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.

This home began as an aging fishing lodge, which we stripped to the studs and reimagined as a high-performance lakeside retreat. The client, a project manager and consultant in utility-scale renewable energy, came to us with a clear vision: to transform the property into her forever home as she moves toward retirement.

With three children off at college, she wanted a three-bedroom, three-bath custom home with generous gathering spaces, a wraparound deck, and a new double garage. Working within the existing structure, we completed a whole-home renovation and rebuild that dramatically improved comfort, durability, and energy performance while meeting Built Green standards. The result is a sustainable home designed for long-term living, family gatherings, and life on the lake for years to come.

This home was featured in the 2025 Northwest Ecobuilding Guild’s 2025 Slam where 10 exemplary, sustainable projects from the region were celebrated at Seattle Town Hall.