When Covid hit in 2020 I began building a Japanese-style garden within a forested area of our property, consisting of sinuous pathways, teak benches, granite lanterns and a heavy stone water basin, as well as various plant and rock features. In this garden there is a raised area within the forest, about five feet higher than the surrounding area. Here I cleared a path up to the top, built a curved staircase using pressure-treated 6" x 6" logs, and cleared and leveled a shaded seating area at the summit. The view from this spot is splendid, looking through alder and native cherry trees out over our house and landscaping, so I placed a table and four chairs on the spot, where we could relax in the cool breezes and take in the lovely scenery and marvelous sunsets.

I always wanted to build a structure by myself from scratch, and the more I looked at this high location in our Japanese garden, the more I thought this would to be a perfect spot for a studio. I envisioned a place where I and my wife could relax—with a comfortable couch that turns into a bed (if needed), a desk for writing and eating, a bookcase, a cabinet for a microwave oven and perhaps a small refrigerator. It would be a perfect getaway, a mini-vacation spot, and a fun place for guests to stay if they chose.

And so it was that on March 21, 2025, I set about building a 10' x 10' rustic, Japanese-ish garden studio. I wanted it to be solidly built—like a good house; well-insulated and able to withstand the rain and snow of our Puget Sound climate. I also wanted electricity brought to the structure, which meant having a 100-foot trench dug for wiring from our main house. My primary goal was to finish the exterior during the summer months, while the weather was warm and rain seldom fell. If the interior was not finished at that point, I would at least have a light and warm structure to work within during the winter months.