There's getting away. And then there's surrounding yourself with water on all sides.
This island escape for sale on Henry Island, WA, is located just off the shore of San Juan Island and surrounded by the blue waters of the bay. The price for a slice of paradise in the Pacific Northwest: $2,895,000.
The home is on an island that's accessible only by boat and has only a handful of year-round residents. There is no Internet service. "When I first bought it in 2003, it was so remote, it felt like the end of the world," homeowner Adam Kasper says.
Kasper, a Grammy-winning music producer who's worked with Foo Fighters and Nirvana, envisioned a modern place where he, his wife, and their daughter could take in the sounds of silence. He hired Bohlin Cywinski Jackson to build the waterfront retreat on 24 acres of land. (The firm designed a Lake Tahoe development we featured earlier this year.)
Kasper was beyond pleased with the results. "It's a work of art," he says. The sleek lines, exposed kitchen, and walls of glass open the home to its natural surroundings.
The three-bedroom, 2,700-square-foot space features concrete floors, radiant heat, and water views from every room.The home was featured in Dwell magazine, which called it "the house that Nirvana built."
The living and dining spaces are connected by a 10-foot-long breezeway to the bedrooms in a separate wing. The setup is ideal for night owls. "It really turned out to be a great idea," Kasper says. "I'm a late-night guy."
Kasper says he's not spending as much time at his island getaway as he used to and has decided to part with it -- and the privacy it entailed.
That privacy came at a price. Completed in 2008, the home's construction offered a unique challenge. Namely, all building materials had to be brought in by barge.
In fact, that's how it works for everything on this tiny island. "It's not served by a ferry or a bridge," listing agent Richard Sandmeyer says. The agent is one of a handful of year-round residents on the island.
For groceries, a haircut, or a trip the mail, you'll need a four-minute boat ride to Roche Harbor, according to the agent. The harbor is served by Kenmore Air, which offers direct flights from Seattle. You can arrive at your dock by boat or floatplane. The drive to Roche Harbor from Seattle takes about three hours.
Bonus: Once you make the journey, don't expect crowds. It's a preservation trust property. "There won't be any development out there," the agent says. "Which really makes it a private setting."