The Trailblazer House

The Trailblazer House 

Citizen Design

The Trailblazer House
© Andrew Storey

ARCHITECTS
Citizen Design

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Frossard Structural Engineering

MANUFACTURERS
Cosentino, 2stone, Andersen Windows & Doors, Bellmont, La Cantina Doors, Pivot Door Company, Struxure, Resawn Timber Co.

CIVIL ENGINEER
Encompass Engineering & Surveying

INTERIOR DESIGNER
Erin Brodhead Creative

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
Mccrorys Landscape

GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Curtis Lang Custom Homes

LEAD DESIGNERS
Isaac Greenetz, Kristen Dotter

PHOTOGRAPHS
Andrew Storey

AREA
4600 Ft²

YEAR
2023

LOCATION
Maple Valley, United States

CATEGORY
Houses, Residential

The Trailblazer House
© Andrew Storey
The Trailblazer House
© Andrew Storey
The Trailblazer House
© Andrew Storey

When this picturesque 18-acre site was purchased in Maple Valley, Washington, the owners wanted to create a unique home designed around their family and lifestyle.

The home represents the family’s personal style while achieving a balance between connection and privacy. The Trailblazer was designed to be a striking contrast of gabled forms nestled between trees and wetlands.

The Trailblazer House
© Andrew Storey
The Trailblazer House
© Andrew Storey

The four primary volumes, clad with Shou Sugi Ban and black corrugated metal, each serve a different programmatic function for the home.

The volumes are connected through a series of light-filled breezeways that provide visual integration with the landscape and emulate walking through the woods as you pass between spaces.

The Trailblazer House
© Andrew Storey
The Trailblazer House
© Andrew Storey

The main entry volume serves as the hub of the home, drawing guests into the main living space which is wrapped in trees and connects to the view of the creek beyond.

This volume houses the living room, dining room, and kitchen while providing hidden functionality at its core with a butler’s kitchen and powder room.

The Trailblazer House
© Andrew Storey
The Trailblazer House
© Andrew Storey

The living room fully opens to the outdoor living area to the south, which is covered by a louvered pergola. This mechanically adjustable roof covering by Struxure allows for control of natural light and weather protection for year-round use of this additional living space.

The flow of the home feels natural and open. To the left of the entry, you are transported to the quiet, secluded primary suite.

The Trailblazer House
© Andrew Storey
The Trailblazer House
© Andrew Storey

This volume turns away from the public areas of the home and takes in the tranquility of the surrounding landscaping and walking paths. To the right of the entry, you are brought into the family’s wing of the house.

Cozy and intimate, this family area serves as the space for records to be enjoyed as a more informal living room next to the free-standing wood fireplace and a pocketing glass door that opens to the outdoor living area.

The Trailblazer House
© Andrew Storey
The Trailblazer House
© Andrew Storey
The Trailblazer House
© Andrew Storey

On the second floor of this volume, the children have a unique place to host their friends while being connected to their bedrooms.

This volume also acts as the connection to the fourth gabled form, which serves as a garage and hobby shop.

The 4,600 square-foot home is clad with a combination of Shou Sugi Ban wood siding, black corrugated metal, and 2Stone concrete tiles.

The Trailblazer House
© Andrew Storey
The Trailblazer House
© Andrew Storey
The Trailblazer House
© Andrew Storey

A dedication to lasting, low-maintenance materials drove many decisions throughout the home, including the use of polished concrete floors with radiant heat throughout it.

The minimal palette on the interiors is composed of White Oak ceilings and cabinets from Bellmont Cabinets, Dekton Ultracompact Stone countertops, and 2stone board form concrete tiles.

The Trailblazer House
© Andrew Storey


The Trailblazer House
© Andrew Storey
The Trailblazer House
© Andrew Storey
The Trailblazer House
© Andrew Storey


The Trailblazer House
1st Floor Plan
The Trailblazer House
2nd Floor Plan
The Trailblazer House
Site Plan
The Trailblazer House
Isometric