This 3,381-square-foot farmhouse on Orcas Island, Washington, was designed by Syndicate Smith for a five-acre heritage farm dating to 1896. To pay homage to the fir forests, pastures, and orchard on the property, the studio milled and used locally sourced Douglas fir to build this roomy home for a couple and their three children.
Fully embracing the rhythm of island life, the L-shaped residence is composed of two distinct volumes linked together by a central corridor. The social and private areas are kept separate, and a courtyard with garden beds, a hot tub, a fire pit, and a pizza oven sits in the middle of the volumes.
Inside, a wood-clad ceiling runs through the main living areas. Windows frame views of pasture and forest. A two-island kitchen sits at one end; a wood-burning fireplace anchors the living room at the other.
The painter-owner’s seasonal studies of Orcas Island line the walls, mirroring the landscape outside. A Corten steel-wrapped chimney rises beside the living room, adding sculptural contrast to the natural materials. The design takes cues from agrarian architecture — restrained roof pitch, barn-inspired forms, durable materials. A small painting studio and a barefoot trail used by local schoolchildren sit beyond the main house. “The result is a residence rooted in place, where every decision reflects both pragmatism and poetry,” the studio says. Discover more projects by Syndicate Smith.
Photography © Will Austin