Inspired by Northwestern vernacular, the architecture borrows its forms and materials from the region’s barns, grain silos, and farmhouses. The L-shaped house embraces two oak trees, preserved on the hillside site among other oaks and firs. The orientation captures views south to Spencer’s Butte and west to the coastal mountain range. Uniting the house is the outdoor terrace that greets you upon arrival. Inside, the open beam structure celebrates the materials and methods used for the construction. 

The open first floor plan encourages family interaction freedom, while the upstairs provides the intimacy the family members desire. The upstairs is divided into the children’s realm and the parent’s realm. The design of the children’s rooms provides flexibility over time by the use of converging pocket doors and bed alcoves. These separate the rooms and allow them to be shared as one or separated for privacy. Both rooms share the loft as a common play space, overlooking the living room below. The parents’ realm begins with an office space, providing a buffer to the sleeping & bathing areas. The second floor balconies are situated among the branches of the central oak trees.

A TV show called "Beyond the Box" filmed the house and interviewd the Shugars this year. You can see the video clip on our News page.