The parti of the house is derived from proportions of the Native American plank houses indigenous to the Northwest region. The distinctive "bones" of heavy timber at the eave lines recall traditional construction methods used by the early natives, and later the shipbuilders and settlers of the region. The prominent chimney is a symbolic "totem," emphasizing the importance of family, home and hearth. Carefully sited among the many native cedars, maples, and douglas fir trees, the exterior finish materials have been specifically selected to blend with the beautiful natural surroundings.