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…
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 turned to what was beneath their feet: a daylight basement and crawlspace with untapped potential. They envisioned more than just additional square footage. It needed to connect the basement to the stunning view and serve as the primary spot for entertaining friends and family. Working closely with interior designer Robin…
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 animals, culturally significant totems, and beautiful, bright landscape paintings. Here are just some of the Northwest’s local artists who’ve unlocked the magic within. Yvonne Buijs-Mancuso Encaustic painting involves mixing color pigment into beeswax and…
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…
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…
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 refined and serene storefront in Fairhaven was anything but typical. “It was a long-held…
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 roots planted in 1905, this stately residence at 2234 Main Street consists of more…
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 in Whatcom County, near Ferndale. His custom woodworking career…
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, who designed the home for their own…
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 Germany to Lummi Island,” where she lived next door to Full Bloom Farm. Helping them grow produce and peonies…
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 Services makes this possible. Co-Founders Monica Burdette and Karly Kerr are beyond passionate about making beekeeping local, sustainable, and accessible. Every county and city has different sets of rules to abide by when it…
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…
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…
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 working on projects across the country, each with distinct and specific environmental challenges: meeting seismic stability requirements, solutions for high-wind zones, and structural integrity to withstand heavy snow loads. Cobb saw a common thread—the need for…
Inspirational Designs in Kitchen & Bath
Check out our March 2025 feature: Inspirational Designs in Kitchen & Bath!
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 doing food? And truly, I don’t…
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 elements with the existing cabinetry in a…
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 be expensive, especially if you…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 to be closer to their kids, as well as enjoy the beauty of Bellingham. Being avid hikers, they knew they were in…
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…
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 maximized functionality and made optimal use of the expansive area. Comfortable seating areas, a dining section, and a sunbathing spot…
Home Decor from A-Z
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, Jewelry, Antiques, Vintage, and Furniture. All of these are part of Elisabeth’s Cottage by the Sea, an eclectic business run by Elisabeth and Tom Freeland. The Freelands, originally from Arizona,…
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…
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 the property provides a convenient place to drop skis, boots, and any other less-than clean gear. The home’s central feature is the vaulted…
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,…
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 Samish Solar Home On top of being well ventilated and highly insulated, their home is also highly energy and water efficient, produces more than enough electricity to…
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…
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,”…
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…
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…
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 are excited about what the future holds! You also have…
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, while still giving them space to host family and friends on a lower floor. This…
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. From a one-of-a-kind vanity (designed by moi!) to the slab porcelain tile…
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…
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 and seasonal creek, this award-winning, net-zero energy home fosters a deep relationship to nature. Further enhanced by its outdoor amenities and its proximity to the Mount Baker Wilderness Area, the property invites the inhabitants to spend time outside recreating and visiting with one another. Upon returning from…
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, and the ceramics class was the most hands-on. I had no idea I would fall in love with it and pursue it after high school. I bought my own wheel and kiln…
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 his artwork to every corner of the globe, and continues to hone his craft and add to his certified body of work. Photo courtesy of…
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…
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 before you…” That is how Jeff Nelson, owner of GreenCoast Cedarworks, describes the start of his workday. Sounds like a pretty sweet…
Top Remodel Trends 2023
March Feature
Within the Walls: The McCarthys’ Story
Featured Home
Custom Is Key
Maiben Fixtures and Furnishings
Budding, Blossoming, Blooming
bLoom
The Makings of a Multi-Functional Home Gym
Tanna by Design
Eclectic and Artisan Goods in Edison
Hedgerow
Q&A: Meet a Private Christmas Tree Decorator
Noam Moore, Concept Design, LLC
At Home for the Holidays
Ideas to turn your home into an iconic holiday haven
Household Holiday Gifts Made Close to Home
King Dahl Creative
New Construction, New Beginnings
Robin Daly Color & Design
Family-Owned Furniture
Samuel’s Furniture
Creating a One-of-a-Kind Fireplace
Amy Popelka of Tac Tile Company
The House in a Hollow
Feature Home, designed by TC Legend Homes
New Slab Gallery Encourages Connection to Design
Stone Pros Inc.
A Community of Clay
Circa
Whatcom County’s Best-Kept Secret
Eliza Island
Home Styling by Season
August Feature
Moving Isn’t Always the Answer
Remodeling from a Realtor’s Perspective
Where Desert Meets the Sea
Dry Dock Goods
15 Insider Tips a Home Buyer Should Know
Home Buyer Tips
A New Frontier for Northview Homes at Larrabee Springs
Featured Home
Anacortes Cliffside Cabin
Featured Home
Molly Maguire: Landscape Architect
Landscape
Remodeling Reality
Faith Ulate
Making Magic with Metal
KP Metalworks
Art Deco Dream Home
Featured Home
Raising the Bar for Rentals
Remodel
Q&A with David Falk Design
David Falk Design
Level Up
Home Upgrades by Room
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.
Pursuing a Passion for Clay
Crowe Potter
San Juan Cliffside Retreat
Featured Home
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 its ‘70s era knowing the new…
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 Alec Berkman. Even before finding the perfect lot on the Semiahmoo golf course, they had a good idea of the…
The Infinite Potential of Tile
Debbie Dickinson Studios
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…
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:…
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
Get Comfy (and Sustainable) with Comphy Sheets
Comphy Sheets
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…
Fresh Space Gets a Fresh Space
Fresh Space Redesign
The Architect Who Fell in Love With Kitchens
Marshall Dobry, Kitchen Design Studio
Interior Trends
Four Designers Speak to Four Trends
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.
Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association Celebrates 30 Years of Restoration & Education
Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association
Cady Mountain Tower House
Featured Home
Elevating Personal Health, One Holistic Space at a Time
SoMi Spaces
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,…
Home Goods, Art, and More at Perry and Carlson
Perry & Carlson
Whales, Water, and Quiet in Semiahmoo
Featured Home
A Room of One’s Own…to Share With Guests
Remodel
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.
A Beginner’s Guide to Going Green at Home
Make your home more sustainable with tips on waste and energy reduction.
New Mount Vernon Design Center Honors Sustainability and Creativity
Pinecone Inc.
Skagit-Based Company Creates Furniture Just for Kids
Kozy Kids Chairs
La Pedrera Net Zero House
Going Green Is Easier Than You Think
Spice up Your Interiors
Options Cabinetry
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.
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…
Q&A with Gardening Expert Ciscoe Morris
Check out this Q&A for tips on how to make your spring garden flourish.
Eastern Washington Hideout
Tucked away among a grove of ponderosa pines in Okanogan County, this dreamy treetop hideaway marries imagination and design.
Designing a Dream
Washington Interior Designer, Tanna Edler, receives National Kitchen Designer of the Year Award
Dream Workout Room
Creating the Perfect Home Gym
Decorating with Garland
Garlands Galore! Make your own holiday décor with these unique DIY ideas.
First Hill Condo Remodel
This project was all about layering neutrals in a soft, subtle, and sculptural way.
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…
A Family Getaway in the Trees
This treetop getaway is a dream come true for adults and children alike.
Anything Is Possible
Updating an Old-Fashioned Kitchen
Farmhouse with a Modern Twist
This Featured Home from Highline Construction is a modern day farmhouse with practical and functional designs.
Thirty Years and Counting
Aqui Esta Tile and Stone
Falling For White Pumpkins
Want an elegant twist on fall decor? Try using white pumpkins to bring autumn into your home.
DIY Shoe Rack
How to turn an old closet door into a shoe shelf
Putting the Stain in Sustainable
Bellingham Professional Finsihes
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.
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.
Modern Ranch on the Farm
Modern meets rustic and vintage meets industrial in this farmhouse remodel.
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.
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.
DIY Coasters with Photos and Artwork
Enjoy cool drinks while keeping your furniture safe, with these unique DIY coasters.
Quality Furniture in Anacortes
Tracys Furniture brings quality craftsmanship and customer service to the homeowners of Anacortes.
Lake Neighborhood Guide
Explore the best of Lakeside Living with this month’s feature: a Lake Neighborhood Guide.
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.
Build Your Own Greenhouse from Recycled Solar Glass
Looking for your next sustainable DIY project? Try this greenhouse made out of solar glass.
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 paper.” We love these messages! But as much as…
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.
Dream En Suite
An out-of-date bathroom gets transformed into an elegant and airy en suite.
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.
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!
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.
Lake Whatcom House
This house on Lake Whatcom offers comfort and beauty all year long.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Inside Out
Interior designer Jennifer Ryan provides readers with a guide to creating beautiful and functional outdoor spaces in the Pacific Northwest.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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…
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.
Farmhouse Kitchen
This beautiful Farmhouse Kitchen remodel was designed by Jennifer Ryan. See the end results of the makeover with Katheryn Moran Photography.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Inspired By Roots
Interior designer Tanna Edler answers her most frequently asked questions about home design including inspirations and tips and tricks.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. Updating the fixtures and bringing the “look” to the current century was my clients’ first request. Next, they wanted to brighten the space…
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 a four-suite…
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 was “How do we keep the water in the tub?” My clients wanted to…
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.
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…
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 three-bedroom, two-bath…
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…
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, and in the desired location —but it’s lacking charm and style, what do you do? This is what my some of my interior decorator clients purchased last year. Right away they knew they wanted to make some changes. But they were unsure of what to do and…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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….
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 five, the house was also due for an expansion, and a bedroom and bathroom was added to produce a total four-bedroom, four-bath lake house. Built in 1996 and…
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….
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 might end with the wrong result. Combining hints of contemporary with a nod of tradition is a popular request. And, then, there are those few flea markets finds and grandmas heirlooms that often find their way into the final concept. In design, rules were meant to be…
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…
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…
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 two years, Sam Carver Gym at Western Washington University will re-open its doors — just in time for fall sports. Your first chance to watch a Western team play in the new gym will be on September 19, when Western women’s volleyball hosts NCAA Div. II rival Simon Fraser University. Events are open to the public,…
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 elegance of its surroundings, just off Roche Harbor. The original logs, whitewashed to create a freshness…
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…
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 construction projects. It was built using hempcrete, a cement-like mixture that’s made from combining the inner core…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 named The Larrabee…
Rustic & Reclaimed
Bath Renovation Antique wood and a sliding barn door in a bathroom? Say it isn’t so! Yes, that is exactly what we incorporated in this recent remodel and the…
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…
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 put down year-round roots. And a foundation. This renovated kitchen was the final flourish to…
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…
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…
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 expansive views…
Broadway Beauty
The beautiful thing about ranch-style houses is the way in which a good designer can open up the interior, build in…
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 they can call their own. This is the reason I became a designer. My clients contacted me after purchasing the Edgewater Place condominium that had been built by Ron Barter and…
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…
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 property’s former owner was an architect who designed and built the…
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 the perfect balance of architectual distinction and cabin-like intimacy. The natural wood beams and finishes complement each other, incorporating the context of the surrounding woods while offering expansive views of the water. The stone fireplace and mantel give the main living area a focal point….
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…
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…
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 was important; therefore, scale and proportion played a huge role in this little…
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. The steel supports were incorporated into the framing. The walls were then added, then the treads. The sturdy,…
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 elements. For example, homeowners desired to keep the giant Empress tree that functioned as…
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…
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…
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 at home. Ask anyone who has recently shopped for furnishings, upgraded appliances, or planned a build or remodel. World leaders seem to face similar challenges in agreeing upon how to go about making more sustainable decisions. As 2015 came to an…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.
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.
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
Net Zero House – Featured Home
Sean Haven of Haven Design workshop took on the challenge of designing and building a Net Zero house.
Eco-friendly design
Considerations like direction of sunlight, storm runoff, window materials, and flooring are all part of the eco package.
Bay View House – Featured Home
Natural textures like wood and stone complement the white walls and countertops.
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…
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…
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…
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 touring an…
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…
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 houses and buildings from our past. With the RE Store, Skagit Salvage and antique stores galore, it’s not difficult to find…
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…
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…
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…
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 the tile felt underfoot…
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…
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…
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 time to bring the outdoors in through décor. This project incorporates native items that resulted in a nature-inspired interior design…
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…
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…
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 are absolutely gorgeous. After meeting with her, it…
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,…
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 wildlife, the trees are alive with…
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 solidly built and yet graceful. Amenities include heated concrete floors without a crawlspace, which is ideal for minimum maintenance. The…
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 the luxurious lodge look…
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.
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.
His Place
From boring basement to high-end man cave, designer Tanna Barnecut takes us on a journey of transformation…
Design Trends – Colorful, Cultural & Clever
Give your home its own unique look, inspired by today’s design trends.