Whidbey Island Long House
Location: Whidbey Island, WA
Size: 3,150 SF (Overall project area)
Completed: 2025
Photography: Cheryl McIntosh
"It is very exciting to see photos of the progress…of our future home. It feels more real now, and not just an idea in our heads and on paper. We look forward to experiencing (the house), being present and involved for each step of the process.” - homeowners
maximize efficiency, with almost no hallways and an open layout, ensuring outdoor access to all spaces. The extended design plan not only supports aging in place by eliminating steps and stairs but also allows daylight to reach every part of the interior, enhancing the owner’s health and the connection between interior spaces and the wooded landscape. The Long House reflects a commitment to sustainability and thoughtful design, while prioritizing the well-being of its occupants, harmonizing with nature and creating a sanctuary within the lush surroundings.
Read about how Rhodes Architecture + Light invites light, nature and wellness into the timeless homes we design in our Blog Post: Lighting + Wellness
Recently completed on five acres in an opening in northwest forest, this modern interpretation of a traditional farmhouse blends Scandinavian design intentions with innovative features. The extended form of the long house, divided into three volumes by covered breezeways, simple aesthetic expression and the consistent roofline create a clean aesthetic that compliments the rural setting on an island northwest of Seattle.
Designed to embrace the owners indoor-outdoor lives, the home features deep roof overhangs that protect the interior and promote connectivity between living spaces and the surrounding natural site. A traditional covered front porch spans the whole length of the house, offering an inviting outdoor space, functional in all seasons.
The home’s orientation maximizes eastern light, natural ventilation, and views of its glade and forest setting. The design sought to evoke the feeling of a cabin in the woods, an informal series of spaces with separations between a working garage, living, centered kitchen/dining/guest/office and a private main bedroom/bathroom/exercise suite. The roof form joins and shelters. Exposed structural roof-rafter ties in the home’s vaulted ceilings are lit by a ribbon of clerestories, striking a comfortable balance between humble and dramatic in interior spaces. Careful day-lighting design and high-efficiency lighting ensure a harmonious interplay between natural and manufactured light.
With an emphasis on sustainability, the house incorporates insulated concrete floors for thermal efficiency and energy-efficient elements such as Energy Star appliances and a high-efficiency reversible heat pump HVAC system.
To break down the scale of the home's length, natural wood was used in the construction of rafter ties, exposed beams, and exterior siding while the open breezeways lending rhythm and modulation to the linear form.
Inside the home, wood, stone and tile contrast simple white walls and trim, creating a simple aesthetic that is hardy without distracting from views through banks of doors and windows to the natural environment. The house was planned to
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