Paxson Fay is a full-service marketing and public relations firm specializing in the architecture, design, and arts industries.
Paxson Fay
4770 Ohio Ave S
Ste B
Seattle, WA 98134
info@paxsonfay.com
Syndicate Smith’s Cabin in a Cabin on 1889 Washington Magazine
Cabin Fever
A Cabin in a Cabin
Everyone told them that their century-old cabin in Lake Wenatchee should be torn down-their architect had a different idea written by Melissa Dalton | photography by Will Austin
IN 1914, an article appeared in The Leavenworth Echo, an area newspaper. It compared the “beautiful” Lake Wenatchee, a gla-cier- and snowmelt-fed lake that’s 5 miles long and surrounded by forest and mountains just 23 miles from Leavenworth, to the
“grandeur of a Switzerland.” The writer continued: “The Lake Wenatchee district will be the mecca for the sportsman in the future.” They weren’t wrong. And thanks to the establishment of new scenic roads and railways in the early twentieth century, those nature lovers built quite a few rustic log homes along the lake’s shores, including this one built in 1915.
It was constructed as simple as they come: a single room, about 12×20 feet, anchored by a chunky stone fireplace at one end and a door and window at the other, facing the water so the attached porch had the best views. In the ensuing decades, the owners added rooms, including a kitchen and bathroom with the advent of plumbing and running water. The front porch was enclosed into a bedroom, albeit with a window into the living room. With its ad hoc layout, and exterior covered in cedar shake, after a hundred years it was barely recognizable as a log cabin anymore.
By 2021, the century had taken its toll, and the most recent owners, who had purchased the property in 2000, were wor-ried. The home was originally a summer cabin and had never been built for use all year round, with uninsulated pipes and no foundation. There was a rodent infestation. The sagging roof was propped up with strategically placed poles. “Then things just started to fail, like the toilet, then a washing machine, just one thing after another,” said the owner. They wondered if they would be able to save it, or if they would have to sell. “I couldn’t stand the idea of tearing it down, they said. But friends, neighbors and even an architect they brought out for a look all said the same thing: that the home was long past gone.
That is, until they asked architect Todd Smith, of the Leavenworth-based firm Syndicate Smith, to weigh in. Smith walked inside the remaining portion
of the log cabin, with its thick log walls and exposed mortar still visible, soot covering the fireplace stone, and a thick log for a mantle, and felt the pull of the original. “You go into that room, and you are transported back a hundred years, said Smith. “This is the heart of the home.” His idea was not to tear down the struc-ture, or add on to it. Instead, he suggested stripping away all of the “garbage” and “bad additions,” and then “building a whole new house over the top of it,” said Smith, which would make the preserved cabin at the center “much like a museum diorama.” The owners were intrigued, and cautiously optimistic. “They were imaginative enough to say, ‘Yeah, this is wacky, but I think we can do it,” said Smith. They teamed up with local contractor Timberwood Construction, which proceeded to strip away the cobbled additions to reveal the original structure, from its interlocking corners, to the roof ridge beams. They poured a new foundation and then cleaned up the exposed logs, sanding down rough spots, and stripping paint off the chimney rock.
Smith and his colleagues then oriented the rest of the house around the cabin, lucking out when the property’s setback requirements made it possible to keep it at the center of the plan to function as the cozy living room. They placed an open kitchen and dining area to one side of it, complete with mudroom spots to handle wet and snowy gear, and a two-story bedroom wing on the other, with an en suite bedroom for the owners on the main floor, and upstairs, a bedroom for each of their two grown children when they come to visit. The entire footprint was kept to a modest 1,764 square feet.
In contrast to the cabin’s rough texture, the new finishes were kept sleek and streamlined, with white walls and fir casework built by Timberwood Construction. “It’s just simple materials,” said Smith. “Nothing fussy.” A bank of floor-to-ceiling windows on the lake side brings in light and views. “One thing that we told our team is we wanted it light,” said the owner. “The old cabin was actually pretty dark.” The decking from the cabin roof was removed to drop pendant lights through, and facilitate sun inside the room. That wood was then repurposed for the front door and select built-ins, like a television cabinet in the living room that looks like shutters in an old cabin window.
The owners have set up two rocking chairs where the front porch once was, and enjoy the same view of the lake. It’s still the best spot to drink morning coffee and consider the day ahead. Whether that entails dropping floaties and canoes in the water in the summer, or skate skiing in the winter, the area is just as much an outdoor mecca as was promised a hundred years ago. “The original cabin was someone’s piece of solace up at the lake” said Smith. “To honor that was a big deal.”
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meet the team
We’re inspired by diverse design perspectives, innovation, technology, art, and the world around us. We live for the chance to create and disperse powerful, genuine messages that resonate.
tessa franchini
principal
tessa@paxsonfay.com
Tessa graduated from Fordham University in New York with a dual bachelor's degree in Communications and Political Science. During her time at Fordham, she worked for an interior designer and at NBC News where she developed her love for both design and communications. After graduating, Tessa managed marketing at 3form, a pioneer in the sustainable building products industry. During her tenure, 3form was repeatedly named one of the most recognized manufacturers in the design industry among architects and designers, and the company won multiple awards for its innovative product launches. After 3form, Tessa consulted on marketing efforts with leading product manufacturers in architecture and design before starting Paxson Fay with Amy.
amy golden
principal
amy@paxsonfay.com
Originally from Seattle, Amy left her home in the Pacific Northwest to attend Fordham University, fulfilling her dream of living in New York City. After graduating with a BS in business administration, specializing in marketing and minoring in economics, Amy began her career in advertising sales at CNN and the Hallmark Channel in New York and LA. However, Amy’s love of writing, design, and connection with people ultimately led her to PR. While finishing her MBA back home at Seattle University, in 2015, Amy cofounded Paxson Fay with her friend and business partner, Tessa, driven by a shared vision to build a PR agency that reflected their values and passions. At Paxson Fay, Amy thrives in media relations and pitch development, enjoying the process of diving deep into each client’s story to craft compelling narratives that resonate with editors and journalists. Amy has a particular passion for architecture-focused projects, and securing SHED’s feature in The New York Times was an especially rewarding moment, as they were her first client. Another major career milestone was helping build out Paxson Fay’s talented team, fostering an environment where young professionals can grow their skills and pursue their passions. Outside of work, Amy loves spending time with her family, chasing after her two little boys, exploring Seattle’s restaurant scene, traveling with friends, and reading.
colby wood
senior account executive
colby@paxsonfay.com
After graduating from Fordham University in New York City with a major in Communications and Media Studies and a handful of marketing and PR internships, Colby moved to Boston to manage marketing for a small, women-owned, creative consulting agency. While in that role, Colby managed public relations and marketing efforts for some of Boston's most prominent events and public art initiatives, including the Boston Pickle Fair and The Bulfinch Crossing Projections in downtown Boston. Colby gained experience crafting brand stories and identities through social media marketing and creative copywriting, seen through the successful launch of a premier Massachusetts adult-use dispensary and the revamp of her agency's own website. After two years, Colby decided it was time to figure out what the West Coast was all about. Looking to blend her marketing experience with her passion for design and architecture, Colby found Paxson Fay, where she focuses on social media strategy and management and public relations.
paige childs
account executive
paige@paxsonfay.com
As a child, Paige wanted to be an architect; but after falling in love with storytelling, the power of words, and yes, the show West Wing, she decided to pursue journalism at The George Washington University in the nation’s capital. Following graduation, Paige crafted communications for the beauty and banking industries. Craving space for creativity, she joined the small team that would reopen the congressionally designated National Children’s Museum. There, she played an integral role in establishing the museum’s brand, bringing it to life across digital channels, including social media, email, and advertising. After nearly eight years in DC, she decided it was time for a change of scenery. Having grown fond of the title Washingtonian, she made the cross-country move to Washington State. She landed in Seattle at Paxson Fay, where in true full circle fashion she is the architect of social media and public relations strategies for our architecture and design clients.
martina povolo
account coordinator
martina@paxsonfay.com
Martina joined the Paxson Fay team as an intern when she was a senior at the University of Washington. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Public Interest Communications, Martina is now continuing with the team as a Communications Assistant. During her time at UW, Martina worked as the Special Sections Editor at the university’s newspapers where she won multiple awards for her front page spreads. Looking to blend her minors in real estate and environmental science with her focus in communications, Martina is passionate and excited to join the Paxson Fay team.
tara lyons
account coordinator
tara@paxsonfay.com
With roots in Napa and Denver, Tara ventured to the Pacific Northwest to pursue her academic journey at the University of Washington, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Education. Tara's love for writing began when she delved into songwriting, building on her pre-existing passion for singing and playing the piano. Following her undergraduate years, she returned to Paxson Fay, where she had previously interned, transitioning into the role of Communications Assistant. With a keen interest in PR and social media, Tara seamlessly integrates her creative flair into the professional realm. Outside of work, you'll find Tara passionately supporting the Kraken, embodying her love for both storytelling and sports.
We are hiring for our internship program! We are looking for an intern with a passion for design to help manage key communication channels. Click here to read more.
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what we do
We are a communications firm founded in our passion for good design. Our unique approach to marketing and public relations in the architecture and design community has elevated our clients work to the next level. We’re backed by a talented community of creatives. From copywriters to social media experts, we provide a complete package of customized services. We strive to create a personal experience with each client, integrating teams and tackling your biggest marketing and public relations challenges from a high level. Then we help execute those plans ensuring lots of reporting along the way, with lots of coffee breaks in between because we’re from Seattle and that’s what we do.
marketing
marketing strategy
brand strategy
project management
partnerships acquisition and management
e-mail blasts
public relations
media strategy
content production
media communications and outreach
awards: strategy, content development and submissions
social
platform strategy and management
content production
targeted campaigns
results + reporting
advertising
advertising strategy
budget strategy + negotiation
calendar management
creative coordination
content
storytelling
copywriting
website and e-mail marketing
video: sourcing, storyboarding and scheduling
photography acquisition + curation
events
event management
sponsorships + partnerships
tradeshow coordination
press tours
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clients
Here is a little taste of who we love to work with and what we love to do.
