Custom Builder Magazine - The Partnership That Made ‘Cabin In A Cabin’ Work
Custom Builder Magazine - Builder in 5
The Partnership That Made a 'Cabin in a Cabin' Work
A 1915 log cabin is stripped to its core and retained within a new build, part of a 16-project collaboration between Syndicate Smith and Timberwood Construction across rural Washington...
Orcas Farmhouse Wins 2026 LUXE RED Awards for Outdoor Spaces in the PNW Region
Orcas Farmhouse Wins 2026 LUXE RED Awards for Outdoor Spaces in the PNW Region
April 16, 2026
Q&A With Laurel Podlich, RA Architectural Designer
“I enjoy the concept stage during schematic design when we have the parameters from the client and the site. Parameters might sound restricting, and they are, but they help guide a design and make it successful because good design will meet (and surpass) all the needs of the client and site.”
Cabin In A Cabin in 1889 Magazine
Everyone told them that their century-old cabin in Lake Wenatchee should be torn down—their architect had a different idea
Cabin in a Cabin Featured in Contemporist
A Century-Old Log Cabin Becomes the Living Room of a New Lake House
“The original cabin now functions as the living room, restored to its historic character and left largely untouched. A small number of roof logs were removed to allow pendant lights to float above the space. Those same logs were reused elsewhere, reinforcing the idea that nothing from the cabin was discarded without purpose.”
Written By: Erin Miller
February 6, 2026
Cabin in a Cabin Featured in Dwell
It’s a 20th-Century Log Cabin—and Now the Living Room of Their Lake House
“I thought it would either be super weird or super cool.”
January 27, 2026
Orcas Farmhouse Featured in Plain Magazine
Heritage Farm Home on Orcas Island Uses Site-Harvested Douglas Fir
By: Kala Barba-Court
January 26, 2026
Anti-Shed Featured in Homes.com
Here's how a Washington home preserves sightlines while protecting against the elements
The 2,059-square-foot home's two wings break the strong winds on Methow Valley's Studhorse Mountain
Madeleine D'Angelo
Homes.com
January 15, 2026
Homes.com Here's what residential designers and architects are watching in 2026
Expect a focus on resilient design, more smart home technology and handmade pieces
"People love things that have a definite hand in them," said Todd Smith, founding partner of Syndicate Smith in Leavenworth, Washington.Although the topic has been in the zeitgeist since the Industrial Revolution made mass production commonplace, "what we're seeing now definitely revolves around a desire for something to be 'evidently made,'" Smith said. "An artisan loaf of bread versus Wonder Bread. A wooden chair as opposed to a plastic molded seat."
Madeleine D'Angelo
Homes.com
January 5, 2026
Split Cabin Wins 8th Annual LaCantina “Best in Show” Award
Architizer is thrilled to announce the winners of the 8th Annual Best of LaCantina Design competition! Topping this year’s list is Split Cabin by Syndicate Smith, winner of the prestigious Best in Show award.
Tucked in the woods of Lake Wenatchee, Washington, this modest yet masterfully composed retreat uses LaCantina sliding doors to create a fully immersive mountain basecamp — one that’s as refined in its details as it is connected to its surroundings.
Archinizer
November 10, 2025
Anti-Shed Featured in E-Architect
Syndicate Smith’s latest project—aptly named Anti-Shed — makes a striking statement in Washington’s Methow Valley, deliberately rejecting the glass-heavy, shed-roofed homes that have come to define the region.
E-Architect
October 16, 2025
Anti-Shed in Contemporist
The cozy window seat with mountain views everyone wants
Contemporist
October 15, 2025
Building Together: Part 4
In the final installment of our Building Together series, we’re heading to the job site. Site visits may look simple on the surface, but they’re where design meets reality—and where collaboration truly shines. When architects, contractors, and clients use these visits intentionally, they become more than just walk-throughs. They’re opportunities to confirm design intent, solve problems in real time, and make thoughtful adjustments that elevate the finished project.
Homes.com Hottest Kitchen Trends
“A majority of the time, most of the meals, homework, entertaining and everything is right there in that kitchen,” said Todd Smith, founding principal of architecture firm Syndicate Smith in Leavenworth, Washington. “With that in mind, I think the trajectory is that the kitchen is becoming less and less utilitarian and more and more ‘the place.’ I mean, you’re spending gobs of money on a kitchen, why should it not be your best room in your house?”
By Madeleine D'Angelo & Caroline Broderick
Homes.com
Sept 24, 2025
Forbes 2025 Best-In-State Residential Architects
By: Richard Olsen
Forbes
September 17, 2025
Leavenworth Echo: Local Architecture Firm Celebrates 15-Year Anniversary
By Taylor Caldwell
The Leavenworth Echo
Aug 25, 2025
Todd Smith offers tips on how to design a good patio for Living Etc
How to Design a Good Patio — 6 Ways to Elevate Your Outdoor Living Space Without Having to Do Too Much
By Faiza Saqib
livingetc.com
Aug 20, 2025
Homes.com interview with Todd Smith
When it came time to design a family home, this Washington builder phoned a friend
By Madeleine D'Angelo
Homes.com
July 31, 2025
Building Together: Part 3
Welcome back to Part 3 of our Building Together series! In this segment we are taking a deep dive into the world of cost estimation and value engineering (VE) – two crucial steps in transforming your vision into reality without breaking the bank.