brooks’ biodynamically grown crops enticing. “I think you can taste the difference in our wines,” says Janie. “It’s purity of fruit, it’s flavor, and it’s freshness.”

We never set out to do anything other than make wines that expresses this special place where we grow grapes – sunshine, cool nights, fresh fruit that results in wines that are lively, but also shows soul.

— Cooper Mountain Vineyards

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“Organic teas” comprised of a variety of herbs and flowers are grown on site, such as Chamomile, Dandelion, Yarrow, Valerian, Horsetail and Stinging Nettle, are sprayed or applied in the vineyards to stimulate healthy plant growth as well as helping the vines’ immune systems against pests and disease. ABOVE Cowhorn Vineyard & Garden in Applegate Valley AVA in Southern Oregon is known for Rhone-style wines, and the winery also has a kitchen garden and grows asparagus, lavender, hazelnuts inoculated with Perigord black truffles.

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HARMONY

in Biodynamics

ABOVE LEFT Located west of Portland in the North Willamette Valley, family-owned Cooper Mountain Vineyards has been farming Biodynamically since 1999. Now run by its second generation, the winery has expanded to four vineyards on 125 acres, growing mainstays of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, as well as smaller varietals. CENTER Cooper Mountain Vineyards winemaker, Gilles de Domingo. ABOVE RIGHT Brick House Vineyard at harvest. Established in 1990, their wines are estate grown on 40 acres of vineyards surrounding the brick house on Ribbon Ridge in Newberg, Oregon.

© Andrea Johnson

Janie says biodynamics have a clear positive impact on fruit quality at Brooks, recalling the 2003 harvest when Brooks’ estate vineyard included five acres of Riesling. Four of those acres were being farmed biodynamically by her brother, while the other acre was under conventional cultivation by a different winemaker. “They ended up picking their fruit on the same day,” says Janie. “And our fruit was one degree brix riper, and we had one more ton to the acre. The other vineyard owner looked to my brother and said, ‘Can you do that thing you’re doing over here, on my 16 acres?’”

Farming Biodynamic since 2009 Certified Biodynamic 2015 ®

®

Our 45 year old vineyard in the famed Dundee Hills is open year round and by appointment on weekends for intimate private tastings.

8905 NE WORDEN HILL ROAD, DUNDEE, OREGON 503.554.5900 • WWW.WINDERLEA.COM

CULTIVATING PLACE SINCE 1978

Established in 2005 Tasting Room (by appointment)

503.804.3352 18605 NE Calkins Lane, Newberg, OR deLancellottifamilyvineyards.com

Tasting Room open noon to 5pm daily www.coopermountainwine.com

For Paul, the decision was made for a similar reason. “I actually decided to be biodynamic from a quality standpoint,” says Paul. “The wines I liked best in the world were coming from biodynamic vineyards.”

Paul occasionally lectures on biodynamics to other winemakers. He says one of his favorite slides from his presentation is a list of other biodynamic wineries around the world, including producers like Zind-Humbrecht, Domaine Leroy, and Chapoutier. “I mean, who wouldn’t want to be on this list?” says Paul. “You just can’t argue with the results.”

Paul planted Wilridge Vineyard in the Naches Heights AVA in 2007, following biodynamic practices from the beginning. He says Eastern Washington’s famously fertile soils, low humidity, and dry growing seasons have made it easy. His vines have been remarkably healthy, with virtually no disease and a string of outstanding vintages. The only challenge he reports is managing weeds without conventional herbicide. “I could spend $250 on Roundup and I could be done for the year,” says Paul.

“Instead, I’m sending a crew out every week at a cost of $600 to $800.”

Does Paul have a theory about why so biodynamic wines are so good? “Biodynamics is a very careful observation of your farm,” says Paul. “That’s why it’s such a good shorthand for quality wine, because you know that folks care. They’re doing the most intensive thing they could do, and they’re doing it because they get good results and because they love the planet.”

When Moe started growing biodynamically at Momtazi, he says his winemaker used to plead with him not to talk about it because it turned consumers off. “It’s now become something really chic, but when we first started, it was really considered almost voodoo and witchcraft,” says Moe. He echoes Paul’s feeling that the attentiveness demanded by biodynamics is the key. “The hardest thing about biodynamics is not practicing it—that’s easy,” says Moe. “It’s learning. Learning the connection to nature and how things work and being able to observe nature and go beyond the surface. That is so important.” That cultivated focus appears to be working. Pinot noir from the Momtazi Vineyard is some of the most sought-after fruit in Oregon, famous for its incredible intensity and ability to age beautifully for many years.

For Cowhorn Vineyard, Bill said he and his wife and business partner, Barb, were attracted by both the philosophy and the warmth of the people. “Biodynamics was kind of an extension of the way Barb and I were living,” explains Bill. After Barb went to a biodynamic farmers’ meeting in Sonoma, California, and immediately clicked with the other attendees, they decided to pursue certification. “When we started, Doug Tunnell who owns Brick House said ‘Come on up and I’ll show you what I do, and why,’” says Bill. “They took the time to share.”

At Cowhorn, wine quality is still the primary driver, clearly evidenced in the crystalline, savory purity of Viogner/Marsanne/

©Carolyn Wells-Kramer

©Doreen Wynja

Family owned and operated, Bergstrom Wines 84 acres of estate vineyards in Willamette Valley produce roughly 15,000 cases of premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay annually. MIDDLE Johan Vineyards 85-acre certified-Biodynamic estate winery is located in Van Duzer Corridor AVA. BELOW In the case of famed Beaux Freres, the pigs were there first. Owners Michael Etzel and brotherin-law Robert Parker Jr. purchased the 88-acre pig and dairy farm in 1986 and soon after planted Pinot Noir vines in 1988. Truly, the site was a fortuitous precursor for biodynamic winemaking.

©Kathryn Elsesser

©Carolyn Wells-Kramer

©Andrea Johnson

©Andrea Johnson

Montinore Estate in North Willamette Valley, Oregon with 240 acres is one of the largest producers of certified estate wines made from Biodynamic grapes in the country. Partner Rudy Marchesi serves on the committee of international Biodynamic vintners and helped develop a curriculum for the practice. TOP LEFT CLOCKWISE Marchesi atop one of Montinore Estate’s many compost piles.

Nutrient rich compost is tested after several months of fermentation to ensure maximum nutritional value. Much like winemaking techniques, the formulas for the “organic teas” are tested and perfected over time using a variety of plants, herbs and minerals.

“Biodynamic viticulture fosters a deep relationship between the vines and farm. Wine from these vines is a true expression of the place, a portrait in a glass.”

– Rudy Marchesi Montinore Estate

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©Andrea Johnson

©Andrea Johnson

©Andrea Johnson

©Andrea Johnson

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COW HORNS

in Biodynamic Winemaking

Cow horns, in addition to being loaded with nutrients from female cows, are ideal organic vessels to pack with fresh manure and bury in the ground for six to nine months. The horn stimulates decomposition of the manure into a mature humus-like material. What emerges is a beautiful sweet earthy smelling compost, which, when mixed with water and other plants (Yarrow, Chamomile, Stinging Nettle, Oak Bark, Dandelion and Valerian) creates a special “organic tea” to apply to vineyards to stimulate strong root systems and healthy vines without using chemical fertilizers or pesticides.

©Andrea Johnson

Lush plantings of Asters, Russian sage, sunchokes and Black-eyed Susans can all be found at Brooks Wine, along with Biodynamic staples of Chamomile, Dandelion, Yarrow, Nettle, Oakbark and Valerian. Bees and other small pollinators love these plants. They offer continued forage late into the season for insects and many pollinators, as well as their seeds feeding the birds. Brooks Wine is located in Eola-Amity Hills, in Willamette Valley.

Rousanne blend Spiral 36 and the brand’s resonant, blue fruit-inflected syrahs. Yet Bill says their biodynamic practices have come with some unexpectedly enjoyable side effects beyond exceptional fruit quality. “We actually consider ourselves fine wine growers who just happen to be farming biodynamically,” says Bill. “But I think what I like most about biodynamics is how alive it allows the farm to be. We have bald eagles, golden eagles, owls, migratory birds, almost all year long. Today we saw a fox. There are coyotes, bears, mountain lions. The place is just teeming with life.”

Spreading the Word

As interest in biodynamic winegrowing and winemaking grows, Janie is taking the lead in getting the word out. Earlier this year, Brooks Winery joined 1% for the Planet, a worldwide organization of businesses that commit to donating 1% of their gross revenues to environmental organizations.

Brooks’ donation is going to Kiss the Ground, an advocacy nonprofit focused on regenerative agriculture. As part of that partnership, Kiss the Ground and Brooks are embarking on a five-year study of a 20-acre nearby vineyard that supplies Brooks Winery with fruit. Inspired by their neighbor, that vineyard is now beginning the process of transitioning to biodynamic farming.

“It takes about five years to start to see the real benefit of biodynamics,” says Janie. “So we’re going to do some soil and fruit testing to prove what kind of impact biodynamics has over that time.”

Janie says up to 20% of Brooks’ sourced fruit comes from this vineyard, and she’d love to inspire more of her suppliers to follow in their footsteps. “My goal is to get all of them!” she laughs.

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©Andrea Johnson ©Andrea Johnson ©Andrea Johnson

©Andrea Johnson TOP Sourcing fruit from some of Oregon’s finest vineyards in Dundee Hills AVA and Chehalen Mountains AVA, de Lancellotti Family Vineyards wines are produced under the guidance of consultant Robert Brittan. BELOW Cayuse Vineyards in Walla Walla, WA has achieved cult status, with a wait list to get on their wait list to join their wine club. Dedicated to biodynamic principals, Cayuse is best known for its highly acclaimed Syrah, currently creating 12 estate wines from fruit harvested on 51 acres of vines planted in ancient riverbed rock.

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Maryhill Winery ......................................111

MONTINORE ESTATE www.montinore.com

Montinore Estate ....................................103

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McClellan Architects .................................50 Parr Lumber ................................................. 6 Pella Window and Door .............................13

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