Peek Inside This Private Pavilion in the Washington Woods
A charming octagonal building on Vashon Island becomes a favorite family retreat
When Brenna Larson and her young family purchased their Washington home, she thought, “What are we going to do with that building on the hill?” Four years later, the family can’t imagine their home without it.
Design plan: The octagonal pavilion serves as a retreat from the main house. The eight-sided main room makes space for more windows, allowing visitors to feel more connected to the wooded surroundings.
The design team and the previous owner created a design that fit into the landscape and on the steep slope. They settled on a foundation that has a central 8-by-8-foot concrete box with a mini-basement that goes down into the ground 6 feet. The mini-basement sits directly under the 15-foot-wide octagon. This allows “the knoll of the hill to run below the building,” Masterson says, “making it look like it floats on the top of the hill.”
Exterior: The construction team used white-painted cedar and red cedar shingles for the exterior of the building.
Steps: A winding set of stone stairs — at least 40, Larson estimates — leads from the house up to the pavilion. “It only takes a few minutes to get up there,” Larson says, “and you get there by walking up all those moss-covered stairs. It’s really quite magical.”
Exterior materials: LS Cedar
Steps: A winding set of stone stairs — at least 40, Larson estimates — leads from the house up to the pavilion. “It only takes a few minutes to get up there,” Larson says, “and you get there by walking up all those moss-covered stairs. It’s really quite magical.”
Exterior materials: LS Cedar
Interior: A mudroom allows guests to shed their jackets before they retreat to the surround of window seats. Douglas fir panels and trim cover the interior walls and 14-foot-tall ceiling. Underfoot, the builders installed a red oak floor.
Interior materials: LS Cedar; chandelier: Candelaria 36-inch chandelier, YLighting; browse chandeliers
Interior materials: LS Cedar; chandelier: Candelaria 36-inch chandelier, YLighting; browse chandeliers
Windows: The 4-foot-by-9-foot windows swing open in awning fashion, which “helps to keep the windows from sagging,” Masterson says. When opened, they provide ample ventilation in the space.
How the family uses it: The family uses this hideaway in the woods as its original owner intended: an escape. “It’s a really wonderful and intimate space to gather with friends and family,” Larson says. The girls dash up for play dates. Larson’s husband sneaks off for a work call. And Larson invites her girlfriends over for a night of chatting and wine.
They keep the space stocked with books, games and toys so they can stop in for a little fun any time.
“We have a code word for it,” Larson says. “Tibet. My husband will tell me he’s off to Tibet. The girls ask, ‘Can we go to Tibet this weekend?’ It’s just a kind of magical, fun place to retreat to.”
Window hardware: Colonial Stays, Deltana
Your turn: Do you have a little retreat at home? Tell us about it and share a photo in the Comments.
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How the family uses it: The family uses this hideaway in the woods as its original owner intended: an escape. “It’s a really wonderful and intimate space to gather with friends and family,” Larson says. The girls dash up for play dates. Larson’s husband sneaks off for a work call. And Larson invites her girlfriends over for a night of chatting and wine.
They keep the space stocked with books, games and toys so they can stop in for a little fun any time.
“We have a code word for it,” Larson says. “Tibet. My husband will tell me he’s off to Tibet. The girls ask, ‘Can we go to Tibet this weekend?’ It’s just a kind of magical, fun place to retreat to.”
Window hardware: Colonial Stays, Deltana
Your turn: Do you have a little retreat at home? Tell us about it and share a photo in the Comments.
More
7 Backyard Sheds Built With Love
How to Add a Backyard Shed for Storage or Living
Find a professional to help with your next home project
Building at a Glance
Who uses it: Brenna Larson and her husband and two daughters
Location: Vashon, Washington
Size: 220 square feet (20.4 square meters)
Designers: Hoedemaker Pfeiffer and McIntyre Construction Services
The backstory: The pavilion stood on the property when the Larson family moved into the Vashon Island home four years ago. It was constructed for the previous owner, who sadly died before its completion, says architect Tori Masterson of Hoedemaker Pfeiffer. Her company had been planning many projects with the previous owner, a builder, but when his health took a turn for the worse, they decided to start one special project for his own property that could be realized soon. Even though he did not see it completed, he visited many times during construction and left an endowment to ensure that the project was completed.