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Home Tour: My Fidalgo Island Home

May 12, 2020 By Juliet 16 Comments

We built a home on Fidaglo Island in coastal Washington. Come along for a tour.

Our Fidalgo Island Home

For years I’ve shared bits and pieces of our coastal home on Instagram. My plan to blog about the design and build of our home didn’t happen. I’m either a perfectionist or a procrastinator or both. So here we are, five years after purchasing the lot, four years after breaking ground, three years after moving in, and one year after selling and returning to California. Here’s the back story …

In the spring of 2015, while visiting family in Western Washington, we discovered a charming new development of ocean front and view lots on Fidalgo Island. Situated on the Guemes Channel, overlooking the Anacortes ferry terminal, San Juan Passage is a community of just under 100 home sites. Spectacular views, Cape Cod style, shingled homes, gorgeous scenery and a mild climate were a winning combination and soon we were debating which lot offered the ideal spot to build our dream home.

Here’s how the East Coast developer, Gilbane Development Company, describes the community. 

“San Juan Passage is a coastal community of 99 traditionally styled, single-family homes situated on tree-lined streets with wide, walkable sidewalks. Prime view parcels are home to grand community parks with landscaped trails that gently wind to the sea.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt5P7YdDwXU

A major selling point for us was each lot could be designed and built according to the buyers’ specifications. A semi-custom home build.  We were building from out-of-state and this seemed like an ideal scenario as we could not be on-site on a regular basis. We also loved the Nantucket / Cape Cod feel of the neighborhood. Quite different from the typical Pacific Northwest home style.

We purchased a lot in the Water’s Edge series and begin the process of designing a floor plan to accommodate our family and lifestyle. Nine months later we were breaking ground.

Ground Breaking Day

The build took just over one year. And, in February of 2017 we packed our car and left California to begin our new life in the Pacific Northwest. Let’s take a tour.

FOYER & MUD ROOM

KITCHEN & DINING AREA

LIVING ROOM

POWDER ROOM

LAUNDRY ROOM

BUNK ROOM

GUEST SUITE

MEDIA ROOM/GUEST LOUNGE

MASTER SUITE

BACK PATIO / OUTDOOR KITCHEN

The house is a three level home with the entry on the lower floor. We had a lot of discussion about including an elevator, a common feature in other neighborhood homes. Ultimately, we decided an elevator wasn’t for us and besides it takes up a lot of valuable space. We never regretted our decision.

FLOOR PLAN

1st Level
1st Level
2nd Level
2nd Level
3rd Level
3rd Level

Now for a plot twist.  After two years in our beautiful, coastal home, we sold it – furnishings and all – and returned to California. It was bittersweet.  We loved the home, but found the PNW climate a tough adjustment. We also missed our California family and friends.

We enjoyed our time in coastal Washington. It’s hard to beat the view and we spent many evenings on the deck mesmerized by spectacular sunsets while watching the Washington State ferries glided in and out of port. 

I’m working on including links to our building material and furniture sources … so be sure to check back.

In the meantime, you can PIN the tour to save for later.

You can see more of our coastal home on Instagram at @myfidalgoislandhome.

Thanks for taking the tour. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.



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Filed Under: Home Tours, This & That

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. LA CONTESSA says

    August 7, 2020 at 8:30 am

    I MISSED THIS POST the FIRST GO AROUND!
    THE OUTSIDE CHAIRS in a WICKER-LOOK I need details on who makes etc.
    It was a LOVELY HOME!
    HAPPY to HAVE YOU BACK DOWN HERE!!!!
    XX

    Reply
    • Juliet says

      August 7, 2020 at 9:30 am

      Thank you, Contessa. It was a lovely home … but you know, the weather. Restoration Hardware makes that lovely wicker style furniture. We’ve ordered the same for Snowberry … so stay tuned! xo

      Reply
  2. Carol S. says

    August 8, 2020 at 8:42 am

    It’s been fun watching Snowberry come together, love your style and happy to read your blog this morning. Beautiful PNW home!!

    Reply
    • Juliet says

      August 9, 2020 at 9:27 am

      Thank you, Carol! Your comment has be grinning ear to ear. I really appreciate you being here! Oh my gosh, that rhymes!!! xo

      Reply
  3. Carol Karl says

    September 12, 2020 at 10:55 pm

    What an incredible home. I can imagine it was very hard to leave.

    Reply
    • Juliet says

      September 13, 2020 at 11:34 am

      Thank you, Carol. It was bittersweet. We loved the home and had spent years building it … but the climate was a touch adjustment and we don’t miss that. xo

      Reply
  4. Misty says

    September 15, 2020 at 8:01 am

    I am both in awe + in love with this home! It’s incredibly gorgeous and the viewwwwwww!

    Reply
  5. Sandy C says

    October 19, 2020 at 2:57 pm

    Love following along with Snowberry-it’s beautiful and I still love looking back at this gorgeous home! Do you remember what you used in the Main Bath for slab (counter and shower bench top)?

    Reply
    • Juliet says

      October 19, 2020 at 7:23 pm

      Hi Sandy! We used honed marble … for the vanity counter top and shower bench. We loved it! Hope you’re doing well! xo

      Reply
  6. Deb Collins says

    December 28, 2020 at 12:59 pm

    What were your exterior colors on Fidalgo Island? I love the Hale Navy door which is so well framed by the gray you chose!

    Reply
    • Juliet says

      December 28, 2020 at 10:08 pm

      Thank you, Deb. Hale Navy is a favorite. The trim color is Sherwin Williams Pure White, and the shingle color is a Granite stain. xo

      Reply
  7. Sandy C says

    February 11, 2021 at 2:17 pm

    I just love your Snowberry renovation and enjoy your blog posts so much! Still enjoy looking at your Fidalgo Island home as well and wonder if you have those interior colors linked somewhere? Love the walls and trim and accent colors there.

    Reply
    • Juliet says

      February 11, 2021 at 6:28 pm

      Hi Sandy … thanks so much! And, I appreciate the idea … I need to write a post including Fidalgo Island’s sources including paint colors. Brillant! Stay tuned. xo

      Reply
      • Sandy C says

        February 11, 2021 at 7:55 pm

        Thank sounds great. In the meantime…do you remember if the walls and trim were Simply White??

        Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Snowberry's Exterior Design & Paint Colors - Make Mine a Spritzer says:
    September 23, 2020 at 3:07 pm

    […] with Oval Room Blue as well. I first did this – painted a porch ceiling blue – at our Fidalgo Island home  and it changed my life. That’s an over dramatization. Suffice to say I love […]

    Reply
  2. Kitchen Styling - How I Styled Snowberry's Kitchen - Make Mine a Spritzer says:
    February 10, 2021 at 11:51 pm

    […] these woven baskets and metal baskets from our Fidalgo Island […]

    Reply

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Hi, I’m Juliet – a lover of home renovation and classic, traditional style. Join me as I renovate Snowberry, my Cape Cod-style ranch house in Northern California.

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"However many years she lived, Mary always felt th "However many years she lived, Mary always felt that she should never forget that first morning when her garden began to grow". 

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Look at these amazing candlesticks! They're crysta Look at these amazing candlesticks! They're crystal. And a little Art Deco-ish, don't you think? They're from @lampsplus and here's the story ... 

They're actually a gift from @lampsplus ... in collaboration with @thistlewood. I'm in love with them.

When I launched my blog last summer, I joined the @thistlewood mastermind group for bloggers. The group is an invaluable source of support, encouragement and guidance and I love being part of it.

What I love even more is receiving beautiful gifts in the mail. These are @lampplus Portia Crystal Candle Holders. They're nearly a foot high and work with a variety of candle sizes from tapers to 3" width. You know I'm all about candles ... always white or ivory and unscented. 

Thanks @thistlewood and @lampsplus for supporting our group and adding a little ooh la la to Snowberry’s spring decor!

Speaking of @lampsplus , in my last blog post - all about styling our kitchen -  I mentioned adding a countertop lamp on the kitchen buffet. I'm heading over to the @lampsplus website right now to check out options. I'll share what I find.

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Paneling our kitchen appliances was one of the bes Paneling our kitchen appliances was one of the best decisions I made during Snowberry's renovation. I love the look and I really love not having to clean big stainless steel doors.

The process is super easy. Order your appliances ‘panel ready’ and ask your cabinet maker / manufacturer to provide the door panels. The cost is a wash ... at least it was for me.

Warning ... when your panel-ready appliances arrive for installation they aren’t pretty ... and can be a shock to the system. Prepare yourself. Once the panels arrive and slip into place, order is restored and all is right with the world.

Finding appliance door hardware can either be fun or frustrating. For me, it was important that our appliance pulls match (exactly) to our cabinet hardware. Not all cabinet pulls are available in larger sizes. I was lucky to stumble upon @classicbrass hardware and they make pulls from 3” to 18”. 

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Organization and finishing touches are the main th Organization and finishing touches are the main themes for the year at Snowberry. 

Art is a major focus. I'd like to create a gallery wall in our foyer and center hall. And we need something in our master bedroom.

This photo of the bedroom was taken a few months after we moved in and just after the Roman shades were installed. Our ceilings are low and there's no room for art above the curved headboard. The walls on either side of the bed are big ... and empty. They need something, but what? That is the question.

I suppose it's time to fire up Pinterest and gather ideas and inspiration. Hopefully, art and antique fairs will return this summer and I can get out to peruse.

Thoughts on how to handle big, empty walls?! I'd love to hear your ideas.

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What a weekend ... Valentine's Day and President's What a weekend ... Valentine's Day and President's Day!

Are you seeing photos from the incredible snow storm in Texas? I'm laughing at funny comments directed at California-to-Texas transplants. How do they like it now?! We moved to Washington for two years, but scurried back because ... weather!

Did you have a chance to read my blog post about Snowberry's kitchen styling? You can follow the link in my profile directly to the post. And then hop over to see the five bloggers I joined share their ideas and inspiration ... and amazing kitchens. Their links are in my blog post. Let me know which kitchen is your favorite. They're all fabulous.

It's raining here. So no dog walk. After I've had my cocoa and bagel I'll head to the garage and do 30 minutes on the treadmill. Thank goodness for that thing.

Happy President's Day!

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Happy Friday and Valentine's Day weekend! Looks Happy Friday and Valentine's Day weekend! 

Looks like it will be a cool and rainy one here in Northern California ... but the sun is shining right now and a little humming bird is buzzing outside my window. Jim recently hung a humming bird feeder on the tree outside our front door. So far the little birdies don't seem interested.

When I was younger, a lot younger, I got really excited for Valentine's Day. I remember being at the office glancing nervously toward reception wondering if the next bouquet delivery would be for me. One year I scored three ... but that's a story for another day. 

Many years ago, Piers Morgan took over Larry King's time slot on CNN. He didn't last long, he was terrible and I'm not a fan. But, he did make a habit of asking an interesting question of his celebrity guests. 'How many times have you been properly in love?'

It is an interesting question, right? 'Properly.' It certainly got me thinking and my answer turned out to be quite surprising.

So, with Valentine's Day upon us I ask you ... how many times have you been properly in love?

You don't have to tell me ... unless you want to. I'm just throwing it out there as food (or chocolate) for thought. Your answer may surprise you too.

Happy Valentine's Day, friends! Thanks for following me. It means a lot.

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Today on the blog I'm linking up with some amazing Today on the blog I'm linking up with some amazing design bloggers to share our kitchen styling tips.

Click the link in my profile to read the post and then follow the links to see how everyone else is styling their kitchens. 

I'm prepared to learn a lot from these talented woman ... by the end of the day I'll be rearranging everything at Snowberry.

A big thanks to -

@cindyhattersley 
 @classiccasualhome 
@most_lovely_things 
@carlaaston 
@northerncalstyle 

for including me in the group. It's been so much fun. As a newbie, I'm nervous ... and hope I don't screw up!

How do you style your kitchen? 
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Cabinets: F&B Vert de Terre
Millwork & Trim: BM White Opulence

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My weekend closet organization project never got o My weekend closet organization project never got off the ground. Or, more accurately, out of the bathtub. What? 

Our tub is filled with bags from @thecontainerstore and @kendrascott with  organizational pieces to help me get my jewelry corralled. It's all useless sitting in bags ... in the tub. 

Jim wondered - out loud - if the bags might find their way out of the tub over the weekend. Looks like the answer is no.

I bought these acrylic dividers for the closet in our Fidalgo Island house ... thank goodness they work at Snowberry too. I love organization helpers and I love being organized. I'm just not as excited about the process of getting there.

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#closetorganization #closetorganizaing #handbagorganizer #bagstorage #spacesavingideas #getorganized #beorganized #organizedcloset #makemineaspritzer
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My Valentine's Day Tea Party (that wasn't) ... on My Valentine's Day Tea Party (that wasn't) ... on the blog!

And before you go getting all excited ... I did not make this cake. I repeat, I did not make this cake.

But @le_gateau_elegant did!

Follow the link in my profile to read the post ... and Happy Friday! It feels like a glorious spring morning here in Northern California!

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I've been reading a lot about the grandmillenial s I've been reading a lot about the grandmillenial style trend which is really just a return to the tried and true, the traditional and classic. I'm happy to see it ... I'm partial to brown furniture and well made stuff.

My aunt, who volunteers at her Assistants' League shop, shares that they receive tons of silver, china, and crystal donations as well as gorgeous, traditional furniture pieces (armoire anyone?) that were meant to be passed down through family but are no longer desired. What a shame. 

I often wonder if my nieces will want my mom's #royaldoulton china and grandmother's #luntsilver. Before the pandemic we intended to host a large family holiday gathering. I planned to set the table with these family heirlooms to introduce the girls to it and start a conversation. The girls love to talk about their Granny. They were young when she passed away and perhaps those distant memories will spark an interest in her family treasures.

Hopefully, we'll be able to plan that get together later this year. In the meantime, I set a Valentine Tea Party table using the china and silver. I even bought a floral table cloth. The center piece flowers are placed in a Tiffany crystal bowl.

This is my interpretation of #grandmillenialstyle. Traditional elements mixed with what I like to call Snowberry's #moderntraditional or #moderncottage style.

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