Houzz Tour: Touch of Denmark in the Pacific Northwest
A trio of simple cottages near the shore on the Olympic Peninsula reflects the owners’ Danish heritage
During Denmark’s short summers, vacationers there enjoy holidays at sommerhus cottages near the beach — dark-colored wooden structures with light-filled, cozy interiors. A vacation home in Washington state was inspired by these Danish summer homes. Thousands of miles away from Denmark, the home is on the shores of Hood Canal, an American version of a fjord that stretches like a crooked finger for 70 miles from Puget Sound. The architects who designed this Olympic Peninsula vacation retreat for a Seattle family used “the clean, economical forms and materials of the classic Danish sommerhus as a starting point,” says Philip Burkhardt of Prentiss Balance Wickline Architects. It’s light and airy inside, a further nod to the Danish aesthetic.
Located on a long peninsula, the home has sweeping views of the water and Olympic Mountains beyond. An existing structure that now serves as a bunkhouse was moved to make way for two new buildings. The bunkhouse is now oriented south, serving as the entrance to the property on the edge of a meadow lined with dense stands of Douglas fir.
The two main houses of dark-stained cedar are connected by a foyer. The living area structure, on the right in the photo, contains a kitchen, dining room and living room-great room in an open-floor plan. The house is open almost entirely on two sides, with porches extending the living area to the outdoors. The sleeping structure contains a main bedroom, guest bedroom, sleeping loft, laundry and bath.
Here’s a view into the living area structure. The bunkhouse is to the right.
The open-plan living and dining area is simply furnished with neutral tones, drawing the eye through big picture windows and French doors that open to the outdoors. “The interior detailing of the house is clean and economical with minimal trim and a lightness that stands in direct contrast to the exterior,” architect Dan Wickline says on the firm’s website.
Dining table: Norden, Ikea; dining chairs: Wishbone chairs, Design Within Reach; pendant lights: Colorful Warehouse Loft Shade Pendant in gray, Shades of Light; bookshelf: Muuto, Design Within Reach; wood stove: RAIS Gabo
Dining table: Norden, Ikea; dining chairs: Wishbone chairs, Design Within Reach; pendant lights: Colorful Warehouse Loft Shade Pendant in gray, Shades of Light; bookshelf: Muuto, Design Within Reach; wood stove: RAIS Gabo
The island in the compact kitchen is topped with a Richlite Black Diamond counter. Richlite is produced from recycled paper infused with resin. In addition to residential countertops, Richlite is used for everything from skate parks and mobile phone cases to culinary cutting surfaces and guitar fret boards. Industrial-style pendant lights over the island have cords covered in blue cloth, a nod to Hood Canal’s water just outside the door.
Pendant lights: Industrial Cage Pendant Light, Industrial Light Electric; sink: Stellar undermount, Blanco; faucet: Talis C HighArc, Hansgrohe; dishwasher: Whirlpool
Pendant lights: Industrial Cage Pendant Light, Industrial Light Electric; sink: Stellar undermount, Blanco; faucet: Talis C HighArc, Hansgrohe; dishwasher: Whirlpool
The buildings were oriented to take in the fabulous views. Wood-framed French doors off the living room open wide for an expansive southern view of Hood Canal.
Doors: Sierra Pacific; kitchen refrigerator: Kenmore French door, model 70423
Doors: Sierra Pacific; kitchen refrigerator: Kenmore French door, model 70423
A large sectional sofa faces woods and water through the living room’s French doors. Black steel plate collar ties across the gabled ceiling contrast with the white walls. Light-colored pine floors in a staggered pattern keep things bright and clean throughout the house. Ceilings in the home reach as high as 16 feet, 2 inches. There’s no need for air conditioning, with cooling provided by open doors and windows.
Sofa, ottoman and cabinet-bookcase: Ikea
Sofa, ottoman and cabinet-bookcase: Ikea
In the sleeping structure, the master bedroom and deck are along the west edge of the meadow. French doors open wide to provide a private view of the Olympic Mountains and harbor along the canal, with light filtering in through nearby fir trees.
A sleeping loft in the living area structure is furnished with simple mattresses. Skylights and recessed can lights in the gabled ceiling brighten up the space, which is accessed via a built-in ship’s ladder.
The bunkhouse was remodeled inside and out to accommodate extra sleeping quarters. Gabled ceilings in the bunkhouse reach 10 feet, 7 inches.
The decks were constructed of tight-knot cedar, which was allowed to turn gray, helping the sommerhus cottages blend into their rustic surroundings.
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Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of two adults and two children use it as a year-round weekend getaway and enjoy boating and shell-fishing there.
Location: Hood Canal, Washington
Size: 1,700 square feet (158 square meters) on 12.7 acres. The main house (two structures joined by a foyer) has two bedrooms plus a sleeping loft and 1½ bathrooms; the bunkhouse has one bedroom-bunkroom, a half-bath and a separate outdoor shower.
Designer: Prentiss Balance Wickline Architects