A hillside cabin on Orcas Island frames stunning views of the San Juan Islands

Modern hillside home exterior at dusk with floor-to-ceiling windows and rocky hillside garden, Orcas Island

❤️ 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 spectacular hillside cabin was designed by Heliotrope Architects and is located on Orcas Island, the largest of the San Juan Islands in the Pacific Northwest of Washington. The owners are a born and raised Southern California couple who intended to live modestly and comfortably on this hillside perch overlooking the San Juan archipelago.

Their modest 1,500-square-foot program is split into two separate structures: one with living spaces and a guest suite, and the other with the owner’s bedroom suite. The two structures are situated on either side of an old-growth fir tree, which serves as a focal point for the homesite.

DESIGN DETAILS

ARCHITECT Heliotrope Architects
CONTRACTOR White Construction
LANDSCAPE Greening and Greening
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING Swenson Say Faget
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING Positive Energy
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING Western Geotech

Fire pit seating area with Adirondack chairs overlooking island and water views at sunset, Orcas Island

This split program responds to the owner’s desire to engage with the landscape and ever-changing atmospheric conditions. Views are embraced, with glass walls running the length of the south façade and deep overhangs providing protection from weather and summer sun.

Outdoor Fire Pit Patio with Modern Home Backdrop

Outdoor fire pit patio with wood Adirondack chairs beside modern home with sliding glass doors, Orcas Island

Locally sourced materials were utilized wherever possible, including ceilings and floors milled on the island. The cabinet maker and steel fabricator were islanders, and the windows and doors were built less than 50 miles away.

Living Room with Wood Stove and Water Views

Living room with wood-burning stove and panoramic sliding glass doors opening to water views, Orcas Island

Every view feels like a painting in motion. Whether you are waking to filtered morning light, stepping into coastal air, or watching the forest glow at golden hour, this home was designed to immerse you rather than merely impress. With expansive Quantum windows crafted from clear, vertical-grain Douglas fir, each moment is framed with precision.

Freestanding Wood Stove with Panoramic Island Views

Freestanding black wood stove in corner with floor-to-ceiling windows framing island water views

Kitchen with Douglas Fir Cabinets

Kitchen with Douglas fir cabinetry, marble countertop, and tall window overlooking forested hillside

Open Kitchen with Sage Green Island and Open Shelving

Open kitchen with sage green island, open shelving, white tile backsplash, and forest views through wraparound windows

What We Love About This Home

The split-pavilion layout is a clever way to wrap two structures around an old-growth fir tree, making the landscape as much a part of the design as the architecture itself. We love how locally sourced materials, from island-milled ceilings and floors to windows built within 50 miles, give this home a deep sense of place. The south-facing glass walls and deep overhangs let the views in while protecting it from the elements.

Tell Us: Which space in this hillside cabin do you find most appealing? The living room with its wood-burning stove and island water views, or the soaking tub with its private treetop window? Let us know in the Comments below!

Note: Check out a couple of other fabulous home tours that we have highlighted here on One Kindesign in the state of Washington: Modern hillside home showcases a relaxed vibe on Bainbridge Island and This Washington hillside home was designed in perfect harmony with the forest.

Kitchen with white cabinetry and gas range with sliding glass door open to deck and sweeping water views

Living Room Built-Ins with Wood Stove and Forest Views

Living room with built-in wood bookshelf, window seat, wood stove, and forest views through corner windows

Owner’s Bedroom with Wood Stove and Hillside Views

Primary bedroom with wood stove, bouclé lounge chairs, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking forested hillside

Elevated Deck with Cable Railing and Water Views

Elevated wood deck with cable railing and panoramic views over forested hillside and island waterway

Built-In Wood Desk Nook with Forest Window

Built-in wood desk nook with large forest-view windows and open shelving with ceramic vessels

Soaking Tub with Floor-to-Ceiling Window and Water Views

Freestanding soaking tub with floor-to-ceiling window framing treetop and water views, green tile walls

Covered Outdoor Deck with a View

Covered outdoor deck with wood dining table and benches, outdoor kitchen, and island water views at golden hour

Shed Roof Cabin Exterior with Outdoor Kitchen

Cedar-clad modern cabin exterior with shed roof and covered outdoor kitchen deck nestled in Douglas fir forest

Site Plan on Orcas Island Hillside

Site plan showing two-pavilion layout with topographic contours and tree canopy, Orcas Island hillside

Cross-Section of Hillside Home on Steep Slope

Cross-section drawing of hillside home showing stepped levels following steep slope with overhanging roofline

PHOTOGRAPHER Andrew Pogue