A San Juan Islands beach house with sweeping views over the Puget Sound

Twilight exterior of a modern beach house with a tall concrete chimney, cedar siding, and glowing interior lights

❤️ Would you like to save this?

We'll email this article to you, so you can read it later!

By saving, we'll email this post to you for later. Unsubscribe anytime.

This versatile family beach house, designed by Prentiss Balance Wickline Architects, balances expansive, outward-looking views with a grounded sense of seclusion on the San Juan Islands. The property was completely overgrown and was transformed into a welcoming retreat with native landscaping.

Crafted to accommodate the owner’s small family or comfortably flex to welcome larger gatherings, the house leaned into creative solutions to create a kids’ room comfortable for two or 8, an owner’s bath that also serves as a powder room, and plenty of room for puzzles, meals, and conversations in front of the fire.

Reverse Floor Plan Maximizes Stunning Puget Sound Views

Dusk view of the home's angled cedar overhang and concrete tower framed by a young pine tree

The architecture utilizes a reverse floor plan to maximize the site’s unique characteristics.

Close-up of the board-formed concrete chimney and cantilevered cedar volume against a cloudy sky

Elevating the main living areas and the owner’s suite to the upper level, the home serves as an observation platform where the daily drama of the horizon is framed by large expanses of glass, capturing a panoramic dialogue among Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains, and the distant Canadian coastline.

Weathered Cedar Siding Ages Gracefully on the San Juan Islands

Open-air cedar slat staircase leading to the upper deck, with a person walking down and an outdoor armchair below

Selective clearing of the site removed invasive species, while leaving weathered shore pines to screen neighboring houses and provide a sense of seclusion that belies the house’s placement within a quasi-suburban neighborhood.

Detail of the cedar slat railing, exterior stairs, and a window, with lavender planted alongside the path

The material palette is an honest expression of the site’s natural textures, established by a rhythmic use of wood that transitions from the exterior to the interior.

Interior staircase detail with oak paneling, a black handrail, and cedar slat screen beside a window

Clad in unstained cedar, the exterior features precise slat detailing intended to age into a highly textured, silver patina, mirroring the salt-toughened trunks of the surrounding pines.

Close-up of a powder-coated steel handrail bracket mounted on vertical wood paneling

This linear language is brought inside and refined, reflected in the white oak slats that line the stairway and accent the cabinetry that anchors the living space. The remaining palate is intentionally warm and restrained, maintaining a coziness that belies the modern form.

Detail of light oak stair treads and slatted balustrade with soft natural light

The home is punctuated by a variety of outdoor spaces; an expansive upper-level deck provides a grand stage for social gatherings, while a lower-level patio, anchored by a fireplace, offers a more intimate, sheltered connection to the yard and a small playfield for lawn games.

Open-Concept Kitchen and Dining Blend Wood and White Cabinetry

Open-concept dining and kitchen area with a wood-paneled ceiling, white cabinetry, and ocean-view windows

By weaving together refined interior volumes and the outdoors, this family beach house creates a deliberate space to celebrate the seasonal rhythms of the Salish Sea.

Kitchen nook with fluted wood range hood, blue tile backsplash, and a woven counter stool

Cozy Living Room Centers Around a Concrete-and-Steel Fireplace

Living room with a tall concrete-and-steel fireplace, gray sofa, and panoramic windows overlooking the coastline

What We Love About This Home

We love how the reverse floor plan elevates the main living spaces to the top floor, maximizing views of Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains, and the Canadian coastline. The unstained cedar siding and board-formed concrete are left to weather naturally, letting the home age alongside the salt-toughened pines around it rather than fighting the elements. Most of all, we love how thoughtfully it’s built for real family life, with a kids’ room that comfortably hosts two to eight, a dual-purpose owner’s bath, and cozy nooks for puzzles and fireside evenings.

Tell Us: Would this San Juan Islands home be your idea of the ultimate family beach house retreat? Let us know why or why not in the Comments below!

Note: Be sure to check out a couple of other spectacular home tours that we have highlighted here on One Kindesign in the state of Washington: This stunning camp-inspired home offers a sanctuary on Decatur Island and Tiny modern cabin features glass walls on the San Juan Islands.

Corner window nook with a wooden bench seat, cushions, and a stacked firewood pile beside the fireplace

Built-in banquette nook with a puzzle table, wood pendant light, and a bird print on the wall

Close-up of a slatted wood shelf holding a blue ceramic bowl and terracotta vase

Indoor-Outdoor Decks Capture Coastal Sunsets and Sea Air

View from the dining area through open glass doors to a wood deck with lounge seating and ocean views

Outdoor deck lounge area with cushioned wood furniture, surrounded by pine trees and a glimpse of the sea

Covered balcony nook with a lounge chair and side table overlooking grassy coastal terrain and the water

Exterior detail of the cedar-slat upper floor and rooftop deck with seating, set against a clear blue sky

Close-up of angled cedar slat fencing against a partly cloudy sky

Exterior view of the modern beach house showing its cedar slat facade, concrete chimney, and surrounding wild grasses

Glass-Walled Bedroom Frames Panoramic Views

Exterior view into a glass-walled bedroom with a wood bed frame, set above a cedar-slatted lower level

Bedroom view through floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking grassy fields and the distant shoreline

Spa-Inspired Owner’s Bath Doubles as a Stylish Powder Room

Spa-like bathroom with a glass shower, white tile, ocean-view window, and wood vanity with double sinks

Kids’ Bunk Bedoom Welcomes Overnight Guests

Children's bedroom with a wooden bunk bed, sheepskin rug, plush toys, and a tall window overlooking the fields

Lower-Level Patio and Outdoor Fireplace For an Intimate Retreat

Covered patio with an outdoor fireplace, lounge chairs, and a view of cedar siding and surrounding trees

Outdoor fireplace with a roaring fire, flanked by concrete columns and teak lounge chairs at dusk

Concrete Tower Chimney Anchors the Home’s Modern Silhouette

Upward view of the concrete tower's angled roofline framed by pine branches against a blue sky

Close-up of a cantilevered metal roof detail atop the cedar-clad tower at golden hour

Beach House Nestled in Coastal Grasses

Distant dusk view of the wood-clad beach house glowing from within, set among trees and shrubland

Twilight exterior of the two-story beach house with illuminated interiors, surrounded by grass and pines

Aerial view of a modern beach house nestled among pine trees and coastal grassland, with the San Juan Islands shoreline visible in the distance

PHOTOGRAPHER Andrew Pogue