Cedar-lined Dan Calvin home immerses you in the forest

Every inch of 1 Lindley Road in Mercer Island above basement level is lined in cedar, one of many careful design choices in this house by Ralph Anderson staffer Dan Calvin. The mid-island home feels immersed in the forest, whether nestled in the floor or perched in the tree canopy.

A central atrium—styled here as a dining area—benefits from a soaring three-story cathedral ceiling. A fireside conversation area recesses around a wood stove, creating built-in wooden benches. Another gathering space is nestled up a step by a tree-lined picture window. Two tiers of lofts branch above, one an open hallway, the other a treehouse-like office or library.

There’s nothing glaring to disrupt the woodland illusion: The kitchen could have been flashy, it instead offers plenty of function while staying consistent with the design, complete with a pretty wood-lined pantry. Even behind closed doors, exposed timber and skylights surround the second-floor bedrooms and bath. Things do look a little more traditional in the stashed-away basement, but built-ins (including a built-in bed!) keep it interesting.

Of course, a home this woodsy doesn’t neglect the outdoors. A large wooden deck extends the dining area to the outdoors, and a larger patio off the living area juts out from the hillside and into the treetops. The third-acre grounds include stone paths, a more traditional lawn, a stream, and a bridge-like walkway to the front door.

Listed by Katie Penny Shea and Molly Penny, Coldwell Banker Bain | Priced at $1.29 million