HOMES: Desert oasis

A Seattle-area family finds peace and relaxation at an Eastern Washington ‘cabin’ with breathtaking views

Things start to feel a little different as you meander your way toward Canyon River Ranch. Nature’s scenic colour wheel clicks into muted earthtones. The topography bulks up into muscly ridges of ancient rock, desert-dry slopes rising and falling at random angles.

The full-sky sun is more powerful than that heavyweight locomotive lumbering alongside the Yakima River, and — ohmygosh, what is that strange sensation between your shoulders and your neck? Is that … relaxation?

It is. It is deep-breath inspiring and breathtakingly beautiful here: the absolute opposite of big-city stressful.

And that’s exactly why the Kane family of Sammamish, just east of Seattle, retreats to this special getaway (all the more special because it takes just two hours to get away) . They call it “the 509 lifestyle,” for the Eastern Washington area code.

“‘509’ celebrates the 300 days of sunshine and the Eastern Washington vibe that we experience east of the mountains, where the pace of life is markedly different than what we experience in our working life,” says Mark Kane, the often-working chief operating officer of GLY Construction.

“It’s definitely a different vibe.”

Mark and his wife, Vicci (along with daughters Sydney and Alena, dogs Toula and Tippet, and Fish the cat), are among the original owners in this burgeoning community, anchored by Canyon River Ranch, an upscale private lodge, the fly-fishing mecca Red’s and a crew of the Kanes’ friends.

They call their spectacular three-level, three-bedroom home, snuggled amid stark basalt hills near a lush working vineyard a “cabin” — but that’s more of a feeling, too. “When he says ‘cabin,’ it’s a state of mind,” says Sydney. “He works all day and comes here, and it’s such a change of pace. He can sit with a drink and watch the canyon.”

That’s the relaxation part — and then there is recreation. “I like to do stuff outdoors all weather, all seasons,” says Mark. “I make sure there’s something for everyone.”

Alena paddleboards down the river. The whole community heads to the rodeo most summers. The Gorge Amphitheater concert venue is a mere 45 minutes away; Walla Walla wine country just twice that.

There’s mountain biking, cycling, clay-pigeon-shooting, river-rafting, hiking — and lots of fly-fishing. “Everyone in the family does a little bit,” says Mark.

The whole family comes out two or three weekends a month, all year long, says Mark.

Vicci comes during the summer with her cousins and girlfriends.

Mark captains GLY employees on rafting trips.

It’s a cabin for the whole family — and for guests.

“Everything is definitely set up to entertain,” says Mark.

“We have music systems in each room, and insulated every floor and wall cavity so the kids could have a bunch of kids over. We wanted to have the ability to have scalable events — have people find their own place, with little niches all over.”

Extra bonus: the way this special place niches into its special place.

“Because of the extremes of wind, temperature and direct summer sun, the interior and exterior spaces were designed so that regardless of weather conditions, the natural setting and views could be fully experienced,” says Mark.

“The design is a metaphor: a basalt outcrop, to fit in the natural landscape. The weathered side of the basalt is one colour, and the protected side is sandier. The exterior [of the home] matches the basalt on the hill: dark outside, with sandier, wood soffit material.”

Granite entry stairs open to a basalt floor on the lower level, where the girls’ rooms double as guest spaces.

Up another level, reaching the soaring great room, says Mark, “The goal was to frame the mountaintop from the top step.” Goodness. Yes. That worked. Up another level: Mark’s woodstove-warmed “Crow’s Nest” office/fly-tying space, and Vicci’s dance studio/yoga/exercise area, separated by three-metre-tall barn doors from a media room, itself connected to one of several protected outdoor areas (“two flagstone patios, two elevated decks and a stone paver on-grade patio with a stone firepit and hot tub,” Mark says).

“We have zones,” says Vicci. “In the early morning on the back patio, we sit and have a cup of coffee.

“In the evening, wherever you go, there’s sun and shade. We’re always sheltered in some way.”

Here in their “state-of-mind cabin,” in a state of pure relaxation, the Kane family also is surrounded by positive vibes.

“My mom went around the house when we were framing and wrote sweet little things with a Sharpie,” says Alena.

“I thought that was really sweet.”

Vicci elaborates: “‘Good food and health and peace and happiness and joy.’ ‘Good night’s sleep’ in the bedrooms. ‘Keep the workers safe.’ Some blessings. It’s in the house.”

You can feel that, too.

“The kitchen, dining and living areas were organized for simple living and entertaining, knowing that when larger groups arrived, we would utilize the amenities of Canyon River Ranch,” says homeowner Mark Kane. “This is just a great room for entertaining.”

The Kane family’s three-level, three-bedroom getaway home tucks into its environment, creating a backyard that ”in the hot summer is kind of a hiding spot,” says homeowner Mark Kane. “You definitely have four seasons: a lot of wind, sun, cold, everything in between.”

Mark, Alena and Vicci Kane sit on the top-floor deck of their getaway home with dogs Toula and Tippet, overlooking a community-owned vineyard, the Yakima River and the railroad tracks that run alongside it. “It seems very quiet except when the train goes by,” says Vicci.

Left: A sliding barn door made of reclaimed corral board separates Vicci Kane’s dance/yoga/ exercise area from the media room, which “doubles as a sleeping porch when lots of kids arrive for the weekend,” says Mark. The painting is by Vicci.

The master bathroom has a heated floor and a claw-foot soaking tub.

Right: The Kanes’ master bedroom opens to a deck and wide-reaching views. “Vicci picked pretty much all the interior colours and finishes,” says Mark Kane.