Felicity House

Our concept for Felicity House was to create a net-zero passive-style home where we could age in place on the same lot where we have already lived for twenty years.

The build has 2 units--a two story, two bedroom 1275 sq ft front unit where we live now and from which we run our small press publishing company and a back unit, a 450 sq ft ADU studio that is currently a rental, but which is designed for us to retire to when we choose to stop working.

To accommodate mobility needs that inevitably accompany growing older, the house was designed with a discreet ramp. In addition, the studio incorporates ADA features such as a curbless shower, wet room style bathroom, with full kitchen and on-site laundry.

Our architect, Dan Welch at Bundle Design Studio, worked closely with the city to get the necessary permits for a tear-down and rebuild in the York Neighborhood, which is one of Bellingham's historic districts. To honor the style of the homes around us the design of Felicity House reflects the mass and the roof line of the surrounding 30's bungalows while at the same time using modern sustainable materials, such as a rain screen made from rough-sawn juniper fence boards.

Because we added a dwelling unit on the property, our build was classified as an in-fill project. And because Felicity House was built in the summer and fall of 2020 we faced some unique challenges in terms of sourcing materials and in accommodating tradespeople on our site in a safe way during the pandemic. Our builder, Jason Wheeler of Instinct Builders was nimble and adept at handling all these challenges. And, understanding that we had decades-long ties in this neighborhood, Jason and his crew also, of their own volition, assisted our neighbors, long-term renters who were buying the house from their landlord, complete repairs necessary for the bank to originate their mortgage so that our friends could become first-time homeowners, helping to solidify our transitional downtown neighborhood even more.

All builds are a journey, but because of the year that it was, Felicity House became it's own social bubble. When the build crew chose to abide by Washington State's advisory against holiday travel and not go elsewhere to meet with their families they came to work on our house instead. So we spent Thanksgiving with them. And Christmas Eve. And New Year's Eve.

We took occupancy on February second and I still miss talking to them every day while at the same time being filled with gratitude for the Forever Home that they made for us.