What started for me as great exercise in creative writing has atrophied into this maybe once a year summation of years going by, too quickly. The original premise of sharing ideas and creative solutions to problems is still valid but the practical reality of putting pen to paper has fallen away badly. I would love to say everything will be different again but....
2015 and most of 2016 were very productive in the completion of two full sized homes, a modern style cabin and a huge, by our standards, car barn, completing the year with a remodel of an older log cabin. All of the projects were completely Shadowline designed. I put it in those terms because many of our projects in the past have evolved from less than fully developed ideas started by others that for one reason or another just weren't flying on their own. Everything we have been involved over the last couple of years has been a product of these many years of life experience that roll around in my aging brain cavity. For this post I will focus on the two most recent complete homes.
The first home started with just a "make it something special" directive from the client. Not an unlimited budget by any means but adequate to do it right by the standards of previous "special" homes we have been honored to be involved with. At about 2300 square feet I was able to let it become fully featured without spatial or pragmatic constraints, three bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, large community spaces and a fully configured master suite. The design was very driven by its site overlooking the Chewuch River, incorporating extensive decks and covered porches that provide visual and direct access to the enticing outdoors spaces.
Home number two was actually an evolution of the first. In this case the building site was set among towering fir and pine but its views were of large meadows falling away to the rising and untouched mountains beyond. Providing an expansive feeling at first entry to this home was achieved by a step down primary living space. The entry expands into the taller dining, kitchen and family areas with bookcase towers and half walls to give definition to the otherwise open spaces. The mountain feel of the exterior was enhanced with 6x6 corbel braces, 10" shake siding and rusted steel wainscot paneling. Again, extensive outdoors spaces celebrate the natural beauty of our area.
Since this is an end of year dialogue I will take the opportunity to wish us all a happy, safe and healthy new year.
The first home started with just a "make it something special" directive from the client. Not an unlimited budget by any means but adequate to do it right by the standards of previous "special" homes we have been honored to be involved with. At about 2300 square feet I was able to let it become fully featured without spatial or pragmatic constraints, three bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, large community spaces and a fully configured master suite. The design was very driven by its site overlooking the Chewuch River, incorporating extensive decks and covered porches that provide visual and direct access to the enticing outdoors spaces.
