Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Dual Island Homes for a Reunion-Loving Family
Breathtaking views form the backdrop for family gatherings on a generations-old Washington site
When a brother and sister and their respective spouses reached retirement age, they decided they wanted to carry on a long tradition of large family gatherings on their property on Camano Island, Washington. They had grown up vacationing on a small cabin on this beautiful property, which had been in their family for generations.
With the little cabin dilapidated beyond repair, they turned to Design Northwest Architects to divide the property and create two separate full-time homes that were connected through landscape and materials. The design revolved around making sure both houses had 180-degree views of the water and accommodating the most important week of the year, when 40 relatives would arrive to enjoy one another and the beauty of the Saratoga Passage.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: 2 retired couples
Location: Camano Island, Washington
Size: O'Conner house: 3,000 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 3½ bathrooms, 2 sleeping lofts; Hannon house: 3,000 square feet, 2 to 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
With the little cabin dilapidated beyond repair, they turned to Design Northwest Architects to divide the property and create two separate full-time homes that were connected through landscape and materials. The design revolved around making sure both houses had 180-degree views of the water and accommodating the most important week of the year, when 40 relatives would arrive to enjoy one another and the beauty of the Saratoga Passage.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: 2 retired couples
Location: Camano Island, Washington
Size: O'Conner house: 3,000 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 3½ bathrooms, 2 sleeping lofts; Hannon house: 3,000 square feet, 2 to 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
Here's a plan to show you the site and the connections between the two homes. The only part of the Hannon house blocked from views of the water by the O'Conner house is the garage with storage overhead.
We'll explore the O'Conner house first.
A porthole windows adds a hint of nautical style.
This arbored gate leads to a courtyard, an important part of the family gathering. It is constructed of glulam beams with galvanized steel caps to protect the wood from water and blocks. The posts are constructed of ground-face block concrete masonry units (CMUs).
This common cobblestone courtyard is located between the O'Conner house and its garage. The courtyard offers an outdoor space that is sheltered from Camano's heavy afternoon winds. To the right is the O'Conner garage, which has glass doors on two sides. The building does double duty as a cabana where the owners can put up tables for food during gatherings.
The Douglas fir, Hardie plank siding, metal roofs, steel and glulam beams carry over to the companion house.
The Douglas fir, Hardie plank siding, metal roofs, steel and glulam beams carry over to the companion house.
Across from the garage is the main O'Conner house, fit with another glass garage door that offers views out to the water from the courtyard even when it's closed.
The kitchen inside serves the courtyard space.
When the houses were designed, the siblings' father was still alive; his suite, through the door in this room, was designed with accessibility in mind.
Here's the view from the outdoor kitchen across the courtyard to the garage.
The main living space is on the lowest level; this track door in the grandfather's room offered him a way to connect with everyone without having to navigate the stairs.
A captain's ladder in the grandfather's room leads up to one of two large sleeping bunk rooms designed for the yearly family reunion week.
The couple lives on the lower level most of the year, because they like to walk right out the doors to the water. The middle floor is at courtyard level, and the top floor houses the two bunk rooms, which share the top balcony.
Sunshades block direct sunlight from baking the home.
The wife is Egyptian, and the husband (who's not the guy here) spent a lot of time in Egypt; the prints along the staircase are 19th-century Egyptian prints.
The home is very energy efficient. It has radiant-heat flooring, and the open core allows the heat to rise through the house in a chimney-like effect. Along with the exterior sunshades, solar shades on the windows mitigate the solar gain.
The fireplace is propane, as natural gas is not available on the island. The surround is slate and connects the fireplace to the outdoors.
The fireplace is propane, as natural gas is not available on the island. The surround is slate and connects the fireplace to the outdoors.
The architects added extra storage underneath the stairs.
A second captain's ladder leads to bunk room number two from the main level's living room.
Here's the plan of the O'Conner house, courtyard and garage.
Next door, the Hannon house is connected via a path, offering easy access to the courtyard.
"We tied the two houses together with materials but wanted them to be distinct," says principal architect Dan Nelson. The team used similar colors and details like the glulam beams (seen on the sunscreens here), ground-face block CMUs and stone quarried from the Cascade mountains.
The wall on the left serves as a privacy screen from the road. The O'Conner driveway and garage are on the right.
The wall on the left serves as a privacy screen from the road. The O'Conner driveway and garage are on the right.
An outdoor fireplace serves as another gathering spot. While Nelson used the same ground-face block CMUs as on the arbor posts next door, he reversed the materials, using the darker coloration on the larger blocks and the lighter on the smaller.
West-facing glass doors allow for big views out to the water, while sunshades keep the sun from baking the family room.
While both homes done in warm contemporary styles, the Hannon house is a little less contemporary than the O'Conner house, leaning more toward modern farmhouse style. The silo-like cylinder is the stairwell. The garage and overhead storage are on the left side of the house and are the only part of the house where the O'Conner house blocks views.
The circle in the silo window references a porthole. The porch is composed of glulam beams and has a glass roof.
The window on the silo lets a lot of natural light into the home.
The Hannons wanted a more traditional interior; simple Shaker and Scandinavian styles provided inspiration.
Subtle details like board and batten siding add farmhouse style.
Wood railings with white spindles add another more traditional touch.
The dining area and family room enjoy big water views. The fireplace is on the other side of the outdoor fireplace.
A captain's ladder in the Hannons' master bedroom leads to an exercise room.
Here is a plan of the Hannons' home. The two couples and their extended families are enjoying this new way of enjoying their Camano Island tradition.
Design team:
Principal architect: Dan Nelson
Project architect: Tom Rochon
Interior design: H2K Interiors, Stanwood, Washington
Landscape architect: Roger Hill, Stanwood, Washington
Photographers: Ian Gleadle, Lucas Henning
Design team:
Principal architect: Dan Nelson
Project architect: Tom Rochon
Interior design: H2K Interiors, Stanwood, Washington
Landscape architect: Roger Hill, Stanwood, Washington
Photographers: Ian Gleadle, Lucas Henning
The beach side firepit is a favorite gathering spot. The unique fence was designed by landscape architect Roger Hill.