The Only Thing More Spectacular Than This Island Home Is the Surrounding Landscape
Whidbey Island, located 30 miles off the coast of Seattle, is an idyllic escape where Douglas firs flourish, farms dot the landscape, and a slower pace of life takes hold. For one family, it’s a place that holds many memories—fishing trips, summer barbecues, and numerous gatherings at their farm.
When the family outgrew the farm’s 100-year-old buildings, they reached out to Seattle-based mwworks to design a stylish part-time residence that would reflect the history of the site while disappearing into the pastoral context.
The red barn used to be where the family would congregate when they came to the farm. They did minor renovations to make it livable, but they were in definite need of a much larger, more functional space.
Architect Steve Mongillo quickly got to work drawing up plans. He received lots of feedback from the family, which made the process that much more enjoyable. "The owner has three grown children, and they have their own kids as well. So, the typical design meeting had five or six family members present," he recalls.
The home features a flat roofline, and it’s composed of stained red cedar, concrete, and basalt—materials that weather well and blend seamlessly with the land.
They decided on a contemporary build tucked into the forest on a piece of land that opens up to a natural clearing. While mwworks projects are always designed with the landscape in mind, "this client was determined to take down as few trees as possible," Mongillo says. "We tried to slip and slide around the trees, and it ended up being pretty challenging technical gymnastics to preserve the roots and keep the trees healthy long-term."
The kitchen overlooks stunning views and features a Solna faucet by Brizo, Urbanedge sinks by Julien, a Lumen dishwasher by Miele, a Gaggenau cooktop, flamed black granite countertops, and custom mixed-grain teak cabinetry.
The home spans three separate volumes that gracefully weave through the trees. The structures are made of stacked, locally sourced basalt stone, Western red cedar, concrete flooring, and plaster. Several of the interior doors and wall-mounted artworks were hand-carved from solid cedar by the patriarch of the family.
The home also features a tight envelope. "The insulation levels are heavy, and the envelope was sealed using a fluid-applied moisture protection system that is a great way to keep the building pretty airtight," Mongillo says.
The calm dining room features custom dining table, Davide Groppi MISS LED metal pendant lamps by Omar Carraglia, and the owner’s own dining chairs.
Landscape designer Kenneth Philip worked with mwworks to fill in the forested setting.
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The first volume, which holds the kitchen, living, and dining rooms, is meant to be the main gathering space. "We decided to separate the home into pavilions and keep the living areas split, because there can be many people staying there at once," he says.
The bedrooms open up to the landscape for a tree house–like feel.
The bedroom wing is further off, and each room is designed as a master suite, so the adults can try different rooms when they visit. The bunkhouse, located above the garage, is the smallest volume. It features three sets of queen-sized bunkbeds, and it’s ideal for the teenagers in the family. "They have these large, wonderful parties every summer," Mongillo says. "Some will still camp out, but now more can stay indoors."
The stone fireplace and concrete floors add to the earthy feel of the home. The living room features a sectional by Focus One Home.
The home disappears among the trees, and it pays respect to the land and the architecture of the surrounding buildings. The serene residence has encouraged the large and continuously growing family to spend more and more time at their Whidbey Island retreat.
Related Reading:
An Off-the-Grid Island Home for a Seattle Music Producer
This Little House in Washington Has Mighty Big Ties to Nature
Project Credits:
Architect of Record: Steve Mongillo, mwworks / @mw_works
Builder/General Contractor: Chad Rollins, Dovetail GC / @dovetail_gc
Structural Engineer: Jim Harris, PCS Structural Solutions
Civil Engineer: Quin Clements, Davido Consulting Group Inc.
Landscape Design Company: Kenneth Philip
Interior Design: mwworks
Cabinetry: design by mwworks, fabrication by Dovetail GC
Photographer: Kevin Scott / @k7scott
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