Maximum recycling

At The Highlands and Langley Builders, we work hard to bring as many recycled products and processes into each of our homes as we can. This week we're installing Bliss carpeting, made from recycled soda bottles, in an Erin cottage and feeling very good about it. But it's always inspiring to see the clever things people do when they set out to make a real statement.

Here's a group that collected leftovers, scraps and by products of all kinds and used them to build a house.

I love the cork wall and the ceiling, which appears to be made of picture frame samples. I've often thought, while choosing frames at my favorite frame shop, Catherine DeWitt Framing, about what I could do if I could get my hands on her cast-off samples and scraps.

The fireplace is nothing short of spectacular. I love seeing beautiful architectural pieces like this given new life - though I'm sure the venting system would never pass inspection in Langley.

While we timid, mainstream types may never get up the guts to build an entire recycled house, projects like this push us to try a little harder to find recycled content products for our own homes.

SICBA Home Tour

This year's Skagit and Island County Builder's Association home tour took place Sept. 11 through 13th. The beautiful weather brought a lot of weekend visitors enjoying a road trip that covers three islands (Whidbey, Camano and Fidalgo) as well as the Skagit County mainland.

Tour attendees gather in the hall to ooh and
ahh over Osprey's woodwork.

The afternoon sun lights the home in the tones
of a Maxfield Parrish painting.

Everyone loves this house and this house loves the camera.

Skagit/Island Counties Builders Association Home Tour

September 12th, 13th and 14th 2008

A Ross Chapin designed cottage at The Highlands will be part of this year's tour. A total of 14 homes may be toured. Tickets are $7 and are available at each home on the day of the tour, or at Chambers of Commerce starting Sept. 2nd. For details, maps and directions to the homes, go to the SICBA website.

In conjunction with the tour The Highlands is hosting a sustainability information fair which will feature displays and demonstrations of green and sustainable materials and methods. It is not necessary to have a ticket to the tour in order to attend the fair.

The Highlands "Open Neighborhood" Event

September 16, 2007 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Though there are no houses to show off yet, the Highlands Low Impact Development (LID) infrastructure is in place. Come take a look at the network of rain gardens and carefully sloped streets that are the base of the water management system in an LID project.

This informal introduction to the Highlands will feature self guided tours of the site, snacks from local farms and a short presentation of Low Impact Development techniques. Staff will be on hand to give guided tours and answer questions about the neighborhood and LID.

The event begins at 1:00 PM with a selection of organic fruit, home-baked cookies and bread, fresh pressed apple cider and locally roasted fair-trade coffee.

The Low Impact Development presentation begins at 2:00 PM.

Arriving and Parking

The Highlands is located at 903 Al Anderson Ave. This is a quiet, residential road and there is very little parking. Non-motorized modes of transportation are encouraged.