Portrait of Seattle Volume 55

NanaWall Aluminum Framed Folding Glass Wall System

Craftex’s transit texture microcement on floor and floating stairs.

Craftex’s concrete texture microcement on floor, wall, ceiling and coffee tables.

Sense. Modular sofas, armchair and ottomans, designed by Studio Roche Bobois. Cestello. Cocktail tables, designed by Gabriele Fedele. Mariposa. Floor lamps, designed by Marcel Wanders. Botanica. Rugs, designed by Emmanuel Thibault.

In-store interior design & 3D modeling services (1) Quick Ship program available (2)

(1) Conditions apply, contact store for details.

(2) Quick Ship Program available on select products in stock, subject to availability. Images are for reference only and models, sizes, colors and finishes may vary. Please contact your local store for more information.

for advertising purposes only.

Photos by Flavien Carlod, Baptiste Le Quiniou,

Embrace the Great Indoors

The places we inhabit can have a tremendous effect on how we think, act and feel. Spaces that open to the world can make us more open to new ideas. Configurable elements encourage creativity. Natural light aids mood and focus.

At Marvin, we don’t just design inspired windows and doors, we help create homes that inspire healthier, happier lives. Discover the difference Marvin can make at marvin.com.

The Total Home Building Source

PARR FIFE

3500A 20th Street

Fife, WA 98424

Home + Garden

20

KITCHEN + BATH DESIGN

Designers are embracing collected and curated spaces, creating lively homes imbued with touches of color and energetic patterns. In addition to blue, green is gaining favor in kitchen cabinetry with wood details and brass hardware. Deep, moody, monochromatic rooms as well as using statement wallpapers are popular design choices.

31 + 33

SPRING BLOOMS

Sourcing from local farms and growers, Portland-based floral designer Kailla Platt creates botanically-driven floral arrangements. In this issue she showcases showy clusters of fragrant yellow flowers of Acacia and a delightful display of Icelandic Poppies.

48

DRIFTWOOD COVE

S9 Architecture and AM Interior Design join Koncept Builders to fashion a Gig Harbor home that embraces nature in ways big and small, so that the artist owner wakes up to a daily source of inspiration.

60

OASIS ON THE WATERFRONT

A Seattle couple enlists Heliotrope Architects and Dovetail General Contractors to convert a tricky urban lot on a busy street into a family refuge, complete with a private courtyard and stunning views of the Puget Sound

74

ISLAND LIFE

Seattle’s Land Morphology worked in concert with Massucco Warner Interior Design, landscape contractor Green Man Landscape and Design, Wygal Builders, and Studio AM Architects to transform a San Juan Island home’s humble garden into a remarkable terraced party-worthy sports complex, replete with tennis, pickleball, play lawn, pool, spa, firepits and party barn.

PHOTO CREDIT: Benjamin Benschneider

84

EYE ON DESIGN

Curves and the rounding out of furniture and accessories continue to highlight the home scene, creating a relaxed backdrop for everyday living. Eye-catching patterns make an appearance with botanical and period designs adding vibrant creativity to a room’s design. Lively palettes of sunny season colors paired with the organic nature of wood tones and woven textiles bring tactile warmth.

100 MAPLE ROCK

A Portland couple plans for the ideal retirement in a new home, created by Scott Edwards Architecture, Hamish Murray Construction, and Katy Krider Interior Design, that balances entertaining space with spots to retreat, displays their cherished art and music, and integrates key aging-in-place details.

Travel + Lifestyle

110

LESS WHITE MORE BRIGHT

Designer Emily Ruff of Cohesively Curated envisions a darkly elegant kitchen renovation that perfectly combines traditional craftsmanship and contemporary functionality.

116

NEO-DUTCH REDUX

Emily Johnston of 92 Maple Design reimagines a new floor plan for this dated Mercer Island 1970s Dutch Colonial. A blend of traditional and contemporary creates a flexible canvas for a family of five.

122

METHOW VALLEY

In the Methow Valley, CAST Architecture and Bjornsen Construction design and build a home that’s customized to the climate, by including a protected courtyard that partakes of the stunning views, as well as the owners’ favorite pastimes.

on the cover

By AM Interior Design, S9 Architecture and Koncept Builders, a Gig Harbor home is designed for an artist, focused on the four elements of nature—including earth, air, fire, and water. Stunning views inside and out inspire artist and guest alike.

photography by Miranda Estes

DREAM, DESIGN, BUILD

Designed to exceed industry performance standards, Marvin windows, doors, and skylights bring a sense of comfort into every room, and our thoughtful features and unsurpassed design flexibility will support you in your efforts to create that exceptional space and truly inspiring experience.

Let our specialists at Cherry Creek Windows & Doors help you create the spaces you’ve been dreaming of.

PUBLISHER

Claudia M. Brown

EDITOR/SENIOR ART DIRECTOR

Kiki Meletis

PROJECT MANAGER

Laura Taylor

SALES REPRESENTATIVE

Nicole Rummel

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Melissa Dalton

Donna Pizzi

Emily Zahniser

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Jeremy Bittermann / JBSA

Miranda Estes

Melissa Fenno

AND THE DESIRE TO LIVE NEAR IT

WATER

IS AT THE HEART of several homes featured in this issue. Whether working within the tight confines of a Seattle neighborhood bordering Puget Sound, bucolic Gig Harbor, or the San Juan Islands, each architect, designer, contractor, and landscape design company has served up remarkable ways to embrace the power of water to enhance the wellbeing of their client’s everyday life.

Land Morphology teamed with Massucco Warner Interior Design, Green Man Landscape & Design, Wygal Builders and Studio AM Architects to transform a dated San Juan Island home and its surrounding woods into a beautifully landscaped, sunny athletic paradise replete with tennis and pickle ball courts, pool, spa, and party barn able to accommodate large events.

Dovetail General Contractors combined talents with Heliotrope Architects on a West Seattle remodel to mitigate street noise by stacking a modern 3-story home behind a private courtyard and opening its interiors toward views of Puget Sound punctuated by artful concrete and wooden walls.

A one-acre plot on a private beach in Gig Harbor’s Driftwood Cove neighborhood is home to an artist inspired by nature. Seattle Architect Brett Lindsay of S9 Architecture, interior designer Aimee Meisgeier of AM Interior Design and Magie Wolf of Koncept Builders took their cues from the beachside habitat and delivered rooflines and natural light-filled interiors sure to spark creativity.

A Portland couple’s 7,500 sq. ft. modern home features an unfettered view of the coastal range through a 30’ sliding door with no support post – a definite challenge artfully designed by architect Rick Berry of Portland-based Scott Edwards Architecture and brilliantly executed by Hamish

Murray Construction. Katy Krider Interior Design underscores the owners’ “interior as canvas” concept with furnishings that bow to quiet minimalism to focus on the owners’ collection of art.

Seattle designer Emily Ruff of Cohesively Curated worked closely with a family of five to combat the outdated elements of their 1990s kitchen makeover, beginning by replacing a 5-sided island with a smaller squared off one. Embracing a dark palette, with cabinetry in dark Iron Ore set against white handmade farmhouse Clé tile backsplash added bespoke elements.

Eye On Design pages are filled with inspiration to redo your interiors and outdoor spaces, along with where to source fabrics, wallcoverings, lighting, cabinetry, home furnishings, and all things kitchen and bath.

If you are contemplating building, remodeling, or doing a refresh of your interior, check out the PORTFOLIO links on our website to find leading Northwest home and landscape architects, designers, and contractors, as well as favorite local showrooms and shops. LOCAL RESOURCES will link you directly not only to design professionals, but also our long-time favorite retailers, garden centers, noteworthy restaurants, wineries, and weekend travel destinations.

We are proudly celebrating 29 years of publishing Portrait Magazine! Thank you for all your support.

Claudia M. Brown Publisher claudia@PortraitMagazine.com

Andrew Giammarco

Kaitlin Green

Kyle Johnson

Genny Moller

Kevin Scott

Carina SkrobeckiPREPRESS

PRODUCTION

William Campbell

PUBLISHED BY Portrait Magazine

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© Copyright 2022 Portrait Magazine, 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.

Coates Design | Fairbank Construction Company | Lara Swimmer Photography

at Keller Supply’s Kitchen & Bath Showcase Showrooms, our people make the difference!

“Caring People Distributing Excellence” has been our motto since 1945, as we believe that the importance of building relationships and partnerships comes from providing excellent service and care to each customer. Quality and value will remain constant regardless of the size of the kitchen, bath, or home remodel.

Our Showroom teams are highly trained professionals, which will work closely with you, your architect, builder, designer, or contractor to make sure your job runs smoothly, and construction dates stay on track. Keller Supply has 38 Showrooms in the PNW which include two KOHLER Signature Stores located in Bellevue, WA and Portland, OR. Looking for inspiration? Visit www.kellersupply.com and to find a Showroom near you! We look forward to helping make your dream project a success.

WWW.KELLERSUPPLY.COM

Rooted in classic Americana design

The GrazeTM faucet collection by Kohler

surface + home

1. FRENCH CHEESE KNIFES

Perfect for summer charcuterie boards or a thoughtful housewarming gift, French cheese knives. notaryceramics.com

2. COLOR CUES

The Blue Grey Sahara Curved Sides Hood by BlueStar, adds ventilation and a sense of calm and warmth to the kitchen. bluestarcooking.com

3. ARTISTIC CHARM

Heavily textured with white matte paper and delicate bronze stripes, the Lital vase from Made Goods finds the balance between hard and soft. jgarnerhome.com

4. GO MEDITERRANEAN

Salt of the Earth by Carolina

Doriti dives into Greek ingredients and the immersive recipes are full of flavor and tradition. powells.com

5. PERFECT PULL

Both in in Rich Gold Satin Brass, the Flynn Bar Pull and Ethan Disc Knob are beautifully crafted decorative hardware solutions. Available through sumnerstreethardware.com

6. SITTING PRETTY

The Porteau Dining Arm Chair in light caning and tonal blue striped upholstery is available in a variety of finishes. grevstad.com

7. ON THE SOFTER SIDE

The Ceylon collection of painted fabrics in Tiverton Spa Blue with jaunty flowers and the Antilles collection in Clipperton Stripe with Blue on Natural offer sophistication and refinement. thibautdesign.com

WEEKEND CASUAL • ATMOSPHERIC BLUES

PAINT Fountain Spout 2059-70 benjaminmoore.com

(left) The refined Grindall Dining Table is sleek in White Sand with crisscrossed table legs and five finish options. From Seattle-based designer, Christian Grevstad. grevstad.com

(left) The Naomi 1-Light Medium Pendant with matte brass accents and pleasing hand-painted natural tan finish. Available through seattlelighting.com

LAKE HOUSE KITCHEN With watery blue walls and shiplap ceilings, this remodel features DuraSupreme cabinetry with the Silverton door style in soft putty finish, combined with Craftsman door style in cashew stain on quarter-sawn white oak cabinetry. Nature-inspired wood and white painted cabinetry bring out the natural stone accents throughout. Available from, www.parr.com

REINVENTING DISTINCTION The Teak Calypso Armchair, fitted with padded upholstery, offers covers that can be easily zipped on and off to match your mood and colors of the season. Paired with the unique U-nite Table with teak frame, offering a distinct look available with a wide choice of ceramic and teak tops. All from Royal Botania, available through, www.outdoor.terrisdraheim.com

BOTANICAL BLISS Welcome spring with beautiful wallpapers. from Cole & Son. These cool colors breeze botanical elements into the room with ease and sophistication. 1) Chalky neutrals with Summer Lily, Hyacinth Blue & Seafoam on Stone, 95/4024.

2) Retro cool Palm Leaves, Leaf Green on Sea Foam, 66/2010. 3) Flamingos, White & Charcoal on Powder Blue, 95/8047.

4) Butterflies & Dragonflies, Fuchsia & Mink on Seafoam, 103/15062, offer shimmering metallics. 5) Iconic blooms with Thistle, Lemon & Olive on Sea Foam, 115/14042. 6) From a stylized 1956 pattern, Fioretti, Soot & Snow on Powder Blue, 69/1102.

7) Timeless color palettes with Lily, Olive Green on Seafoam, 69/3112. 8) Cow Parsley, Buttercup & Powder Blue, 66/7050, offers calming chalky tones. 9) Discover mischievous monkeys on Frutto Proibito, Hyacinth & Orange on White, 114/1003. Available through the Kravet Showroom at the Seattle Design Center, www.kravet.com

CULINARY DELIGHT Sub-Zero 18" Freezer and 24" Refrigerator Columns offer designer refrigeration with a sleek, luxurious look. The Wolf 48" Dual Fuel Range 6 Burner Infrared Griddle creates a beautiful cooking surface to simmer or sear to perfection. Atop, the Wolf 46" Pro Hood Liner offers superior kitchen ventilation with recessed controls that disappear into kitchen design. Available through, www.subzero-wolf.com

SUMMER HOUSE CHIC Rest easy with the Lexington Home Laguna collection by Barclay Butera. Smithcliff woven side and armchairs, available in custom fabric or leather, add texture with a double-caned back. The Surf Storage Cabinet provides an opportunity to store away your wares while you visit over the Capistrano Dining Table, marrying the entire look. Available through, www.jgarnerhome.com

Architecture: Chadbourne Doss |

Photo: Kevin Scott

SEASONAL MENU – LOCALLY SOURCED

828 SW 2nd & Taylor, Portland q-portland.com 503.850.8915

The Little Flower Recipe Book

148 Tiny Arrangements for Every Season and Occasion

by Jill Rizzo www.workman.com

The best things come in small packages! Beloved florist Jill Rizzo (coauthor of the bestselling Flower Recipe Book) is back, and this time she has turned her attention to charming miniature arrangements. Projects are organized seasonally, and range from a thimble-sized vase of pansies to a tiny teacup holding a bundle of zinnias to a bud vase with a single Japanese anemone. All told, the book contains over 100 easy-to-follow recipes: ingredients lists specify the type and quantity of blooms needed; clear instructions detail each step; and hundreds of photos show how to place every stem.

The Hummingbird Handbook

Everything You Need to Know about These Fascinating Birds

by John Shewey www.workman.com

The Hummingbird Handbook is a must-have guide to attracting, understanding, and protecting hummingbirds. From advice on feeders to planting and land-

scaping techniques that will have your garden whirring with tiny wings, lifelong birder John Shewey provides all you need to know to entice these delightful creatures. An identification guide makes them easy to spot in the wild, with stunning photographs, details on plumage variations, and range maps showing habitats and migration patterns. Need more joy in your life? Let this guide and nature’s aerial jewels help you create a lively haven.

The Ultimate Flower Gardener’s Guide

How to Combine Shape, Color, and Texture to Create the Garden of Your Dreams

by Jenny Rose Carey www.workman.com

The colors, shapes, and scents of flowers are as ravishing to the senses as to the soul. But it’s all too easy get things wrong: colors that clash, flowers that bloom at the wrong time, plants that fail to thrive. Enter The Ultimate Flower Gardener’s Guide by expert gardener Jenny Rose Carey. She tells you exactly how to get started, how to combine plants for the most spectacular effects, and how to keep your garden going from year to year.

ACACIA & NARCISSUS

WHAT YOU’LL NEED (STEM COUNTS)

5-7 Acacia branches in bloom

5 Tulips yellow

10 Narcissus 'Dick Wilden'

10 Narcissus 'Soleil D'or'

8 Tweedia

The unique fern-like leaves and showy clusters of fragrant yellow flowers of Acacia herald the coming of springtime with a profusion of sunny yellow. Accented here with the fragrant blue flowers of Tweedia whose beautiful star-shaped flowers bloom from summer into fall. With their classic cheery spring blooms, Narcissus, and yellow Tulips welcome spring in this early season arrangement.

ARRANGEMENT BY Kailla Platt, Kailla Platt Flowers kaillaplattflowers.com

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Kaitlin Green

ICELANDIC POPPIES

WHAT YOU’LL NEED (STEM COUNTS)

5 Icelandic Poppies in warm shades

10 Orange/Peach Ranunculus

3-4 Stems Hamamelis 'Jalena'

3 Pieris foliage

2 Boxwood foliage

2 Epimedium 'Frohnleiten' leaves

Ethereal papery thin, silky, and ruffled petals of Icelandic poppies in a gorgeous display of sunset hues sport brightly colored flowers atop fuzzy stems. Celebrated for their sweet fragrance, clusters of coppery-orange flowers from Witch Hazel (Hamamelis ‘Jalena’) add interest with their with wavy petals on bare branches. Paired here with foundation Ranunculus with orange and peach cup-like blossoms displaying a multitude of paper-thin petals.

ARRANGEMENT BY Kailla Platt kaillaplattflowers.com

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Kaitlin Green

Founded in 2001, Paul Moon Design offers integrated architectural, interior and landscape design services to select and repeat clients. Our competency in different architectural styles coupled with the cohesiveness of the interiors and exterior, create unique designs that are timeless partners with each site. paulmoondesign.com

Best For Flowering

Roses flower more abundantly than almost any other garden plant, providing color and blooms through the summer months and beyond. 1) Silas Marner, in soft mid pink with ruffled petals. 2) Roald Dahl, apricot hues, and cupped rosettes and few thorns. 3) Princess Anne, rich pink with tea fragrance and a hint of yellow on their undersides. 4) Lady of Shalott, rich orange-red blooms with loosely arranged petals. 5) Desdemona, white, chalice-shaped blooms with almond blossom, cucumber, and lemon zest fragrance. 6) England’s Rose, rich pink flowers with an attractive button eye. 7) Scepter’d Isle, with a powerful myrrh fragrance, comes in light pink with yellow stamens. 8) The Lark Ascending, pleasing apricot semi-double flowers. 9) The Lady Of The Lake, fresh citrus fragrance with pale pink blossoms on long slender stems. www.davidaustinroses.com

GET THE LOOK

Naomi 3-Light Large Pendant

Available finishes: Matte Black, Chalk White, and Matte Brass seattlelighting.com

TEXTURAL WARMTH Naomi 3-Light Large Pendant illuminates with its black hand-woven rattan and hand-painted matte black finish. These pendants bring in a casual and natural element, embracing the artisanal textures of nature and making an inviting workspace. Comes in a variety of finishes. Available through www.seattlelighting.com

surface + home

PAINT

Thistle Gray 0197 roddapaint.com

1. EARTHY ADDITIONS

Four Hands Delmar teak and woven ivory rope dining chair and aluminum Basil Aged Dining Table are classy additions inside or out. Availble through jgarnerhome.com

2. SHOWY SALADS

Sheela Prakash’s Salad Seasons offers recipes that are easy to prepare and will bring vegetables to the center of your plate. powells.com

3. SUMMER VARIETIES

Le Jaquard Francais Tomates Green Tea Towel, 100% cotton woven damask. Made in France. le-jacquard-francais.com

4. HANDSOME HARDWARE

Matte black Mason pull and Grayson rectangle knob will elevate any cabinet. sumnerstreethardware.com

5. GEARING-UP

In black concrete,Arteriors

Home Reese Coffee Table adds a dramatic edge to the indoors. Through J Garner Home. jgarnerhome.com

6. COOKING CLASS

The Viking 48" Dual Fuel Range in Cypress Green. vikingrange.com

(below) The Solange Dining Chair from Arteriors Home features sable finished mango wood and woven, tobacco-washed paper cord. Through jgarnerhome.com

(above) The eye catching hand-rubbed brass finish Piatto Pendant light with white plaster shade by Thomas O’Brien by Visual Comfort Signature. seattlelighting.com

surface + home

SATIN BRASS + NAVY • PAIRINGS

SHOP THE LOOK

Front cabinets: Molly Pull in Rich Gold Satin Brass

Back cabinets: Kent Knurled Knob in Rich Gold Satin Brass designbarbend.com

STRIKING HARDWARE

A beautiful addition to any cabinet, the Molly Collection Pull in Rich Gold Satin Brass offers a comfortable grip and comes in a variety of finishes. Elegant Ethan Disc Knobs in Rich Gold Satin Brass pop against dark cabinetry. Available at Sumner Street Home Hardware, www.sumnerstreethardware.com

Photo: Miranda Estes

SPA-INSPIRED LUXURY Kohler’s Components tall single-handle sink faucet and Enivo vanity with sinks and a quartz top elevate a room and exude quality. Take a relaxing soak in an Artifacts freestanding bath and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with beautiful plumbing. The Components LED lacemaker sconce and Essential rectangle decorative mirrors tie the room together. Available from Keller Supply Kitchen & Bath Showcase www.kellersupply.com

surface + home

MODERN RUSTIC • BURNISHED

1. TEXTURE ABOUNDS

The Gus Modern Terraz rug channels the irregular charm of of terrazzo but with a plush, hand-tufted high pile that’s luxurious underfoot. Crafted from 100% New Zealand wool, Available through gusmodern.com

2. WELL ROUNDED

Shown in Buckeye Bronze, Somerset Hinkley Lighting is classically chic. seattlelighting.com

3. BEAUTIFUL SPACES

Creating a beautiful and comfortable home is easy with Patina Modern: A Guide to Designing Warm, Timeless Interiors. powells.com

4. BRONZE AGE

Add luxury with the Everly Deck Mount Faucet in Silicon Bronze michaelaram.com

5. MAHOGANY

From Seattle-based designer Christian Grevstad, the qu artered mahogany Tatoosh side table grounds any room. Available through grevstad.com

6. STYLE LOUNGE

The timeless Profile Lounge Chair in Henne is covered in

(above + below) The Tumbo Table Lamp and Marka Round Coffee Table with shelf offer handsome style. Both by Christian Grevstad. www.grevstad.com

kellersupply.com 2)

pendant stands out in any space, seattlelighting.com 3) Motion and warmth is added with the Graphic sideboard, ethnicraft.com 4) The Linear Diamonds cushion plays with organic vibes and a graphic edge. ethnicraft.com 5) Learn about the cuisine that became a culinary destination. powells.com 6) Austin Diamond from the Mesa Collection, Stonington from the Ceylon Collection, Teramo from the Modern Resource and Aster from the Surface Resource Collection. thibautdesign.com 7) The eye-catching, rounded Clark Sofa ensures comfort and European styling. Through jgarnerhome.com

(above) The Ethan Pull and Ethan Disc Knob in matte black instantly enhance your cabinets with an urban flair. Available at sumnerstreethardware.com

PAINT Hint of Violet benjaminmoore.com

1) Kohler’s latest addition to its Artists Editions Collection, the Aureus Vessel Sink is handcrafted by artisans using distinct glazes and patterns,

The Issa

DRIFTWOOD COVE

written by MELISSA DALTON photography by MIRANDA ESTES

THE FIRST IDEA FOR THIS HOME’S DESIGN CAME TO BRETT LINDSAY WHILE WALKING HIS DOG ON THE BEACH.

“My dog started chasing sea gulls and they just took off, running and flying,” remembers Lindsay. The architect’s attention was caught by the flock’s wing formation in flight, which ultimately inspired the vision for the home’s alternating shed rooflines. It was a fitting start to a project that is an ode to nature for its homeowner, who’s an artist. “One of her inspirations is nature,” says interior designer Aimee Meisgeier. “So, we wanted to invoke the sense of the natural world throughout the house.”

The pair – Lindsay runs S9 Architecture and Meisgeier founded AM Interior Design – collaborated with contractor Magie Wolf of Koncept Builders throughout the three-year design and build process to do just that. They wove together sweeping architectural gestures, like the roofline, with smaller detailed moments, to foster an environment that would bring its owner closer to her favorite source of creativity.

This started with an excellent one-acre site in the Driftwood Cove neighborhood of Gig Harbor, Washington. It’s accessed by a long driveway lined with towering old growth Fir trees, and has private beach frontage. “It’s a pretty magical place,” says Meisgeier of the lot. “The last time that I was there, it was dusk and I could hear owls hooting in the trees, and the cove is so calm.”

Once the house was sited, the design process for both architect and interior designer drew on the four elements of nature – including earth, air, fire, and water – as reference points inside and out. This begins at the front, where visitors are guided through a small open-air entry court between the driveway and front door. A glass awning protects from the elements, while underfoot, there’s a path of custom concrete pavers with water flowing around their base. Landscaped garden beds anchor the tableau, while the sound of bubbling water gurgles from a nearby rock sculpture fountain.

The entry then feeds into the main living spaces, which are all combined together at the center of the 5,792 square foot plan. Once inside, a plethora of windows capture immediate views of the peaceful cove. Overhead, the alternating ceiling planes, clad in clear cedar tongue-and-groove

S9 Architecture and AM Interior Design recently completed this Gig Harbor home infused with nature. ABOVE Exterior finishes include Porcelanosa Age Dark Nature tile and Americana Bingaman Thermally Modified Poplar siding. RIGHT In the kitchen, the waterfall quartzite island is “Silky Polished” from Architectural Surfaces and populated with Restoration Hardware stools. Above the Miele cooktop and range, find an Olympia Tile and Stone Stilio Wave Blanco back splash by Thompson Tile.

“We didn’t want anything obstructing the view,” says Meisgeier of the fixtures and furnishings. To that end, the clear glass raindrops of a custom chandelier by Studio Bel Vetro from the Kelly Forslund Showroom at Seattle Design Center maintains transparency. Low-lying furniture picks, like the Crate and Barrel leather chairs in the living room and Restoration Hardware chairs around the Williams Sonoma Home table, promote further connection to the cove outside. A custom DaVinci see-through fireplace is surrounded by Porcelanosa Savage Dark Nature tiles with subtle veining. Walls were painted Sherwin Williams High Reflective White to showcase the art.

throughout, further open up the interiors. “It reminds me of sitting under a tree and looking up into the canopy,” says Lindsay of the ceiling. “Like branches going in different directions.”

High windows follow the roofline and bring in lots of natural light, as well as an airiness, further complemented by wide stacking glass doors that open to the backyard, a cantilevered loft hovering over the main space, and the suspended wood tread of the elegant staircase. Material choices riff off of the earth element, says Meisgeier, in everything from their color palette, like the primary bathroom tile that evokes the tones of beach sand, to their materiality, as in the thick quartzite slab that covers the kitchen counters. “That looks like the waves during a storm,” says Meisgeier. “We always wanted to bring nature indoors in any way that we could.”

The focal point in the main room is the inky charcoal fireplace façade covered in porcelain tile that soars from the floor to the double-height ceiling. “I wanted it to be dramatic,” says Meisgeier. “We had the tongue and groove on the ceiling, and mostly white walls, because that will showcase art the best. So, I wanted something that grounded the space.” The tile wraps a three-sided fireplace down below, and higher up, forms an alcove for a cluster of nine television screens. The assemblage can act as art display for the owner’s work – with pictures featured on

ABOVE LEFT A custom staircase with white oak treads inset with LED lights, a stringer by Splice Welding and Design, and railing system by Missoula Blacksmith, lends airiness to the room. ABOVE RIGHT The cantilevered loft has two cozy swivel chairs from West Elm. RIGHT The guest bathroom is outfitted in a medley of stone and wood, including the vanity with custom black walnut Huntwood cabinets by Aimee Meisgeier and a waterfall counter in “Sea Pearl.”

each screen, or across all of them – as well as an excellent large-format television screen, viewable from all different directions due to the overall connectivity of the floorplan.

Since the homeowner likes to entertain family and friends, it was important that the open layout encourage flow, especially between the interior and the backyard, but be balanced with various alcoves that offer extra seating, or spots to retreat. To that end, furniture groupings form easy conversation clusters, dominated by the large living room sectional that can seat a lot of people at once for movie nights.

In the windowed nooks, Meisgeier then placed swivel chairs that let the owner sit comfortably to engage in her favorite pastimes, like reading or putting together a puzzle, or just taking in the view. “She can either swivel to the left and see the sunrise, or swivel to the right and see the sunset,” says Meisgeier. “I’m a huge proponent of the multifunctionality of swivel chairs.”

LEFT In the primary bathroom, the custom feature wall separating the soaking tub from the shower was built on-site, and wrapped in Porcelanosa Tile, Ice Nebraska in ‘Tea.’ The freestanding bath is a Kohler Veil from Keller Supply Kitchen & Bath Showcase, and above it, there’s a Livex Lighting branch light. ABOVE LEFT In the guest room, an Article bed sits with Room and Board pendants. ABOVE RIGHT Landmark Tile, Attitude in ‘Warm Sand’ covers the primary shower walls.

The entry court at the front of the house is an open-air affair, with artful landscaping, plants, water elements, and illuminated by Tech Lighting Model lighting. On the exterior façade, there are Fleetwood windows and cedar siding, and a privacy screen conceals the outdoor shower. Ribbons of high windows tucked under the flaring rooflines bring in light, but don’t sacrifice privacy.

The cantilevered lounge on the second-floor is another cozy place with sight lines to everything from the cove, to the living room’s movie screen. “That’s one of the family’s favorite spots to go with a cup of coffee, to relax and enjoy the view,” says Meisgeier. The primary suite on the main floor, as well as the upstairs bedrooms and bathrooms, provide even more space to withdraw, with one bathroom even boasting a luxe steam shower. “The owner wanted her guests to be as comfortable as possible,” says Lindsay. In the primary bathroom, high windows create a view to the trees, and two varieties of tile differentiates the soaking tub from the shower tucked behind a feature wall. “It’s a moment in time being in each area,” says Meisgeier. “But they all work nicely together.”

Exterior spaces were deftly woven so as to extend the comfort outside, including an outdoor kitchen accessed from the main kitchen by a pass-through window, a patio off the primary bedroom with a hot tub and firepit, and even an outdoor shower off the primary bathroom. All of which combines into a home that will never cease to both inspire and comfort its owner.

“We all wanted the same thing,” says Meisgeier. “A beautiful house for the owner to enjoy, to be with her family, to be creative, and get inspired every day when she walks out of her bedroom.”

PROJECT SOURCES

CONTRACTOR Koncept Builders, LLC konceptbuilders.com

ARCHITECT

S9 Architecture synthesis9.com

INTERIOR DESIGN

AM Interior Design aminteriordesign.com

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

Lyon Landscape Architects, Inc lyonla.com

SELECT FURNISHINGS

Seattle Design Center seattledesigncenter.com

PLUMBING

Keller Supply Kitchen & Bath Showcase kellersupply.com

Describe your design style or philosophy. A home should reflect the people who live inside so I make sure my clients know that they are being heard throughout the design process and that I have their best interest at heart. A trusting client-designer relationship is the foundation upon which a beautiful, unique home is created. I assure my clients that I respect their lifestyles and design boundaries when I am helping them make decisions. I want them to feel confident in their choices for years to come because when a project ends for a designer, it is just the start for the clients and their new homes.

What’s the first thing you notice when you walk into a room?

The furniture layout and how it makes a room feel. Is everything pushed to the far walls creating a big awkward empty space in the middle? Is there too much furniture crammed into the room obstructing the flow of circulation? Is the scale of the furniture appropriate for the space? I also notice lighting or lack there of. Is there an opportunity to add more decorative lighting such as wall sconces or a statement chandelier to elevate the space? Do the bathrooms have adequate lighting especially in the vanity area? Lighting can make or break the design of a room.

What is your dream project?

I would love to design a home in the Methow Valley which is located just outside the North Cascades. It is one of my favorite areas in Washington state; in fact, I got married there. I love how the homes in the area strive to blend seamlessly into their environment with their material selections, not disrupting the natural beauty of the valley.

What part of the design process do you find most rewarding?

I love seeing all the selected finish materials such as architectural wall features, tile, flooring, and counter tops get installed. It is the greatest feeling walking into a job site and seeing that progress happening. Those materials really start to add the personality and the flair to the project.

In your opinion, what is the most fundamental element of interior design? Where do you start on a new project?

In my opinion, proper use of space and scale are the most fundamental elements of interior design. Rooms that do not flow properly or items that are too large or small for the space really stand out to me when I enter an area. I start with space first, seeing how all areas transition with one another. Then address the scale of selected items to make sure they feel right for the space.

Was design something you’ve always felt strongly about or was it a gradual process of finding your voice?

I have been interested in design ever since I was little. I remember my parents redoing a childhood bedroom of mine and asking for my opinion. My dream bedroom at age eight consisted of yellow wallpaper with white flowers on it, ruffled white valances on the windows, a white brass day bed with yellow floral bedding and a ruffled bed skirt. Even at that early age, I had a clear vision of a design direction and I remember being so proud of the result.

Favorite era of design?

Hands down, the Mid-Century architecture of 1960’s Palm Springs.

Favorite detail of your childhood home?

A wood burning stove fireplace we had in the downstairs den. It made the room so cozy.

Three words that most appropriately sum up your approach to design are…

Ambience, function and patience…lots and lots of patience.

Aimee Meisgeier, Owner and Principal AM Interior Design

Dovetail General Contractors and Heliotrope Architects partner to craft this West Seattle home for Josiah Johnson and his wife. A private courtyard in the front doubles as outdoor space and shields the home from the street. “Over the past couple of years, it’s grown and turned into this secret garden, which has been really great,” says Josiah. A custom fold-down awning against the dark-stained cedar channel siding conceals a barbeque.

written by MELISSA DALTON photography by KEVIN SCOTT

OASIS ON THE WATERFRONT

DOVETAIL GENERAL CONTRACTORS AND HELIOTROPE ARCHITECTS CONVERT A TRICKY URBAN LOT ON A BUSY WEST SEATTLE STREET INTO AN UNEXPECTED REFUGE BY CONNECTING THE HOME’S INTERIOR TO PUGET SOUND VIEWS AND A PRIVATE COURTYARD.

The dark-stained cedar channel siding continues from outside to inside for a seamless effect in the living room. Stacking glass doors lead to an exterior deck and frame the view, and a cantilevered glass railing with minimal top rail ensures visibility. “Every time you look out, it’s like you’re looking at a different snapshot,” says Josiah. The sectional and two chairs are from Inform Interiors.

IN 2016, JOSIAH AND HIS WIFE DECIDED TO RELOCATE THEIR GROWING FAMILY. Their daughter was two, and their second on the way, so they knew they needed more square-footage than their current condo, and also wanted to be closer to family in West Seattle. Then they came across a listing for a home just a block from where Josiah’s grandparents had built their own house in the 40s, with a trail down to the very beach that Josiah had frequented growing up. “I spent a lot of time in this neighborhood as a kid,” says Josiah. “So, lo and behold, when a property became available, we jumped on it.”

Nostalgia wasn’t the only appeal. The lot came with a view of the Puget Sound, which the couple had always dreamed of having, although not much else about the existing house fit them well. The couple preferred a more modern aesthetic, and still needed the extra space. On the recommendation of a friend, they reached out to Dovetail General Contractors for a remodel and addition. “We really like modern design and Dovetail had a great portfolio in that regard,” says Josiah.

The contractor then recommended Heliotrope Architects, as the two companies had worked together on numerous projects. “There’s just a lot of trust that’s been built over the years,” says Dovetail project manager Ashley Sullivan. “Heliotrope are very strong advocates for their vision, communicate clearly, and we have a good understanding of their design intent to be able to perform.”

Looking through the firm’s portfolio, the couple liked Heliotrope’s approach. “I didn’t feel like they had a set kind of house that they design,” says Josiah. “Each was very unique to the location and client.” This proved essential once everyone realized that building new on the couple’s lot would be more costeffective than a down-to-the-studs overhaul. “There was going to have to be so much retrofitting to meet code,” says Josiah. “It was going to get super expensive to ‘MacGyver’ it to a point where we felt safe, comfortable, and were getting the design we wanted.”

Still, the lot had many constraints. Shaped like the state of Oklahoma with that three-foot-wide path to the beach, there were the usual building setbacks from the sidewalk and neighbors, and the need to keep a certain distance from the shoreline. Additionally, the location on a busy arterial street meant noise, privacy, and the sweeping passage of headlights shining into the living room at night were all issues. Then there was the large tree out front.

To everyone’s surprise, the large evergreen Photinia turned out to be a city heritage tree – so learned when a city tour showed up one day to look at it – and would need to be protected. Fortunately, the architects had already decided it was essential. “The tree was a huge component of the privacy screening for the house and central to the design of the outdoor spaces,” says architect Joe Herrin.

In order to meet the spatial needs of the family, the new 3,500-square-foot home utilizes all of the available buildable space, with three floors fit against the lot’s slope, which drops a full story from street to rear. Now, the main floor and living spaces sit level with the street-side courtyard, with three bedrooms and laundry placed above, and auxiliary rooms, like a yoga studio and a media room level with a water-side garden, below.

Josiah loves to cook, especially with family, so the kitchen needed to be accommodating and the dining table large enough to fit everyone. Statuary marble covers the counter, backsplash, and island, and is complemented by custom cabinets made by Dovetail, finished in a Benjamin Moore Silver Satin color. The counter stools are from Bassam Fellow and the island pendant lights by &Tradition. Appliances include a sleek Sub-Zero refrigerator and Wolf wall ovens.

The outdoor shower connected to the primary suite bathroom is another seamless indoor/outdoor moment. Frosted glass on one side fosters privacy, and a clear letterbox window enables views to the water. A living green wall softens the interior, and no ceiling makes it possible to shower under the stars. RIGHT The wood flooring continues inside, and the rift white oak vanity topped in statuary marble was crafted by Dovetail.

Heliotrope project manager Chris Wong refers to the house’s form as “stacking boxes.” Adds Herrin: “Basically, we took two boxes and split them apart. Then we sat another box on top of that which spans across. The space that’s created in between the three boxes is the living, dining, and entry.” The architects capped the opening on the front and back facades with wide stacking glass doors, fostering an incredible transparency through the middle of the home, and connecting to the distant water views from all angles. To ensure this transparency was balanced with privacy from the street, a cast concrete wall by Fieldworks Custom Concrete bisects the front yard, neatly dividing it into two courtyards, one public and one private.

In the public-facing courtyard, there’s the driveway, garage access, and an artful entry sequence – an “outdoor vestibule,” says Herrin, that mitigates the transition from the street. There’s also the heritage tree, which was painstakingly preserved throughout construction. For it, Dovetail consulted with an arborist, who suggested bringing in a compressed air-powered tool. “That blows air to expose the roots, so you get a better idea of where they are, and which ones absolutely need to be avoided,” says Sullivan. Under the arborist’s supervision, the team drove pin piles into the earth to support the concrete wall without impairing the tree’s growth.

The fireplace column is wrapped in rift-cut white oak veneer panels that are grain-matched for an unbroken effect. The cast concrete wall from Fieldworks Custom Concrete continues inside, and down to the basement. The bespoke dining table is by Dovetail, and surrounded by Maruni chairs from Inform Interiors. TOP RIGHT “Since the West side of the site is a full story below, the middle floor gets its own outdoor space, and the lower floor gets its own yard,” says Wong, yet there’s still visual connection. The hot tub has a custom retractable wood cover, fabricated by Dovetail and designed by Heliotrope. BOTTOM RIGHT Windows by Quantum Windows and Doors.

A split in the concrete wall forms the basis of a custom metal water feature that lines both courtyards, so the sound of trickling water buffers street noise. In the private courtyard, a patio of cast concrete pavers is surrounded by a lush landscape by Ohashi Landscape Services, and perimeter fences layered with tall plantings foster seclusion. Josiah also needed a covered spot to grill year-round that was in close proximity to the indoor kitchen, so there’s a custom awning that closes up and hides the barbecue when not in use. “Now I can be out there grilling in the snow,” says Josiah.

While the front façade doesn’t have many windows – there’s one behind a wood screen in the upstairs laundry room and one that flanks the front door – “That was intentional,” says Herrin. That approach enables all of the windows to be in “conversation” with the water on the other side of the house.

This starts at the front door, as one enters and catches a glimpse of the Puget Sound through the floating stair tread and a panel of glass. Turning left offers up a wider view in the main living areas, with an exterior deck surrounded by a transparent railing so as not to hinder the sights. Then there’s a “postcard” of a window in the kitchen, slotted above a bookshelf. “We’ll see ferries, sailboats, orca whales, or sea lions,” says Josiah. “It’s like a National Geographic picture outside the windows every time we turn around.”

Highly crafted details, courtesy of Dovetail’s in-house wood and metal fabrication shops, are woven throughout the home, from the front yard’s metal fountain and the hammer-formed brass pull on the front door, to the custom dining table and rift-cut oak veneer panels painstakingly aligned to wrap the four sides of the fireplace column. “The partnership between Dovetail and Heliotrope was pretty amazing,” says Josiah. “We felt really good about the whole process. And I pinch myself every day when I wake up here.”

THIS PAGE

The branches of the heritage tree can freely expand over the concrete wall. A custom metal fountain, made by Dovetail, connects the two courtyards. FOLLOWING PAGE The “outdoor vestibule” includes a concrete path leading to the stained Sapele door with a hammer-formed brass pull by Dovetail. A floating Western red cedar bench is a place to pause, and the channel of river rock underneath extends into the foyer.

PROJECT SOURCES

CONTRACTOR

Dovetail General Contractors dovetailgc.com

ARCHITECT

Heliotrope Architects heliotropearchitects.com

INTERIOR DESIGN

Inform Interiors informinteriors.design

LANDSCAPE DESIGN

Ohashi Landscape Services ohashilandscape.com

CUSTOM CONCRETE

Fieldworks Custom Concrete fieldworksconcrete.com

When you founded your own firm, what were your goals? How have those evolved over time?

We started our firm in 2000 with the goal to create works that withstand the test of time. Works that weather well, that transcend style and trend, that resonate emotionally with the user and that have a lasting positive impact on their environment – whether that be an urban retail environment or a rural home. While these remain first principles, designing and building more environmentally sustainable work has become a major priority. We have also become increasingly focused on the character and quality of our studio culture, helping it become a thriving, nurturing, collaboratively creative environment for our team and those with which we partner.

Tell us a bit about your approach to architecture and what has shaped your vision.

We try to start each project as a blank page, minimizing preconceptions. We approach the work as modernists, with an interest in form, function, context, etc., but we don’t approach it with a preconceived design vocabulary. We prefer to get to know the client, site and project parameters and see where it all leads. The process of discovery is very exciting for us.

How would you describe your firm’s design style?

We’re focused on context, value and quality. It’s important for our values and those of our client or users (or community at large) to drive the characteristics of the architecture throughout the process. We explore how context shapes what we design, how it sits on the land, and how it orients to a view or away from street noise. Qualitative concerns determine material selection, roof shape, and detailing. It’s through answering these types of value-driven questions that we find more enduring architectural solutions.

Outside of architecture, what are you currently interested in and how is it influencing your design thinking?

Joe: I have a lifelong fascination with boats and am always interested in ways we can learn from a well-designed yacht’s efficient use of space, its self-contained systems, and the way beauty can be derived through form following function.

Mike: I am interested in the creative process as manifested by those operating in fields outside of architecture, such as musicians, writers, filmmakers, and artists. I am also interested (but very much a lay person) in the behavioral and social sciences and what makes us all tick.

Favorite way to spend a weekend in the Northwest?

Joe: We tend to spend many, if not most, weekends at our beach cabin on Orcas Island. In the summer we are either cycling or boating around the San Juans and north into British Columbia.

Mike: I like to work in the office on Saturdays and work in the yard on Sundays. I hang out with my wife and kids, read, or hit a favorite restaurant. I hike or ski when possible.

Favorite travel destination for inspiration?

Joe: I visited Japan for the first time last October and it was a kind of paradise for me. Both the historic and contemporary architecture there is incredibly inspiring, as is the natural environment (and the food – can’t not mention the food…)

Mike: NYC, Tokyo, Europe. Just bought plane tickets to Morocco for the spring and expecting gobs of inspiration there.

Joe Herrin & Mike Mora, Principals | Heliotrope Architects

Photo by Kyle Johnson

written by DONNA PIZZI photography by LAND MORPHOLOGY

ISLAND LIFE

LAND MORPHOLOGY TEAMED WITH MASSUCCO WARNER INTERIOR DESIGN, STUDIO AM ARCHITECTS, WYGAL BUILDERS, AND LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOR GREEN MAN LANDSCAPE AND DESIGN TO CREATE THIS GARDEN RETREAT NESTLED IN THE WOODS OF SAN JUAN ISLAND, REPLETE WITH ATHLETIC COURTS, POOL, SPA, FIRE PITS, AND PARTY BARN.

A profusion of Geranium ‘Rozanne’ lines the interior garden area borders, including the spa. The pool house architecture echoes the party barn’s, lit by a Barnhouse Electric Co. light. Massucco Warner adds pops of blue with Santa Barbara umbrellas from Terris Draheim Outdoor playing off blue striped Janus et Cie lawn chairs. Even the pool and spa’s edges reiterate the blue and white striped theme. Bluestone pool coping provides non-slip properties. Green Man sand-set the Pennsylvania Bluestone deck.

Tucked behind the main house is a waterfront terrace surrounded by naturally occurring Pinus contorta (shore pine). Shale boulders referencing the island’s actual bedrock are tucked into a host of new plantings -wavy Salmon Pink Alstroemaria “Inca Ice,” and Mexican Feather Grass. Montana Bronze Flagstone Pavers ground the terrace, where McKinnon & Harris sofa and armchairs encircle Massucco Warner’s custom designed firepit fabricated by Pepperbox. Graphic side table sourced at Perennials & Sutherland at the Seattle Design Center (SDC).

LITTLE DID LAND MORPHOLOGY FOUNDER RICHARD HARTLAGE OF SEATTLE

KNOW that when he was creating an East Coast Garden in the historic town of Bronxville, New York, that years later he would be asked to create an expansive garden and athletic complex for the very same couple who had lived adjacent to his Bronxville clients. This time on San Juan Island. “The home they purchased,” says Hartlage, “was dark and heavy with a dozen different types of wood, none of which reflected the light.” Studio AM Architects, with whom Land Morphology often collaborates, had the home gutted to create a less rustic home whose gardens feature a more refined athletic retreat.

Working with fellow principal Sandy Fischer, FSLA, Hartlage created the master plan that embraces the site’s natural graded slope. By cutting a clearing in the woods, they were able to create a tennis court bathed in sunshine. A series of terraces divide the dedicated garden rooms into a variety of activities from a central play lawn done in environmentally responsible artificial turf, flanked by a pickle ball court on one side and the pool with underwater spa whose waters flow into the pool on the other. Land Morphology

Principal-in-Charge and Project Manager Renee Freier had the hands-on job of working with Green Man Landscape and Design owner, Jason Suhl, and his team to oversee the construction of the project. Chief among the immaculate plantings is Geranium Rozanne that managed to produce voluminous blue borders – the homeowners’ favorite color - in less than a year’s time.

A small gravel road that meanders through the property gives no indication of what is soon to be revealed. First comes the sports complex. Here, an existing garage has been transformed into a party barn for which Land Morphology designed a large timber pergola that protects the full outdoor kitchen, seating area and large dining table. “Everything revolves around entertaining big parties there,” says Hartlage. “The homeowners love blue, so everything played off that.” Consequently, Julie Massucco Kleiner, co-founder of Massucco Warner Interior Design reiterated that with splashes of bright yellow found on the party barn’s sliding doors, and on various sofa pillows found throughout as contrast. Freier, who was on board from the project’s first ideas to final stages of working with Green Man owner Jason Suhl, was delighted to see it come together. “I went up several times to observe the progress and ensure that only the best materials were used. When I couldn’t make the trip, the landscape foreman, Andreas Johnson, who was very responsive and great to work with, would Facetime with me, so I could explain how to shift a plant this way or that.”

Green Man also set the Monolithic Pennsylvania True Blue Bluestone found on the various terraces and stair treads that tie back to the surrounding dry stacked Whistler Basalt granite stone walls. “We upgraded our equipment for this job,” says Suhl. “We are able to pick up and set down 1,200-pound stone steps now that we have

Land Morphology’s profuse Geranium ‘Rozanne’ pool border also features miniature Bobo Hydrangeas and ‘Wintergreen’ Boxwood. McKinnon & Harris sectional. Holly Hunt tables from Jennifer West Showroom at SDC. Janus et Cie armchairs. LM’s pergola design spans the former garage turned party barn, where their outdoor kitchen features DCS 7 Grill and DCS drawers and access doorsWygal Builders install. Stone counter and backsplash are Pietra di Cardoso Schist installed by Architectural Stone Werkes.

Perennials & Sutherland sofas from Seattle Design Center hug the fire pit on central fire terrace. Holly Hunt side tables from Jennifer West at SDC. Land Morphology’s custom metal work and railings coordinate with the Bluestone step railings, with all their hardware artfully concealed by Green Man Landscape and Design, who also constructed the dry stack stone walls of Whistler Basalt and sand-set the Bluestone terrace. 10-foot sports fencing encloses tennis courts above left.

three vacuum slab lifters that expedited the project.” Hartlage calls Green Man, “very accountable. They stick to both the schedule and budget,” he says, “which take s a lot of coordination.”

“The pool house cabana,” explains Freier, “was added later as a way to tuck away all the pool’s equipment and allow for an extra bathroom and shower next to the pool.” Other changes made during construction include turning what was initially designed as a seat wall between the play lawn and fire terrace, into a full length of stairs that span the 52 feet lawn width that are centered on the doorway to the barn.

Land Morphology designed 10-feet cedar timber fences with Galfan powder coated wire mesh panels around the tennis and pickleball courts, which Green Man installed. Since shorter fences surround the remaining areas, many of the plantings were chosen for their deer resistant properties – a growing concern in today’s world. Additionally, a special hybrid of Standard Limelight Hydrangeas was trained into a standard mini-tree form to deter deer as well.

Land Morphology also formalized and expanded an existing terrace located behind the main residence while Massucco chose new furnishings and a small fire feature that was custom fabricated by Michael Prendergast of Pepperbox. “We enhanced the plantings around the stone patio with a very soft salmon pink Alstroemeria ‘Inca Ice,’ Feather Grass, and a few boulders from a local stone yard chosen from their existing inventory,” explains Hartlage.

Green Man recalls the pressure to complete the project in time for a party scheduled at the end. “It was one of the most technical projects that our team had ever done,” says Suhl. “So, it was gratifying to find how great the homeowners were, and how extremely supportive Land Morphology was whenever we came across unforeseen details, which isn’t always the case.”

Hartlage agrees. “A team that works this well together is not always the norm. It’s so great when everyone working together gets along. What we all created was a space that is ebullient, abundant, and happy.”

ABOVE Dark Gray (Benjamin Moore “Cheating Heart”) swinging barn doors by Real Carriage Door Company mark the entrance to the party barn contrasting with Benjamin Moore “Stormy Sky” wood siding. Land Morphology’s pergola, right, features arched braces attaching to posts and painted to match the building.

BOTTOM LEFT The back of the remodeled house by Studio AM Architects was re-landscaped by Land Morphology using various ornamental grasses, including Muhly grass. BOTTOM RIGHT Idaho fescue occurs naturally amidst the driftwood that borders this view down to the water.

PLANTING NOTES

Tucked alongside the shale boulders at front is the groundcover Beach Strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis). Alongside the groundcover is a dwarf pine, Mugo Pine (Pinus Mugo ‘Mughus’). Interspersed is a wavy grassMexican Feather Grass (Nassella tenuissima). Across the terrace is more Alstroemaria ‘Inca Ice.’

PROJECT SOURCES

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Land Morphology landmorphology.com

LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOR Green Man Landscape and Design greenmanlandscape.com

INTERIOR DESIGN

Massucco Warner Interior Design massuccowarner.com

SELECT FURNISHINGS Seattle Design Center seattledesigncenter.com

DOORS

Windows, Doors & More windowshowroom.com

UMBRELLAS Terris Draheim Outdoor outdoor.terrisdraheim.com

CONTRACTOR Wygal Builders wygalbuilders.com

ARCHITECT Studio AM Architects studioamarchitects.com

EYE ON DESIGN

FREEDOM OF FORM Designed by Hans Hopfer in 1971, the Mah Jong sofa, now with Missoni fabrics, allows for infinite compositions. The refined fabrics, with floral and graphic patterned cushions are modular and creative. Each cushion is sewn by hand and gives rhythm to any space, offering elegance with Italian flair. Available from Roche Bobois, www.roche-bobois.com

Bring luxury living outdoors with inspired designs from Roche Bobois. Designed by Hans Hopfer, the contemporary INFORMEL OUTDOOR sofa anchors the space with shared comfort, while its companion, the INFORMEL OUTDOOR armchair provides solo seating to tie the space together. Central to the space are ROCKET cocktail tables by Nathanaël Désormeaux & Damien Carrette; industrially designed to be moved easily in its space, while still a holding a beautiful aesthetic. As the sun sets, illuminate the space with the PEKIN outdoor floor lamp. All available through www.roche-bobois.com

For a chic statement piece in the dining area that serves as spare storage and display space, look no further than the Voyager from Cattelan Italia. Shown with three doors and bronze mirrored frosted glass with relief glossy black decorations for eye-catching appeal, with several frame and feet options available. Available through Kasala, www.kasala.com

COFFEE TO DINING TABLE Soleil is a transforming coffee-todining table with a striking look, featuring a circular top and crisscross pedestal base. Soleil adjusts to any height between 14.125" and 29.5" and easily expands up to 65" long. Available in a wide selection of ceramic, lacquer, melamine, stained wood veneer, and glass surface finishes. Soleil’s base is also available in seven finish options. BELOW The Nora Lounge is an elegant chair featuring handcrafted wooden legs and a wraparound backrest, upholstered in your choice of Italian leather or fabric,www.resourcefurniture.com

(above) Exquisite flowers, foliage and butterflies are arranged in an artful kaleidoscopic to create a contemporary floral decorative pillow, printed on crisp cotton. designersguild.com

This Home Office Has a Secret

The LGM library with built-in desk revolves 180° to reveal a queen bed, effortlessly transforming your home office into a luxurious guest suite when company calls. Made in Italy, infinitely customizable, and backed by a Lifetime Warranty.

MD HOME | Thalia

CALIA ITALIA | Dragees Leather Sofa

CALIA ITALIA | Giuggiola Chair

MINIFORMS | Soda Tables

LINIE DESIGN | Acacia Rug

GLOBAL VIEWS | Fiori Vases

SABA ITALIA | Oltremare Armchair

PABLO DESIGNS | Pilar Lamp

COMFORTABLE SOPHISTICATION

The high-texture Kara Mann Collection Bound Counter Stool in Shell frame, knife edge fabric cushion, rattan frame and natural Danish cord seat and back is both edgy and attainable. Available in two heights and a multitude of wood frame finishes. The chic design is purposeful and refined. Available through the Baker McGuire Showroom at Seattle Design Center, www.bakerfurniture.com

1

1. LAYERS OF TEXTURE

Dash and Albert handcrafted Ojai Wheat Loom Knotted Cotton Rug with geometric diamond pattern creates calm while being soft underfoot. Through jgarnerhome.com

2. FRESH FLOWERS

Cast in crisp white gesso resin; the Quintin Vase from Arteriors offers a clear glass sleeve that creates an illusion of the top half floating above the base. jgarnerhome.com

3. ALL WRAPPED UP

The 8-light Olaf Chandelier from Arteriors embraces the rugged elements of the outdoors, the antique brass steel frame wrapped in natural abaca and adorned with stacked spheres. jgarnerhome.com

4. CURVY COLLECTION

Filled with whimsical frosted glass diffusers, the Cedar from Kuzco rests inside a clear glass shade. Available through seattlelighting.com

The Double Decker Santa Barbara umbrella in Cornsilk offers a bit of cheer and modern style to outdoor living. Available in a variety of powder coats, bases, valances, natural braid trim, and fabrics. Found at outdoor.terrisdraheim.com

6. POP OF COLOR

Palma Grass fabric in linen and Breakwater linen and non-woven wallpaper bring movement and nature into any indoor space. Both available from christopherfarrcloth.com

7. LOUNGE VIBE

The voluptuous Turner Sofa in Cloud

offers a bold design. Available through jgarnerhome.com

5. SUNNY SKIES

Boucle

(right) The Corbett Coffee Table from Four Hands, with creamy taupe marble offers beautiful natural veining, rounded tabletop and base. Available through jgarnerhome.com

PAINT Lemon Bar 0865 roddapaint.com

(above) Sunnylands: America’s Midcentury Masterpiece In Palm Springs, the mecca of midcenturymodern architecture, Sunnylands is the undisputed masterpiece. powells.com

PLEASURE

OF SIMPLICITY

The new WABI bed designed by Alain Gilles for Saba Italia combines an upholsptered curved harmonious style and the sculptural quality of the feet with the clear-cut contrast created by the soft and textured headboard. Fully removable covers. Available through Kasala Furniture, www.kasala.com

MASTERING THE ART OF SLEEP

97 YEARS OF SWEDISH EXCELLENCE - Since 1926, four generations of the Ljung family have aspired to produce the most comfortable and technologically advanced beds on the market.

As a privately-owned family business, our only responsibilities are to our customers, to the integrity of our product, and to our commitment to sustainable thought and practices. Over the last 97 years our beds have been thoroughly vetted and tested – by the scientific community, but more importantly, by four generations of customers worldwide.

The results are clear. We have a technology that works and the history to prove it.

Visit DUXIANA® Bellevue and discover the first step to a better, healthier way of living.

THE DUX ® BED FROM SWEDEN

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT PERNILLA 69 ARMCHAIR & FOOTSTOOL THE DUX® XCLUSIVE ESSENTIALS PERCALE SHEET SET PERNILLA 69 ARMCHAIR & FOOTSTOOL LUXURIOUS TOP PAD

ICONIC SCANDINAVIAN DESIGN

An Icon of Scandinavian Design, The Pernilla 69 Armchair is a classic easy chair designed by Swedish designer Bruno Mathsson for DUX. It has a slim, lightweight design that features a bent beech wood frame, linen support fabric, and full-aniline leather cushions, giving it a unique and graceful appearance. It is known for its comfort and versatility, and has become a popular choice for both residential and commercial settings. Available exclusively at DUXIANA in black or brown, with or without matching footstool. Available through, www.duxiana.com

This new home in Portland revolves around its well-appointed great room, where a 30-foot stacking glass door opens to an outdoor room and the backyard. “The challenge was to create grand spaces that could be intimate for groups of people,” says designer Rick Berry of Scott Edwards Architecture. The engineered Walnut hardwood flooring is by the Graf Brothers.

written by MELISSA DALTON photography by JEREMY BITTERMANN / JBSA

MAPLE ROCK

THANKS TO AN ATTENTIVE TEAM, INCLUDING SCOTT EDWARDS ARCHITECTURE, HAMISH MURRAY CONSTRUCTION, AND KATY KRIDER INTERIOR DESIGN, THIS PORTLAND HOME IS POISED TO SERVE ITS OWNERS NOW – AND WELL INTO THE FUTURE – BY BALANCING ENTERTAINING SPACE WITH SPOTS TO WIND DOWN, CREATING A “CANVAS” TO ENJOY THEIR FAVORITE ART AND MUSIC, AND INTEGRATING AGING-IN-PLACE DETAILS.

The kitchen, designed with the German kitchen manufacturer Bulthaup and in consultation with interior designer Katy Krider, features dark grey lacquer cabinet fronts with white quartz counters, a white back-painted glass backsplash, and walnut cabinet interiors by Bulthaup. The Gaggenau stovetop and refrigerator are also from Bulthaup, while the inset ceiling range hood above the island was supplied by Eastbank Contractor Appliances. The massive sliding door is by Quantum Windows & Doors.

RICK BERRY CAN SUM UP THE ETHOS OF HIS WORK IN TWO WORDS: PEOPLE FIRST.

“That’s our motto here at our architecture firm,” says Berry, principal designer at the Portland-based Scott Edwards Architecture. “I listen to exactly what they want, and then create the interest and excitement, so that they look forward to coming home every day.”

That purpose came into play for this recent custom project on a gently sloping, half-acre site between Portland and Beaverton. The clients needed a place to retire, and to easily host their adult children and extended families. When they couldn’t find anything existing that fit, they decided to build on the vacant lot that they’d purchased years before, starting the process by tapping Hamish Murray Construction, whom they’d worked with on various projects since 2007. Berry and project manager Ryan McCluckie from Scott Edwards, and Katy Krider Interior Design, then joined the team. “I always say that we basically had a must-have list and a wish list,” says the homeowner. “And they gave us everything on both.”

The resulting three-level, 7500-square-foot home forms an L-shape that wraps an entry court. Three guest ensuite bedrooms sit above the garage, while the main volume is lined with glass on the front and back sides and layered with slat screens for visual interest and privacy.

Inside, the living room occupies a double-height space, with the kitchen and dining room nestled under a lower ceiling. An upper-level catwalk captures sightlines into the home, and out the front and back at once. With this layout, the guest wing above the garage can essentially be closed off – it’s even equipped with a separate HVAC system so as not to be conditioning unused rooms. “Most of the time it’s just the two of us,” says the homeowner. “We love that when we walk into the main living area, it almost feels like we’re in an apartment. It has everything we need.”

A 30-foot-wide sliding glass door spans the living spaces, with no support post in sight to mar the views of the Coast Range. “That was on my husband’s ‘must-have’ list,” says the homeowner. “It was very important to him that we didn’t have any support post that obscured the view or interfered with the living, or the entertaining space.”

To accomplish that, a hefty structural steel beam encompasses the opening. “It was designed so well,” says contractor Hamish Murray. “There are so many loads coming down on top of that door. For it to slide nicely, there’s no tolerance for movement. So, there is a huge beam that runs the whole backside, weighing about 10,000 pounds and requiring a hundred-ton crane to lift it into place. It was quite the undertaking.” And one that the designers were excited to see executed so well by Murray’s team. “Hamish is a dream,” says Berry. “He’s super professional and easygoing. He just understood the architecture from the very beginning, and when it got to the details, he was very thorough and brought up good ideas for constructability.”

Now, the glass doors slide open to a sleekly covered outdoor room ideal for the couple to entertain. There, an opening in the roof is fitted with a louvered screen to modulate sun exposure and provide cover during the rainy season. A cedar slat wall picks up the theme from the front façade and provides privacy for the adjacent endless pool.

In the times that either homeowner prefers to be alone, they each have their own “go-to” spaces, with her office stacked on the second floor above his music room. The challenge there was to accommodate his love of music, often played at loud volumes, with her need for contemplative quiet to write, so the team

LEFT Western Red Cedar vertical slats, from Lakeside Lumber, cover the ceiling and roof overhang. The windows are by Quantum Windows & Doors. RIGHT The large fireplace “anchors” the room, says Krider, who selected a custom honed Absolute Black granite slab to form the base and enclose the Napoleon Luxuria fireplace. The upper portion of the surround is clad in Flamed Absolute Granite tile through Dal Tile, for a textural contrast that creates ripples of reflected light through the space.

brought in a sound technician to calibrate the soundproofing. “Now he can play his music as loud as he likes in there, and she can’t hear a thing,” says Murray.

For the interior plan, the couple hit it off with Katy Krider of Katy Krider Interior Design. “She’s another great listener,” notes the homeowner. Krider remembers their first conversation being about the “interior as canvas.” “They have collected pieces throughout their lives and travels, and a lot of the pieces are very large, colorful, and graphic,” says Krider. “To me, that was the cue that the interior wanted to be more minimalist, more quiet, and basically a canvas for the collection of artwork.”

To that end, the palette in the main living spaces was kept simple, with Krider balancing “warmth and cool,” and “light and dark,” by combining wood features – like walnut floors, custom casework, and cedar-encased ceilings and overhangs – with white walls and charcoal accents. At one end of the main room, the soaring fireplace façade is covered in textured, large format granite tile, while at the other, the

kitchen

Aging-in-place details, including flush thresholds to prevent tripping and an elevator, round out the home, so that it accommodates the owners now, and well into the future, as well as checking off every item on their lists. “They literally gave us everything we asked for, and more,” says the homeowner.

LEFT In the landscape design by Shapiro Didway, concrete planters bank the steps down to the yard. An endless pool is set into the deck, and an outdoor room tucked under cover. TOP RIGHT The primary bedroom overlooks a private balcony and the view. BOTTOM RIGHT In the primary bathroom, a Victoria and Albert soaking tub is joined by a floating custom walnut vanity designed by Katy Krider Interior Design and built by OTL cabinetry.

is fitted out with a dark gray lacquered Bulthaup cabinetry system. The custom cabinetry culminates in a gorgeous wall of casework in the husband’s music room designed by Krider, inspired by the clients’ travels to Japan, and perfectly accommodating his music collection.

TOP The home forms an L-shape around the auto-court, with the guest wing above the garage, and the front façade detailed with Western Red Cedar vertical slats from Lakeside Lumber. BELOW RIGHT In the husband’s music room, the custom casework is designed by Katy Krider Interior Design, and built by OTL cabinetry. The design was inspired by the clients’ travels to Tokyo and carefully detailed to accommodate an extensive vinyl, CD, and book collection. Backlit shoji-paper screens foster an ambient glow. BELOW LEFT The covered outdoor room has an RH Modern outdoor sectional, tables, rug, and chairs by Restoration Hardware.

PROJECT SOURCES

CONTRACTOR

Hamish Murray Construction hamishmurray.com

ARCHITECT

Scott Edwards Architecture seallp.com

INTERIOR DESIGN

Katy Krider Interior Design katykriderdesign.com

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

Shapiro Didway shapirodidway.com

LUMBER Lakeside Lumber lakesidelumber.com

CEILING VENT HOOD

Eastbank Contractor Appliances eastbankappliance.com

Each of your projects is full of fresh and interesting ideas— how do you stay inspired?

My inspiration can come from just about anywhere. I am always finding inspiration in nature, a trip to the Portland Art Museum, travel and great design work that resonates with me. Every project is unique, and I try to establish the elements of inspiration early in the design process, which is an interactive process with my clients.

You’ve worked on a variety of projects, has there been an experience that has significantly influenced your viewpoint?

Having spent the first twenty years of my career working for some of Portland’s top architectural firms, I have come to value interdisciplinary collaboration as the ideal way to design and build. I was fortunate to have amazing opportunities to be involved in all aspects of a project: working hand in hand with clients, architects, engineers, and contractors in a collaborative environment. The Maple Rock project was a great example of that! It was a pleasure working with Scott Edwards Architecture and Hamish Murray Construction to bring our clients’ dream home to fruition.

How would you describe your design style?

l would describe my personal design style as “modern organic.” I love spaces that balance a sense of contrast, texture, proportion, and light using natural materials like wood and stone and a few carefully considered details that add an element of craft. When working with my clients to design spaces that they will love, I begin every project by understanding their personal design style that sets the tone for the project. The range of projects in my portfolio reflects that philosophy, of first listening, understanding and then designing to reflect my clients’ unique vision and style.

With experience in commercial and residential design, how does each impact your design process?

Drawing on my thirty years of experience, I tailor my design process to each unique client and project, whether it is residential or commercial. Since starting Katy Krider Interior Design in 2016, I have focused almost exclusively on residential interior design. I have really enjoyed the shift in scale that comes with residential design and the ability to offer a more personal and client-focused design process.

What is your favorite space in your own home and why?

I am my own client. Our house continues to evolve as we renovate and make it our own. It’s a funky old farmhouse that has had many renovations over its 122-year lifetime. I do love our living room which is anchored by a big wood burning fireplace with rustic basalt rock that was quarried from the site. The walls and ceiling are paneled in circa 1930 oak paneling. It’s soulful and warm and I may just leave it ‘as is’ in homage.

How do your interests outside of work keep you motivated?

To stay motivated and creative it is so important for me to seek balance between work, life and play time. Outside of the studio I enjoy horseback riding, skiing, and spending time with my family.

Best materials to splurge on?

The best materials to splurge on are the ones that makes you happy. In this market, installation labor and construction are often the most significant budget line items. Often, in the scheme of things, the difference between the cost of an average ceramic tile versus the stone tile that a client really wants is negligible based on square footage. I always encourage my clients to prioritize what makes them happy, because the cost to install the average tile is the same to install the tile that they really love — and will live with for years to come.

Katy Krider, Owner | Katy Krider Interior Design

Photography by Genny Moller Photography

LESS WHITE MORE BRIGHT

written by EMILY ZAHNISER photography by CARINA SKROBECKI

Custom cabinets in Iron Ore from Sherwin Williams prioritize plenty of storage. Their double height makes use of previously dead space at ceiling level. A clever pull-out coffee hub and lower drawers throughout make for easy access and tidyup. The handmade tile backsplash from Cle Tile adds a bespoke, artisan texture.

ESCHEWING POPULAR HOME-MAKEOVER TRENDS, THIS FAMILY OF FIVE OPTED FOR SOMETHING MORE DRAMATIC. ONE SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURAL CHANGE AND A DARKLY MASCULINE COLOR PALETTE TRANSFORMED AN OPPRESSIVE 90S-ERA KITCHEN INTO A SOPHISTICATED AND SPACIOUS PLACE FOR ENTERTAINING AND DAILY USE.

“There was just something ‘off’ about the kitchen,” said homeowner Lisa Simpson. “It was awkward to move around in and felt oppressive.” The Simpson’s 1990s-era kitchen was heavy on manufactured wood finishes and busy granite countertops popular at the time. It also had a massive, five-sided, two-level island that wasn’t working for the family of five. They had made the best of it for years, but the space felt disjointed and chaotic. They found they didn’t like to spend time in what should arguably be the heart of their home.

“We hired Emily Ruff of Cohesively Curated to help us make sense of the needed changes and how to bring our own personal style to life,” said Johnson. The first thing to go was the kitchen island.

“By replacing that island with one aligned squarely in the room, so much more space and utility was realized,” said Ruff. More structurally complicated than it appears on the surface, the island required new wiring, ductwork, and plumbing. But it also provided the opportunity for expansively more storage. “I really appreciate the extra storage accessible underneath the new bar area,” said Simpson. “It’s space that usually goes unutilized.”

Once space planning was sorted, the fundamental transformation could take place. “Everyone does a white kitchen,” said Simpson. “While those look nice, we find ourselves drawn to darker colors.” Working collaboratively, Ruff and the Simpsons started by identifying the countertops they wanted. They chose a Leblon quartzite from Trio Surfaces with a depth of character, including blue, green, and grey veins. To highlight the beautiful surface, Ruff used a thick, three-inch overhang on the island and painted cabinetry in a rich grey with blue undertones.

From there, stylistic choices are based on fine craftsmanship and timeless details. Inspired by European deVOL kitchens, cabinets are built with carpentry techniques that give them the appearance of furniture rather than a fixture. They have been extended to the ceiling to fully use the space. The beadboard on the island adds an additional bespoke touch. The backsplash is of handmade farmhouse Clé tiles with speckled glazing, imbuing artistry and warmth to functionality.

Lighting fixtures and other hardware have a subtle industrial vibe, offset by the warm wood of the furniture and accent shelving. “I like to call this “transitional eclectic,” said Ruff. “The Simpsons were drawn to a mix of traditional and contemporary, and these elements can be brought together in a complimentary way. It becomes a collected space rather than a cookie-cutter one.”

Ruff mixed matte black and brass Brizo faucet fixtures with a dark charcoal quartz sink. Every detail was considered for cohesive design impact, like the knurling on the faucet handles, pendant lighting, and a matching quartzite trim around the window. “I like to use the countertop or marble window trim in kitchens instead of millwork,” Ruff said. “It’s a practical and durable choice when water staining is likely to occur.”

Ruff’s livability and user flow facility was also a big perk for the homeowners. “Ruff helped us realize familyfriendly systems and functionality that helps everyone feel empowered - but is also easy to keep looking neat and tidy,” said Simpson. A bar area to the left of the refrigerator is an accessible prep surface adjacent to drawers stocked with plates and cutlery and a handy beverage fridge. The microwave is hidden in a pull-out drawer when not in use. A similar strategy was used for the coffee station near the sink.

Finally, bespoke touches pull it all together. “I styled the kitchen with vintage artwork, ceramic bowls and vases, and other found objects, including a vintage rug runner,” said Ruff. “These one-of-a-kind details bring warmth and character to the modern space.”

OPPOSITE A Sub-Zero fridge, cooktop, and warming drawer are by Wolf. The Leblon Quartzite countertop by Trio Surfaces was the catalyst for the kitchen’s color palette, including the custom cabinets by Superior Cabinets painted a dark Iron Ore. The pendants from Urban Electric are entirely custom, allowing the designer to create a unique piece that complemented the kitchen’s other hardware.

Rejuvenation floating wooden shelves and Serena & Lily Portside counter stools with rush seats and natural wood offer an organic counterpoint to the painted cabinetry. Vintage found objects, including art, ceramics, and rug, soften the contemporary and industrial elements, adding a richness of character and a sense of history to the space. Despite a darker color palette, the clean tones, white tile, and eyecatching countertops by Trio Surfaces deliver an overall brighter, lighter, and more spacious experience.

PROJECT SOURCES

CONTRACTOR

RoofWorks Northwest roofworksnorthwest.com

INTERIOR DESIGN

Cohesively Curated cohesivelycurated.com

COUNTERTOP FABRICATOR Trio Surfaces triosurfaces.com

Has there been a defining experience that has significantly influenced your design viewpoint?

The projects that are most defining for me have been projects in my own homes. I started my business with my previous home as my only portfolio project and have gone through multiple renovations and decorating projects in our current home. Designing for yourself is much more challenging and has also allowed me to truly empathize with my clients during the design and construction process.

What are some of the current influences on your work?

I really love European style of cabinetry and all details and elements that make it feel like furniture. I try to include some vintage elements (usually rugs) in my designs to bring warmth and character to brand new spaces.

Specializing in new construction, how does that impact your design process?

We do conceptual design first and then we bring in contractors to bid the project. I always recommend that clients give us their full wish list to have priced out at the beginning and then we can scale back if needed once the estimates come in. We don’t start detailed design and material selections until we are aligned on the scope of work and what that truly costs.

What was the journey to building your own firm and how has your practice evolved?

I started my business in 2017 as a side hustle while working full time as a Project Manager at Amazon. I focused on décor-only projects initially and then went back to school for kitchen and bath design and started doing more renovations and new construction. After four years of juggling both jobs and having my daughter, I decided to transition into running my business fulltime in the summer of 2020 and haven’t looked back.

What kind of reaction do you hope to get from people that live in your spaces?

I always want them to love the way the space flows and functions daily. I also want clients to feel like the space is a reflection of them, but something they couldn’t have achieved on their own. Well-designed spaces should bring happiness and ease to day-to-day life, my biggest goal.

What’s the first thing you notice when you walk into a room?

I notice what isn’t working from a layout perspective. Whether it is cabinetry size and location or furniture size and configuration, I am quick to pinpoint what could be improved.

What is your favorite space in your own home and why?

My kitchen, breakfast nook and family room area is my favorite space in my home. It was the first space we renovated six months after buying the house. It is long and narrow, so the layout was tricky to figure out. We spend 80% of our time in these spaces and I still love everything about them after two years of being here.

What’s on your radar?

Color! I love neutrals and how calming they can be, but I am really inspired by the way some designers mix color and pattern so effortlessly. I am pushing myself and my clients to be more daring with color and pattern instead of playing it safe with neutrals.

Favorite place to travel? London.

Favorite era of design? Hollywood Regency, 1920s-1950s

Emily Ruff, Owner & Principal Designer | Cohesively Curated

An updated floor plan transformed the dark and choppy ground floor. Andersen Windows & Doors bi-fold glass doors from Windows, Doors & More create two 12-foot openings in dining and living room. A mix of the clients’ furniture and custom pieces blends the contemporary and traditional in every room. The new lighting plan brought much-needed flexibility, including increased overhead lights like this Serena & Lily Chandelier in the dining room.

A DARK, DATED, 70S-ERA DUTCH COLONIAL ON MERCER ISLAND GETS A NEW LEASE ON LIFE. EXPERT SPACE PLANNING BY DESIGNER EMILY JOHNSTON OF 92 MAPLE DESIGN STUDIO BROUGHT LIGHT, ENERGY, AND LIVABILITY TO THIS FAMILY OF FIVE’S DREAM HOME LOCATION.

NEO-DUTCH REDUX

written by EMILY ZAHNISER photography by MIRANDA ESTES

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. The age-old adage drove the Streets’ relocation from West Seattle to Mercer Island. “When the bridge went down, we knew it was time to make a change,” said Haley Street. “We wanted better commutes and better schools.” The Streets found an island neighborhood that met their budget and a mature lot they loved, but the house wasn’t a winner. The 1970s neo-Dutch Colonial was non-descript, poorly built, and stifling for their active family of five. “There’s not much design inspiration out there when starting with such an uninspiring canvas,” said Street. “I didn’t want to simply put a Band-Aid over the bad floorplan.” Enter Emily Johnston of 92 Maple Design Studio.

Johnston is a master of space planning. Beginning with the Streets’ desire for an expansive and bright house, Johnston prioritized opening the choppy rooms and adding as much natural light as possible. Challenges included 70s-era budget choices and materials like low ceilings, minimal trims, the lack of an available utility entrance, no overhead lights, and small rooms accessible only through 32-inch doors.

Johnston started by removing an ostentatious fireplace that separated the old family from the kitchen. Secondly, she added windows and large folding doors from Windows, Doors & More connecting the dining and family rooms to outdoor living. Now the ground floor has multiple light-infused communal living spaces that flow from one to the other and the lush landscape. “We found opportunities to add light wherever possible,” said Johnston. “Either natural or through a layered lighting plan that included new overhead lighting, sconces, and accent lights.”

Custom cabinets and built-ins from Haas Building are featured throughout the home, including the kitchen, mudroom, laundry room, and living room. The kitchen is light and bright with a background of Benjamin Moore Simply White and a contemporary range hood from Wolf. Classic brass hardware and fixtures, Carrara natural marble countertops and backsplash, and natural rift oak island are traditional choices that don’t feel dated. Villa Blanca wide plank European white oak from Dallas Watson Flooring sets the tone for a casually elegant and durable family home.

A cramped laundry room off the kitchen became a new, function-forward entryway with custom storage closets and bays for the whole family. “Functionality was a top consideration,” said Street. “The kids don’t have a separate play space of their own, so storage and multi-functional spaces are key.”

Stylistically, Johnston and Street collaborated to strike the right balance between traditional choices that made sense for the house and clean lines and modern touches that made sense for a 21st century family. “We use many traditional materials like natural stone and wood, but with a more contemporary application.” Classic materials like oak floors, marble countertops and tiles, shaker-style custom cabinets, and warm white finishes will stand the test of time and trends. Every tiny detail was considered, down to retaining traditional glass doorknobs, but in an updated version complementary to a modern aesthetic. “We used material repetition to create cohesion throughout the home but varied the way those materials appear,” said Johnston. “For instance, marble slab plays prominently in the kitchen countertop and backsplash, then also appears in bathroom and laundry room tile, and again along the new fireplace mantle.” Contemporary hardware and fixtures are in natural brass that will gracefully patina over time.

“I feel like I had a good vision stylistically for the home, but it took Emily’s expert space planning to make it come alive,” said Street. “Her ability to visualize how to lay things out for livability has helped us turn this house into an extension of our unique style and personality as a family. It’s a joy to live in it.”

ABOVE Combining custom and prefab choices helped the Streets keep their renovation project within budget. The bathroom features a clever lineup of three prefabricated console bases with a custom dual-sink countertop. Z Collection Carrera marble hex tiles from Contract Furnishings Mart are an example of traditional, durable materials in a contemporary application. Fully enclosed custom cabinets in the mudroom keep the view from the kitchen tidy.

PROJECT SOURCES

INTERIOR DESIGN 92 Maple Design Studio 92maple.com

FLOORING Dallas Watson Flooring dallaswatsonflooring.com

WINDOWS & DOORS: Windows, Doors & More windowshowroom.com

The focal point of the great room is the dramatic fireplace wall, flanked by wood storage and bookshelves. An insert from Wittus – Fire by Design is surrounded by site-built hot-rolled steel from Johnsen Steel Works. An Eternity Modern sofa sits beneath a Minka-Aire Extreme H2O Ceiling Fan. In the dining room, a Bent Dining Table from Moe’s Home Collection is surrounded by Hay chairs.

written by MELISSA DALTON photography by ANDREW GIAMMARCO

METHOW VALLEY

CAST ARCHITECTURE AND BJORNSEN CONSTRUCTION FASHION A MAZAMA HOME THAT NOT ONLY FRAMES THE STUNNING VIEWS, BUT IS TAILOR-MADE TO THE OWNERS’ LIFESTYLE, INCLUDING PLENTIFUL SKI STORAGE, ROOM FOR PING PONG, AND A PROTECTED DOG RUN FOR THEIR BELOVED PUP.

LAST YEAR, PAULA WHIPPLE GOT A NEW HOUSE FOR HER BIRTHDAY. Of course, it had been in the works since 2017, when she and husband Jeff Watson started looking for property in the Methow Valley. The couple liked to visit the area from their previous home in Oregon, to cross-country ski, a sport they’ve been doing together since their honeymoon. As part of their research, in addition to seeing active listings, they attended home tours put on by local organizations. “Our taste evolved as we looked more and visited the home tours,” says Jeff. “The modern houses grew on us.”

The house they liked most was designed by CAST Architecture, a Seattle-based firm with a slate of projects in the Valley. “It was innovative and very practical,” remembers Jeff. When the couple found a 2-plus acre lot in Mazama, with close proximity to the ski trails and an incredible view, they teamed up with CAST and longtime local builder Tom Bjornsen of Bjornsen Construction to build something similar. “This was the first project I’d worked on with Tom,” says architect Stefan Hampden, principal at CAST. “He is super hardworking, on site every day, and intimately involved with every project. He really cares.”

To start, the existing cabin on the site was dismantled and carted off to be rebuilt elsewhere, so the new house could be sited better. The cabin had been tucked in the woods up slope, whereas the new design came forward to engage the views. Hampden designed a horseshoe-shaped home wherein the longest side is lined with glass and a covered veranda. Two wings then wrap a protected exterior courtyard opposite, which is accessed via more folding glass walls. “The outdoor spaces and how they’re connected to the indoor spaces is so well-designed and thought out,” says Bjornsen.

“The valley gets extreme weather changes from summer to winter,” says Hampden. “There’s intense cold and desire for light in the winter, and in the summer, intense heat and a need to shelter from it. The courtyard allows you to take refuge from the summer heat and winter winds, while still seeing through the house to the views.” The area’s fire danger also played into the exterior material palette choices, which include inky-toned metal for the walls and roof. “We really try to keep the wood to the inside and minimize its exposure on the outside,” says Hampden.

RIGHT On the view side, the NanaWall opens to a covered veranda for soaking up the sun when it’s not too windy. The underside of the eaves are covered in Douglas Fir Shiplap Chanel siding, which is carried inside for continuity, and provided by North Valley Lumber. The sitebuilt custom railings are from Johnsen Steel Works. LEFT The protected courtyard has a Solo Stove and Room and Board loungers.

In the kitchen, the streamlined cabinetry was designed by CAST, fabricated by Custom Supplier Freeze Furniture, and paired with Quartz Pental Nordic Gray honed countertops and a site-built hot-rolled steel backsplash. A Bosch refrigerator, Miele speed oven, Monogram induction cooktop, and Miele convection oven round out the appliances. The island pendants and dining chandelier are both from West Elm, and the site-poured concrete floors throughout have radiant heat.

To that end, the main living areas occupy the central, glass-walled axis, with the dining room flanked by the kitchen on one end, and the living room on the other, all capped by soaring wood-clad ceilings. The metal, much of it sourced from Johnsen Steel Works, continues inside on the fireplace wall, with additional accents at the kitchen backsplash and entry hall. There, a large panel serves as rotating photo display from the couple’s trips, which they change out with magnets.

The 2,000-square-foot plan is one level for ideal aging-in-place, and each wing serves different purposes. The “utility wing” is formed by the garage – itself with a dedicated workout space and plenty of storage for snowblowers and ski gear – with a covered breezeway that connects it to the front door. Inside, there’s a multipurpose room for flexible use. Thanks to a Murphy bed and built-in cabinetry, it’s a guest room or office, and even serves as a game area, as it was sized to fit a ping pong table. The primary bedroom wing includes, not only the ensuite, but a custom kennel and access to a protected dog run for the couple’s pup.

Designing a house is “like having a tailored piece of clothing made,” says Hampden. “The programming process is a crash course on the client and learning about what their needs are, and how we can make the building fit their lifestyle.” Since moving in on Paula’s birthday last year, the couple have certainly been loving such personalization. “We pinch ourselves every day that everything worked out and we could live here,” says Paula. “It was a fabulous birthday present.”

ABOVE A NanaWall System and Sierra Pacific Windows from North Valley Lumber frame the beautiful views and open to the covered veranda. Kitchen barstools from Hay offer easy conversation during meal prep. Kirkham Tufted leather stools from Pottery Barn in the living space can be utilized for a chat around the fire or easily adjusted to enjoy the scenery.

PROJECT SOURCES

CONTRACTOR

Bjornsen Construction

ARCHITECTURE & INTERIOR DESIGN CAST Architecture castarchitecture.com

FOLDING GLASS WALL NanaWall Systems nanawall.com

Your firm focuses on sustainable architecture, how has that impacted your design philosophy?

The scope or physical size of our projects has one of the most direct relationships with its impact on the environment. While we still must dial the systems, the siting, carefully consider the materials, and finishes to create a truly sustainable home, it’s all for not if we over build in the first place. We have been doing a lot more backyard cottages and affordable housing, both of which have really changed the way I think about how big a space needs to be. Right sizing spaces, and looking for opportunities for a space or detail to serve multiple functions is a fundamental part of sustainable design. Creating a sense of borrowed space between interior and exterior and planning how rooms can open to other parts of the house plays a large role in making sure the homes we build live much larger than their square footage would suggest. Making sure we don’t overbuild maximizes the effect of all the other sustainability strategies we employ within a project.

Has there been a defining experience that has significantly influenced your viewpoint on design?

The architect Louis Kahn was fond of saying one should ask a brick what it wants to be. What he meant was that every material has an intrinsic nature, and as an architect one needs to figure out how to deeply understand the materials and systems we use in our structures. Working as a carpenter, woodworker and then contractor earlier in my career was fundamental to how I approach design. Architecture occupies an interesting place speaking equally to art and utility. Coming to terms with the reality of how my designs are constructed is essential and informed by being a builder myself. It guides me both in terms of being practical and grounded when appropriate, and how to make a moment which is unexpected and joyful. Having worked with wood, metal and concrete gives me an intimate appreciation for the materials I design with, and the mindset to highlight and celebrate their tectonics … for what they want to be.

You’ve built up a notable body of residential work. What are some major takeaways from designing homes?

Having worked primarily in The Pacific Northwest, I feel incredibly lucky to have some amazingly diverse areas in which to work. The constraints which different environments place on your building, and one’s ability to accept those as something you address early in the design process, is a hallmark of our best work. In the mountains of the Cascades, this can be the use of simple roof forms with wide overhangs to hold snow and provide easy access and additional insulation. On the west side marine environments, it might look like providing transition spaces between inside and out, allowing one to bring in more light in our dark winters and providing covered outdoor rooms which can expand interior living spaces in the drizzly shoulder seasons. On the east side, extreme summer temps require careful consideration of outdoor sheltered areas which can stay cool in the heat, and a material palette to minimize risk during wildfire season. Embracing the environment and looking for opportunities it suggests are essential to creating homes which are rooted in a place, function properly, and are a joy to inhabit.

What are your favorite building sites?

Ones with a strong context: whether it’s a positive like a view, or even a negative such as proximity to a road or neighborembracing and working within constraints is what gives a project a sense of itself and grounds it in a place.

Favorite way to spend a weekend in the Northwest?

Easy - Skiing in the Methow Valley - Nordic or back country and I’m a happy camper!

Three words that most appropriately sum up your approach to design are: Collaboration, Craft, Sustainability

Stefan Hampden, Principal | CAST Architects

Photo by Melissa Fenno Photography

RESOURCES & INSPIRATION

ROOFWORKS NORTHWEST www.roofworksnorthwest.com

S9 ARCHITECTURE www.synthesis9.com

SCOTT EDWARDS ARCHITECTURE www.seallp.com

STUDIO ZERBEY ARCHITECTURE+INTERIORS www.studiozerbey.com

STURMAN ARCHITECTS www.sturmanarchitects.com

ARCHITECTURAL MATERIALS

CHERRY CREEK WINDOWS & DOORS www.cherrycreekwindows.com

CRAFTEX www.craftexwall.com

APPLIANCES

BLUESTAR www.bluestarcooking.com

SUB-ZERO WOLF www.subzero-wolf.com

VIKING www.vikingrange.com

ARCHITECTS, DESIGNERS & CONTRACTORS

92 MAPLE DESIGN STUDIO www.92maple.com

AM INTERIOR DESIGN www.aminteriordesign.com

BENDER WASENMILLER CUSTOM BUILDERS www.benderwasenmiller.com

BJORNSEN CONSTRUCTION

CAST ARCHITECTURE www.castarchitecture.com

CHESMORE BUCK ARCHITECTURE www.chesmorebuck.com

CLICK ARCHITECTS www.click-architects.com

COHESIVELY CURATED www.cohesivelycurated.com

COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION www.constructremodel.com

DME CONSTRUCTION www.dmeconstruction.com

DOVETAIL GENERAL CONTRACTORS www.dovetailgc.com

GREVSTAD www.grevstad.com

HELIOTROPE ARCHITECTS www.heliotropearchitects.com

INFORM INTERIORS www.informinteriors.design

KATY KRIDER INTERIOR DESIGN www.katykriderdesign.com

KONCEPT BUILDERS www.konceptbuilders.com

LANE WILLIAMS ARCHITECTS www.lanewilliams.com

MASSUCCO WARNER INTERIOR DESIGN www.massuccowarner.com

PAUL MOON DESIGN www.paulmoondesign.com

DALLAS WATSON FLOORING www.dallaswatsonflooring.com

FIELDWORKS CUSTOM CONCRETE www.fieldworksconcrete.com

GREENHOME SOLUTIONS www.ghsproducts.com

KELLER SUPPLY KITCHEN & BATH SHOWCASE www.kellersupply.com

LAKESIDE LUMBER www.lakesidelumber.com

MUTUAL MATERIALS www.mutualmaterials.com

NANAWALL SYSTEMS www.nanawall.com

PARR DESIGN CENTER www.parrcabinet.com

SUMNER STREET HOME HARDWARE www.sumnerstreethardware.com

TRIO SURFACES www.triosurfaces.com

WESTERN INTERLOCK INC. www.westerninterlock.com

WINDOWS, DOORS & MORE www.windowshowroom.com

BOOKS

POWELL’S BOOKS www.powells.com

QUADRILLE PUBLISHING www.hardiegrant.com

WORKMAN PUBLISHING www.workman.com

DINING

Q RESTAURANT & BAR www.q-portland.com

FABRIC & WALL COVERINGS

CHRISTOPHER FARR|CLOTH www.christopherfarrcloth.com

FABRICUT www.fabricut.com

KRAVET www.kravet.com

LE-JACQUARD-FRANCAIS www.lejacquardfrancais.com

THIBAUT www.thibautdesign.com

FLOWERS & NURSERIES

KAILLA PLATT FLOWERS www.kaillaplattflowers.com

TERRA NOVA NURSERIES www.terranovanurseries.com

HOME FURNISHINGS & LIGHTING

BAKER MCGUIRE www.bakerfurniture.com

DESIGNERS GUILD www.designersguild.com

DUXIANA www.duxiana.com

ETHNICRAFT www.ethnicraft.com

GREVSTAD www.grevstad.com

J GARNER HOME www.jgarnerhome.com

KASALA www.kasala.com

MICHAEL ARAM www.michaelaram.com

RESOURCE FURNITURE www.resourcefurniture.com

ROCHE BOBOIS www.roche-bobois.com

SEATTLE DESIGN CENTER www.seattledesigncenter.com

SEATTLE LIGHTING www.seattlelighting.com

TERRIS DRAHEIM OUTDOOR www.outdoor.terrisdraheim.com

INDUSTRY TRADE SHOW

HIGH POINT MARKET www.highpointmarket.org

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS, DESIGNERS & CONTRACTORS

CAMBIUM LANDSCAPE www.cambiumlandscape.com

GREEN MAN LANDSCAPE AND DESIGN www.greenmanlandscape.com

LAND MORPHOLOGY www.landmorphology.com

LYON LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS www.lyonla.com

OHASHI LANDSCAPE SERVICES www.ohashilandscape.com

SHAPIRO/DIDWAY

MOORE

© David Reamer

© Greg Kozawa

© Greg Kozawa

© Greg Kozawa

© Greg Kozawa

© Shawn Linehan

© John Valls

© John Valls