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 remodeling in mind. They wanted
to upgrade the building performance, so they hired Jason
Bourne of Bourne Engineering, they updated the layout,
refinished all the surfaces, added a mud room, and then
improved the landscaping. The eco-conscious owners
created a rain garden to handle onsite stormwater runoff.
The owners used Sustainable Resources’ Community
Energy Challenge for ensuring their house was as energy
efficient as possible. The Community Energy Challenge is a
great resource for homeowners who want to make cost-
effective energy-efficient upgrades to their homes. It is
also a green jobs program that hires vetted local
contractors who do excellent work.
The remodel affected every room in the house. The owners
added an entry room and mud room, had the ceilings
vaulted, removed walls, paneled the ceiling with fir, and much
more. All of the cabinets were built by Jeffery Elkins of
Renew Wood with reclaimed Douglas Fir lumber from the old
Towner Press building in downtown Bellingham.
Building performance measures included insulating and
air sealing the home, installing a mini-split heat pump and
heat recovery ventilator, and adding solar panels and selecting
locally manufactured high performance Euroline windows.
The overall design feels bright and open, with warm fir
tones. A live edge wooden counter invites guests to linger. The
skylights bring bright sunshine in from above. Inviting,
efficient, and open—this home’s remodel was definitely worth
the construction dust.
Special thanks to Jenny Rae of Chuckanut Builders.
Contractor | Chuckanut Builders
Architect | [bundle] Design Studio
Landscaping | Molly Maguire
