From the outset, we focused on performance and materials. Our team advised on and installed high-efficiency mechanical systems, while guiding the client through sustainable material choices that aligned with her values. We introduced low-carbon concrete, hemp wool insulation, and high-performance yet affordable windows.

We built a durable and airtight envelope, taking the house from an initial blower-door test of 7.05 ACH50 down to .64 ACH50; a performance level rarely achieved in remodels.

Other highlights of the project include continuous outboard insulation to eliminate thermal bridging, along with advanced energy systems such as a multi-zoned heat pump, centralized energy recovery ventilation, and a high-efficiency heat pump water heater. We used durable, low-toxicity finishes and a whole-house ERV to ensure superior indoor air quality. Material sourcing was equally thoughtful, incorporating FSC framing lumber, reclaimed timbers for beams and posts, and cedar harvested through regeneration-focused thinning on the Olympic Peninsula. The craftsmanship is evident throughout, from that timber trellis to the seamless installation of quartz countertops.

And beyond the high degree of efficiency, it’s a home that feels the way the client dreamed it would. She tells us it’s like living in a spa hotel—peaceful, restorative, and resilient. She even hosted the entire crew for a party once the work was complete.

We’re grateful to Board & Vellum for designing such a thoughtful home and for being such collaborative partners throughout the process. The result is a house that embodies performance, sustainability, and craft—built for a client who has spent her career helping others move toward a renewable future, and who now has a forever home that reflects those same values.