Whale Watch From 1 of This Home's 3 Rooftop Decks

The Olympic Mountains. The Strait of Georgia. The shoreline of Victoria, Canada. And maybe a pod of orcas, if you're lucky. You can see all of that (and much more) from one of this home's three rooftop decks.

Located on the rocky shores of San Juan Island, Washington, this coastal retreat has a unique connection to the land it occupies - the home is built directly into the hillside, so it gracefully descends the ground's natural slope.

A team of architects from Seattle-based firm Prentiss Balance Wickline worked on the design. Dan Wickline, one of the architects on the project, drew inspiration from the island's stark natural beauty.  

"Rooted into a linear ravine on the site, the spaces of the house are composed in a series of stacked volumes climbing the terrain and aimed toward specific views," Wickline says.

These specific views can be admired from one of the grassy rooftop decks, from the floor-to-ceiling windows that line the water-facing walls or from one of the rectangular window clusters.

The strategically placed clusters create the sensation of total immersion in the rugged landscape - no matter which way you turn, a view awaits.   

Inside, the design features a muted color palette inspired by the lush greens, earthy browns and serene grays of the Pacific Northwest. These subtle and somewhat restrained hues allow the home's simple, elevated aesthetic to really shine.

From every angle, the home resembles a work of art - fitting, considering it was actually designed for a painter.

The top-floor art studio overlooks the water, as does its clean, light-filled library. And if those views aren't enough to inspire creativity, there's always a rooftop deck or two nearby.

"The grass roofs establish a new landscape, which at the same time nest and blend the house into the existing terrain," Wickline says.

This delicate tug of war is a testament to the home's thoughtful design and a conflicting (yet romantic) notion: that a place perched so high above the horizon can still feel so deeply rooted in the earth.  

Photos by Eirik Johnson.

Related:

• Living in Beauty Without Excess: A Small Coastal Home With Views to Spare
• Modern Design Goes Green in This Park City Mountain Escape 
• From Scraps to Sanctuary: A $700 A-Frame Cabin

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The Truth About Toxic Mold (and How to Get Rid of It)

Mold is everywhere. It grows on the sides of houses, it blackens surfaces like brick and concrete, and it thrives in the soil of your yard and garden.

Indoors, mold lives in sink drains, shower grout, houseplant potting mix, kitchen sponges and anywhere else that moisture has a chance to settle. Are you hyperventilating yet?

A little bit of mold is nothing to worry about, as long as you can identify the cause and promptly clean it up with a solution of bleach and water.

But before we go any further, let's get this out of the way: Any mold, regardless of color, can make you feel sick, especially if you suffer from allergies or asthma. To be on the safe side, always wear a mask and rubber gloves when dealing with mold, and make sure that the space is well-ventilated.

Let’s get the facts straight

Also known as black mold, the infamous Stachybotrys chartarum is not toxic, but toxigenic, because it is capable of producing mycotoxins. Technicalities aside, this uncommon mold species is especially feared for its supposedly dangerous effects.

You may have read an article about how toxic mold is "secretly making your family sick" or watched local news reporters announce that black mold was found in a restaurant inspection, making it feel as if the plague arrived overnight and could be headed to your place next.

Some alternative health websites even call it "toxic mold syndrome" and warn of terrifying symptoms like memory loss or idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage.

Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), however, say that "These case reports are rare, and a causal link between the presence of the toxigenic mold and these conditions has not been proven. … All molds should be treated the same with respect to potential health risks and removal."

Stachybotrys chartarum is unusual among household molds, because it requires constant moisture to survive. So if your house is oozing moisture from a roof leak, broken pipe or outright poltergeist, black mold is the least of your worries. Time to call a professional and put an end to the drip before termites or wood rot threaten to put an end to your home's structure.

Mold is often a symptom of a bigger problem, be it as minor as a dripping faucet or as major as, well, a missing roof.

If you suspect that the slowly spreading black stain on your wall is the infamous black mold, don't bother wasting your time identifying the stuff. Scam artists abound, and the Environmental Protection Agency even says that "In most cases, if visible mold is present, sampling is unnecessary."

There are no established standards for judging what is an acceptable amount of mold, and even the non-toxigenic types can cause allergic reactions and make your life miserable. Remove it.

How to prevent and remove mold

Mold needs three things to survive: Moisture, a growing surface and food (dirty stuff).

The easiest way to prevent mold is to make sure that it never gets any moisture to begin with. Keep your house clean, dry and well-ventilated, especially in the bathroom wherever water collects, such as on tile grout or shower curtains. If your bathroom has gnats or a damp odor, look no further than your clogged sink drains - and be sure to wear some rubber gloves.

To clean and remove mold on hard surfaces, the CDC recommends using a solution of no more than one cup of bleach to one gallon of water.

To remove mold on exterior surfaces, use a pressure washer, and make sure that everything is properly sealed.

If mold is found on soft and porous surfaces, such as drywall, carpeting or furniture, it's best to dispose of the affected material before the mold spreads further or exacerbates your allergies.

Flood-damaged homes with heavy mold infestations should be handled by professionals whenever possible. The Federal Emergency Management Agency warns that "Infants, children, immune-compromised patients, pregnant women, individuals with existing respiratory conditions (allergies, multiple chemical sensitivity and asthma) and the elderly appear to be at higher risks for adverse health effects from mold."

In addition, flood-damaged houses are often contaminated with chemicals and human waste, which are far more dangerous than the mold itself.

Related:

• Is Your Home Trying to Kill You?
• How to Fix Ceiling Water Stains
• What Kind of Bugs Are in Your House?

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10 Easy Ways to Get Rid of Slugs and Snails

Despite their destructive habits and overall “ick” factor, snails and slugs are anything but formidable. In fact, there are so many creative ways to repel or kill them that you might have a hard time choosing just one.

Commercial snail and slug killers work, but they're dangerous and can harm the “good” creatures in your garden. Save money with one of these easy home remedies instead.

1. Give them a bath

Every time you go out in the garden, bring a little bucket with a few drops of dish soap mixed in. Pick off any soft-bodied pests you see, throw them into the bath and dump out their remains the next day. The small amount of dish soap prevents snails, slugs and even caterpillars from escaping.

2. Get them drunk

If you're going to kill the slimy little guys, you might as well let them die drunk and happy.

Set out saucers of stale beer, making sure that the pests can find their way over the ledge and into the dive bar. They'll be naturally drawn to the yeasty smell of the beer, then fall in and drown. Don't use this method if pets or young children are present.

3. Put out a tiny barbed wire fence

Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around vulnerable plants and walk away. It's like putting out a bed of microscopic razor blades and shards of glass, so snails and slugs will do their best to steer clear of the stuff.

Use this trick sparingly, though, since it can slice away at “good” bugs and critters too.

4. Just add salt

It might not be the kindest or cleanest method, but salt really does kill slugs and snails by drying out the mucus coating their permeable bodies.

Sprinkle a very small amount, since it doesn't take much to harm nearby plants. But if a slug is close enough to kill with salt, you'd be better off picking the thing off by hand.

5. Put out a banana trap

Choose this method if you'd rather not touch the snails and slugs at all. Leave a banana skin, grapefruit peel or melon rind out near affected plants at night, and dispose of the peel - critters and all- in the morning. Use a shovel to avoid getting slimed!

6. Tangle them up

If your furry friend is shedding a lot, put that hair to good use and spread it around the base of affected plants. The fur will stick to slugs’ and snails’ mucus coating and keep them from getting much farther.

7. Don't bring home hitchhikers

Slugs often enter the garden by hiding out on nursery plants. When purchasing, thoroughly inspect each plant, also checking the debris or dead leaves on the soil surface. Remove any snails, slugs and other stowaways.

8. Clean up dead leaves

Dead leaves in the garden are usually a good thing, because they provide a natural habitat for lots of little critters that benefit your soil and plants.

But if you have a slug infestation, dead leaves have to go. Whether you throw them on the compost pile or bag them up just to play it safe, a tidy garden will at least help you get a handle on the snails and slugs.

9. Attract natural predators

Just as there are lots of ways to kill slugs and snails, there are lots of animals who will happily take them off your hands.

Attract snail-eating frogs, toads, lizards and even snakes (most are harmless) by providing hiding places, like stones or logs in or near your garden. You might even choose to keep those dead leaves, if you're going this route.

Include native plants, bird feeders and birdhouses to attract snail- and slug-eating birds. It takes a while to build up a diverse garden, but you'll have fewer pest problems in the long run.

10. Grow something else

It isn't what you want to hear, but if your garden is brimming with slugs and it seems like nothing can eliminate the slimy plague, consider growing plants they won't eat.

Besides, a garden with big pest problems is a garden that is out of balance. Diversify!

Related:

• How to Rid Your Yard of the Most Aggressive Weeds
• What Kind of Bugs Are in Your House?
• How to Grow a Spectacular Container Garden

Originally published July 28, 2016.

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What Kind of Bugs Are in Your House?

Pests are everywhere, and having a few in your home is pretty much inevitable. But knowledge is power when it comes to critters, says Dr. Nancy Troyano, director of technical education and training at Rentokil Pest Control.

When you know how to recognize and prevent an infestation, you can keep unwanted visitors at bay. The first step is learning which pests might become an issue for you. Here are the top pests to watch out for, according to Troyano.

Wood-destroying bugs

Termites and carpenter ants eat away at the foundation, and you have to call a professional to remove them. They’re usually hard to see, but you can still find clues that you might have a problem.

In the Northeast, subterranean termites build mud tubes to travel along, and you can usually spot them. Look for brown staining around the house, both inside and out, paying special attention to baseboards in the basement. Other hints are blistering paint, loose siding, and piles of droppings or what looks like sawdust.

Homeowners in the Southwest and California should look out for drywood termites. They create colonies in the wood instead of the ground, and they need very little moisture. Watch for piles of droppings or swarms of termites flying out of the wood.

If you have a wooden house, especially a log cabin, get the house thoroughly inspected before moving in. "It's silly not to," Troyano says.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are a big problem in crowded cities and apartment buildings. While they don't actually cause damage to a home, they're Troyano's pick for the second-worst pest type because they require professional extermination - and they're just gross.

Cockroaches are attracted to food and garbage, and they’re usually brought in from the outside. Secondhand or rented furniture is a big culprit of cockroach infestations.

The one “upside” to roaches is that they're big, so you will definitely know when you have a problem.

Nuisance pests

Most unwanted critters are pretty harmless - just annoying. Luckily, pests that are actually dangerous to your health are not too common - although they are still a concern.

After the Zika outbreaks, mosquitoes are generating more concern than in the past. Standing water creates a breeding ground for these pests, so try to minimize the water that collects around your home.

Bed bugs are a big issue in cities, where it's easy for them to be brought in by furniture, clothes or people - and they’re notoriously hard to get rid of. Homeowners with pets should also be wary of ticks and fleas.

Rodents

Bugs aren't the only unwelcome guests you may encounter - rodents are out there too.

Bird feeders are a "mouse buffet," says Troyano, so keep an eye on those. Mice are also drawn inside to escape the cold, so homeowners in colder climates should make sure their homes are sealed tightly.

Then there are our flying friends: bats. Bats are usually found in homes with attics or chimneys, because they like to hang out in dark, cavernous areas.

You can easily lure out one or two bats, but if you have a big problem, you’ll want to call a professional. A word of warning about these winged creatures: They can carry rabies, so be careful with any DIY measures you undertake.

What to look for where you live

The types of pests you will have to deal with largely depends on where you live.

• Tropical, humid places like Florida are breeding grounds for water-loving pests like mosquitoes.
• In wooded areas, you will find spiders, ants and beetles.
• In the desert, you have to worry about snakes and scorpions.

Be diligent about keeping screens on your windows to prevent the majority of these pests from getting inside.

Your house itself will also determine the kinds of pests you get. Log cabins are the most pest-prone homes, attracting beetles, termites and bees, reports Troyano. And houses with vinyl siding or brick tend to be safer bets.

Older homes are also a concern, because they are full of cracks and crevices where pests can enter or take up residence. Spiders and silverfish love these nooks.

Beetles and bees can get in through small cracks in windowsills or screen doors, so make sure you have sealant around entryways and windows.

New construction homes come with their own issues. The fungus beetle has been nicknamed the "new-house pest," says Troyano.

When wooden beams are exposed to the elements during construction, they gather moisture, which attracts fungus beetles. These tiny beetles are very common and will go away on their own once the material dries - but that could take up to a year.

The other issue with new construction homes is that clearing a plot of land displaces a ton of bugs that are going to be looking for a new home.

How to prevent pests

The good news is that most pests are easily lured out of the home.

Troyano trains people on the biology and behavior of pests. So rather than going in blindly and putting down a pesticide, she says that you can “outsmart” the bugs.

"If I have an ant problem, and I know what they like to eat, I will take away their food source," she explains.

But also think about how the critters are getting inside. Plants and trees can act as a super highway for pests. "I've watched ants walk along tree limbs into a home," Troyano says.

Here are Troyano’s top tips for keeping your home free of unwelcome intruders:

• Don't let them inside. Keep your house sealed up nice and tight. Use window screens, seal window and door frames, and plug up other exterior entry points.
• Keep your home’s exterior tidy. Mow grass regularly, trim shrubbery and trees to prevent branches from touching your home, and keep mulched beds away from the house.
• Watch for water pools and drainage issues. You don’t want water pooling up by your home’s foundation. Make sure your gutters direct water away from the house. Similarly, you don't want hills sloping toward your house. You'll also want to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in your yard by keeping an eye on stagnant pools of water, like birdbaths.
• Inspect your house inside and out. Regularly check for signs of pests.

Related:

• Mold, Termites and Your Home Insurance
• 10 Easy Ways to Get Rid of Slugs and Snails
• Think Outside the Box: Exterior Considerations When House Hunting

Originally published August 11, 2016.

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Tenant Troubles: Who Is Responsible for Problems in Your Rental?

One of renting's major benefits is that you don’t have to worry about upkeep, maintenance and expensive repairs. So when things go bad - your dishwasher stops working, the roof is leaking or the bugs just won’t go away - your first call is usually your landlord.

But how do you know what’s really their responsibility and what falls to you? And what do you do if they refuse to handle the repairs?

Read on for the most common rental issues and how to get them fixed quickly.

Water damage & mold

Easily one of the nastiest discoveries you can find in your home, mold is a common problem - especially in humid or rainy climates. And while most mold doesn’t cause health problems, some types can cause respiratory issues, headaches and allergy symptoms.

Since there’s no easy way for the average tenant to know if the mold in their home is dangerous or not, it’s always best to ask your landlord to get rid of it.

While there’s no federal law that dictates mold exposure limits in rental housing, some states and cities have put guidelines in place. But, even if your state doesn’t have specific mold regulations, your landlord is still responsible for providing safe, livable housing.

In addition to requesting that your landlord remove the mold, make sure they find the source of the mold, whether it’s a leak in the roof or around the windows, failing plumbing, or a basement that’s not watertight. If the underlying water damage isn’t addressed, the mold will likely return.

The one time a landlord may be able to reject your request for mold remediation is if they believe it’s a result of your behavior - if you don’t keep your home well-ventilated, don’t clean regularly or run a humidifier too much.

Broken appliances

Your landlord is responsible for keeping any appliances that came with the unit in good working order. They’re also required to do the preventive maintenance that keeps your appliances up and running, like replacing worn hoses or servicing the air conditioner.

If you brought some of your own appliances, like a microwave or a washer and dryer, you’re typically responsible for repairing and replacing them.

Perhaps the most important appliance your landlord is responsible for is your furnace. Local and state laws require landlords to provide adequate heating, so if you’re having trouble keeping your home warm, reach out to your landlord immediately.

In some warm-weather states, landlords are also required to provide air conditioning. It may not be required in other states, but if your unit has air conditioning, your landlord is required to maintain it.

Pests

Remember when we said that landlords are required to provide tenants with a safe, livable space? That includes pest-free living, but there are a few more gray areas with pests than with other maintenance issues.

Whether your landlord is responsible or not depends on a few factors, including the state you live in, the type of rental unit and the type of pest. For example, in some states (but not others), landlords are legally required to manage bedbug infestations, which are an increasingly common issue.

In some states, landlords are responsible for all pest control, unless you're renting a single-family home and they can prove that the pests are a result of you not keeping your home clean.

No matter where you live and what local and state regulations are, let your landlord know about any kind of pest as soon as possible. A good landlord should want to address these issues quickly to avoid having them spread to different units.

What if my landlord isn’t cooperating?

In a perfect world, your landlord would fix every problem, without issue, in a timely manner. But in the real world, that doesn’t always happen.

Consider these tips for getting landlord repair issues handled quickly and completely:

• Report even small issues. That tiny leak under your bathroom sink may not seem like a big deal now, but it could cause a serious mold problem down the road. Always let your landlord know about issues as soon as you notice them, before they can get worse.
• Make repair requests in writing. Don’t make repair requests verbally. Instead, send them via email so you have a paper trail and documentation with a date and time stamp.
• Always have renters insurance. It's an affordable way to protect your belongings in case of damage caused by landlord negligence, plus a variety of other issues. It’s typically very affordable and can be purchased online in a matter of minutes.
• Reread your lease. You (hopefully!) read your lease when you first signed it, but if you’re having issues with your landlord refusing to do repairs, take another look at your lease paperwork and see what they - and you - have already agreed to.
• Get help from a local tenants' rights organization. If your landlord isn’t addressing major repair issues, find a local tenants' rights organization on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development website. They can help you identify local and state laws that apply to your situation and provide resources for additional assistance.

Related:

• ‘You’re Throwing Money Away’ and Other Myths About Renting
• The Top 5 Renting Nightmares and How to Face Them
• How to Perform a Landlord Background Check

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10 Ways to Conquer Clutter and Simplify Your Life

5 Organizing Secrets Only the Pros Know

We professional organizers have many secret tools and tips. And when our clients pay close attention and ask us questions, they obtain the magical key to unlock their clutter dilemma.

But more often than not, amateur organizers often set out with the best of intentions. They see an idea in a magazine or the internet. They run to the store for organizing products they haven't completely considered. Suddenly, they find themselves at home opening their latest purchase and realizing this new gimmick isn't going to solve their organizing problem either.

Does this sound familiar? Avoid clutter curveballs and organizing burnout with five secrets only the pros know.

1. Create the vision before you organize

How many times have you said to yourself “I'm going to organize my closet,” only to be left frustrated by the experience before you are halfway through?

The solution here is to create your vision first, then organize. Visioning is a bit like planning. It's when you take the time to think things through before you begin doing the work.

Before you dig into the closet, ask yourself some questions:

• How do I want to use this space in my closet?
• Will I store just this season's clothes here, or just those that fit me currently? Or will I use half for clothing and half for memorabilia storage?
• How's the lighting?
• Do I need a step stool to reach the shelves?
• Do I want to keep my hamper in the closet or move it to the bathroom?

Take the time to write down your vision first and then - here's the secret bonus - get someone to help you.

Having someone assist you is a secret the pros know well. Human behavior studies have shown that when two people (rather than one) are working on a project it gets done faster - not just because of the extra pair of hands, but because of the synergy between the two people.

There's a flash of motivation that bounces off one person onto the other that gets us through these projects much more quickly.

2. Play hooky

No, not the skipping-work kind.

Professional organizers know that getting organized doesn't necessarily mean having custom shelves built to clear the cluttered corners. We look for practical solutions with an aesthetic flair first. It’s not necessary to answer the organizing dilemma with an expensive or time-consuming project.

My secret tip? I use hooks as my first line of defense. Here are a few places hooks come in handy and common items they can hold:

• Bathrooms: blow dryers and curling irons
• Kitchens: brooms, aprons and towels
• Bedrooms: large hooks for backpacks and purses, small hooks for necklaces or belts
• Home office: cords, headsets and chargers

3. Use really simple math

It's called the "subtraction method." You've heard of dividing your stuff into keep, sell and donate bins, but when the clutter seems overwhelming, I favor an easier approach with just one master box, which is what I call the "somewhere else" bin.

With your intention set toward subtracting items from a particular room (rather than having to dust them and organize them again), start with one spot - say, the dining room table - and remove items that don't belong there, placing them into your bin.

The pros use this secret strategy to help reduce both the clutter and overall overwhelm. It's a great way to begin organizing a certain area, and you can return to the box later when you’re ready to deliver items back to their proper locations.

4. Create drop zones

A drop zone is a secret tip we use to give each family member a place for dropping their stuff.

Every member of your household should have their own drop zone. For example, you can set up a table right inside the garage as your child's drop zone. When you pull into the garage, they’ll know to go directly to the table and drop off their sports uniform and backpack before entering the house.

Do this for yourself for your own briefcase and gym bag too.

5. Shut down the distractions

One of the biggest reasons why my clients don't trust themselves to get organized is because of the distractions they face.

If you can learn to master these distraction devils on your own, you are well on your way to making your organizing projects a simple and easy experience.

Here are my secrets:

Ignore interruptions

When organizing, ignore the dings and rings that alert you to text or voicemail messages. One text can derail an entire morning reserved for organizing the kitchen cabinets.

Avoid diversions

Organizing means sifting through a bunch of stuff. But flipping through a book you meant to read, trying on a blouse to see if it still fits or researching a vacation destination when you come across the brochure - it all sends you down another path. If your intention is to organize, you must stay on task.

Dabble with discipline

The biggest complaint that we organizing pros hear from our clients is paper pileup. Paper (especially lists of things we wanted to do) can really send us into a tailspin.

Remember: When tackling paper, you’re just organizing it - not acting on it. These are two very different actions. Your job is to collect like items together to make paying bills easier or sitting down to read more peaceful.

Outsmart the temptation

We all have a natural inclination to match the missing sock, reunite the pen cap with its pen or dig through the pantry to match the lid to its rightful water bottle.

Trying to match up these long lost companions will sabotage your organizing momentum. Avoid the temptation to fall into the matchmaking process, and instead toss items into a clear bag and label it with a black marker. Store all the bags together in a "missing parts and pieces" box and move on. They are likely to be reunited down the road.

Related:

• Creating a Homework Station That Gets Top Marks
• 3 Steps to Creating an Organized Entryway (Even If You Don’t Have the Space)
• 10 Ways to Conquer Clutter and Simplify Your Life

Originally published September 23, 2016.

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Living in Beauty Without Excess: A Small Coastal Home With Views to Spare

On the remote southwest side of San Juan Island, away from the crush of summer tourists, this 715-square-foot, 1-bedroom home melds with the landscape to offer private coastal views.

Completed in 2012 by noted Seattle firm Prentiss Balance Wickline, this home displays the architects’ devotion to "living in beauty without excess," which won this home the Honor Award at the 2013 NWAIA Design Awards.

The home’s design suits the client's desire to enjoy the 5.3-acre site’s rugged solitude to the fullest. From this point overlooking the island's rocky coastline, you can see multiple straits, where whale-watching boats cruise, and beyond - the Olympic Mountains of Washington state.

Careful placement of the home on the lot means the rolling hills and stone outcroppings act as a natural privacy barrier from neighboring residences, as well as insulation from winter weather.

A living roof planted with native grasses creates the illusion that it is rising out of the landscape. The cedar siding is allowed to age naturally, like the driftwood on the shoreline below.

This home is a year-round dwelling rather than a seasonal vacation spot, so efficiency is key to maintaining comfort in all weather. Thanks to 8-inch walls with formaldehyde-free insulation, a thickened roof, and triple glazing on all north-facing windows, the house retains heat even on the coldest days.

The architects note that "solar gain in the winter is significant enough that the client almost never uses the radiant heaters or wood stove." An on-demand water heater allows for hot baths and showers without the energy output of a large standing tank.

Inside the home, walls of windows give a feeling of spaciousness and continuity with the outside scenery. The focus is on clean lines and economy of space, so all of the comforts of a larger home are present without imposing on the smaller footprint.

Storage is built into the walls where possible, and there is a minimal basement for additional storage and laundry.

A wall of windows in the living room presents stunning views of the surrounding straits from the armchair or dining table. A wood stove in the corner is perfect for evening fireside reading on the couch. Floating bookshelves line the side wall for organization and a subtle play of color.

The kitchen features a long stretch of counter space above a bank of low cabinets. Cooking is easy with a full-size sink, a four-burner gas range, a wall oven and a refrigerator.

The cozy bedroom windows allow sunrise wake-up calls, but they also have blinds for sleeping late in the plush queen-size bed. Floor-to-ceiling closets behind grain-matched wood doors fit an entire wardrobe.

The spacious bathroom has both a shower stall and a deep tub with windows overlooking the landscape.

The most remarkable aspect of this home's design is the way it spotlights the surrounding landscape in the lead role. Built with natural beauty and year-round comfort in mind, this house is the place to connect with the land in every season.

Photos courtesy of Adam Waldo.

Related:

• Modern Design Goes Green in This Park City Mountain Escape
• From Scraps to Sanctuary: A $700 A-Frame Cabin
• The Tiny House That Love Built

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Modern Design Goes Green in This Park City Mountain Escape

Although the home on 635 Parkview Dr, Park City, Utah, couldn't look more modern with its clean, angular lines and stacked appearance, it maintains a rustic, cabin-like feel that blends seamlessly into the forest.

This austere display is, in large part, thanks to the dark cedar exterior that was designed to mimic the vertical lines of the surrounding pine trees.

Built just this year by Park City Design+Build, the home - aptly nicknamed the Treehaus - is state-of-the-art in every sense of the word. Its energy efficiency is said to be two to three times greater than nearly any other home in the world.

The home’s interior is also something to brag about: Light oak floors, exposed beams and beautiful dark staircases dazzle in the abundant natural light that flows throughout the house.

The kitchen is especially impressive, with sleek white cabinets that contrast beautifully against a large dark island.

The kitchen opens up to the living-dining area, which has plenty of space to entertain guests and sits right against a sliding glass door that leads out to the deck.

From the deck area, gorgeous mountain views abound - perfect for soaking up that fresh mountain air.

The main suite upstairs is luxuriously complete with a steam shower in the bathroom and extra space that can be used as a home office or a nursery.

The home is listed for $1.1 million by Corigan Kushma of City Home Collective.

Photos courtesy of Kerri Fukui: Portfolio | Instagram

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