1889 Feb | March 2018

home + design
Andrew Pogue
FROM LEFT The model features a long exterior breezeway. Blonde bamboo floors and large windows welcome light into the space.
construction versus a custom build. Prefab, short for prefabricated,
applies to structures that are primarily manufactured in an off-site
factory. Prefab was first made popular in the United States from
1908 to 1940, when Sears, Roebuck and Co. sold 75,000 mail-order
kit homes. While residential prefab building continued throughout
the twentieth century, it regained in prominence when a plethora
of modern architects returned to the form, as promoted in a 2003
design contest sponsored by Dwell magazine. Staupe and Roy
were searching for a prefab builder who clicked with their personal
aesthetic, and found one in an unlikely place: the freeway. Roy was
driving when he saw an intriguing module from Method Homes
being transported on a trailer.
Brian Abramson co-founded the Seattle-based Method Homes
in 2008 and specializes in architect-designed, modular prefab
construction. “Modular refers to large, volumetric modules that
are mostly finished, then transported to the site,” Abramson said.
Modern prefab homes like his can tackle two major problems
in the construction industry—waste and energy efficiency. “By
building off-site, we’re able to reduce the waste generated and
reuse a lot of our scraps,” Abramson said. Additionally, if builders
use newer technologies like structurally insulated panels, they can
reduce a home’s carbon dioxide emissions and increase energy
efficiency. “One of our core missions is sustainability, so even with
our most baseline homes, we build well-above code,” Abramson
said. His models come with a suite of environmentally friendly
features, including low- or no-VOC paints and adhesives, no-UA
formaldehyde in the building materials, FSC-certified hardwood
floors, above-code insulation, energy efficient appliances and lowflow
fixtures.
After visiting Method’s factory in Ferndale, Staupe and Roy
appreciated the company’s craftsmanship and green qualities, as
well as the potential to customize their pick. During the design
phase, they selected finishes, expanded and added windows, and
tweaked the principle suite to fit a tub. Even better, once plans were
finalized, construction was quick—just three months for fabrication
in the factory, during which the foundation was poured on-site and
the garage built. “Once they actually delivered the modules to the
site, they had us in within just over two months,” Staupe said. “It was
an incredibly fast process, and it felt even faster because we had a
baby right towards the end!”
The couple chose the Shift Model, designed by architect Ryan
Stephenson of Stephenson Design Collective. For it, he stacked two
modules, then “pushed them apart” to form a long, shaded exterior
breezeway, which connects copious deck space and extends the
interior living outdoors. The exterior was then faced with charcoal
standing-seam metal and untreated cedar, which will patina to a
silver-gray over time.
At the entry, visitors are met with a stunning handcrafted
bookcase, another customization requested by the couple. “It’s a real
‘wow’ factor when you walk into the house,” Staupe said. Behind it,
a staircase composed of floating concrete tread leads upstairs, while
a nearby flex space can be used for an office or play area, depending
on the family’s needs. Hallways on the perimeter of the first floor
create easy circulation, flowing into an open kitchen, dining and
living room. At the center, a necessary support beam is disguised
with additional built-in shelves and a three-sided fireplace, which
gently separates the rooms and provides a natural gathering spot.
“I’m one of those people who would sit on top of a heater if I could,”
Staupe said. “So I frequently sit right there.”
During the design process, the couple “were really inspired by the
Scandinavian aesthetic and what they do to welcome light into the
house,” Staupe said. To that end, blonde bamboo floors meet crisp
white walls, and kitchen cabinets in the same wood are wrapped
with snowy quartz counters. Additionally, the enlarged windows
bring in plenty of sunlight no matter the season. Thanks to the
home’s more narrow footprint, the effect is that of being surrounded
by the natural setting, which is just what the family wanted. “We
bought our property because we loved the views,” Staupe said.
Since moving into their home in 2013, Staupe and Roy have
acclimated well to their new life, despite having been city dwellers
for decades. “The house is such a welcome, comfortable place to
come home to,” Staupe said. Moreover, their two young children
are having a blast, whether they’re building mud kitchens, spinning
in tree swings or racing scooters down dirt hills. “Between the
property and the house itself,” Staupe said, “it’s kind of a dream for a
child to grow up in.”
28 1889 WASHINGTON’S MAGAZINE FEBRUARY | MARCH 2018