This Sandy Point home in Ferndale was designed with windows, airy comfort and the outdoors in mind. Views of the Strait of Georgia and Sucia Island dominate the house’s west side. Ground-floor living and space above for family and houseguests is a priority. The home features two master suites, one on the first level and another on the second, plus more bedrooms on the uppermost floor. Alexei Ford, the home’s designer and general contractor, also owns Bellingham’s Ruckus Art Gallery, and his creative influence shows—interior trim was kept to a minimum to accentuate artwork and larger architectural elements. With the home situated on a half-acre of waterfront, the owners enjoy entertaining and nature, with beach walks a part of most days.
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- Large slabs of composite Pennsylvania bluestone add visual warmth to that from the fireplace itself. Asian design influences are seen in the bright Persian carpet and bamboo flooring.
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- A 1950s Danish teak table highlights the home’s Great Room on the first level. Lighting lends an art gallery feel to the wall’s framed prints.
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- Water-facing windows, including the upper level’s large gabled one, connect living spaces and the outdoors. To maintain the view from the second-level master suite, the new metal roof is kept low, and shades fold into the ceiling on the ground floor for the same reason.
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- Chuckanut sandstone, from the riprap removed from Bellingham’s Marine Park during an improvement project, provide a local landscaping accent just outside.
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- The outbuilding in back was originally a carriage house that was completely refurbished from the foundation up. One of the first residential structures built on the point, today it houses the owner’s hobby shop.
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- Around this corner, a covered picnic spot close to the kitchen makes outdoor eating a breeze. A section of the house-long concrete patio makes an ideal spot for boot-washing and crab-cleaning.
Builder | Ian Hamilton, Seattle
Designer | Alexei Ford Design Studio, Bellingham
Photographer | Tim Chandonnet, Bellingham
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