Mercer Island: A Nice Place To Have a Family Home— Out in the Middle of Lake Washington-

Some 22,000 people live here in a very special, very wooded place of inner-island and waterfront properties. As an architect, it follows that I'll want to talk about the design of the homes we live in or those we might want to live in here on Mercer Island, as well as how these varied homes were created then and how they are being created today.

I'm native-born, raised in Seattle. a graduate of the University of Washington's highly-regarded School of Architecture. I thoroughly understand the NorthWest climate- and other localized considerations we home designers must take into account. Eastern and mid-Western styles- many with wide white trim- are usually out of place here on the West Coast.

A more expansive connection with nature than that glimpsed through smaller "stock" windows is needed to enjoy what's outside and to bring a feeling of spaciousness to the interior. A hallmark of "NorthWest Architecture"- Island or otherwise- is exposed natural wood framing with lots of job-built "stopped-in" windows bringing in the outside garden view.   

Another topic of discussion might be the Island Real Estate industry, how well it serves our community. As the Island has grown, earlier, more modest homes are being replaced by larger, more expensive homes. Some of these are better than others — and I may well discuss these abodes.