New 8 unit Apartment Builidng in Anacortes (FIDALGO ISLAND)

My 2nd Multi-Family Project on the boards- the 1st one has just finished being built in Clinton, Whidbey Island-will get photos soon to post!

The entry will be off 24th Street off Commercial Avenue. Anacortes is very concerned about “Massing” and making sure that the building has enough visual interest with different layering and material changes.

I placed the 3D model on a Google Map of the site.

The water facing side of the building has some great outdoor spaces for the tenants to enjoy water views with parking under the building and an ADU unit on the ground floor.

The rear faces the alley and the South facing rear units will get great sunlight on their private balconies.

DEMO HAPPENING- BELLINGHAM

One end of the house has been removed- it will be re-built in the same footprint. The problem was that there was a huge masonry fireplace that took up up the whole middle of the house on 2 levels, that was supporting the roof….cheaper to re-build from scratch. Sometimes the things that you have to do….

Here was the old masonry fireplace in the middle of the room.

This was the exterior of the house before.

Here is how the new rebuilt end of the house will look. New entry and stairs, habitable space downstairs for a big den. New kitchen and great room upstairs. See previous Blog post on June 8th with model shots.

NEW HOUSE ON DECATUR ISLAND

The client wanted to see how the interior beams looked on the Great Room, so I did a little movie.

This one is the main entry into the Great Room

Front Entry Porch

Rear of house is the view side facing the Western Sunsets with big decks and covered porches.

There are a lot of trees on the property, so this image is without all the trees. Everyone drives golf carts on Decatur, so only a small garage is needed on the side. No ferry service, have to take your own boat or a private shuttle . No cabs or Uber or Lyft. No restaurants. Real Island Living.

End of year reflections- Anacortes Remodel in Skyline- another job survived Covid!

What makes this kitchen is finding the un-used space above the kitchen island to open up the ceiling and the added LED cove lighting that makes the room glow with warm light. Couldn’t talk the owners into adding a skylight- which would have been way cooler to have natural lighting during the day, but small battles won. Supply chain issues were huge and cost big delays in getting materials.

BEFORE-This was the kitchen before- the island’s guests had their backs to the water view and the recessed fluorescent ceiling fixture was dated with patterned plexiglass filled with dead bugs…. The big change was flipping the island so that guests could turn their heads for the view. and punching up the ceiling to the roof line above for added height. We started this during Covid, so we were all masked up! There was also a 15” deep chase at the back of the kitchen that we were able to remove for added depth.

We also captured some space from the back of the coat closet to get in a small bar area opposite.

The Kitchen island has a huge bank of 12” deep cabinets across the whole back of the island for extra storage. The hidden door pulls are at the top of the doors using a very slim profile, so that people’s knees do not hit the cabinet pulls- good job!!!

A new gas fireplace replaces a pot bellied stove.

The Master Bath got re-configured and captured a lot more space with a dressing table.

The Master Shower was supposed to have a long horizontal shampoo Niche on this wall, but somehow either the contractor or owner changed it to a tiny one that can barely hold 1 container….drawings were not followed. And grab bars were supposed to be there for aging in place- hopefully the backing was put in the walls to add later if needed?

Nice big counter for 2 to share! The wall mounted sink faucets did not get done, or the medicine cabinets- oh well!

BEFORE- Same wall- the sinks were in the bedroom before! Whoever thought that was a good idea?

PET PEEVE= For some reason, even though I draw it clearly on the interior elevations, the person installing the cabinet pulls does not look at my drawings and puts the cabinet pulls in the ”CENTER OF THE DRAWER”. Why is this an issue? Because on the lower drawers, it means that one has to bend down another 6” to open the lower drawers. May not be an issue if you are young, but the older one gets, the harder it is to bend down and 6” more is a big deal. LESSON= Have a talk with the contractor and make sure that the person installing your cabinet hardware is looking at the drawings or asks you before installing the pulls in the center of the drawers….this contractor did not look at the drawings for that kind of information.

A FRAME GETS REMOVED FOR A SHED ROOF IN ANACORTES

After many studies of trying to add an addition to an A-fame, we finally have come up with the idea of removing the A-frame and getting more useable square footage.

The resulting Design takes advantage of a lakefront view.

This was one of the ideas for an addition to the A-frame, but the conclusion was that by the time that we cut 4 of the 5 A-frame beams, re-supporting them, that the cost for this engineering gymnastics was almost as much as just building a new upper floor.

A-Frames are one of the most challenging roof forms to add onto.

The A-frame is it is today.

Waterfront House Remodel in La Conner, WA

You would not believe this kitchen before. All sorts of structural gymnastics had to be done in order the mover the bearing wall to get this wall of b=cabinetry to work. An old brick fireplace was removed. Cabinets by “Smith & Valley” in Bow, Washington in cross cut Oak with brass hardware really give it a classic beachfront look. Granite counters are rough, almost leather like in texture- not polished. Contractor is “Dihedral Builders” from Anacortes.

This is the same wall before- quite a difference, eh?

There was wall of cabinets that cut off the kitchen from the breakfast area, so by removing them, it really opened up the kitchen to be a bright space instead of enclosed.

Without the wall of upper cabinets, there was room for a center island.

The Dining Room Buffet buffet was dated in style.

The new buffet is open above for art.

The bathroom before was windowless, dated.

What a difference a window makes! Even a small one adds a burst of light. Much more Beach like now and definitely a hip space with a Modern vibe..

The linear drain and tiled shower floor turned out really well.

Here is the floor plan with the bearing wall issue.

Here is where we added a hidden bearing point.

Here is what we found when the wall was opened up- a challenge to remove and capture this space for the kitchen, but it made the kitchen work!

BLACK ON BLACK ON BLACK ON ORCAS

From the water, a black house with black roof and black windows really blends into the landscape!

Here it is from the side showing the cedar soffits and posts for nice accents. This house is still under construction and the owner is hoping to move at the end of August 2022!

The cedar soffit is very yacht like in the front porch with a satin finish stain.

Here is a detail of the side.

The Living Room Trusses turned out really nicely- Timber Scissor Trusses.

Roof studies for house in Bellingham, WA

This is a 3D model of an existing house where the owners want to add a covered deck off the 2nd floor and re-do the roof of the entire half of the house with a new entry that has a shed roof with sloped posts to support it.

View from the proposed covered deck.

The added staircase connects the upper deck to the garden. The sloped entry posts are meant to give the entry a sense of place, so that it is easy to find. Currently one has to go around a corner on the side to get to the front door.

HOME OFFICE ON 2ND FLOOR

The existing house is a basic rectangle with a low sloping roof- a basic Ranch. Having a Western facing deck will be nice for viewing sunsets and enjoying the last rays of sun.

The new 2nd floor addition has a new back door that is covered .

The Street side will be more interesting with the “Tower” addition.

This addition will give this house more character and needed extra space.

1962 BARBIE DREAM HOUSE

My sister was given this house for her twin girls, and now her grand-daughter has it. Fun blast from the past. The outside of the house does not relate to the inside of the house, which I find kinda disturbing….they should match no?

See where the front door is? Now check out what is inside next….

A dressing table and wall is located where the front door is on the outside…..

My favorite part is the miniature records from the era!!!!

Full length glove on table with serving tray and glasses…..

Barbie in her Dream House listening to Nat King Cole! Enjoy a little humor for your day!