Photographed for Seattle magazine, this Bainbridge Island home is a study in modern architecture, natural light, and the quiet beauty of life on the water.
Located on the west side of Bainbridge Island, the 3,200-square-foot home was designed by architect Peter Brachvogel as a long-term “legacy” home, with a strong emphasis on durability, sustainability, and connection to the surrounding landscape. The owners, Dilip Wagle and Darshana Shanbhag, envisioned it as a second home where they could slow down, spend time outdoors, and feel immersed in the rhythms of the water and surrounding natural environment.
Large windows and expansive openings make the landscape feel like an extension of the interior. Throughout the home, clean architectural lines are balanced by warm wood, collected artwork, sculptural furnishings, and a restrained palette that keeps the focus on the views beyond.
The home was built in 2012 and refreshed in 2020 with an emphasis on sustainable materials and systems, including radiant-heated concrete floors and a geothermal heating system. Its substantial roof overhangs protect the cedar exterior while also shaping the way natural light enters the home.
For the interiors, the owners wanted to maintain a feeling of light and space while incorporating an eclectic collection of art inspired by nature and modern interpretations of humanity. The result is contemporary but relaxed, with the feeling of a true retreat rather than a highly formal second residence.
As an interior and architectural photographer, this project was especially rewarding to photograph because the architecture and landscape are so intertwined. The strongest images often came from allowing the spaces to breathe and letting the water, trees, changing light, and surrounding landscape become part of the composition.
The home was featured in the March/April 2025 issue of Seattle magazine in the story “Tide and True.”
Publication: Seattle magazine
Feature: Tide and True
Architecture: Peter Brachvogel
Photography: Emily Keeney