Marsh Island Naturalist’s Dream

Our client approached us with a unique challenge: an existing small home, at lunar high tide literally on a tiny island, required new systems to support the homeowner’s continued life on the saltwater marsh. The engineering challenges of potable and gray water were solved with allied professionals. Now it was our turn to step gently as we solved their design dreams. Regulations did not allow us to expand the footprint beyond the existing home and decks. We could add vertically to the tiny second floor, but the home was limited to a single bedroom. Part of the joy of visiting this home is to park off the gravel road, wander down the native plant pathway, and arrive at the entry door. Once inside, a visitor begins to appreciate that this lifestyle is not unlike living on a houseboat. Depending on the tide, from each window, you either see marsh or water. As a result, every living space in this tiny home enjoys stunning views. Travel up the stairs to the second floor and you discover that sleep is essentially in a tree house above the rich ecosystem of the marsh. With visitors, our client shares immense joy with a wide smile and a twinkle in one’s eye. Almost as if to say, “Welcome to my island paradise.”

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