Warmth of wood
Jerry and Eliza Shotts found their dream home nestled within four wooded acres in Chattaroy. The couple looked at many newly constructed homes while house hunting in 2001, but Eliza says, “I knew they’d be too modern for us and we wanted to live outside the city.”
Tucked off busy Highway 2, they discovered a log kit-home built in 1977. The Shotts undertook the challenge of completely redoing the home inside and out.
The reddish stain which coated the logs was the first thing to go. “The whole exterior was red. We sanded everything down until the logs were almost white,” says Jerry. Eliza worked alongside him. The couple, married 34 years, were childhood sweethearts. “I always picked Eliza first when we chose teams for games,” Jerry says. “She’s quite a trouper!”
When they began work on the interior Eliza knew she wanted to replace the kitchen cabinets with open shelving. The cozy kitchen is bright and appealing. Fiesta dinnerware dishes sit on shelves that were painted white, and gleaming copper pots and pans hang from a wooden post. Cultured stone replaced the tile backsplash and adds to the rustic feel of the room. An antique jelly cupboard houses the water cooler, and stacked wooden boxes collected from garage sales and flea markets hold small kitchen appliances.
Jerry replaced the banister that leads to the loft bedroom with white picket fence posts. An antique wooden bucket hangs from a pulley at the top of the open staircase.
In the living room he replaced the dark oak paneling above the stone fireplace with Sheetrock, and added a high window above it. The western light filters through the surrounding pines adding a warm glow to the burnished log interior of the home. “I love sitting in my living room,” Eliza says.
One of the challenges of living in a smaller home is making good use of the space available. Jerry created built-in closets and dressers in the loft bedroom to give the couple additional storage. Now they can lie in bed and gaze at Mount Spokane, thanks to a balcony with glass doors which Jerry added.
“When they light up the mountain for night skiing, the snow just glows,” Eliza says.
White towels rest on open shelves in the master bathroom. A claw-foot tub and pedestal sink with brass fixtures add warmth to the room.
A unique white picket headboard draped with greenery frames the guestroom bed. Jerry refinished an old dresser and affixed a picture frame with the glass replaced by a mirror to it.
Eliza says, “He has an eye for what can be.”
The hardworking couple has other projects planned. This winter Jerry is converting the two-stall horse barn to a shop and garage. Next winter he’ll tackle the basement.
For now Eliza says, “I love the coziness of our home, it’s so relaxing.”