Ticking the Boxes Without Breaking the Bank
Sometimes a homebuyer’s vision is bigger than their budget. In the case of this Port Angeles home build, Estes Builders helped turn the couple’s dreams into a more practical reality.
Ticking the Boxes Without Breaking the Bank
Sometimes a homebuyer’s vision is bigger than their budget. In the case of this Port Angeles home build, Estes Builders helped turn the couple’s dreams into a more practical reality.
Large Wood Framed Windows Bring the Natural Setting Indoors
When the empty-nesters came to Estes with a more spendy premade plan, the builder’s in-house architect developed a similar contemporary style but streamlined the design to improve efficiencies. This included modifying and moving rooms around to eliminate redundancies and waste in the framing and mechanicals. A switch to engineered trusses rather than hand-framing also trimmed costs.
The result was no less stunning, set off by a distinctive shed-style roof for a butterfly effect. The detached garage/shop echo a similar roofline. On the rear of the home, the roof extends over an indent in the floor plan, creating a covered deck area with built-in bench seating for outdoor living near-year round—a key element on the couple’s wish list.
To create variation on the façade without spending money on masonry, Estes’ team blended fiber cement lap siding with 7” and 4” exposures. A single exposed glulam beam along the roofline adds a pop of texture and a nod to the warmer tones inside the home.
Prior to the build, excess groundwater and standing water necessitated an engineered drainage plan, along with extra-cautious excavation of the driveway. Estes also brought in soil amendments and added height to the crawlspace to accommodate.
The clean lines continue inside, but the modern vibe relaxes with incorporation of exposed wood on the ceilings, wood window trim, stone accents, and dark bronze light fixtures.
One must-have for the homeowners was volume, which Estes achieved by using the dramatic roof pitches to create 16- to 18-foot ceilings in the great room and guest room. A two-story stone accent wall behind the wood stove, double-height windows, and transoms amplify the visual effect and contribute to the open, airy layout.
A wish list item the homeowners weren’t willing to sacrifice was the kitchen cabinets, which are custom-made with a vertical-grain fir that is warm and rich yet modern. An exposed pantry with built-in open shelving extends the look.
In the master bathroom, Estes further preserved space by combining the shower and tub into a singular enclosure of large-format 20-by-20 porcelain tile. A wide window floods the area with light and brings the feeling of the natural woodsy setting indoors.
Each element, from outside to inside, contributes to the clients’ vision for a contemporary-yet-cozy home—and a dream come to life
