Updated Spec Home: Kitchen & Breakfast Area This week’s post in the series Updated Spec Home will feature the Kitchen & Breakfast Area. This home is truly an open concept where the Kitchen and Breakfast Area share the same space with the Great Room so it was especially important that everything flowed seamlessly. Kitchen The Kitchen is galley-style with very cabinets and a large peninsula. The cabinets had a honey maple stain and the countertops were white solid surface. On the bright side, the appliances were stainless steel. The previous homeowners had added a large hutch to the peninsula which we removed. We wanted the wall to be a feature in the space. Updates included painting the cabinets light gray, replacing the countertops with a “carrara like” quartz, and replacing the cabinet hardware. We also added a stunning backsplash in an ogee design which we ran up the entire peninsula wall. Our contractor Brad Anderson built the floating shelves, and we added color vases to finish off the feature wall. Breakfast Area We took advantage of the Breakfast Area’s vaulted ceiling by adding this gorgeous chandelier in a white finish with seeded glass. A disadvantage of the vaulted ceiling was no wall space on either side of the window. This left us with few options for window treatments. We decide to go with a cornice board in this beautiful vine fabric with a soft shade underneath for privacy. We made a statement on a large wall with a grouping of botanical artwork. For furniture, we mixed the upholstered chairs around the oval table and added a painted etagere to display plates and glasses. We selected two backless stools with cane tops in a gray painted finish for the peninsula. My mom and sister would say the Kitchen is too beautiful to cook in, but I know better…Enjoy!

Updated Spec Home: Kitchen & Breakfast Area This week’s post in the series Updated Spec Home will feature the Kitchen & Breakfast Area. This home is truly an open concept where the Kitchen and Breakfast Area share the same space with the Great Room so it was especially important that everything flowed seamlessly. Kitchen The Kitchen is galley-style with very cabinets and a large peninsula. The cabinets had a honey maple stain and the countertops were white solid surface. On the bright side, the appliances were stainless steel. The previous homeowners had added a large hutch to the peninsula which we removed. We wanted the wall to be a feature in the space. Updates included painting the cabinets light gray, replacing the countertops with a “carrara like” quartz, and replacing the cabinet hardware. We also added a stunning backsplash in an ogee design which we ran up the entire peninsula wall. Our contractor Brad Anderson built the floating shelves, and we added color vases to finish off the feature wall. Breakfast Area We took advantage of the Breakfast Area’s vaulted ceiling by adding this gorgeous chandelier in a white finish with seeded glass. A disadvantage of the vaulted ceiling was no wall space on either side of the window. This left us with few options for window treatments. We decide to go with a cornice board in this beautiful vine fabric with a soft shade underneath for privacy. We made a statement on a large wall with a grouping of botanical artwork. For furniture, we mixed the upholstered chairs around the oval table and added a painted etagere to display plates and glasses. We selected two backless stools with cane tops in a gray painted finish for the peninsula. My mom and sister would say the Kitchen is too beautiful to cook in, but I know better…Enjoy! Photo by: Tim Furlong Jr.

Updated Spec Home: Kitchen & Breakfast Area This week’s post in the series Updated Spec Home will feature the Kitchen & Breakfast Area. This home is truly an open concept where the Kitchen and Breakfast Area share the same space with the Great Room so it was especially important that everything flowed seamlessly. Kitchen The Kitchen is galley-style with very cabinets and a large peninsula. The cabinets had a honey maple stain and the countertops were white solid surface. On the bright side, the appliances were stainless steel. The previous homeowners had added a large hutch to the peninsula which we removed. We wanted the wall to be a feature in the space. Updates included painting the cabinets light gray, replacing the countertops with a “carrara like” quartz, and replacing the cabinet hardware. We also added a stunning backsplash in an ogee design which we ran up the entire peninsula wall. Our contractor Brad Anderson built the floating shelves, and we added color vases to finish off the feature wall. Breakfast Area We took advantage of the Breakfast Area’s vaulted ceiling by adding this gorgeous chandelier in a white finish with seeded glass. A disadvantage of the vaulted ceiling was no wall space on either side of the window. This left us with few options for window treatments. We decide to go with a cornice board in this beautiful vine fabric with a soft shade underneath for privacy. We made a statement on a large wall with a grouping of botanical artwork. For furniture, we mixed the upholstered chairs around the oval table and added a painted etagere to display plates and glasses. We selected two backless stools with cane tops in a gray painted finish for the peninsula. My mom and sister would say the Kitchen is too beautiful to cook in, but I know better…Enjoy! Photo by: Tim Furlong Jr.

Updated Spec Home: Kitchen & Breakfast Area This week’s post in the series Updated Spec Home will feature the Kitchen & Breakfast Area. This home is truly an open concept where the Kitchen and Breakfast Area share the same space with the Great Room so it was especially important that everything flowed seamlessly. Kitchen The Kitchen is galley-style with very cabinets and a large peninsula. The cabinets had a honey maple stain and the countertops were white solid surface. On the bright side, the appliances were stainless steel. The previous homeowners had added a large hutch to the peninsula which we removed. We wanted the wall to be a feature in the space. Updates included painting the cabinets light gray, replacing the countertops with a “carrara like” quartz, and replacing the cabinet hardware. We also added a stunning backsplash in an ogee design which we ran up the entire peninsula wall. Our contractor Brad Anderson built the floating shelves, and we added color vases to finish off the feature wall. Breakfast Area We took advantage of the Breakfast Area’s vaulted ceiling by adding this gorgeous chandelier in a white finish with seeded glass. A disadvantage of the vaulted ceiling was no wall space on either side of the window. This left us with few options for window treatments. We decide to go with a cornice board in this beautiful vine fabric with a soft shade underneath for privacy. We made a statement on a large wall with a grouping of botanical artwork. For furniture, we mixed the upholstered chairs around the oval table and added a painted etagere to display plates and glasses. We selected two backless stools with cane tops in a gray painted finish for the peninsula. My mom and sister would say the Kitchen is too beautiful to cook in, but I know better…Enjoy!

Updated Spec Home: Kitchen & Breakfast Area This week’s post in the series Updated Spec Home will feature the Kitchen & Breakfast Area. This home is truly an open concept where the Kitchen and Breakfast Area share the same space with the Great Room so it was especially important that everything flowed seamlessly. Kitchen The Kitchen is galley-style with very cabinets and a large peninsula. The cabinets had a honey maple stain and the countertops were white solid surface. On the bright side, the appliances were stainless steel. The previous homeowners had added a large hutch to the peninsula which we removed. We wanted the wall to be a feature in the space. Updates included painting the cabinets light gray, replacing the countertops with a “carrara like” quartz, and replacing the cabinet hardware. We also added a stunning backsplash in an ogee design which we ran up the entire peninsula wall. Our contractor Brad Anderson built the floating shelves, and we added color vases to finish off the feature wall. Breakfast Area We took advantage of the Breakfast Area’s vaulted ceiling by adding this gorgeous chandelier in a white finish with seeded glass. A disadvantage of the vaulted ceiling was no wall space on either side of the window. This left us with few options for window treatments. We decide to go with a cornice board in this beautiful vine fabric with a soft shade underneath for privacy. We made a statement on a large wall with a grouping of botanical artwork. For furniture, we mixed the upholstered chairs around the oval table and added a painted etagere to display plates and glasses. We selected two backless stools with cane tops in a gray painted finish for the peninsula. My mom and sister would say the Kitchen is too beautiful to cook in, but I know better…Enjoy!

Updated Spec Home: Kitchen & Breakfast Area This week’s post in the series Updated Spec Home will feature the Kitchen & Breakfast Area. This home is truly an open concept where the Kitchen and Breakfast Area share the same space with the Great Room so it was especially important that everything flowed seamlessly. Kitchen The Kitchen is galley-style with very cabinets and a large peninsula. The cabinets had a honey maple stain and the countertops were white solid surface. On the bright side, the appliances were stainless steel. The previous homeowners had added a large hutch to the peninsula which we removed. We wanted the wall to be a feature in the space. Updates included painting the cabinets light gray, replacing the countertops with a “carrara like” quartz, and replacing the cabinet hardware. We also added a stunning backsplash in an ogee design which we ran up the entire peninsula wall. Our contractor Brad Anderson built the floating shelves, and we added color vases to finish off the feature wall. Breakfast Area We took advantage of the Breakfast Area’s vaulted ceiling by adding this gorgeous chandelier in a white finish with seeded glass. A disadvantage of the vaulted ceiling was no wall space on either side of the window. This left us with few options for window treatments. We decide to go with a cornice board in this beautiful vine fabric with a soft shade underneath for privacy. We made a statement on a large wall with a grouping of botanical artwork. For furniture, we mixed the upholstered chairs around the oval table and added a painted etagere to display plates and glasses. We selected two backless stools with cane tops in a gray painted finish for the peninsula. My mom and sister would say the Kitchen is too beautiful to cook in, but I know better…Enjoy! Photo By: Abby Tappendorf

Updated Spec Home: Kitchen & Breakfast Area This week’s post in the series Updated Spec Home will feature the Kitchen & Breakfast Area. This home is truly an open concept where the Kitchen and Breakfast Area share the same space with the Great Room so it was especially important that everything flowed seamlessly. Kitchen The Kitchen is galley-style with very cabinets and a large peninsula. The cabinets had a honey maple stain and the countertops were white solid surface. On the bright side, the appliances were stainless steel. The previous homeowners had added a large hutch to the peninsula which we removed. We wanted the wall to be a feature in the space. Updates included painting the cabinets light gray, replacing the countertops with a “carrara like” quartz, and replacing the cabinet hardware. We also added a stunning backsplash in an ogee design which we ran up the entire peninsula wall. Our contractor Brad Anderson built the floating shelves, and we added color vases to finish off the feature wall. Breakfast Area We took advantage of the Breakfast Area’s vaulted ceiling by adding this gorgeous chandelier in a white finish with seeded glass. A disadvantage of the vaulted ceiling was no wall space on either side of the window. This left us with few options for window treatments. We decide to go with a cornice board in this beautiful vine fabric with a soft shade underneath for privacy. We made a statement on a large wall with a grouping of botanical artwork. For furniture, we mixed the upholstered chairs around the oval table and added a painted etagere to display plates and glasses. We selected two backless stools with cane tops in a gray painted finish for the peninsula. My mom and sister would say the Kitchen is too beautiful to cook in, but I know better…Enjoy!

Updated Spec Home: Kitchen & Breakfast Area This week’s post in the series Updated Spec Home will feature the Kitchen & Breakfast Area. This home is truly an open concept where the Kitchen and Breakfast Area share the same space with the Great Room so it was especially important that everything flowed seamlessly. Kitchen The Kitchen is galley-style with very cabinets and a large peninsula. The cabinets had a honey maple stain and the countertops were white solid surface. On the bright side, the appliances were stainless steel. The previous homeowners had added a large hutch to the peninsula which we removed. We wanted the wall to be a feature in the space. Updates included painting the cabinets light gray, replacing the countertops with a “carrara like” quartz, and replacing the cabinet hardware. We also added a stunning backsplash in an ogee design which we ran up the entire peninsula wall. Our contractor Brad Anderson built the floating shelves, and we added color vases to finish off the feature wall. Breakfast Area We took advantage of the Breakfast Area’s vaulted ceiling by adding this gorgeous chandelier in a white finish with seeded glass. A disadvantage of the vaulted ceiling was no wall space on either side of the window. This left us with few options for window treatments. We decide to go with a cornice board in this beautiful vine fabric with a soft shade underneath for privacy. We made a statement on a large wall with a grouping of botanical artwork. For furniture, we mixed the upholstered chairs around the oval table and added a painted etagere to display plates and glasses. We selected two backless stools with cane tops in a gray painted finish for the peninsula. My mom and sister would say the Kitchen is too beautiful to cook in, but I know better…Enjoy!

Updated Spec Home: Kitchen & Breakfast Area This week’s post in the series Updated Spec Home will feature the Kitchen & Breakfast Area. This home is truly an open concept where the Kitchen and Breakfast Area share the same space with the Great Room so it was especially important that everything flowed seamlessly. Kitchen The Kitchen is galley-style with very cabinets and a large peninsula. The cabinets had a honey maple stain and the countertops were white solid surface. On the bright side, the appliances were stainless steel. The previous homeowners had added a large hutch to the peninsula which we removed. We wanted the wall to be a feature in the space. Updates included painting the cabinets light gray, replacing the countertops with a “carrara like” quartz, and replacing the cabinet hardware. We also added a stunning backsplash in an ogee design which we ran up the entire peninsula wall. Our contractor Brad Anderson built the floating shelves, and we added color vases to finish off the feature wall. Breakfast Area We took advantage of the Breakfast Area’s vaulted ceiling by adding this gorgeous chandelier in a white finish with seeded glass. A disadvantage of the vaulted ceiling was no wall space on either side of the window. This left us with few options for window treatments. We decide to go with a cornice board in this beautiful vine fabric with a soft shade underneath for privacy. We made a statement on a large wall with a grouping of botanical artwork. For furniture, we mixed the upholstered chairs around the oval table and added a painted etagere to display plates and glasses. We selected two backless stools with cane tops in a gray painted finish for the peninsula. My mom and sister would say the Kitchen is too beautiful to cook in, but I know better…Enjoy! Photo By: Tim Furlong Jr.

The interior of this home features wood textured concrete walls, giving it a clean modern look. We are responsible for all concrete work seen. This includes the entire concrete structure of the home, including the interior walls, stairs and fire places. We are also responsible for the structural concrete and the installation of custom concrete caissons into bed rock to ensure a solid foundation as this home sits over the water. All interior furnishing was done by a professional after we completed the construction of the home.

We here at PBC love a great project, especially when it involves one of our favorite local non-profit organizations. Kids Making It is a youth woodworking program that teaches valuable vocational, entrepreneurial and life skills to at-risk, low income, and disadvantaged kids. At KMI they strive to keep local kids in school, out of trouble, and on a path to a successful future. It is an amazing organization that is all heart, and one that we are proud to have been involved with for several years. When Jimmy Pierce, founder and executive director of KMI, came to PBC with a specific need (more space) and general idea of what he wanted we knew that we had to be a part of it. As with all of our projects, the addition to the current Kids Making It building started as a design-build consultation. We called upon our friend and amazing architect Rob Romero to sit down with us, along with Jimmy and KMI program director, Andy Crowther to discuss the possibilities. The specific focus was on creating a space that KMI could use as they continued to grow their organization. Jimmy and Andy wanted a place where they could train the students in new trades and take the wood-working that they had already learned a step further. They needed open and they needed BIG. That’s where the timber framing came in. Timber framing is a style of building construction that uses heavy timber frames as opposed to more slender lumber. It is post and beam construction, built like furniture using wood joinery to hold the framing in place. This type of construction has been around for hundreds of years but isn’t used as commonly as it once was due to the high cost of materials and specialized tradespeople that it requires. That’s where Atlantic Barn and Timber Company came in, they heard about the need and answered the call. Very graciously, they offered to erect the timber framing for free. And just like that the materials and equipment arrived, the frames were assembled, stood up, and secured in place…all on that little corner of 7th and Castle Street. At 2,257 square feet, the first floor will be the home to the new storefront, a large (class)room, and a storage bay for donated materials. The second floor of the addition will measure 1,982 square feet and offer an open space, offices, a full bathroom, conference room, and aforementioned decks overlooking the front and the rear of the building. PBC Design + Build is beyond proud to be a part of such a wonderful project, and we consider ourselves very fortunate to be able to aid in KMI’s mission.

With most home insurance, the interest rates are fixed and one has the option of paying back the loan earlier than the dates stated. Getting the loans will need one to at least 21 years. Being employed and having a good credit history is essential as well. The loan is usually repaid every month and extra costs include those charged upon delaying payment, insurance and processing fees. Depending on the lender one can have their loan approved the same day they apply for it. Home insurance come in handy when you need to pay for medical, business and education services. These funds can also be used to repay other loans or even pay for a vacation. There are different types of home insurance in Singapore to choose from some of which include the following. 1. Cash advance This is a loan taken with the use of the next salary as security. This loan is not usually of a high amount and is mostly used for emergencies. Some of the disadvantages of taking it include the many extra charges and the high interest rates. There are numerous payday loan lenders in Singapore thus the opportunity to look for a cash advance with an attractive interest rate. Qualifying for the loan is easy and getting it is also fast. 2. Adjustable loans Depending on the market, the interest rates of adjustable loans will either go up or down when one has already taken the loan. There is however a limit for the interest rates one can be charged. In most cases, the adjustable loans are given by mortgage loan lenders. 3. Unsecured loans They are mostly provided by financial institutions such as banks. All one needs to get the loan is their signature. This is for example getting a credit card. Because there are higher chances of not being repaid or not being repaid on time the interest rate is usually high. 4. Secured home insurance The interest rates of secured home insurance are lower compared to the unsecured loans. One will need collateral to secure this loan. Home equity is an example with some of its advantages being low payments being made monthly and the payment terms being longer. A reputable lender is crucial. Get the loan only from a money lender that has been licensed. To get the best type of home insurance, one is advised to always look at the rates as well as the terms before agreeing to take up the loan.

Peninsula with 4 Foot Galley Ideal Workstation , Induction cooktop, and Stainless Steel dishwaher
Example of a small trendy galley medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen design with an undermount sink, light wood cabinets, granite countertops, multicolored backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a peninsula

The clients called me on the recommendation from a neighbor of mine who had met them at a conference and learned of their need for an architect. They contacted me and after meeting to discuss their project they invited me to visit their site, not far from White Salmon in Washington State. Initially, the couple discussed building a ‘Weekend’ retreat on their 20± acres of land. Their site was in the foothills of a range of mountains that offered views of both Mt. Adams to the North and Mt. Hood to the South. They wanted to develop a place that was ‘cabin-like’ but with a degree of refinement to it and take advantage of the primary views to the north, south and west. They also wanted to have a strong connection to their immediate outdoors. Before long my clients came to the conclusion that they no longer perceived this as simply a weekend retreat but were now interested in making this their primary residence. With this new focus we concentrated on keeping the refined cabin approach but needed to add some additional functions and square feet to the original program. They wanted to downsize from their current 3,500± SF city residence to a more modest 2,000 – 2,500 SF space. They desired a singular open Living, Dining and Kitchen area but needed to have a separate room for their television and upright piano. They were empty nesters and wanted only two bedrooms and decided that they would have two ‘Master’ bedrooms, one on the lower floor and the other on the upper floor (they planned to build additional ‘Guest’ cabins to accommodate others in the near future). The original scheme for the weekend retreat was only one floor with the second bedroom tucked away on the north side of the house next to the breezeway opposite of the carport. Another consideration that we had to resolve was that the particular location that was deemed the best building site had diametrically opposed advantages and disadvantages. The views and primary solar orientations were also the source of the prevailing winds, out of the Southwest. The resolve was to provide a semi-circular low-profile earth berm on the south/southwest side of the structure to serve as a wind-foil directing the strongest breezes up and over the structure. Because our selected site was in a saddle of land that then sloped off to the south/southwest the combination of the earth berm and the sloping hill would effectively created a ‘nestled’ form allowing the winds rushing up the hillside to shoot over most of the house. This allowed me to keep the favorable orientation to both the views and sun without being completely compromised by the winds.

The clients called me on the recommendation from a neighbor of mine who had met them at a conference and learned of their need for an architect. They contacted me and after meeting to discuss their project they invited me to visit their site, not far from White Salmon in Washington State. Initially, the couple discussed building a ‘Weekend’ retreat on their 20± acres of land. Their site was in the foothills of a range of mountains that offered views of both Mt. Adams to the North and Mt. Hood to the South. They wanted to develop a place that was ‘cabin-like’ but with a degree of refinement to it and take advantage of the primary views to the north, south and west. They also wanted to have a strong connection to their immediate outdoors. Before long my clients came to the conclusion that they no longer perceived this as simply a weekend retreat but were now interested in making this their primary residence. With this new focus we concentrated on keeping the refined cabin approach but needed to add some additional functions and square feet to the original program. They wanted to downsize from their current 3,500± SF city residence to a more modest 2,000 – 2,500 SF space. They desired a singular open Living, Dining and Kitchen area but needed to have a separate room for their television and upright piano. They were empty nesters and wanted only two bedrooms and decided that they would have two ‘Master’ bedrooms, one on the lower floor and the other on the upper floor (they planned to build additional ‘Guest’ cabins to accommodate others in the near future). The original scheme for the weekend retreat was only one floor with the second bedroom tucked away on the north side of the house next to the breezeway opposite of the carport. Another consideration that we had to resolve was that the particular location that was deemed the best building site had diametrically opposed advantages and disadvantages. The views and primary solar orientations were also the source of the prevailing winds, out of the Southwest. The resolve was to provide a semi-circular low-profile earth berm on the south/southwest side of the structure to serve as a wind-foil directing the strongest breezes up and over the structure. Because our selected site was in a saddle of land that then sloped off to the south/southwest the combination of the earth berm and the sloping hill would effectively created a ‘nestled’ form allowing the winds rushing up the hillside to shoot over most of the house. This allowed me to keep the favorable orientation to both the views and sun without being completely compromised by the winds.

The warm and inviting living room is anchored by the wood burning fireplace. The furniture is an ensemble of Vienna Seccession pieces coupled with an Eileen Gray side table, and a custom coffee table and rug. The window valences and fireplace mantle have decorative plaster moldings designed expressly for this space. Designed Gail Green and David Estreich, the apartment shows how to combine different styles and sumptuous materials in a manner which enlivens, yet never overpowers, a classic prewar Park Avenue apartment. Before renovation, the Green Apartment had the benefits as well as the disadvantages typical of pre-war Park Avenue apartments: high ceilings and charming detail went hand-in-hand with a layout marred by unfortunate changes made over the years. The goal of the renovation, therefore, was not to restore the apartment to its original grandeur, but to create a new space which would evoke the spirit of that grandeur in a modern setting. This black, white and gold color scheme is carried throughout the apartment. One enters into a spacious foyer with the formal dining room just beyond. The entry foyer and dining room were placed on axis with each other, separated by a screen wall with glass block which gives the dining room visual privacy, and yet allows the two spaces to flow together. The living room is reached from the foyer by passing through an entire portal whose design is an abstraction of the Palladian motif Black stained floors provide an elegant background for the classic furniture and grand piano. The living room is furnished in a fascinating mix of Classic and Modernist styles. On the opposite side of the foyer from the living room, a hall goes past the dining room and ends in sandblasted glass doors. The powder room is recessed into a semicircular apse which is the focal point of the room. The den is a modernist homage to Eileen Gray. The kitchen was divided into two areas to reduce the awkward length of the space: a work area with appliances arranged around an L-shaped counter, and a breakfast area located at the east-facing window. White polyester cabinets form a stunning contrast to the granite countertop and backsplash.

The clients called me on the recommendation from a neighbor of mine who had met them at a conference and learned of their need for an architect. They contacted me and after meeting to discuss their project they invited me to visit their site, not far from White Salmon in Washington State. Initially, the couple discussed building a ‘Weekend’ retreat on their 20± acres of land. Their site was in the foothills of a range of mountains that offered views of both Mt. Adams to the North and Mt. Hood to the South. They wanted to develop a place that was ‘cabin-like’ but with a degree of refinement to it and take advantage of the primary views to the north, south and west. They also wanted to have a strong connection to their immediate outdoors. Before long my clients came to the conclusion that they no longer perceived this as simply a weekend retreat but were now interested in making this their primary residence. With this new focus we concentrated on keeping the refined cabin approach but needed to add some additional functions and square feet to the original program. They wanted to downsize from their current 3,500± SF city residence to a more modest 2,000 – 2,500 SF space. They desired a singular open Living, Dining and Kitchen area but needed to have a separate room for their television and upright piano. They were empty nesters and wanted only two bedrooms and decided that they would have two ‘Master’ bedrooms, one on the lower floor and the other on the upper floor (they planned to build additional ‘Guest’ cabins to accommodate others in the near future). The original scheme for the weekend retreat was only one floor with the second bedroom tucked away on the north side of the house next to the breezeway opposite of the carport. Another consideration that we had to resolve was that the particular location that was deemed the best building site had diametrically opposed advantages and disadvantages. The views and primary solar orientations were also the source of the prevailing winds, out of the Southwest. The resolve was to provide a semi-circular low-profile earth berm on the south/southwest side of the structure to serve as a wind-foil directing the strongest breezes up and over the structure. Because our selected site was in a saddle of land that then sloped off to the south/southwest the combination of the earth berm and the sloping hill would effectively created a ‘nestled’ form allowing the winds rushing up the hillside to shoot over most of the house. This allowed me to keep the favorable orientation to both the views and sun without being completely compromised by the winds.

The clients called me on the recommendation from a neighbor of mine who had met them at a conference and learned of their need for an architect. They contacted me and after meeting to discuss their project they invited me to visit their site, not far from White Salmon in Washington State. Initially, the couple discussed building a ‘Weekend’ retreat on their 20± acres of land. Their site was in the foothills of a range of mountains that offered views of both Mt. Adams to the North and Mt. Hood to the South. They wanted to develop a place that was ‘cabin-like’ but with a degree of refinement to it and take advantage of the primary views to the north, south and west. They also wanted to have a strong connection to their immediate outdoors. Before long my clients came to the conclusion that they no longer perceived this as simply a weekend retreat but were now interested in making this their primary residence. With this new focus we concentrated on keeping the refined cabin approach but needed to add some additional functions and square feet to the original program. They wanted to downsize from their current 3,500± SF city residence to a more modest 2,000 – 2,500 SF space. They desired a singular open Living, Dining and Kitchen area but needed to have a separate room for their television and upright piano. They were empty nesters and wanted only two bedrooms and decided that they would have two ‘Master’ bedrooms, one on the lower floor and the other on the upper floor (they planned to build additional ‘Guest’ cabins to accommodate others in the near future). The original scheme for the weekend retreat was only one floor with the second bedroom tucked away on the north side of the house next to the breezeway opposite of the carport. Another consideration that we had to resolve was that the particular location that was deemed the best building site had diametrically opposed advantages and disadvantages. The views and primary solar orientations were also the source of the prevailing winds, out of the Southwest. The resolve was to provide a semi-circular low-profile earth berm on the south/southwest side of the structure to serve as a wind-foil directing the strongest breezes up and over the structure. Because our selected site was in a saddle of land that then sloped off to the south/southwest the combination of the earth berm and the sloping hill would effectively created a ‘nestled’ form allowing the winds rushing up the hillside to shoot over most of the house. This allowed me to keep the favorable orientation to both the views and sun without being completely compromised by the winds.

The clients called me on the recommendation from a neighbor of mine who had met them at a conference and learned of their need for an architect. They contacted me and after meeting to discuss their project they invited me to visit their site, not far from White Salmon in Washington State. Initially, the couple discussed building a ‘Weekend’ retreat on their 20± acres of land. Their site was in the foothills of a range of mountains that offered views of both Mt. Adams to the North and Mt. Hood to the South. They wanted to develop a place that was ‘cabin-like’ but with a degree of refinement to it and take advantage of the primary views to the north, south and west. They also wanted to have a strong connection to their immediate outdoors. Before long my clients came to the conclusion that they no longer perceived this as simply a weekend retreat but were now interested in making this their primary residence. With this new focus we concentrated on keeping the refined cabin approach but needed to add some additional functions and square feet to the original program. They wanted to downsize from their current 3,500± SF city residence to a more modest 2,000 – 2,500 SF space. They desired a singular open Living, Dining and Kitchen area but needed to have a separate room for their television and upright piano. They were empty nesters and wanted only two bedrooms and decided that they would have two ‘Master’ bedrooms, one on the lower floor and the other on the upper floor (they planned to build additional ‘Guest’ cabins to accommodate others in the near future). The original scheme for the weekend retreat was only one floor with the second bedroom tucked away on the north side of the house next to the breezeway opposite of the carport. Another consideration that we had to resolve was that the particular location that was deemed the best building site had diametrically opposed advantages and disadvantages. The views and primary solar orientations were also the source of the prevailing winds, out of the Southwest. The resolve was to provide a semi-circular low-profile earth berm on the south/southwest side of the structure to serve as a wind-foil directing the strongest breezes up and over the structure. Because our selected site was in a saddle of land that then sloped off to the south/southwest the combination of the earth berm and the sloping hill would effectively created a ‘nestled’ form allowing the winds rushing up the hillside to shoot over most of the house. This allowed me to keep the favorable orientation to both the views and sun without being completely compromised by the winds.