But sometimes I learn something new about myself.

Last month I hosted the group here on Lake Sammamish, and we spent the first day in a workshop called the “20 minute business plan.”  The first step was to identify what personal values are important to us, and then build a plan around those values.

The moderator handed us a list of 77 characteristics that included things like commitment, accountability, honesty and growth.  Each of us was supposed to circle our top ten values.

I circled 39.  I mean, how could I not circle attributes like “internal harmony,” “ethical practice” and “ecological awareness”?  Those are important to me, but I had to limit it to ten and then rank the top five.  So here they are:

1. Quality relationships
2. Personal development
3. Excellence/competence
4. Nature
5. Financial gain

What surprised me was that I value quality relationships over everything else.

This made me stop and think, and suddenly I realized that when my clients are happy, I’m happy.  It drives what I do.  I want to build a house that makes their life better.  I enjoy collaborating with customers and discovering how they are going to use their home, and then building a place that meets their needs, desires and budget.

In the earliest stages of construction I like to imagine my customer, sitting in his or her new kitchen, enjoying a cup of coffee.  I try to picture what they see, and how I can create a beautiful frame for their view of the world.

I want the homes I build for my clients to be comfortable, durable and beautiful.

Comfort is paramount-it is the definition of “home.”

A beautiful home is a source of pleasure and pride-a place that lifts the spirits and defines their world from the inside out.

A durable home adds lasting value to their lives.

Whenever I meet these criteria, I have a happy customer.

And that is what I value most.

Building a house to live happily ever after on the water

 opens a world of possibilities, involves special considerations—

and requires a builder who knows how to turn your vision into reality.

Lakeside living can be dreamlike: the water works its magic day and night, season to season, appealing to each of the senses in extraordinary ways.  Sometimes looking into the lake is akin to gazing into a firepot: hypnotic, ever-changing, transporting.  Every element in nature is enhanced.  The air seems cleaner, the sun is brighter; the clouds more voluminous; the wind, rain and snow are liberated from the snags of hills and buildings.   

You want it, right?

Okay, let’s do it right!  It starts by working with a builder who understands two overarching issues:

·         What you want in a home, and

·         How to fully realize this within the parameters of the lakeside environment.

Step One: Dream a Little

When you envision your lake house, what do you see?  A cottage with a sleeping porch and flower boxes?  A Mediterranean palace?  A Pacific Northwest version of Walden Pond?  If you are drawing a blank, think about a childhood vacation spot that holds special memories.  Dream a little.

Then incorporate reality.  How do you live?  Are you going to be an empty-nester in the near future, or should the home be child-friendly and a place where teens can gather?  What do you love about your current house—and what do you wish you had?   

All of these issues are compounded by the fact that your location is sure to become a destination: you don’t know how many friends you have until you have a lake house.  Consider what kinds of entertaining you might do and how it will impact your kitchen and pantry needs.  Perhaps you want to incorporate a wine cellar and party fridge.  What kind of guest accommodations should you have?  How about an outdoor shower?  Beach access to a bathroom will keep your floors cleaner longer.

Now that you’re getting some ideas together, let’s talk about where your lake home will go.

Step Two: Best use of the Site

Perhaps you are one of the lucky people who already has lakefront property.  But maybe you need to go lot shopping, or have spotted a parcel that looks like it has potential.  Then it is wise to retain a builder who has waterfront expertise—and access to experts who can verify if the land is viable—so that you know what you’re getting into before ground is broken. 

There are a number of special considerations when building on a lake lot, including:

·         They are often narrow, so careful thought has to be given to the size of the rooms and which ones will take the greatest advantage of the view;    

·         The entrance on the shore side is the front door—but there is also a front door that faces the road—so both elevations are treated as portals;

·         Side elevations face your neighbors and should be attractive while giving you privacy.

The house should be sited to take full advantage of the lot size and lake view—and we mean every single inch of it.  So, this might involve a sunken family room that opens to the view and is positioned in front of a dining room, which is not used as often.  Or “view” priority might be given to the master suite rather than a child’s bedroom.

We give especially careful consideration to how you live, and how the structure can be used with maximum efficiency to accommodate your lifestyle.  Lake lots may have footprint constraints, so efficiently designed rooms work twice as hard to handle your household needs.

When the house is well-sited, the exposure will dictate how light plays in the house—a big concern during our rainy season, when daylight is at a premium.  How the house is sited will also necessitate special design features, like opaque shades that automatically lower to soften western sunsets—yet are transparent from the interior. 

There are additional concerns in a lake home’s design and construction.  For instance, the structure needs protection from the weather and be able to stand up to storms; good overhangs, first-rate windows and top-quality paint are essential.

Storage needs on the lake are different, too—do you want to keep your water toys, like air mattresses and rowing shells near the shoreline, or should there be a special area in the garage?

Step Three: Design for Outdoor Living

Lakeside living is a celebration of nature, and how you build can both preserve and enhance the shoreline environment.

When you and your builder look at the trees and plant materials that are growing on the parcel, discuss which should or can be saved.  Think about how you will interface with the water and what kind of water sports are in your future.  Are there rockeries or a bulkhead at the shoreline shoreline; can you install a dock, or should you go with a soft shoreline? 

A landscape plan can help you fully enjoy the natural surroundings of your lakeside environment by creating outdoor “rooms” that extend your living space.  If you have an eastern exposure with afternoon shade, a firepot will make the being outside more comfortable in the afternoon and evening; if you have a western exposure, you’re likely to need shade.  We work with landscape planners who are familiar with local microclimates and indigenous plant needs—in addition to being superbly adept at creating exteriors that are a natural extension of your new home.

Step Four: Estimating Time and Money

Here is the nice surprise: you don’t have to pay top price to build on Lake Sammamish, Lake Washington or any other lake in Metropolitan Seattle.  That’s because “Homecrafting” is a dedication to using cost-effective materials that are of timeless design and made to last—as well as being energy-efficient. 

If you’d like to get a working idea of a budget, let us know and we can help you develop a budget that takes into account what you want in a home, as well as things like design, permits, construction and sales tax.

Whether you are in the dream stage, have your eye on a lot, or are ready to move forward with your wish list in hand, give us a call.  You should have a builder that will create your home on the lake with care and quality at its core.  One that will envelop you in comfortable luxury that is authentic—not ostentatious—and delight you and your family for years to come.

A wine cellar is a great way to store your collection—

and a beautiful enhancement to your home

Washington is a wonderful place to enjoy wine.  Our local vintners and distributors hold tastings and tours, which is a fun way to learn about wines and decide what you like.  Once you find a nice wine it is great to have several bottles or a case on hand—but this kind of hobby can quickly grow into a 100-bottle collection.  So what are the options for cellaring your purchase?

There is an array of storage choices available, ranging from a small cooler to a basement tasting room and display area.  Small coolers can store 25 to 100 bottles; larger refrigerated cabinets and small closet cellars can hold up to 500 bottles.  With a walk-in cellar the sky is the limit—it can accommodate wines that are smooth and almost ready to drink, as well as the big Cabernets and French Bordeaux that will improve over many years.  So when you are planning your cellar, consider what your needs are and then think about where your cave can go. 

Natural Cooling

First, consider what kind of environment wines like: a cool, dark place with a constant temperature of 55-58 degrees and 55-75% humidity.  A limestone cave would be perfect!  If you don’t have one handy, a basement or even a crawl space in our mild climate can be good alternatives.  One wine expert told me that although 56 degrees might be the optimal temperature for wine storage, a slow seasonal rise up to sixty degrees should not be a problem.  

My first wine cellar was tucked under a staircase.  We insulated the area well and installed a fan that brought cool air up from the crawlspace.  This was an inexpensive solution that allowed us to display our wine, was easily accessible and functioned beautifully for us.  If you’re leaning toward this alternative, be sure your location is in the coolest and most humid part of your house—and that your floor can support the aggregate weight of your collection.

Mechanical systems

After a few years passed and a few more bottles were collected, I built a larger wine closet with a rack capacity of over 500 bottles.  I installed a “through the wall” chiller, which is a good option for cooling a smaller cellar.  The warm air typically vents into the home, so it needs to circulate freely into a hallway or another room in order for the system to work properly.

The next step up is a “split system,” which has equipment both inside and outside the cellar.  It works like a small heat pump or air conditioner, transferring the heat from the cellar to the exterior coil. Larger wine cellars that are not naturally cooled typically need this type of system.

Convenience and Display

Another great place to locate a wine cellar is near the kitchen or dining area.  There are many ways to add character to the cellar, whether it’s with a carved cellar door or a wrought iron gate.  Low voltage lighting can be tastefully integrated into cedar or redwood racks to create a lovely mood.   A dark basement corner can come to life with racks surrounding a tasting table and chairs; add barrels, wine country posters or perhaps a mural to turn the space into a personal, valuable and useful part of your home.

Large or small, a safe place to store the “nectar of the gods” can add to the enjoyment of any home.  Cheers!

I live on Lake Sammamish and build on and around the many wonderful lakes in King County. I do not restrict my work to only waterfront properties, but more and more that has become my focus. 

Waterfront homes are special, some would say magical. Something resonates deep in the soul when I am on the lake. Be it mirror like waters at sunset or the crashing waves of a winter storm, each day brings with it a changing view and mood. I love quietly sailing into the wind, and making a fast run through a ski course. Listening to the sound of a trumpeter swan or the splashy noise of my grand kids playing.

On this web page I want to celebrate the many great things about living on a Lake. I also will share information and tips with those who would like to build or remodel waterfront homes.

 All my best,

Dwight Martin, the Builder on the Lake