Tide and True

By May 2022, Dilip Wagle and Darshana Shanbhag’s dream of retiring on the beach was dead in the water.

The Bellevue couple had spent years searching the west-facing waterfront corridor from Bellingham to Oregon, but always found themselves a step behind the pandemic-induced buying frenzy. They were about to give up when they noticed a sleek and powerful home on west Bainbridge Island, where Puget Sound meets the bay.

A person stands leaning against a sofa in a modern living room, which evokes the serenity of second homes, with abstract art on the wall and natural light streaming in from a window.

The natural world. Darshana Shanbhag says she enjoys the feeling of being “one with nature” at her second home on Bainbridge Island.

Photography by Emily Keeney

It was a “legacy” home designed by longtime local architect Peter Brachvogel. Built to last hundreds of years and passed down through generations, legacy homes represent a new breed of future-forward vacation property. After just 48 hours on the market, the home had already attracted a near full-price offer. The couple were grateful — and surprised — when their counter bid was accepted. “It’s pretty much what we had in mind. More expensive than we had anticipated, but lovelier than we’d imagined,” Wagle says.

It’s no stretch to say that time moves more slowly on Bainbridge Island. The life expectancy here is 87 years, the longest in the state, and almost eight years longer than the statewide average. The primary consideration in their search was that the lot must front saltwater, not a lake. “We wanted a place where we could just chill, relax and be one with nature,” Shanbhag says. “We wanted to be able to experience the tides and the waves, to feel like we were a part of the cycles of the Earth.”

The room, perfect for second homes, features a red tree painting, a statue, two framed artworks, a bench on an inviting rug, lush potted plants, and pristine white walls.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMILY KEENEY

With Shanbhag busy with her medical practice and other responsibilities, Wagle, a business executive with an MBA and multiple computer science and engineering degrees, spearheaded a methodical hunt for vacation property, inspiring Shanbhag with his enthusiasm. Convenience was another important factor in their search. They didn’t want a place that was more than two or three hours away from their primary home in Bellevue. They were concerned that distance would discourage their use of a second home.

The 3,200-square-foot home was built in 2012 and refreshed in 2020 with an emphasis on high-end sustainable materials and systems, and a versatile floor plan designed to meet the evolving needs of its inhabitants, remaining functional and accessible for every stage of life. And — when you live on the edge of eternity — there is no need for a formal dining room.

“I love designing vacation homes. Everybody has a great attitude,” says Brachvogel, who has been building homes on Bainbridge Island for 35 years. “The owners have reached a stage in their life where they’ve fulfilled most of their responsibilities, and they’re ready to spread their wings.”

The home’s massive, carefully calibrated roof overhang is designed to hoard light while aggressively protecting the western red cedar soffits and siding. “This building lights itself,” Brachvogel notes. The original owners chose to stain the clear cedar, which was unnecessary due to the overhang, and will require maintenance.

A modern living and dining area in what could be the ideal second home, featuring large windows, a beige sofa, yellow chairs, and a dark dining table with gray chairs. A colorful painting adorns the wall while offering a scenic view of trees and water outside.

Windows to the water

Photography by Emily Keeney

The 40-year standing-seam roof is custom-made on 18-inch centers, as opposed to standard 12-inch centers. At that width, manufacturers typically baffle the metal to increase strength, but Brachvogel likes the flat, uninterrupted look. The butyl-injected seams repel water and peak at a tall 1.5 inches, enabling the seams to cast a beautiful shadow. On the interior, acid-etched and stained concrete floors are underpinned with 13 inches of insulation — far beyond code requirements. The floors are radiantly heated via a complex geothermal system.

The home had its share of challenges, among them mastering operation of the geothermal system, septic system and water well.

“That isn’t something we had experience with in Bellevue,” Shanbhag says. “It is time-consuming maintaining two homes, but we decided that we wanted to do it ourselves, and not turn it over to a property management company. Both homes are dear to our heart. We feel bad when we leave one for the other.”

To speed the transition between Bellevue and Bainbridge, each household has a complete set of clothing, pantry items, and other daily necessities. They strive for congruence in household organization — for example, kitchen utensils and dishware are arranged similarly in each home.

“In Bainbridge, we felt it was important to maintain the feeling of light and space. The art is eclectic, mostly nature and a modern take on humanity. The walls are white to emphasize the art. It feels like a space to sit and look out at nature.” — Darshana Shanbhag

Both homes are designed in the contemporary modern style they prefer, but the Bainbridge second home features a deliberate break in traditional decor to reinforce the vacation concept. The couple are both retired, but remain busy with a wide range of philanthropic and leadership organizations.

“In Bellevue, there is far more art and far more attention to detail, because we do a lot more entertaining there,” Shanbhag says. “In Bainbridge, we felt it was important to maintain the feeling of light and space. The art is eclectic, mostly nature and a modern take on humanity. The walls are white to emphasize the art. It feels like a space to sit and look out at nature.”

A modern kitchen with dark cabinetry and a large island, perfect for those dreaming of retiring on the beach. Pendant lighting illuminates a fruit bowl, while beige curtains frame a large window with serene lake views—a delightful second home retreat.

The couple wanted to maximize the use of light and space to take advantage of the water view.

Photography by Emily Keeney

Legacy homes are often built to comfortably host three generations, which is possible without purchasing additional lots. One recent Brachvogel project included a main house, a guest wing accessed through a glass-covered walkway, and a stand-alone accessory dwelling unit with bunk beds.

Many of his Bainbridge clients are compounding in place by getting creative with accessory buildings and structures. One, for example, constructed an “oyster temple” for shucking and cooking shellfish. Such accessory structures can be arranged at corners of a quad to create an inviting outdoor room.

“A common mistake first-time vacation homebuyers make is to over-glamorize the process,” Brachvogel notes. “They need to use caution. A lot of vacation homes are really just cabins that were built 50 years ago by the homeowner, sometimes with a kit.”

Wood touching the ground, water pooling on the roof and compromised siding are key indications of predation by rot and rodents, he adds.

Wagle and Shanbhag have the same favorite spot in the home, in the great room with the nano doors open to the patio, especially when low tides expose a shellfish buffet for bald eagles and many other species. “There is always so much life there,” Shanbhag says. “Being in the midst of so many wild creatures gives us a sense of balance and reminds us that we are just a small part of it.”

A widely reported study noted that the average American has not made a new friend in the past five years. That, however, is most definitely not the Bainbridge Island way.

“It is a lovely community, with lovely people,” she says. “We have made so many new friends. That wasn’t something we planned on when we were looking for a vacation home, but we are thrilled by it.”