It was a lifelong dream for couple Merriss Waters and Andrew Fleming to live in a cabin nestled into a forest on an island, far removed from the hustle and bustle of the city. They recently brought this dream to life at Saltwater Farm, a boutique retreat designed by Jason Grauten, Philip Auchettl, and David Loewenstein of RAD LAB on the shores of Washington’s San Juan Island.

“The couple wanted to slow their lives down so that they could enjoy the great outdoors while raising their two young children,” says RAD LAB. “They envisioned a rustic yet modern boutique inn with a main house that would serve as both their permanent home and a communal gathering space, with cabins dispersed throughout the surrounding forest.”

Saltwater Farm is located just off the coast of Washington State, on a 162-acre property a short walk from the ferry landing just outside the quaint town of Friday Harbor. Here, Merriss and Andrew have realized their dream of small-town living, raising animals, and running a space where guests can connect with nature.

It was on a hiking holiday in New Zealand that the couple were introduced to San Diego–based architecture firm RAD LAB, who specialize in modular and prefabricated architecture. As the initial brief called for modular buildings, they engaged RAD LAB to design the home and cabins.

To better understand the site, the team from RAD LAB spent time camping, hiking, and climbing trees on the island before beginning the design process—and they eventually determined that the equipment needed to deliver modular units would be too destructive to the natural ecosystem. Taking the site into account, the team instead employed light and sustainable wood frame construction for both the main house and the cabins.

“The terrain around the property features elevation changes for views of the water, fir forests with soaring trees, and grassy clearings,” says the firm. “The morning fog stays in the trees where the cabins are located, giving a sense of total isolation and remoteness, and during the summer the sun sets after 9pm, creating an ‘endless summer’ feeling of warmth and happiness. From the first steps down the dirt road, the fresh air, the sound of the chirping birds, and the native plants and wildlife are all constant reminders to unplug and embrace the surroundings.”

The main house is divided into two parts. The downstairs common space, for use by both the owners and guests, blends an open kitchen/dining/living area with an expansive outdoor deck that dramatically blurs the boundary between interior and exterior living space. The glazed, bi-fold doors offer carefully framed views of the shoreline and distant mountains.

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“What makes this space so magical is the 80 linear feet of bi-fold doors that completely open up the large wood deck, capturing views of the forest property and the Olympic Mountains,” says the firm.

The second floor holds a private residence for the owners and their two children. It is accessible via a separate entrance, and the floor is split in half, separated by the vaulted ceiling of the atrium which overlooks the dining room below. One side of the floor is for the children, with two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a play den. The other side is for the parents, and it features a large master bedroom with a walk-in closet, a deck overlooking the ocean, and a living room and full kitchenette.

“It was important to create a home and a sense of privacy for the owners,” say the architects. “They have the opportunity to be open and involved with their guests, but they also have the ability to duck upstairs and have an intimate dinner with the family.”

Five cabins have been deliberately sited in the surrounding landscape to take advantage of specific views and experiences. While formally identical in size and form, each cabin offers a different experience due to its curated connection to the landscape and unique interior design and lighting. The cabins are split into two parts—a bedroom and living room—separated by a bathroom. A network of forest trails connect the cabins to the main house and an existing barn that is used for events.

The main house and the cabin share the same material palette, and each part of each structure is finished in a singular material. Black standing seam aluminum panels are used for the roofs and exterior cladding; wood clads the walls and deck overhangs; and the interiors feature crisp white walls. These seamless, continuous planes establish visual harmony.

“The architecture is ‘Pacific Northwest vernacular cabin meets Scandinavian modern,’” says RAD LAB. “The structures are formally simple and honor the proportions and functionality of traditional cabins, while the continuous cladding over the roof and siding in a single material results in a refined minimalism that celebrates the forested backdrop.”

The entire project cost around $2 million to build, and—thanks to clear communication and the owners taking on the interior design—it was completed within the budget. The most costly feature was the steel “moment frame” structure in the center of the main house, which runs on either side of the dining area.

“This was more than a home and event space for our clients—it was truly the realization of their dream,” says the firm. “The opportunity to assist them in realizing that dream was incredibly rewarding for us as architects. When we completed the project, the RAD LAB team and our families had the pleasure of visiting Saltwater Farm for a weekend. To stay in the cabins, break bread in the communal kitchen, and connect with the outdoors was an unforgettable and rewarding experience.”