Set on a hillside above the Salish Sea, Piper’s Place is a study in living with the elements. Designed by architect John Stoeck and finished with Gendai® Alkyd Black yakisugi siding, this island home celebrates the beauty of exposure. From the sweeping views to the charred wood that softens over time, every detail reflects an intentional balance between protection and openness—where the site’s unique weather becomes part of the architecture itself.
Built in 2020, the home layouts were chosen to provide a sweeping vista from the owner’s daily living area. A covered outdoor room and carefully oriented glass walls blur the boundaries between inside and outside, offering protection from the elements while maintaining an immersive view.
This perspective allows the homeowners to experience weather as it rolls through the landscape, letting them feel immersed rather than merely observing. “Anything we could do to stay out of the rain and stay warm for longer on those shoulder seasons was really important,” says homeowner Lee LeFeever.
We knew from the beginning that it would weather, and we saw that as part of the character of the home
While the homeowner’s desire to have a Japanese-Scandinavian design played the main role in their decision to use authentic yakisugi siding, the protection offered by professionally charred wood provided another reason for the selection — given that the area is a potential wildfire zone. As the owner notes,
“It’s not something that’s supposed to look like burned wood. It actually is charred cedar. That truth in materials was something we both liked.”
Another factor was the homeowners’ connection to Japanese culture. Rather than maintaining a flawless façade, the couple embraced the idea that time and exposure would change the way the house looks—just as cedar decks naturally turn silver and metals take on a patina.
They explain, “We knew from the beginning that it would weather, and we saw that as part of the character of the home.”
This approach reflects the wabi-sabi appreciation for imperfection and a concept rooted deeply in traditional Japanese design and culture.
Piper’s Place stands as a reflection of timeless values, authentic materials, respect for craftsmanship, and a relationship with nature.
Watch homeowner Lee LeFever share his experience in our interview, or explore the full project story and gallery on the Piper’s Place portfolio page.
Learn more useful tips for yakisugi installation and maintenance on our YouTube channel
Putting it All Together
It is challenging to specialize in natural building materials since they are more inconsistent than engineered materials. Every single tree will have wood with different density, grain, and color characteristics. Each stick of wood from that tree will be primarily heartwood at one end and sapwood at the other. This makes the sampling process incredibly challenging. Small samples rarely paint a full visual picture of the product spanning an entire wall. Engineered materials are processed and more visually consistent, but they are not as beautiful or wholesome as natural materials.
Color and tone variation in our natural wood products is one of their most desirable characteristics, but it’s also a subject most people have a lot of questions about. We hope that by sharing our knowledge of how wood anatomy factors into the unique appearance of each final product it will help garner greater appreciation for the beauty and visual play of wood products across the board. The most important thing to remember is that change over time is considered beautiful with natural materials. For those who prefer a uniform siding that will stay the same color throughout its lifetime, painted wood products are probably a better fit. However, if beauty and natural textures are your drivers in choosing a cladding then natural wood siding can’t be beat.
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