I
t’s a magical setting,” says the owner of a contemporary waterfront retreat on Orcas Island. The property has been in his family for nearly five decades, and he has many fond memories of summers spent in the much smaller, more rustic
cabin that once stood on the site. When he and his wife took ownership of the property, they decided to replace the cabin with a more updated home. “We wanted to create something with additional space that also took better advantage of the light and views,” the wife says. For the undertaking, the couple turned to architect Joseph Herrin. “They were interested in an island vernacular, a Cape Cod style for the Northwest,” Herrin explains, pointing to his creation—a cedar-clad two-story barn-style structure that encompasses the bedrooms and bathrooms. Attached to it is a contemporary one-story structure that houses a great room with an expansive water vista. “Virtually every room in the house has a view, even though the short width of the house faces the sea,” the architect explains. “The living and dining space is one story so the second-floor bedrooms look over the top of it.”
LUXE INTERIORS
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