Architect’s Key Materials for Beautiful, Durable Homes in Kitsap County

Building a custom home is a lot like baking a great cake—every ingredient matters. At Studio Kamppari, we design homes rooted in Scandinavian simplicity and natural materials. Our projects respond to the unique climate and light of the Pacific Northwest, and we believe in specifying materials that are as enduring as they are beautiful.

Here are some of our favorite materials and products—our go-to selections, thoughtful upgrades, and a few premium options that elevate a home from good to unforgettable.

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1. Exterior Finishes: Durable Materials That Age Gracefully

We prioritize low-maintenance, weather-resistant materials that hold up in the coastal Northwest.

• Siding:

  • Standard: Painted beveled cedar, fiber cement (Hardie)

  • Upgrade: Western red cedar, thermally modified wood (Lunawood)

  • Premium: Kebony, Accoya, Shou Sugi Ban, corten steel, or pre-weathered custom wood

• Soffits & Trim:

  • Standard: Hardie soffit panels and painted cedar trim

  • Upgrade: Slotted wood soffits, stained cedar

  • Premium: Structural cedar, metal trim

• Decking:

  • Standard: Cedar

  • Upgrade: Lunawood

  • Premium: Kebony decking

• Roofing:

  • Standard: Asphalt shingles

  • Upgrade: Standing-seam metal roofing

  • Premium: Flat-seam metal, green roofs, or metal-clad flat roofs

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2. Windows & Doors: Framing Light, Views, and Efficiency

We design homes with strong indoor-outdoor connections and generous natural light, making high-performance glazing a priority.

• Windows:

  • Standard: Alum-clad wood or fiberglass punched openings

  • Upgrade: Triple-pane, tilt/turn, thermally broken aluminum, floor-to-ceiling glass, high-efficiency

  • Premium: Minimal-frames, steel windows

• Glazed Doors:

  • Standard: Hinged stock sizes

  • Upgrade: Oversized sliders, bi-folds

  • Premium: Pivot doors, steel-framed panels over 10 feet

• Hardware:

  • Upgrade: Multi-point locks, articulated sills

  • Premium: Frits Jurgens pivot hinges, concealed systems

Tip: Fixed windows can be up to 40% cheaper than operable ones—strategic placement matters.

Note: U.S. based window manufacturers—such as Milgard, Andersen, Pella, Marvin, and Kolbe—tend to offer more affordable options. European brands like Schüco, Kneer-Südfenster, Aeroframe, Brombal, MBH, Reynaers, and Zola are generally higher in both quality and price, with a focus on performance and minimal profiles. A recent favorite of ours is Loewen, a Canadian manufacturer that strikes a thoughtful balance between craftsmanship, performance, and design.

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3. Performance & Envelope: What’s Behind the Walls Matters Most

Behind every beautiful wall is a high-performing building envelope—critical for comfort, durability, and energy efficiency.

• Insulation:

  • Standard: Fiberglass batts

  • Upgrade: Rockwool, cellulose, continuous exterior insulation

  • Premium: Closed-cell spray foam in targeted locations

• Air & Moisture Control:

  • Standard: Continuous weather barrier (e.g. Tyvek Wrap and Tape)

  • Upgrade: Rainscreen assembly (e.g. Benjamin Obdyke and rainscreen furring)

  • Premium: Airtight and durable (e.g. SIGA Barrier, Tapes and Interior Vapor Control, and/or Prosoco fluid applied barrier)

• Framing & Structure:

  • Standard: Wood framing

  • Upgrade: Staggered or oversized wood framing, large spans, hybrid wood/steel, monopoly framing

  • Premium: Cantilevers, steel, Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT)

• Conditioning

  • Standard: Vented Attic

  • Upgrade: Conditioned Attic

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4. Interiors: Warm, Minimal, and Material-Forward

We lean toward natural textures, minimal detailing, and surfaces that feel good to the touch.

• Floors:

  • Standard: pre-finished oak. sealed concrete, ceramic tile

  • Upgrade: Site-finished hardwood, polished concrete

  • Premium: Terrazzo, large-format tile, stone, premium wood floors

• Walls & Ceilings:

  • Standard: Painted drywall (Level 4 drywall finish), painted wood paneling

  • Upgrade: Painted MDO, exposed wood veneer panels (e.g. Arauco), wood panels (e.g. Lunawood)

  • Premium: Exposed structural wood, oiled metal, concealed trim details

• Walls Wet Location:

  • Standard: Ceramic Tile (e.g. Daltile - matte)

  • Upgrade: Quartz Panels

  • Premium: Stone

• Trim & Doors:

  • Standard: Painted poplar baseboards

  • Upgrade: Reveal base, flush base, trimless doors

  • Premium: Custom interior doors, concealed hinges

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5. Kitchens & Baths: Functional Craft

We prioritize high-utility design with thoughtful upgrades in these daily-use spaces.

• Cabinetry:

  • Standard: IKEA or contractor grade standard cabinets

  • Upgrade: Space Theory modular cabinets

  • Premium: Custom millwork

• Counters:

  • Standard: Quartz, sealed butcher block

  • Upgrade: Soapstone, concrete

  • Premium: Marble, natural stone slab

• Fixtures:

  • Standard: Grohe, Toto

  • Upgrade: Hansgrohe, wall-mounted toilets, magnetic latches

  • Premium: Integrated sinks, concealed lighting, zero-barrier showers

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Every Home Is Different

At Studio Kamppari, we tailor each material palette to the needs of the project—whether we’re building a modern farmhouse on the peninsula or a coastal retreat with panoramic views. Some materials get specified for performance, some for texture, and some because they bring joy every time you walk past them.

If you are planning a custom home or significant renovation, we would be happy to discuss your project. Contact us to schedule an introductory call.