When interior designer Julie Kleiner hopped aboard a floatplane from Seattle to San Juan Island, she didn't know what to expect. Her clients had invited her to see a waterfront house where the environment, they promised, was magical. The house, they insisted, was not.
Once Kleiner, cofounder and principal of Massucco Warner, and architect Mike Troyer, principal of Studio AM Architects, landed on the island, they made their way down a long and winding dirt road to an unassuming, pine tree-lined driveway. "And then, the view suddenly opened, and it took my breath away," says Kleiner. "Most of the waterfront properties up here are very steep, and the trees make the landscapes rather dark. But not this place. It was more of a gentle slope down toward the water, and the house is exposed to this incredible view of the Sound."
The property itself had so much promise that Kleiner's clients were willing to consider reimagining the house entirely. "The original walls were a mixture of exotic woods, and the interiors were a 1990s version of Pacific Northwest-style design," Kleiner says. "It was dark and a bit dismal, like being on the inside of a boat."
This story is from the Summer 2023 edition of Coastal Living.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Summer 2023 edition of Coastal Living.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
CAPE CODDER
With its ruby red cranberry hue, this sublimely simple cocktail joins the holiday fun in winter as nimbly as it reigns as summer's happy hour essential for New Englanders from Maine to Massachusetts.
MIZNER & ME
What better way to explore Palm Beach than with the ultimate guide and bon vivant? JANCEE DUNN locks arms with the resort's visionary architect, Addison Mizner, to explore the enclave's legendary sites
Tropical Obsession
BRING THE BEACH TO ANY HOLIDAY WITH AN ICEBOX PIE THAT'S A PIÑA COLADA ON A PLATE
BAHAMIAN BASE CAMP
A magical compound in Nassau's historic Old Fort community is a relaxed gathering place for a large, London-based family
old soul
A restrained, rustic getaway off South Africa's Western Cape bows to the regal landscape
Caribbean Queens
Meet the six islands—and their showstopping stays that should be at the top of your winter escape vacation list
elements of surprise
A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FAMILY REIMAGINED THEIR MEDITERRANEAN HOME AS A MODERN OASIS WHERE EVERY SPACE AND DESIGN DETAIL UNFOLDS LIKE A SECRET
ST. ELSE WHERE
Part of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix is often overlooked compared to her sister islands of St. Thomas and St. John to the north. But a visit to this lesser-known gem reveals a place rich in gifts from deep culture and history to fantastic food, beautiful beaches, and a soulful style that may have you yearning to stay
Character-Driven
On Florida's Siesta Key, a family built their forever house from the ground up, fashioning a home that could fool even a local into believing it had been there all along
ELEUTHERA'S CULTURED CLUB
Are you actually staying here? You'll quickly get used to this question if you're lucky enough to occupy one of just 11 cottages, suites, and villas at The Potlatch Club, Eleuthera's dreamy, intimate new boutique resort.
