Sunset Point Retreat is a 3-bedroom, 2.5 bath family-friendly vacation home, nestled into a spectacular site on the west side of San Juan Island. The owners, Julie Massucco Kleiner (principal of Massucco Warner Interior Design) and her husband Mike, wanted a peaceful, calm retreat that would serve as a relaxing home base for their outdoor island adventures. It was important that the house work well for entertaining but still feel cozy when just hosting the family.
The classic gabled roof is broken by a tall, transparent great room that provides views inland to the remarkable rocky landscape and waterward to the Salish Sea and Vancouver Island. Light and air flow into and through this gracious room, and grounded terraces on both sides provide places for gathering and enjoying indoor-outdoor living in different weather conditions. A generous pivot door welcomes visitors into the cozy center of the house. On the water side, larger windows open the corners to spectacular views.
Clean lines and simple forms contribute to the feeling of ease and relaxation and create a backdrop for bright and fresh interior finishes and furnishings. Plenty of storage helps create a clutter-free vibe. Hardy materials, like metal roofing and aluminum-clad windows, hold up to the salty, exposed environment providing a low-maintenance refuge.
Keeping the square footage down and using a simple form are great ways to control a project budget. In this case, each space is carefully scaled to work well for its intended use without oversizing – leaving room in the budget for special finishes and furnishings.
As an experienced designer, one of Julie’s priorities was building the right team – a sense of collaboration was extremely important. The team at DA always sees it as a great sign of trust when another designer chooses to work with us. With a combination of expertise, creativity, and fun, design became an engaging and meaningful process resulting in this unique place for this special family.
DeForest Architects Team | John DeForest, Rosie Donovan
Contractor | Thomas Fragnoli Construction
Interiors | Massucco Warner
Landscape | Field & Grove Design Studio
Structural | Evergreen Design Company
Photography | Andrew Giammarco
Tucked below the main house along a stream, the convergence of multiple environmentally sensitive areas required a light touch and a 32’ cantilever for the main living space.
