Craftsman Custom Home

Sitting on a 15-acre plot in Auburn, Washington, near the Green River, Estate Homes created a 6,000-square-foot custom home for an outdoorsy couple. Built with a bespoke timber frame, the home is composed of natural materials and takes inspiration from the lot’s only pre-existing structure: a small rustic barn, just 75 feet away from the residence. Clad with stone from Mt. Rainier and rusted corrugated metal, the exterior has a rich, copper tone that gets even better with age. Along with an expansive outdoor patio, the home features a two-story garage that doubles as a pottery barn and dog washing station.

When guests step inside the home, they’re immediately greeted by an eight-foot-tall double-sided fireplace, detailed with racing horses around the edges (a nod to the couple’s love of horse racing). Moving past the sunken living room, the kitchen features high-end appliances, granite countertops, and a built-in coffee maker (an idea years ahead of its time). Up the rich cherry stairs, the luxurious master bathroom has a sauna, steam shower, and infinity tub, perfect for the athletic couple to unwind.

The owners were environmentally conscious, so they opted for geothermal heating. Here’s how it works: water is naturally pre-heated beneath the lot and fed into the home. When the couple turns on a faucet, the water is already at a warm temperature and reduces the amount of water wasted waiting for water to heat up. The couple paid a steep upfront cost, but geothermal heating typically cuts heating bills in half.