I recently read a great WestSound Home and Garden Magazine article by Molly Erin McCabe, “Much Ado About Countertops.” The topic of countertops has fascinated me for some time — a level, utilitarian surface that ends unobstructed or with a wall. How does one design or decide what items to place on kitchen counter corners? […]
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Posted inFeatured, Home
Designing and Building with Chemical Sensitivity in Mind
Most design projects begin by drafting and prioritizing the client’s wish list. At the top of the list you will typically find more storage, better lighting, updated finishes, etc. However, when a homeowner has multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS), the priorities change, with indoor air quality and chemical-free maintenance hitting the top of the list. As […]
Posted inAt Home, Blog
How to Select the Proper Seat Height for Best Comfort
At a restaurant in Seattle recently, we opted for the privacy and comfort of booth seating. When our dinners arrived, however, we ended up eating with high elbows. As it happens frequently in restaurants, the banquette/booth seat cushions were simply too low in relation to the height of the table. The magic number for the […]
Posted inFeatured, People & Places
A Tale of Two Sisters and Their Gardens
Sisters Jean Boyle and Bethany McDonald live in Suquamish just a short walk from each other. They are often mistaken for twins but one is actually older than the other by nearly two years. McDonald has gardened in Suquamish for 35 years, but Jean became an avid gardener only 18 years ago when she and […]
Posted inFeatured, People & Places
Eight Degrees of Inspiration
A constricted waterfront lot. Complicated drain field regulations. Dreams of an elegant yet budget-conscious home. Hardly a job for the average architect. What the owners of this construction conundrum at the mouth of Fletcher Bay needed was a puzzle master, and they found him in Bainbridge Island’s Peter Brachvogel. Not only does this architect have […]
Posted inPeople & Places
New Life… for an Old Art
When Donna McKeever stumbled upon a rug-braiding class about two decades ago, she fell in love with this nearly lost art. Not only did she find her creative outlet, she wanted to inspire others to pursue it as well. “It’s a very simple art form yet there’s a lot of beauty and simplicity to it,” […]
Posted inFeatured, Home
Much Ado About Countertops
Countertops are the workhorse of both the kitchen and the bathroom. They perform a myriad of tasks including food preparation, writing surface for bill paying and homework, buffet serving space, supporting small appliances, facilitating daily hygiene routines and more. They are subjected to a wide variety of abuses including hot pots, acidic foods, alcohol-based personal […]
Posted inFeatured, Home
Your Great Room — Six Beautiful Ways to Create Zones That All Go Together
Most of us love a great room. It’s a latter-day architectural concept that suits a casual lifestyle and allows everyone to talk to the cook and help out with dinner. Perfect for the casual living of the 21st century. Here are some easy design tips to implement in your own home right away: Create zones […]
Posted inFeatured, Home
The Captured Garden
In the summer of 1829, Dr. Nathaniel Ward placed the chrysalis of an adult sphinx moth in an enclosed glass container so he could observe the moth’s emergence. The soil he placed in the container sprouted seeds and spores, as natural soils will do. He fully expected the germinated plants to die off in the […]