A deck on the western end of the house has painted steel railings. The canted trim is metal flashing (used for waterproofing) that matches the prefinished metal roofing. Throughout the house, Marvin windows allow a flood of natural light.
“We wanted to keep as many hemlocks and other healthy trees intact as possible on the site. The house was woven through them. It feels like living in a tree house.” —Trish Cheng, Client
which the clients wanted to keep “clean, streamlined, and contemporary,” he says. Plus, there was the addition of the twins to consider. “We basically started from scratch,” Bull explains. “There were some spaces that are generally in the same location, like the kitchen and the living room, but the rest of the spaces were completely reconfigured. It was a bit of a jigsaw puzzle as the edge of the structure defined the limits of the space.” The Chengs had originally planned to install a lap pool running through the upper level, but with the arrival of the girls, who are now 10, they decided they wanted more functional footage for the growing family. Bull integrated a portion of the pool space into the study and a new project room for the girls. The rest went into a deck off the dining room. Bull also reconfigured the lower level to add another bedroom.
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With its open kitchen, dining area, and living room—and seductive views across the tree canopy—the upper floor’s central area is the most-trafficked hub of the house. Polished concrete floors run throughout and complement the warmth of the walnut walls and woodwork, a pairing brainstormed by Bull and interior designer Christiane Pein of Seattle’s Lair Design, who helped with the furnishings. Every room in the house offers an expansive view of the natural surroundings—including Cook Inlet, Mount Susitna to the northwest, and Denali Mountain to the north—a daily reminder of why the Chengs, who moved from Seattle, chose Alaska as their home. “We moved to Anchorage [in 1996] thinking we would stay for just a few years,” Cheng says. But, “we fell in love with Alaska and here we still are 17 years later. The beauty of the mountain ranges still inspires us each day.” h