M A G A Z I N E
THE OUTDOOR LIVING ISSUE. SUMMER 2020
CONTENT
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MATCHING DESIGN TO YOUR LIFESTYLE PLANNING FOR LIFE IN THE MOUNTAINS ENDLESS OPTIONS: EXPLORING FEATURES
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MEET MERLE: JOEY LASHUA BREAKING DOWN MYTHS: RADIANT HEATING TRENDING PRODUCTS: WALLS OF GLASS
WELCOME TO CLEwelcome ELUM. to merle. Long days and great weather come to Cle Elum every summer. For my family, summer means BBQs, camping, paddle boarding and fishing on the river, early morning hikes and plenty of outdoor gatherings that last into the night. We treasure these long days and pack in as much outdoor activity as we can into each one.
Spending time outside is important to our family. In the last few years, we moved onto five acres and have been developing and growing our outdoor spaces ever since. We focused on creating multiple, distinct places on the property for friends and family of all ages to enjoy.
No one comes to this area to be indoors. Building a home to integrate the best of indoor space with an inviting transition to outdoor space is at the heart of our building experience. Truly, outdoor living in Upper Kittitas County can’t be beat. I live it all year long. But don’t take my word for it, I encourage you to try it out for yourself.
- Jeff Schafer, Owner & CEO
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a breath of fr
resh air
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With four distinct seasons, miles of protected public land and endless outdoor activities, Cle Elum is the perfect place to build a retreat and find respite with Mother Nature. When building a custom home here in the heart of the Cascade Mountains, maximize your outdoor experiences by taking time to thoroughly consider the design of your exterior living spaces.
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ASK YOURSELF: how often and when will I use th TAKE A CLOSE LOOK. Not only will our four seasons influence your use, but your lifestyle affects the way you utilize an outdoor living area as well. What’s most important? Capitalizing on a view? A safe play space for your kids? Dining alfresco? Make a list of what’s important to you, and take stock of how you live now to help inform your analysis.
just summer Focus on beating the heat and creating protection from the wind.
when it’s nice Consider a mix of two-thirds covered and one-third uncovered patio for maximum flexibility.
all day, everyday Think about wind, snow, rain, sun and access. Covered and uncovered porches, gutters, privacy screens should be considered.
his space?
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outdoor living in the MOUNTAINS Mountain living brings a unique set of environmental factors to consider
and draw upon, especially when creating outdoor living spaces. From breezy spring mornings to warm sunny afternoons, you’ll want to design your outdoor living space with these elements in mind to foster a most enjoyable mountain experience. Don’t make the outdoors a separate space; make it apart of the indoors.
sun
The long, sunny days are a major draw for many visitors as they look at building and spending time in Kittitas County. Think about the sun’s path of travel when designing and placing covered porches.
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DAYS OF SUN
80 °
AVERAGE JULY HIGH TEMP
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4.8 MPH AVERAGE WIND SPEED
wind
Life in the mountains can mean life with breezy days. When gentle mountain winds change to something more, plan for relief with protected space, permitting uninterrupted outdoor enjoyment. Orient your outdoor areas to capitalize on the breeze, use the home itself to create barriers, or consider glass site walls to provide wind protection while maintaining your view.
RAIN
While Cle Elum doesn’t have nearly as many rainy days as our neighbors in Western Washington, it’s still smart to plan for the periodic rainfall. Design an all weather entry. Strategically placed gutters prevent drip-lines from ruining your picnic.
snow
Imagine drinking a spiced cider from your hot tub, watching the snow fall. It’s what holiday movies are made of! Take advantage of the peace and calm that falling snow brings. Think about where snow will accumulate throughout the winter months, and if you want to be under cover while watching those flakes fall.
24°
AVERAGE JAN LOW TEMP
79
INCHES ANNUAL SNOWFALL
28
INCHES ANNUAL RAINFALL
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endless
OPTIONS
A well designed outdoor living space is somewhere you’ll want to spend time and settle in. Outdoor living must do more than photograph well – it must function and serve the homeowners’ daily lifestyle. Outdoor living spaces can be as complex or as simple as you make them. From a complete outdoor kitchen under a waterproof deck to a stand alone grill on a patio, the features you can include are limited only by your space and imagination.
HOT TUBS & Pools One of the most
popular features for outdoor living is the hot tub. Choose an in-ground hot tub for minimal visual impact.
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seamless indoor-outdoor transitions
Pass through windows
Windows that open directly from the kitchen to an outdoor extended sill are a fun feature that make hosting and serving outside a breeze.
Your outdoor space is an extension of your home. Walls of glass dissolve the division between indoors and outdoors. Sliding door technology brings the outdoors in and gives way to the many seasons of Cle Elum. Seamless transition to your outdoor space increases functionality and enhances aesthetics.
Stacking glass wall systems and bi-fold doors are a popular option that make a dramatic, beautiful transition to the outdoors.
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Fire pits, Fire places & Chimneys
oh m
Three years from now, who is sitting around your outdoor fire?
The heart of the outdoor living space, the
fire pit serves as the main gathering place in every season. Achieve instant ambiance and atmosphere with the flip of a switch.
my!
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Outdoor kitchen Make your meals outside with built in grills, storage, outdoor refrigeration or a pizza oven. Outdoor kitchens amplify entertainment and cut down on time to clean.
Consider using the structure of the home - in this case a built in barbecue and bar - to create private, separate outdoor spaces.
Privacy
Decks and Patios Hardscape options to complete your oasis.
Brushed aggregate
Synthetic decking
Stained troweled smooth concrete
Broom finished concrete
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soak in the
VIEWS
Home design is often guided by a view. Whether you’re amidst sweeping prairies, mountain foothills or a sparkling lake, capitalize on what the lot offers and align your spaces accordingly.
Stay warm on chilly days with radiant ceiling-mounted heaters
Meet merle JOEY LASHUA - SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN UPPER KITTITAS COUNTY? I’ve lived in Cle Elum for 25 years. HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED AT MERLE: Going on 4 years. FAVORITE THING ABOUT WORKING AT MERLE: Our company really works together as a team. FAVORITE STYLE HOME: Mountain Modern DESCRIBE YOUR JOB: As the Senior Project Manager, I interact with our Project Coordinators, Field Personnel and our Senior Leadership staff daily. I oversee the entire project from the time our sales team turns it over to production through to completion. LIFE BEFORE MERLE - WHAT’S YOUR WORK BACKGROUND? I’ve been in the industry since I was 18. I worked for a construction company out of California traveling around the country working on department stores. In ‘05 I went back to school while continuing to build and graduated with a bachelor’s degree from CWU. I worked my way from laborer to Project Manager and have been a PM for 8 years now. This experience has given me an understanding of the complete building cycle of a home from start to finish. WHAT’S THE COOLEST THING YOU’RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW? We have a very large Mountain Modern project going right now. It has tons of steel and glazing. The scope and style of it make it very fun. HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR TIME OUTSIDE OF WORK? I love hanging out with my family – my wife, Stephanie, my little girl, Logan (4) and son, Luke (2). I also spend my free time hunting. FAVORITE THING ABOUT KITTITAS COUNTY: I’ve lived here most of my life. I really like that I get to work and play in the same environment. WHAT ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT? My family and career. WHO INSPIRES YOU? My grandparents. I spent my summers at their home in Bellingham and helped with projects like decking and re-roofing their house. They gave me a work ethic and taught me the value of work. WHO WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO SWAP PLACES WITH FOR A DAY? I would say my wife, but I think being a stay at home mom is harder than my job. WORDS OF WISDOM: “Trust but verify” - Ronald Reagan. 21
BREAKING DOWN MYTHS Radiant floor systems are increasingly popular as they boast energy efficiency and provide ultimate comfort. The most common type of radiant heating system used to heat an entire home is Hydronic floor heating.
MYTH: radiant floors always save you money. how it works Hydronic floor systems pump heated water through tubing that’s embedded in concrete flooring. This process slowly and evenly heats the concrete which in turn heats into the objects in the room, resulting in a consistent, comfortable temperature throughout the home. Typically, the floor will not feel warm to the touch.
does it save you money? Hydronic floor systems can certainly save homeowners on the heating bill. However, they offer only a heating system. In our climate air conditioning is a must and therefore an entire second system – usually gas forced air – must be purchased and installed. This can double the HVAC cost when building a home.
TRENDING PRODUCTS glass doors stacking
With current home designs trending towards more glazing, it’s no surprise that a “see-through” transition from indoors to the outdoor living area is highly desired. Expansive glass patio doors are becoming increasingly popular. Here are three styles to consider for your personal getaway. Stacking or nesting doors have two or more moving panels that stack behind a fixed panel. The moving panel slides on rollers along a track, providing a smooth opening and closing action. PROS: Expansive opening CONS: Track maintenance
sliding
COST: $$$$
A standard slider has two panels; one slides behind a fixed panel. Style and technology have come a long way in recent years. PROS: Lower cost relative to other options, ability to include screens CONS: Track maintenance
bi-fold
COST: $$
Also known as folding sliding doors, bi-fold doors fold in to open up a space. Some models include a traffic door which opens like a normal door for daily use. PROS: Amazing views, “curb appeal” CONS: Large expanse required in framing, no screens COST: $$$$
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