This project came to me in partnership with Rainier Custom Homes. They contacted me about new clients they had, who were retired couple wanting to design & build their long dreamed of contemporary custom home. I said “YES!” immediately, and when I eventually met the couple, my impulse decision was greatly rewarded, as they were an absolute delight. Working with them on this project was a special joy for me.
The project site is a parcel of land on the western shore of Lake Wilderness, near the town of Maple Valley. It had been in the family for generations since its purchase in the 1950’s. The site is very long and narrow, and had a small log cabin located near the shoreline. That building had decades of happy family memories imbedded in its timbers, so to see it go was hard on everyone involved, including the architect. But it was just too small to host my clients, and their children, and grandchildren, for summers by the lake. An entire new structure had to be built.
My clients had been dreaming of this house for many years prior to our meeting, so my main task was to design the proper container for everything they wanted in this new dream home. The husband gave me a six tabs excel spreadsheet with everything they needed & wanted accounted for. It was a challenge to get it all in there, given some strict zoning site constraints on the size of the new structure; but I think we got it all in there. My clients seem to think so, so we did.
The pictures you see were taken by me, during a family BBQ that I was invited to in August of 2025. It is a rare and special treat for an architect to spend time with their clients in the custom home they designed, and seeing it so well used for it’s intended purposes. I jumped in the lake after taking my pictures, and then had a delicious grilled steak meal prepared by my marvelous clients. What more could this architect possibly ask for?
Interior Design services provided by Scott Cates, of Tobiason + Cates Design Services LLC
Construction services provided by Rainier Custom Homes