Habitat

A Couple’s Forest Hideaway | The Gravel Pit, Legend Homes

Some houses have very strong identities. This bright blue home is one of those houses, appearing like a bright tropical fish with rooflines reminiscent of gills. Those rooflines are responsible for a very calm, 100% daylit interior. Legend Homes (formerly TC Legend Homes) has been building solar-powered homes in the Pacific Northwest for over 20 years, and with more Department of Energy awards than any other builder in the U.S., they have become very good at building…

Habitat

A Better Use of Space: Why Backyard Studios Are Taking Root in the Pacific Northwest | Coast Studios

In recent years, homeowners throughout the Pacific Northwest have begun rethinking what it means to fully use the space they already have. A rising cost of living, limited housing inventory, increasing multigenerational living, and the continued shift toward remote work have all contributed to the change. More homeowners are looking beyond traditional additions and asking a different question altogether: How can existing property be used more…

Habitat

Standing on the Edge of the Perfect Family Home | The Edgemoor House

If you were to picture a cozy, modern abode for young, energetic families who love cooking, hosting, sustainability, and the outdoors, this house would be the place. Stacked with a spacious chef-grade kitchen, lots of windows and natural lighting, a large gathering space, and a remarkable view of Bellingham Bay, it’s clear that this home was built with the intention of prioritizing indoor-outdoor affiliation. Originally, the land was purchased with a midcentury house that has since been relocated and inhabited…

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Bellingham Blinds, Done Right | Bindi and Bird

The Store Bindi and Bird is a locally-owned window coverings store founded by sisters Jodie and Jolene, who bring more than 40 years of combined experience in homes, interiors, and customer service. Named after their dogs, the business was built with intention from the beginning.What started as a shared vision has grown into a showroom where homeowners can find blinds,…

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Modern Environmental Design | 2602 Woburn, Legend Homes

Designer: Jake Evans, Legend Homes Builder: Legend Homes Interior designer: Nicole Miller, Legend Homes Photographer: John Trax This is a 5-bedroom, 3-bathroom, 2000-square-foot home. And it makes all of its own energy! Sold earlier…

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All Arrows Aim For The Greenhouse | Arrows Aim Greenhouse & Supply Co.

Founder and Ceramicist Leeann Fox started Arrows Aim Greenhouse Supply & Co. with just a website in 2020. Fox built a mobile greenhouse soon afterward, which is now the PNW’s longest-running mobile plant shop, according to their website. In 2025, they opened their first brick-and-mortar in downtown Mount Vernon after six years of significant…

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Converted for Connection | Casali Construction and Remodeling

Completion date: August 2025 Location: North Bellingham Engineer: Frame Studio, Inc. Builder: Casali Construction and Remodeling Interior Designer: Alexa Casali with Casali Remodeling Photographer:…

Habitat

Local Shop Makes Biking Accessible in Birch Bay | Birch Bay Bike Shop

Riding a bike is a timeless activity that, for some people, has been part of life for many years. This includes the owner of Birch Bay Bike Shop, John Roy, who solidified his deep passion for biking in high school. The Birch Bay Bike Shop opened in 2023. Roy is the main employee, with occasional help from his wife, Carolyn Roy. He saw something great in the local biking community, which he felt had been underserved. Before this, the…

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Smarter, Healthier, and More Sustainable: The Cable Street Project | A1DesignBuild

Location: Lake Whatcom, Bellingham Homeowner: Mark Wheatley Architect: Maggie Bates, A1DesignBuild Builder: A1DesignBuild Interior Designer: Mark Wheatley Photographer: Moment Films When Mark Wheatley approached A1DesignBuild, he wanted a legacy home. Something intelligent, beautiful, and future-proof; a residence that would set a new standard for sustainable building in Whatcom County. We took that vision one step…

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Something Special Skagit | Wild Bird Supply

Skagit Wild Bird Supply General Manager Tia Melhus, didn’t always like birds. In fact, she only started paying attention to them after being laid off during 2020. For Melhus, the crisis of being suddenly at home a lot more became an opportunity to learn about the birds all around her. “You start by noticing that first bird, and wondering and learning about it, then the next one and the next one,…

Habitat

The Waterfront | Christine Coder Design

Designer: Christine Coder Design Builder: Moceri Construction Photographer: Kate Rhodes When I arrived at the door, she reached out, smiled, and pulled me inside—an easy, familiar gesture marking my second visit to their waterfront condo…

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A Contemporary Curation of Craftsmanship | Bitters Co.

Sisters Amy and Katie Carson of Bitters Co. have worked closely with craftspeople for over three decades to develop their unique homewares collection. Beyond a direct-to-customer and wholesale business, Bitters Co. is a design and…

Habitat

From Basement to Bespoke | A Whidbey Island Retreat Built for Living Well

Designer: Robin Daly Color & Design Builder: Cascade Custom Homes Photographer: Snowberry Lane Photography When a Whidbey Island couple looked to expand their home’s livable space, their attention…

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It’s Never Too Late for Fate | Joe Treat

Tucked away amongst the lush green suburbs of Bow, a menagerie of creatures surrounds a picturesque one-story house. A giant spider resides…

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Magic in the Making

Magic can be found in the unlikeliest of places. A slate-gray blob of clay, a blank white canvas, rich brown wood, or even soft beeswax. These materials carry endless potential and can be made into statues of…

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Creating Waves in the Glassblowing Community | David Wight Glass Art

David Wight, the world’s premier glass wave sculptor, almost drowned at age 11. “My dad was floating down a little offshoot of water from the main river. I really wanted to do it…my mom really didn’t want me to but I convinced her,” says Wight. As he arrived at the mouth of the river, he realized that there were powerful whirlpools that started to pull him under. “They made me feel like I had handcuffs on…

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A Retro Cabin that Stands the Test of Time | Arch House

Nestled in the Mount Baker Rim community, Arch House is a beautifully designed two-bedroom, one-bathroom, arched frame cabin. The home was first purchased in 2021 by Erica and Alex Egner, who hoped to create a mountain getaway that could also serve as a vacation rental. They spent the…

Habitat

A New Chapter for Gift Shopping in Fairhaven | Azzurra

Azzurra gift shop Owner Sasha Leaman didn’t start her career in retail—in fact, she never even worked in a shop before opening one of her own. A healthcare professional with a clinical doctorate in physical therapy, Leaman’s path to curating a…

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Where History Lives and Legacy Endures | The Shields Home

Photographs by Bellingham Media Group Staging by Sandra Hurtley and Solveig Johnson Some homes speak in whispers—of stories long lived and lives well loved. The Shields home, nestled in the heart of Ferndale, is one of those rare places. With its…

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An Artisan Woodworker with an Eye for Geometric Magic | Geometric Forest

“I’ve been a professional woodworker for almost 25 years, and I’ve done all sorts of different things,” says Andy Thorp, the craftsman who hand-made all of the serving boards and end grain cutting boards we used in our “Boards: Beyond the Cheese” feature. He began his custom board business, Geometric Forest, about four years ago. Thorp grew up…

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Inspired by Travel, Rooted in Seattle | Axiom Design Build

Inspired by the views of Seattle’s Elliott Bay, Architect John Cashman and Creative Director/Designer Heather Cashman envisioned an industrial modern home with an ode to Seattle’s shipping and industrial history. The partners,…

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Sustainable Growth Mindset | Goose Creek Flowers

Over the past decade, Anaïs Forster has been growing into a life as a PNW farmer. From working on a small family farm on Lummi to running her half-acre Everson flower farm, Goose Creek Flowers, her journey is one of finding community, embracing opportunities, and harvesting joy where it grows. Anaïs moved to the U.S. in her early 20s, “straight from…

Habitat

Backyard Beekeeping | Northwest Apiary Services

Have you ever thought of providing local pollination from your own home? Whether you want to hardly lift a finger or go all in and be one with the bees, Northwest Apiary…

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Countryside Equestrian ‘Hipstoric’ Farmhouse Kitchen | TANNA BY DESIGN

With a nod to the English countryside, this farmhouse design combines old and new, mixing modern pieces and antique furniture with rough-and-ready European elements that everyone is gravitating toward—a ‘hipstoric’ farmhouse with a curated maximalist style. What is ‘hipstoric?’ It’s a recent industry buzzword for a place that’s historic in nature and redesigned to look hipster—or a place that’s totally hipster and designed to…

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Your Best Sleep Is This Family’s Dream | Northwest Sleep Solutions

Did you know there’s a Bellingham business that sells its own line of custom-designed mattresses? If you’ve ever stayed a night at the Hotel Bellwether, it’s likely you’ve already slept on one! Northwest Sleep Solutions is a local…

Habitat

eHAB: A Small, Rugged, Prefabricated Structure…for Anywhere | E. Cobb Architects Partners

E. Cobb Architects Partners’ eHAB project is a self-sustainable, habitable structure built to endure extreme environments—a conceptual idea turned real. Founder Eric Cobb and his team conceived of eHAB during the economic downturn of the late 2000s. At the time, the studio was…

Habitat

Inspirational Designs in Kitchen & Bath

Check out our March 2025 feature: Inspirational Designs in Kitchen & Bath!

Habitat

Looking for Help Making Your Space More Chic? | Schieck Spaces

Mackenzie Schieck is a one-woman operation at Schieck Spaces, where she offers many different creative services, including interior decorating, prop and food styling, writing, and photography. Given the wide range of services she provides, Schieck says that her business is more of a creative studio, where she can express her creativity through the work she conducts. “People ask me all the time, would you prefer to only be doing interiors or only to be…

Habitat

Blending Old and New for an Elegant Result | Littlebird Cabinetry

Our client’s Lake Whatcom home was undergoing a major remodel and had a dated kitchen design in need of an update. We had the challenge of combining new…

Habitat

The Family That Frames Together | Wilson Picture Framing

Whether you received a new print for the holidays or you’ve had a beloved poster rolled up in the shipping tube for months, let this be the nudge you need to get it framed. I know, I know, custom framing can…

Habitat

Bringing a Mount Vernon Home Into the 21st Century | True Bearing Built

The primary goal of this Mount Vernon kitchen remodel was to take the original closed-kitchen layout and turn it into an updated, stylish, and functional open-layout space where the homeowner could host guests and feel connected to the rest of the house. The…

Habitat

A Farmhouse Renovation That Manages to Be Both Rustic and Modern | TANNA BY DESIGN

In the heart of the Yakima Valley, nestled near rolling orchard fields and whispering trees, stood an old farmhouse steeped in history. With its rustic charm, it was a relic of a bygone era, but within its walls lay…

Habitat

Winter Wonderland

As the days get shorter and the nights grow cold, we love to combat the darkness with cozy, comforting home goods that add brightness and joy to our evenings. But turning your home into a winter wonderland doesn’t have to mean filling your mantel…

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Creating a Tablescape for the Holidays

The Holidays are here, and whether you’re decorating for Thanksgiving or Christmas the table sets the mood for this special season. Below I have pulled together some ideas to help you on your journey to the perfect table for you. Happy Holidays! Let’s Get Inspired With today’s technology,…

Habitat

Functionality + History in South Hill | A1DesignBuild

A1DESIGNBUILD just completed a bathroom and kitchen renovation on a historic home built in 1911 in South Hill, Bellingham. The goal of the project was two-fold: to maintain the classic integrity of the house while adding modern functionality and design. Dave and Teresa Martinelli purchased the house because they wanted…

Habitat

Fox Net-Zero Energy Home

BUILDING THE FOX family’s Net-Zero Energy Home was not without its challenges. Still, the challenges ended up working in everyone’s favor in the end, producing this beautiful and unique home. The build started in the winter. After the builder, TC Legend Homes, poured the concrete slab, the weather turned and frosted. They saved the slab from freezing using plastic sheets and hay, but the wind kicked up and caused the hay…

Habitat

Outdoor Patio Refresh | TANNA BY DESIGN

We transformed a drab, outdated outdoor space into a stylish, inviting patio perfect for relaxation, entertainment, and sun-soaking. By creating distinct zones, we…

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Home Decor from A-Z

Habitat

Inspiring Creativity | Elisabeth’s Cottage by the Sea

As you approach the Freeland Keystone Building at the corner of Commercial Avenue and Seventh Street in downtown Anacortes, there are signs for all kinds of attractions: Shabby French Market, Elisabeth’s Cottage, Bead Store,…

Habitat

A Riverside Retreat With Contemporary Comforts

This A-frame perched on the bank of the Skagit River seamlessly merges vintage aesthetics with contemporary comforts, thanks to a renovation completed in 2023 that has breathed new life into the late 1970s-era full-time residence. The biggest transformations were realized by expanding the house by six feet to enlarge the kitchen, entryway, main floor bathroom, and laundry areas, while also improving the upstairs primary bath nestled in the eaves. Throughout the renovation, the aim was…

Habitat

A Family-Friendly Cabin With Grown-Up Style

This stunning 1,680-SQUARE FOOT, three bedroom, two-bathroom vacation home was built in 2023 for a Snohomish County family to be able to enjoy all year round. Located in the Mount Baker Rim community in Glacier, the cabin provides access to a host of outdoor activities—and the generous porch along the north wall of…

Habitat

Urban Jungle | JeKa Plants in Mount Vernon

Walking into Jeka Plants in downtown Mount Vernon is like walking into a small, well-organized jungle. Created by sisters Jeanie Topness and Karen Yarber (whose names combine to create the store name), this houseplant shop is lined with shelves holding calathea, cactus, blooming jasmine, tillandsia, and more. A huge jade plant holds court in the middle of the room and…

Habitat

Samish Solar Sustainable Home

“Living in this house has shown us that efficiency and comfort actually go hand in hand….The quality of my sleep is so much better now that we live in a well-insulated house that stays cool during hot days and has a good ventilation system.” – Homeowners of…

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Anacortes Coastal Aging in Place | Patty Koskovich of Koskovich Design Group

Local interior designer Patty Koskovich and her husband began building their Anacortes home with a view of the Guemes Channel in 2017. After two years of careful construction, their Coastal Aging in Place home was completed, perfectly planned for comfortable living— now and for years to come. “I call it… my seaside sanctuary,” says Koskovich, who researched and designed the initial plans for the build herself. She knows the importance of a safe, comfortable, and…

Habitat

A Midcentury (but Still Modern) Revival in Edgemoor | reachDESIGN llc

The early ’60S house in the Edgemoor Neighborhood had been the client’s family home—it was built for his father’s aunt and her sister, and later the client’s parents had moved in and raised their children there. Now the client was moving back in, along with his wife, and they were ready for a remodel. “They wanted this house to reflect their lifestyle,” says Architect Ric Peterson, of reachDESIGN llc. “It’s a different generation. They both work, and they’re both very…

Habitat

A Home with History, Artistry, and Secret Details | Roeder Home

Nestled in a quiet residential neighborhood of central Bellingham, surrounded by early-20th century craftsman homes with inviting porches and manicured lawns, is a surprisingly stately house. The Roeder Home, built by Victor Roeder at a cost of $20,000 (that’s nearly $650,000 by 2023 standards) and finished in 1910, is a three-story Arts and Crafts structure with bracketed gothic accents. Photograph by Kris Gray Photography Victor was the son of Bellingham founder…

Habitat

HKP Architects: The Skagit Bay Residence Renovation

HKP Architects is pleased to announce the completion of an addition and renovation for a residence in La Conner, Washington. The owners of this architecturally designed existing house purchased it several years ago for its views and setting, but parts of the house didn’t quite fit with their lifestyle. They set out to reimagine the upper floor as an age-in-place, functionally appropriate living floor…

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Immersive Fantasy, Right at Home: Mythologie Candles

Hi there, could you please introduce yourself and Mythologie Candles? I’m Leah McHenry, founder of Mythologie Candles, which was born in Lynden, Washington! We create high-quality, handcrafted candles for lovers of history, fantasy, and mythology. We officially launched in March 2020 during extremely uncertain times, which was very interesting. Despite encountering many obstacles, our little family business exploded almost overnight. It’s been a wild ride and we…

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South Hill House in the Trees: Bellingham Bay Builders

This South Hill home bends with the trees above Bellingham Bay as it clings firmly to the steep sandstone bedrock. It’s a place to retire, relax, and have access to the PNW outdoor way of life. All needed amenities on the main floor allow the occupants to age in place,…

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One Room Challenge: A Spacious Update- Bathroom Remodel from Tanna by Design

Seamless, sassy, and may we say a little sexy! That was the look our clients were going for and I must say… we nailed it! What once was a blah, beige, and boring bathroom is now a gorgeous, chic retreat in their newly remodeled primary suite. When we presented the homeowners with the 3D renderings, they couldn’t believe their eyes….

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A Captivating Canine Collection | Laura Landrum’s “The Dog House”

Looking in from the outside, you might never guess that within the walls of Laura Landrum’s 1993 home hides one of our area’s most charming and unusual niche antique art collections. What makes this one so special, you might ask? Well, if you’re a lover of art, antiques, all things furry and four-legged, you’re in for a tail-wagging treat. As it turns out, the primary subject matter of Landrum’s remarkable collection happens to be one of our favorite…

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A Contemporary Wilderness Retreat in the Shadow of Mount Baker | Bellingham Bay Builders

The Silver Residence stands as a remarkable testament to the integration of contemporary architecture, high-performance buildings, and our connection to the natural world. Nestled in a small meadow next to a picturesque pond…

Habitat

A New Space for Ceramics in Downtown Ferndale

Tell me about how you first began with pottery. How did you turn your art into a profession? I first started doing pottery in high school. It was required to take at least one year of fine arts credits in order to graduate,…

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The Man Who Made Waves with Wood and Glass | Greg Klassen

10 years ago, we wrote about an up-and-coming craftsman who was breaking into the national scene for his fine furniture. In the decade since, Greg Klassen fathered a viral sensation, has sent…

Habitat

Tools to Elevate Your Cheese Game

Don’t be intimidated by that 36-month aged Netherlands gouda! There’s a whole world of sophisticated cheeses out there that might seem tricky to get a handle on, but having the right tools for the job makes all the difference. We’ve gathered several suggestions for aspiring cheese aficionados to master any bloomy rind or cave-aged cheese that crosses your path. 1 – Cheese: A Connoisseur’s Guide to the World’s Best…

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The Gateway to a Sustainable Home | GreenCoast Cedarworks

Imagine starting your workday by walking into your shop, “sun angling into the workspace, or rain pattering on the roof, stacks of beautiful cedar stock all around, a new project…

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Top Remodel Trends 2023

March Feature

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Within the Walls: The McCarthys’ Story

Featured Home

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Custom Is Key

Maiben Fixtures and Furnishings

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Budding, Blossoming, Blooming

bLoom

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The Makings of a Multi-Functional Home Gym

Tanna by Design

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Eclectic and Artisan Goods in Edison

Hedgerow

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Q&A: Meet a Private Christmas Tree Decorator

Noam Moore, Concept Design, LLC

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At Home for the Holidays

Ideas to turn your home into an iconic holiday haven

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Household Holiday Gifts Made Close to Home

King Dahl Creative

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New Construction, New Beginnings

Robin Daly Color & Design

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Family-Owned Furniture

Samuel’s Furniture

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Creating a One-of-a-Kind Fireplace

Amy Popelka of Tac Tile Company

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The House in a Hollow

Feature Home, designed by TC Legend Homes

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New Slab Gallery Encourages Connection to Design

Stone Pros Inc.

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A Community of Clay

Circa

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Whatcom County’s Best-Kept Secret

Eliza Island

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Home Styling by Season

August Feature

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Moving Isn’t Always the Answer

Remodeling from a Realtor’s Perspective

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Where Desert Meets the Sea

Dry Dock Goods

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15 Insider Tips a Home Buyer Should Know

Home Buyer Tips

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A New Frontier for Northview Homes at Larrabee Springs

Featured Home

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Anacortes Cliffside Cabin

Featured Home

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Molly Maguire: Landscape Architect

Landscape

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Remodeling Reality

Faith Ulate

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Making Magic with Metal

KP Metalworks

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Art Deco Dream Home

Featured Home

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Raising the Bar for Rentals

Remodel

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Q&A with David Falk Design

David Falk Design

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Level Up

Home Upgrades by Room

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An Airbnb Escape in Glacier

For years, the Gulit family dreamed of owning a cabin in nearby Glacier – A retreat for short weekend getaways close to home and close to nature. After touring many cabins and even putting in a few offers, they knew they had found THE ONE with this sweet little 840-square-foot saltbox house built in 1978.

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Pursuing a Passion for Clay

Crowe Potter

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San Juan Cliffside Retreat

Featured Home

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Let There Be Light

Purchasing a home in Bellingham or the surrounding counties has been tricky this past year. With inventory low, prices high, and selling time fast, you’ve got to be quick on your feet, make snap decisions, and have a vision! This home was charming…with the exception of the kitchen, but my clients were able to see past it. The sellers had chosen to leave it in…

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A Forever Home in Semiahmoo

Although they had done a couple of home remodels, building a home from the ground up was a new experience for Sue and…

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The Infinite Potential of Tile

Debbie Dickinson Studios

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Remodel on Deception Pass

Tac Tile Company was started in 2015 as a way to make a mark on my community through art and tile. I create unique handmade tiles that are intended to inspire and reflect the beauty of nature that surrounds us. With each custom project, I meld the client’s ideas with my own personal style, thus creating something original that can be enjoyed for ages. When I was contacted to…

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Holiday Inspiration For Your Home

What’s the first thing that jumps to mind when you think of holiday decor? For many of us, the visuals are similar: A red and green color palette, string lights (either multicolored or white), stockings, and of course the classic tree. Though timeless, this formula doesn’t leave much room for personal…

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Holiday Decorating Hotspots

It’s time to dust off your holiday boxes and pull out all the stops to make this season your best. Every year we take inventory of what we have, check those lights, and dream of new and inventive ways to freshen up the holiday decor.

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Get Organized, Stress-Free

This holiday season, you can treat yourself to the gift of organization. Whether you have a particularly cluttered room or are looking for a new house-wide system, The Orderly Space is here to help.

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Green Build in Historic York District

Bellingham’s downtown neighborhoods might not be the first place you’d look for a new high-performance home. However, this rebuild snuggles right into the existing historic neighborhood perfectly, providing its residents with the comfort of modern style while maintaining easy access to the vibrant downtown scene.

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Handwoven Rugs Made in Bellingham

At Auda Sinda, an artisan design studio in the Pacific Northwest, you can purchase a custom handwoven rug that is both unique and gorgeous. Owner Amy Tyson started her business in 2014 with hopes to create bespoke rugs crafted locally in the United States.

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One Room Challenge: Outdated to Oasis

The spring 2021 “One Room Challenge” is a supportive and enthusiastic event held twice a year, with Better Homes & Gardens as the official media partner. It is not a competition; rather, it’s a celebration of creative and inspiring ideas.

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Saving Rain for a Rainy Day

Here in the Pacific Northwest, we are no strangers to rain. Whether or not you’re a fan of the frequent showers, have you ever stopped to think about where that rain ends up?

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Get Comfy (and Sustainable) with Comphy Sheets

Comphy Sheets

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Summer Cabin on Lake Cavanaugh

“Do no harm” applies to not only physicians, but also to working on projects that evoke such strong memories of working with HKP Architects founder, Henry Klein. In 1993, a client commissioned HKP Architects (then the Henry Klein Partnership) to design a two-bedroom summer cabin on the shore of Lake Cavanaugh. The site was a ¾ acre peninsula bisected by a stream that overflowed its banks seasonally. The buildable area…

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Fresh Space Gets a Fresh Space

Fresh Space Redesign

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The Architect Who Fell in Love With Kitchens

Marshall Dobry, Kitchen Design Studio

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Interior Trends

Four Designers Speak to Four Trends

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Get Inspired with Jojotastic

If you’re looking for some home decorating inspiration, local designer and digital influencer Joanna Hawley-McBride is here to help.

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Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association Celebrates 30 Years of Restoration & Education

Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association

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Cady Mountain Tower House

Featured Home

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Elevating Personal Health, One Holistic Space at a Time

SoMi Spaces

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Julian & Company

There’s a new team on the Bellingham real estate block, and they’re taking the industry by storm. At the helm is Julian Friedman, a lifelong Bellingham resident whose mission is to help homeowners market and sell their homes for the most amount of money in the least amount of time. “I have a personal relationship with almost everywhere [in Bellingham]. There are few parks I haven’t spent time in, or hikes I haven’t gone on,…

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Home Goods, Art, and More at Perry and Carlson

Perry & Carlson

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Whales, Water, and Quiet in Semiahmoo

Featured Home

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A Room of One’s Own…to Share With Guests

Remodel

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Planning and Designing a Productive Vegetable Garden

Whether planning your first, second or tenth vegetable garden, it can be overwhelming. There are so many tasty vegetables and never enough space and time to grow them all.

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A Beginner’s Guide to Going Green at Home

Make your home more sustainable with tips on waste and energy reduction.

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New Mount Vernon Design Center Honors Sustainability and Creativity

Pinecone Inc.

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Skagit-Based Company Creates Furniture Just for Kids

Kozy Kids Chairs

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La Pedrera Net Zero House

Going Green Is Easier Than You Think

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Spice up Your Interiors

Options Cabinetry

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The Best Dahlias for a Backyard Cutting Garden

With just a few dahlias, you can enjoy picking your own fresh-cut flowers every day from July through September.

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Imagining Spaces

Home is a sanctuary — never has this been more apparent. Spending more time at home means many of us have had to reimagine how our spaces work for us. Whether it’s finding room for a home office, classroom, or workout studio, many of us have already transformed our homes to meet our needs, while others may…

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Q&A with Gardening Expert Ciscoe Morris

Check out this Q&A for tips on how to make your spring garden flourish.

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Eastern Washington Hideout

Tucked away among a grove of ponderosa pines in Okanogan County, this dreamy treetop hideaway marries imagination and design.

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Designing a Dream

Washington Interior Designer, Tanna Edler, receives National Kitchen Designer of the Year Award

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Dream Workout Room

Creating the Perfect Home Gym

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Decorating with Garland

Garlands Galore! Make your own holiday décor with these unique DIY ideas.

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First Hill Condo Remodel

This project was all about layering neutrals in a soft, subtle, and sculptural way.

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The Future of Eco-Homes

This home makes all its own power from solar panels on the south-facing roof, setting a new cost-effective standard for Pacific Northwest housing. The owners wanted a home that fitted the way they live and could run the electrical meter backwards. They turned to TC Legend Homes, a design and build company based in Bellingham that has been making some of the most energy efficient homes in the country, receiving…

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A Family Getaway in the Trees

This treetop getaway is a dream come true for adults and children alike.

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Anything Is Possible 

Updating an Old-Fashioned Kitchen

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Farmhouse with a Modern Twist

This Featured Home from Highline Construction is a modern day farmhouse with practical and functional designs.

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Thirty Years and Counting

Aqui Esta Tile and Stone

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Falling For White Pumpkins

Want an elegant twist on fall decor? Try using white pumpkins to bring autumn into your home.

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DIY Shoe Rack

How to turn an old closet door into a shoe shelf

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Putting the Stain in Sustainable

Bellingham Professional Finsihes

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Building With Precision: Yeshe Long Temple

A new Buddhist temple lies nestled among the trees at the south end of Whidbey Island, at a dharma center called Yeshe Long.

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Birch Point Beach House

This month’s Featured Home is a high-performance beach home with views of Boundary Bay, the BC Coastal Range, and beyond.

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Modern Ranch on the Farm

Modern meets rustic and vintage meets industrial in this farmhouse remodel.

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Studio Getaway on Camano Island

Tucked away on the east side of Camano Island, you’ll find this stunning 1,100 square foot studio from Designs Northwest Architects.

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Q&A with Robin Haglund, founder and president of Garden Mentors®

Quarantine has given many of us a lot of downtime (perhaps too much). If you chose to take up gardening, here’s a Q&A on how to yield the best results from your plants this summer.

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DIY Coasters with Photos and Artwork

Enjoy cool drinks while keeping your furniture safe, with these unique DIY coasters.

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Quality Furniture in Anacortes

Tracys Furniture brings quality craftsmanship and customer service to the homeowners of Anacortes.

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Lake Neighborhood Guide

Explore the best of Lakeside Living with this month’s feature: a Lake Neighborhood Guide.

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Cabin in the Woods

This issue’s Featured Home is a modern cabin in the woods, with an interior that matches the beauty of the surrounding woods.

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Build Your Own Greenhouse from Recycled Solar Glass

Looking for your next sustainable DIY project? Try this greenhouse made out of solar glass.

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Why I have a love-hate relationship with HGTV

In an era of ease, the network HGTV is reminding generations of homeowners that housework is possible. Renovation shows are inspiring countless trends and reminding us that, “the first step in bringing an idea to life is putting pen to…

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Designing a Beautiful Garden for Pollinators

You don’t need a prairie or large lot to attract and support pollinators. A meadow or informal, formal and even container gardens can bring in bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to help pollinate plants. It’s just a matter of selecting the right plants, adjusting your maintenance practices, and skipping the pesticides.

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Dream En Suite

An out-of-date bathroom gets transformed into an elegant and airy en suite.

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A Pacific Northwest Retreat

This month’s featured home is an ’80s house turned into a modern retreat, equipped with tigerwood decking and large windows.

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Shaw Island Timber Frame Home

This month’s featured home is this lovely timber frame home on Shaw Island. Check out the pictures of this stunning abode!

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A Formal Sorority Transformation

This UW sorority gets a modern makeover, bringing contemporary and traditional styles together to create the perfect space for on-the-go college students.

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Lake Whatcom House

This house on Lake Whatcom offers comfort and beauty all year long.

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Upcycle an Old Picture Frame Into a Cute DIY Jewelry Holder

DIY the perfect holiday gift this season by learning how to make a jewelry holder with minimal materials.

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Bellingham Four Square

Lisa Staton Interior Design revitalize this classic Bellingham Four Square, built in 1906, while honoring the home’s original architecture and detailing.

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The Benefits of Having a Dog Wash Station in Your Home

Jennifer Ryan talks the benefits of installing a dedicated built-in dog wash station in your home—as shown in this recent bathroom remodel.

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Preparing Your Yard for Winter Birds

Current volunteer coordinator for the North Cascades Audubon Society, Pam Borso, shares some tips for how to transform your yard into a haven for birds.

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Art and Play in the Fountain District

Take a look at this Broadway Park Neighborhood home—a perfect blend of high-performance detailing and traditional, craftsman design.

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Inside Out

Interior designer Jennifer Ryan provides readers with a guide to creating beautiful and functional outdoor spaces in the Pacific Northwest.

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Is Your Room Keeping You up at Night?

Samantha Kent, a researcher for SleepHelp.org, tells all about the relationship between sleep and interior design.

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The Twin Peaks Passivhaus + ADU

This month’s featured home is green—designed and built to minimize the home’s ecological impact in the face of climate change.

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Skagit Bay Waterfront Home

Architects Dan Nelson and Matt Radach of Designs Northwest worked to transform this Skagit Bay cabin into a classic beachfront home.

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The Art of Aging in Place

Designer and certified aging-in-place specialist, Susie Landsem, intersects both design and utility to help aging homeowners make their homes more accessible.

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A Hidden Sanctuary

Terry and Jackie Lehmann show their appreciation for travel and design with this breathtaking Asian-inspired oasis, located just north of Lake Whatcom.

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Geometric Tiles Add Pop to Condo Bathroom Revival

Jennifer Ryan brings new style with this geometric Bellingham bathroom remodel. See the end results of the makeover with Katheryn Moran Photography.

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Chuckanut Crest View Home

Take a look at this Featured Home on Chuckanut Crest in Bellingham. A modern industrial space with a state-of-the-art kitchen and beautiful view of the bay.

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Remodel Brightens Kitchen, Spirits

My client’s husband had recently passed away, and her daughter contacted me as a means to brighten her mother’s mood. The client and her husband had been dreaming of remodeling their home and just never thought the time was right. So when her family contacted me and asked if I could take on this special project and handle every…

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Build Cabinets, Throw Axes

Mathew Blubaugh is the owner of Northwest Woodslayer, a woodworking business specializing in custom cabinetry. There is also an axethrowing station.

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Farmhouse Kitchen

This beautiful Farmhouse Kitchen remodel was designed by Jennifer Ryan. See the end results of the makeover with Katheryn Moran Photography.

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Kitchens + Spaces

The “Spaces” part of this feature gives a look at stunning designs for a variety of rooms. Take a look at these beautiful PNW homes.

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Kitchens + Spaces

The “Kitchens” part of this feature gives a look at the inspiration behind each design for these six kitchens, and kitchen tech recommended by the experts.

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Pallets Repurposed

The RE Store in Bellingham shows us how to upcycle old pallets and turn them into a raised garden bed, garden shed, or shelves.

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Island Cabin to Year-Round Home

This month’s Featured Home is an island cabin near Anacortes. This year-round home has a view of Deception Pass State Park.

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A Kitchen with a View

Kelly DuByne of Distinctive Interior Designs showcases a kitchen remodel in Lake Stevens. Cabinets from Architectual Cabinet brighten and warm the room.

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Keeping Your Home ‘Healthy’

There are many environmental hazards that can affect our homes. This safety guide lists safety checks for the house to keep you living in a healthy home.

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Home with a Better View

Jennifer Ryan took on the challenge of a home remodel to open up the kitchen, dining room, and living room, so a view of the lake could be enjoyed.

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Home for the Holidays

This month, our featured home showcases a home for the holidays, with Christmas trees and seasonal decor to brighten and warm the room.

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Whidbey Island’s Unpretentious Getaway

The Saratoga Inn on Whidbey Island makes a delightful getaway this winter. In the remodel, owner Jim Pensiero gave the inn a refreshing, comfortable look.

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Inspired By Roots

Interior designer Tanna Edler answers her most frequently asked questions about home design including inspirations and tips and tricks.

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Snohomish Backyard Retreat

Heidi Skievaski and Kryssie Maybay of Sublime Garden Design worked to transform this Snohomish backyard into a relaxing retreat, complete with a waterfall.

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Transforming a Garage Into a Game Room

Jennifer Ryan transformed this garage into an Archie comic book themed game room for two teens, complete with disco ball and foosball table.

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Picture-Perfect on Sandy Point

Take a look at this Featured Home on Sandy Point in Ferndale designed by Alexei Ford, built by Ian Hamilton, and photographed by Tim Chandonnet.

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Beach Drive Remodel

Take a look at the amazing transformation of this beach drive remodel on Camano Island. This article details the renovations made during this home remodel.

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A Fresh New Island

Doing a partial kitchen remodel can be a tricky puzzle, especially while trying to combine existing aspects with new features that just don’t seem to go together.

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Far East Home Comes West

Take an inside look as Ross Grier builds his dream home in Fairhaven by fusing Japanese elements with a Pacific Northwest Washington feel.

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Finding Elbow Room In a Bathroom Overhaul

Approximately 40 years ago, this bathroom and closet off the master bedroom was a luxury. After much love, it was in desperate need of a makeover….

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Hamlet Hotel

Downtown, An Old Space Becomes New Again For Fred and Colleen Schacht, the Hamlet Hotel has been a reclamation project, sentimental journey, and business venture wrapped into one century-old downtown building. The Hamlet isn’t really a hotel but…

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Fighting Bathroom Splash

The challenge: Designing and remodeling a bathroom that involved a rotting floor due to water splashing from the shower curtain enclosure. The first question…

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An Anacortes Home for the Sunset Years

Here is a quick glimpse inside this beautiful home in Anacortes, with amazing detail to design and even more incredible views.

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Real Estate

In Whatcom, Skagit and San Juan counties of the North Sound, the real estate industry has grown from a decade ago. No wonder, because people are moving here at a rate  not seen since 2010,…

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Above the Boulevard, A Year-Round Beach Home Shines

Faith Ulate grew up in Whatcom County, and long dreamed of having a beach home. So, she and her family lived in Costa Rica for 11 years. But when it came time to move back, she was determined to bring beach life with her. Ulate, a realtor with a passion for turnaround projects, gutted this…

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A Home Office Remodel

What may have been best described as a collective mess before our design update is now an “organized oasis.” The enhancements in this project have increased the functionality by doubling paper-related storage, adding private storage and providing an appealing place to display family favorites. Along with the added advantages of the enlarged custom desk, the lighting is now also the appropriate scale for the room and provides proper illumination to…

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Updating with Charm and Style

When you find the perfect house —it’s got a beautiful view, a great lot, lots of space for three growing girls,…

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So, You Want a Pond?

So, you’ve decided you want to build a water feature in your back yard That’s a wonderful idea. A pond draws hummingbirds, songbirds, and butterflies. The trickling sound of a stream is soothing as is watching colorful gold sh or koi swim lazy laps. Water lilies in full summertime bloom are stunning. You’re already imagining perfect pond-side summer garden parties. That vision is possible, if you avoid mistakes commonly made when gardeners swap sod for water. WHY DO YOU WANT A POND?…

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Bad Boys in the Garden

Pesky Plants to Avoid We gave you the best and easiest plants to grow in your Pacific Northwest garden, but it’s also invaluable to know what not to plant. See our list of what plants experts say are the among the worst – invasive, disease-ridden, or just outright annoying – to allow into your garden. How many times have you been given suggestions of what to plant in your garden? Your neighbors will be the first…

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Waiting in Style

If first impressions are everything, then a waiting room is crucial to a patient’s experience. A waiting room sets the tone for what comes next, be it a massage or a root canal. At the same time, patients ideally wait in a waiting room for only a few minutes before being whisked away, so the room’s aesthetics must work quickly to…

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Home, Healthy Home

There’s warmth just looking at this yellow cedar home, originally built in 1927 as a single-story, working-class Craftsman. But in addition to adding a second story and master bedroom to their now two-bedroom, three-bath home (plus basement apartment), the client wanted a house with a healthy addition of another kind. Builders and designers avoided using materials…

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Executive Treatment

Elegant styling with a luxurious arrangement balanced this office remodel. With a creative pattern and texture, the simplicity of the accent wall was a stand-out. A sustainable and organic passion created this tremendous geometric attraction, and the custom salmon art gave a nod to the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Our goal was to bring nature indoors, with a hint of tradition, plus a contemporary twist. Our wall treatment design was…

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Lake Whatcom Home Gets An Update

New owners of this home loved its sweeping views of Lake Whatcom and its modern character. But sometimes, even modern needs an update. With a family of…

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Palatine Passive House

The Palatine Passive House by architect Tiffany Bowie of Malboeuf Bowie Architecture was one of eight homes featured during last year’s Seattle Modern Home Tour in April. Bowie, a certified passive house consultant, fielded questions from tour guests curious about passive construction. “Many people weren’t familiar with the concept of a passive house, so it was a great educational opportunity,” Bowie said. Thanks to its efficient design,…

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What’s My Style?

Today, I have many clients confused when trying to explain their “design style,” not wanting to commit to just one, fearing they…

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A Picture-Perfect Refuge

Private Gardens Design Susan Harrison, owner of Private Gardens Design, is no stranger to awards. She won our own Best of the Northwest for Best Landscape Designer in 2015 and took home the silver from this year’s Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD) International Design Competition. The silver-winning design is located on a one-acre lot in Anacortes that overlooks Similk Bay and Skagit Island to the southwest. Harrison’s clients tasked her with creating a contemporary garden…

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Birch Bay Mansion

This spectacular Birch Bay estate is what dreams are made of: This private 66-acre property consists of a 12,000-square-foot mansion with 1,575 feet of pristine, south-facing and jaw-dropping Georgia Strait shoreline. And that’s just the beginning. If you prefer to arrive by air rather than land or boat, the property has…

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Back at Home

Western’s Carver Gym Renovation a Sight to See for Fans After undergoing an extensive and much-needed renovation costing $70 million and spanning…

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San Juan Log Cabin Retreat

This striking home in the San Juan Islands started as a log cabin. A full overhaul, led by Bellingham interior designer Lisa Staton and client Kristina Gladstein, transformed it to a lighter, brighter vacation getaway that fits the quiet…

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From Craftsman To Clock Tower

Ferndale Landmark It’s hard to believe the clock tower building that looms over Main Street in Ferndale was once a 1920s craftsman home. Today the structure is a sprawling, multi-story sight to behold. Each exterior wall is coated in a different siding material, highlighted with maroon trim…

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Hemp House is Small, but Cool

While the tiny building that sits on Pam Bosch’s property isn’t legally a house, it serves as a model for future…

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Birch Bay Waterfront Estate

Arrive by land, sea or air to your estate; a private 66-acre compound on 1,575 ft. of pristine waterfront. A 12,000…

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One-of-a-Kind Design

RE Store’s Revision Division We love to recycle here in the Pacific Northwest. We’ll divide, compost, and reuse until just about everything gets another home or is made functional again. And while recycling might seem more mundane than stylish, Matt Vaughn and David Spangler at the RE Store’s Revision…

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Chuckanut Bay House

The airy lightness of this Chuckanut Bay home’s interior stands in contrast to its big, bold, concrete frame that attracts attention from those who live nearby or paddle past. The owner, a builder himself, wanted to convey permanence in a home situated between the everchanging water and a boulder wall constructed to highlight area sandstone. McClellan Architects, led by Regan Smith, was also responsible for the interior design…

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A Garden from Scratch

If you think the compacted-soil, rock-hewn, lifeless plot of land on your property could never support a garden, we have a story for you. More than 100 volunteers recently transformed the empty gravel lot across from the Bellingham Food Bank into a garden in a massive project that included installing a six-foot wood and wire mesh deer fence, 32 raised beds, and a market stand to sell produce. Oh, and they did it in one…

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Edgemoor Neighborhood Historic Home

Lairmont Manor Historic homes can be a focal point for neighborhoods. In Bellingham, few are more famous than Lairmont Manor, in Fairhaven’s Edgemoor neighborhood. Originally…

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Rustic & Reclaimed

Bath Renovation Antique wood and a sliding barn door in a bathroom? Say it isn’t so! Yes, that is exactly what…

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Gem on the Water

Lake Samish Row House This distinctive home on the shores of Lake Samish was built in 2010 with rowers in mind. We want to say its curvy roof and contemporary, minimalist design evokes the smooth, effortless air of a rowing team in sync. But like the sport itself, looks can be deceiving. Bellingham Bay Builders and the Cirrus Design…

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Freezing Cabin

Kitchen Remodel Helps Ease a Drab Winter’s Chill This home, a one-time 1930s beach cabin, got so cold in winter that its owner would routinely flee to Mexico for three months. But after six years of annual escapes, it was time to…

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Cheetah-Chic Living

Animal Prints Rev Up a Room It might be safe to say that while keeping the color palette tame on this project, we got wild with the style. Prior to our makeover, we were welcomed with a pet-soiled off-white carpet with poorly…

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Little Old, Little New

This home, located on 12th Street overlooking stunning Bellingham Bay, was past due for a kitchen remodel. I had worked with this client on previous projects in her home and was thrilled to have the opportunity to design her kitchen. By giving her tons of cabinet, floor and counter space, I felt this kitchen could be not…

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Guemes Cottage

This peaceful retreat on Guemes Island designed by David Hall (since retired) of HKP Architects draws on Finnish and Scandanavian summer houses for inspiration. Situated on the the north end of Guemes Island with…

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Broadway Beauty

The beautiful thing about ranch-style houses is the way in which a good designer can open up the interior, build in great storage, and add light and space. Many of these homes have been updated a few times, and sometimes a remodel requires completely rethinking the interior. This was one of those projects. The owners bought this house with…

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Contemporary Comforts

What is it that turns a house into a home? When a person first walks into their new house, they see the potential. My job as an interior designer is to make them see a “home,” to give them space…

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A 1940s Camano Island Log Cabin Remodel

A classic log cabin on Camano Island’s North Shore offers stunning views of Utsalady Bay and has been in Neil Hampson’s family since the 1940s. Hampson’s grandfather Dr. Russell R. Bradley, an Everett optometrist built the cabin himself. The preface to a 1944 publication of the U.S. Forest Service entitled “Building with Logs” assures the would-be cabin builder,…

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Snohomish Backyard Retreat

Heidi Skievaski and Kryssie Maybay of Sublime Garden Designs transformed a two-acre property that was essentially a blank canvas, a hillside with a few junipers and rhododendron and a sea of lawn, into a backyard retreat with several gardens and distinct areas for entertaining. The…

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Orcas Island Beach House–Featured Home

This beautiful Orcas Island beach house is an island paradise, nestled among towering evergreens and set right on the water. As with most things Orcas, this home is…

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Warm Comfort

In a nutshell, this home is nestled on two acres overlooking a pond with stunning landscaping. For this design, I wanted to bring all the elements of the outdoors inside. I did this by using soft robin egg blue on the walls to mirror the sky, along with wood elements found in nature. By…

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Palatine Passive House

The Palatine Passive House by Architect Tiffany Bowie of Malboeuf Bowie Architecture was one of eight homes featured during the 2016 Seattle Modern Home Tour in April. Bowie, a certified passive house consultant, fielded questions from tour guests curious about…

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Mid-Century Makeover

Good things do come in small packages! Bringing back the bright was our design goal for this tiny ranch home. Every square foot…

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Distinctive Details

The owners of this Blaine residence wanted the finest in architectural construction as well as the most aesthetically compelling styling possible. The overall result is demonstrated in this beautiful floating staircase….

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Mid-century in Medina

An updated landscape is just what this Medina property needed after it underwent a major remodel. Heidi Skievaski of Sublime Garden Design delivered a landscape design and install that complemented the newly renovated mid-century exterior. One of the challenges of a landscape remodel is incorporating existing…

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Oops! Landscaping Mistakes

Oh it’s that time of year, time to plant and sow, to weed and cultivate. The sun is getting closer and brighter, the soil is warming up—it’s time to make the most of your landscape. There are a lot of ways it can…

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South Hill House

You know what it’s like when you paint your living room, and then the adjoining dining room looks drab, so you paint that, and the next thing you know, the kitchen, bath, and laundry room are all now newly painted? Well, a similar scenario played out in this beautiful South Hill home. What began as a renovation of a…

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Small Changes that Make a Big Difference

Though you probably haven’t convened your family members to hold a climate change summit in your living room, sometimes it can feel inordinately challenging to agree upon and make sustainable decisions…

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Color Theory

Over the years I have done hundreds of color consults. The basis of all my home designs — whether hanging art, furnishing a room, or doing a remodel — starts, and essentially ends, with color. Most people love color, but they are often overwhelmed by all the possibilities, and thus choose to do nothing. And then they are forever unhappy with their white walls. Let’s get out of…

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A Contemporary Coastal Landscape

For landscape designer and certified professional horticulturist Heidi Skievaski of Sublime Garden Design, an unsightly curtain drain that skirted a newly constructed high-bank waterfront home was a design challenge turned opportunity. Because of the home’s location on a coastal bluff, the curtain drain was there to stay. Picture an 18-inch swath of drain rock marring the backyard and access to the property’s exceptional views. Skievaski transformed the curtain drain into a meandering dry-stream…

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Beach Drive Remodel

As far as remodels are concerned, you might think that the most dramatic transformations are also the most expensive and the most complicated. The waterfront Beach Drive Remodel on Camano Island, executed by principal architect Dan Nelson of Designs Northwest Architects, proves these misconceptions wrong. The resulting transformation was so complete that neighbors believed it to be a newly…

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False Bay Writer’s Cabin

This stunning San Juan Island beauty is a perfect metaphor for a writer’s personality — open, receptive, and unguarded at times, and closed, private, and introspective at other times. A beautiful example of contemporary architecture, this cabin folds up into a neat little package, or opens up to a big, expansive view. The interior is thoughtfully designed…

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Northwest Modern Luxury Home – Featured Home

Perhaps the crown jewel of the entertainment space, a glassed-in wine display room showcases a wine library and is conveniently located near the wet bar, an upgrade from the traditional bottom-floor wine cellar.

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Outfitting Your Tiny House

Tiny houses make it difficult to squeeze these large appliances into a tiny footprint. Luckily, manufacturers have stepped up and sized down without sacrificing quality.

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Eldridge House – Featured Home

The couple set about remodeling, using mostly local artisans. The result? A comfortable, unpretentious, and yet artful home that accommodates family, friends, and even a lovely bald eagle who lurks in the trees above

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Net Zero House – Featured Home

Sean Haven of Haven Design workshop took on the challenge of designing and building a Net Zero house.

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Eco-friendly design

Considerations like direction of sunlight, storm runoff, window materials, and flooring are all part of the eco package.

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Bay View House – Featured Home

Natural textures like wood and stone complement the white walls and countertops.

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English High Bank Waterfront Home

The goal was to build a timeless waterfront escape—a vacation home on Camano Island with architectural character and traditional elements. “My clients wanted the home to feel as if it had been lived in before,” said principal architect Dan Nelson of Designs Northwest. Situated on an exceptionally steep…

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This Old Shed

For this remodel, my clients wanted to revamp an old shed. Fifty feet from the house, this outbuilding is the perfect place to create a space to entertain friends, have sleep-overs, watch movies, play games, have…

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House in the Field

Built to blend unobtrusively with its landscape, yet maximize views and interior space, the House in the Field takes the lines of a traditional ranch house and explodes them into beautiful angles and fascinating forms. Natural materials and an earthy palette complement the open land surrounding the house.

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Ramble On

Remodeling an Era If you are like me, you’ve driven around an older neighborhood at some point in your life, admiring homes with a certain style – long, low profiles with minimal exterior decor. You were probably…

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Creating Sanctuary Space

Find a corner, spruce it up Perhaps you need a spot for yoga, or a place to sit and read in the sun. Maybe you like to knit by the fire or watch the rain as you write in your journal. Whatever your interests, if you feel the need for a little corner of your own, we have some ideas. Dormer Window A dormer, even a squatty one, can usually accommodate someone in a…

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Bringing it Back: The Recycled Remodel

One of the features that makes our area so charming is in the way in which we preserve and restore…

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A Delight-ful Remodel

Homeowners Delight Green and Michael Newlight hired Craig Burling, owner and general contractor of CB Premier Construction, to build an addition onto the master suite of their creative Chuckanut Drive house. The 850 square foot addition included a bedroom, bathroom and closets, all with electric radiant heat. “The house is 41 years old and we…

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A Master Bath Worth Waiting For

Our master bath remodel had been a long time coming. It started in my head when we bought our 1920s Tudor in Bellingham 13 years ago. The unfinished attic had been remodeled in the 80s, and the bath was added then—good space, but the dark wallpaper, phone booth-sized shower…

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Lopez Island Getaway

When architect Don Larkin and his small Eastside architectural firm were asked to design a Lopez Island vacation home on the original foundation of a dilapidated cabin, he and his team drew upon the stunning views and quiet, driftwood-strewn bay below to create a sophisticated seaside escape. A stunning blend of Nantucket-meets-Northwest, this 2,900 square-foot home is…

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Fabulous Faux

The effect of faux tile finishes once depended on how light fell, how the sun or kitchen lights caught the pattern in the floor, how…

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Container Herb Gardens

Herb gardens are perfect for small spaces. They thrive on patios, balconies and even on your kitchen counter. Thyme, parsley, chives, oregano, cilantro and basil are common and satisfying herbs to grow. Herbs are among the easiest plants to nurture — all you need are containers to plant them…

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Brightening Your Bedroom

The Light Touch With incandescent bulbs disappearing in favor of more long-lasting light bulbs, finding light that has the right color temperature can be a challenge. Florescent light—as from compact florescent lamps—can look yellow and sickly, and LEDs can look too blue. Be sure to research the right temperatures for your taste. The packaging for alternative light…

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Remodel: Bring the Outdoors In

As the leaves fall and the cold air starts to blow, we find ourselves enjoying intimate moments in our homes once again. Now is the…

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Casual Contempo

In my recent project, I assembled an eclectic collection of furniture, which is neatly placed in a symmetrical living area layout. In this aesthetic, casual contemporary embraces stylish comfort. The arrangement of this living space makes it a great place for bringing people together and fostering conversation. Contemporary…

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Chuckanut House

In partnership with the Northwest Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, we selected this exquisite home perched above beautiful Chuckanut Bay. This project began as a remodel, but the needs of the family were greater than the existing house could provide, and a rebuild ended up being a more affordable option. A Feng Shui consultant reviewed the new design to ensure proper interior circulation, maximize air flow, increase light and…

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Vintage Industrial Redo

“Your home is whimsical, cozy, cottage, industrial with raw, organic elements, quirky focals and current styling. Am I close?” This was my first question after the initial consultation at my client’s rambler home in Snohomish. She has a flair for the eclectic, as well as many hand-me-downs that…

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Tiny Tack House

Q & A on the Tiny Tack House Bellingham Alive: What is your background and interest in building a tiny house? Malissa Tack: The Tiny Tack House was our first adventure building anything of this size. Both Christopher and myself had only constructed a few projects, back in our high school shop classes. So to us this was a large scale undertaking that we were both…

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Woodland Retreat

This issue we feature two small spaces that are nestled deep in the woods and surrounded by mature forest. The paths around the property teem with…

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Samish Island Cabin

This lovely house is located on the tip of Samish Island, just above high tide. It is owned by an oyster farmer who farms the surrounding waters of Samish Bay. Built to withstand harsh conditions — the salt, sand and constant breeze of the island elements — it’s…

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Farming Inspired Design

He’s a little bit country and she is a little bit rock ‘n roll, and the combination is something I call “organic modernism.” We combined the homeowners’ mementos, industrial pieces and warm textures to create a collection of oddities that satisfies their rustic-inspired living, giving them…

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Mod Redux: 1950’s Classic Gets Contemporary Update

Half old/half new, half vintage/half current, half refinished/half refreshed describes this throwback classic! A 50/’50s blend that bridges the decades with a touch of organic and man-made: What was popular then is popular now.

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Living Green – Lake Samish Home

Read about this Bellingham eco-friendly home, owned by Carlos Dinares and Julie Dykema towers just off the shore of Lake Samish.

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His Place

From boring basement to high-end man cave, designer Tanna Barnecut takes us on a journey of transformation…

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Design Trends – Colorful, Cultural & Clever

Give your home its own unique look, inspired by today’s design trends.

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The Morii Spooky the Merrier | Morii Mercantile

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A Couple’s Forest Hideaway | The Gravel Pit, Legend Homes

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A Better Use of Space: Why Backyard Studios Are Taking Root in the Pacific Northwest | Coast Studios

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Standing on the Edge of the Perfect Family Home | The Edgemoor House

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Bellingham Blinds, Done Right | Bindi and Bird

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Modern Environmental Design | 2602 Woburn, Legend Homes

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All Arrows Aim For The Greenhouse | Arrows Aim Greenhouse & Supply Co.

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Converted for Connection | Casali Construction and Remodeling

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Local Shop Makes Biking Accessible in Birch Bay | Birch Bay Bike Shop

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Smarter, Healthier, and More Sustainable: The Cable Street Project | A1DesignBuild

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Something Special Skagit | Wild Bird Supply

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The Waterfront | Christine Coder Design

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A Contemporary Curation of Craftsmanship | Bitters Co.

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From Basement to Bespoke | A Whidbey Island Retreat Built for Living Well

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It’s Never Too Late for Fate | Joe Treat

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Magic in the Making

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Creating Waves in the Glassblowing Community | David Wight Glass Art

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A Retro Cabin that Stands the Test of Time | Arch House

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A New Chapter for Gift Shopping in Fairhaven | Azzurra

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Where History Lives and Legacy Endures | The Shields Home

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An Artisan Woodworker with an Eye for Geometric Magic | Geometric Forest

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Inspired by Travel, Rooted in Seattle | Axiom Design Build

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Sustainable Growth Mindset | Goose Creek Flowers

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Backyard Beekeeping | Northwest Apiary Services

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Countryside Equestrian ‘Hipstoric’ Farmhouse Kitchen | TANNA BY DESIGN

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Your Best Sleep Is This Family’s Dream | Northwest Sleep Solutions

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eHAB: A Small, Rugged, Prefabricated Structure…for Anywhere | E. Cobb Architects Partners

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Inspirational Designs in Kitchen & Bath

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Looking for Help Making Your Space More Chic? | Schieck Spaces

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Blending Old and New for an Elegant Result | Littlebird Cabinetry

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The Family That Frames Together | Wilson Picture Framing

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Bringing a Mount Vernon Home Into the 21st Century | True Bearing Built

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A Farmhouse Renovation That Manages to Be Both Rustic and Modern | TANNA BY DESIGN

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Winter Wonderland

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Creating a Tablescape for the Holidays

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Functionality + History in South Hill | A1DesignBuild

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Fox Net-Zero Energy Home

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Outdoor Patio Refresh | TANNA BY DESIGN

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Home Decor from A-Z

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Inspiring Creativity | Elisabeth’s Cottage by the Sea