Birch Bay View

Birch Bay View

by | Jan 26, 2026

Birch Bay View

 

As the name suggests, Birch Bay View sits right across the street from Birch Bay with epic views of the water and easy access to the beach.  Since the lot is within a tsunami zone, appropriate future-proofing was necessary. In this case, the zoning required that the house be raised 4’ off the ground. Fortunately, this just added more visibility of the scenery. The permitting process, which is always done in-house, took a full year in order to obtain the major variance.

While this home sits high above the water, the clients shared that while demolishing the run-down homemade cabin that used to reside on the lot, they discovered that their cabin, like many cabins on the road, was built on tree stumps instead of a proper foundation. Having such a large foundation on the new house isn’t ideal for the home’s carbon footprint, but at least this one will stand the test of time better than the stumps that came before it.

Lovingly nicknamed the trailer house, the lot size required that the house be long and skinny to fit on the infill lot, mimicking the client’s previous vacation trailer home a few lots over where they spent many years visiting while growing up. Birch Bay View was also designed to house the client’s children, grandchildren and friends for years to come. Although the first floor isn’t currently built to accommodate aging-in-place due to the front steps, the first floor is otherwise designed to be accessible when the clients are older. The home was designed to be able to easily install a ramp over the stairs in the future to make it fully accessible.

 

 

Specs

  • Overview:
    • 3000sf SFR
    • 7 bedroom, 7 bathroom
    • Net zero energy
    • Passive solar heating/cooling design
    • Insulation: R-29 walls & R-45 ceiling
    • Air Sealing: 0.59ACH
    • HERS Index: -4
    • Certifications: DOE Zero Energy Ready Home certified, ENERGY STAR certified, EPA Indoor airPLUS certified, anticipated Built Green 5-star certified
  • Mechanical:
    • Ventilation: Fantech Hero 250 with built in HEPA filter. Built-in humidity, temperature, and CO2
    • Heating/Cooling: Chilltrix CX-34; hydronic radiant floor heating downstairs and 2 fan coil unit
    • PV: 10.32kW solar array with Tesla Powerwall 3 backup battery
  • Selections:
    • Hardie lap, panel and shingle siding
    • T&G cedar soffits
    • Taylor Metal Easylock aluminum roofing with Alumiguard coating in Zinc Gray
    • Hemlock trim & doors
    • VOC and formaldehyde-free hickory flooring — Vintage Natural Hickory Northern Solid Sawn
    • Locally made custom cherry shaker cabinets
    • Quartzite countertops — MSI Calcatta Abezzo
    • LED lighting
    • WaterSense plumbing fixtures
    • ENERGY STAR appliances and induction range
    • Balanced range hood
    • No/Low-VOC finishes
    • Triple pane, Low-E coated, argon-filled locally manufactured vinyl windows
2602 Woburn

2602 Woburn

by | Dec 10, 2025

2602 Woburn

Originally designed to be co-housing with the intent of multiple family units buying/rent in, this home is ahead of its time. The first floor was designed for aging-in-place with all the necessary home components to accommodate someone with mobility impairments, while the second floor has 4 additional spacious bedrooms for a wide variety of room layouts and uses along with 2 full bathrooms. Both floors also have washer and dryer hookups. 2602 Woburn is perfect for a large or multi-generational family unit, or a group of friends.

Located walking distance to a main shopping/eating/recreation center and with a main bus stop right outside, this home doesn’t need a garage and encourages transportation by foot, bike or public transportation.

 

 

Specs

  • Overview:
    • 2000sf SFR
    • 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom
    • Net Zero Energy
    • Passive solar heating/cooling design
    • Insulation: R-29 walls & R-45 ceiling
    • Air Sealing: 0.34ACH
    • HERS Index: -4
    • Certifications: DOE Zero Energy Ready Home certified, ENERGY STAR certified, EPA Indoor airPLUS certified, anticipated Built Green 4-star certified
  • Mechanical:
    • Ventilation: Fantech Hero 250 with built in HEPA filter. Built-in humidity, temperature, and CO2
    • Heating/Cooling: Chilltrix CX-50; hydronic radiant floor heating downstairs and 1 fan coil unit
    • PV: 9.84kW solar array
  • Selections:
    • Hardie lap and panel siding
    • Cedar siding and posts at entry
    • Taylor Metal Easylock steel roofing
    • Rotary birch & VanAir doors
    • Hemlock trim
    • Acid stained concrete at first floor
    • FloorScore certified laminate flooring on second floor
    • Locally made custom maple-ply cabinets
    • Quartz countertops
    • LED lighting
    • WaterSense faucets and toilets
    • ENERGY STAR appliances and induction range
    • Balanced range hood
    • No/Low-VOC finishes
    • Triple pane, Low-E coated, argon-filled locally manufactured vinyl windows
The Gravel Pit

The Gravel Pit

by | Sep 24, 2025

The Gravel Pit

Sitting in an old quarry gravel pit turned gated community, this home was built to be a couple’s forest hide-away. Designed to mimic the Fox Net Zero Home, it features an aging-in-place first floor and clearstory second floor. Due to the CC&Rs in this community, the owners were required to build a home at least 2,500sf big but did not need all that space. The solution was to create a second floor loft that was designed to be converted into several bedrooms by future homeowners, should it be needed.

The build was completed beautifully by our field crew, with love and attention put into every detail.

 

 

Specs

  • Overview:
    • 2500sf SFR with 624sf garage
    • 2 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom
    • Net Zero Energy
    • Passive solar heating/cooling design
    • Insulation: R-29 walls & R-49 ceiling
    • Air Sealing: 0.37ACH
    • HERS Index: -28
    • Certifications: DOE Zero Energy Ready Home certified, ENERGY STAR certified, EPA Indoor airPLUS certified, anticipated Built Green 5-star certified
  • Mechanical:
    • Ventilation: Fantech Hero 250 with built in HEPA filter. Built-in humidity, temperature, and CO2
    • Heating/Cooling: Chilltrix CX-34; hydronic radiant floor heating downstairs and 2 fan coil units
    • PV: 13.02kW solar array
  • Selections:
    • Hardie lap siding
    • T&G cedar siding and soffits at entry
    • Taylor Metal Easylock steel roofing in Cool Roof certified white
    • Rotary birch doors & hemlock trim
    • Acid stained concrete at first floor
    • GreenGuard Gold Bamboo Flooring – EcoForest Mocha Locking Stranded Bamboo
    • Custom Plyboo cabinets
    • Custom stainless-steel countertops in kitchen
    • LED lighting
    • WaterSense plumbing fixtures
    • ENERGY STAR appliances
    • Balanced range hood
    • No/Low-VOC finishes
    • Triple pane, Low-E coated, argon-filled vinyl windows

Forest Run

Forest Run

by | Sep 27, 2024

Forest Run

Out on a secluded lot in the County, Forest Run home is a peaceful retreat for retirement.  The lot entices you to pull up a chair and just listen to the birds, frogs, bugs and furry critters in the surrounding forest. Once inside, you feel a sense of coziness by the warm-toned finishes, but still have a great connection to the idyllic nature surrounding the home through the large and strategically placed windows.

Unfortunately, during excavation the foundation trench became a big muddy pond due to the clay-rich soil. This resulted in many days suited up in waders and rubber boots. During the foundation pour, we made the choice to use less fly ash in the concrete mix than we would normally because of the cold temperatures and soupy ground. For context, we try to use as much fly ash as we can to reduce the foundation’s embodied carbon. But sometimes compromises have to be made in order to create a more robust structure.

Overall, Forest Run was a fun project to do, with some twist and turns along the way. We are so honored to have built our second-time client another home!

 

Specs

  • Overview:

    • 1234sf SFR & 1152sf unconditioned garage/shop
    • 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom + bonus loft
    • Net Zero Energy
    • Aging-in-place design
    • Passive solar heating/cooling design
    • Insulation: R-29 walls & R-45 ceiling
    • Air Sealing: 0.46ACH
    • Certifications: DOE Zero Energy Ready Home certified, ENERGY STAR certified, EPA Indoor airPLUS certified, anticipated Built Green 5-star certified

    Mechanical:

    • Ventilation: Fantech Hero 250 with built in HEPA filter. Built-in humidity, temperature, and CO2
    • Heating/Cooling: Fujitsu 18RL mini-split
    • PV: 5.04kW solar array

    Selections:

    • Cedar siding & soffits
    • Lifetime warrantied asphalt roof
    • Fir trim & doors
    • GREENGUARD Gold certified oak flooring
    • Custom maple plywood cabinets
    • Quartzite countertops
    • LED lighting
    • WaterSense plumbing fixtures
    • ENERGY STAR appliances
    • Balanced range hood
    • No/Low-VOC finishes
    • Triple pane, Low-E coated, argon-filled vinyl windows

          Fox Net Zero House

          Fox Net Zero House

          by | Nov 28, 2023

          Fox Net Zero Home

          Started in the winter, building the Fox Home was not without its challenges, but the challenges ended up working in our favor in the end and producing this beautiful and unique home. Right off the bat, after we poured the concrete slab, the weather turned and frosted. As we saved the slab from freezing using plastic sheets and hay, the wind kicked up and caused the hay to come into direct contact with the slab as it was curing. The hay interacted with the concrete and caused what turned out to be really cool color undulations which add to the home’s character. Now we are intentionally adding this option for future clients who want some extra pizzaz in their concrete floors!

          We always love when clients add their personal touches to a home as well, and in this case that personal touch was in the form of a repurposed trash receptacle laundry chute!

           

          Specs

          • Overview:

            • 1978sf SFR &  876sf garage
            • 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath SFR
            • Net Zero Energy
            • 1st floor aging-in-place
            • Passive solar heating/cooling design
            • Insulation: R-29 walls & R-45 ceiling
            • Air Sealing: 0.18 ACH50
            • HERS Index: -2
            • Annual Energy Cost Savings: $2,800
            • Certifications: DOE Zero Energy Ready Home certified, ENERGY STAR certified, EPA Indoor airPLUS certified, anticipated Built Green 5-star certified

            Mechanical:

            • Ventilation: Fantech Hero 250 with built in HEPA filter. Built-in humidity, temperature, and CO2
            • Heating/Cooling: Chilltrix CX-34; hydronic radiant floor heating downstairs and fan coil unit
            • PV: 9kW solar array with Enphase microinverters and battery ready

            Selections:

            • Thermatru exterior doors
            • Certified Cool Roof metal roofing
            • Birch doors and hemlock trim
            • Floor Score certified vinyl flooring & zero-VOC, anti-microbial underlayment
            • Quartz countertops
            • Thrifted plumbing fixtures
            • Europly maple cabinets
            • LED lighting
            • WaterSense plumbing fixtures
            • ENERGY STAR appliances
            • No/Low-VOC finishes
            • Triple pane, Low-E coated, argon-filled vinyl windows