Who: Jeff Popp and Patty Yust.

Residence: Open country near Everson.

Question: When did you acquire your residence?

Answer: We acquired our property in September 2001. The house was built about 18 years ago.

Q: What is an interesting aspect of your home's history?

A: The home was built by Cascade Joinery using recycled, old-growth fir beams. The home was constructed without nails. Instead, the beams are joined together with wood pegs.

Q: How have you changed your home?

A: As sun-seeking Leos, we have changed the home by adding skylights and light tubes, moving interior walls, remodeling the bathrooms, adding a sauna and adding interior windows.

We recently had the interior and the exterior of the home painted by Dave Schmaltz Painting of Bellingham.

Q: What has been the biggest challenge that you've faced with your home?

A: We purchased the property with the intention of building a horse facility. Subsequently, we have remodeled the existing dairy barn/woodworking shop into a stall horse stable with tack rooms and equipment and hay storage.

We've built a covered arena, a sand arena and fenced the pastures. A non-productive field has been disced, plowed and currently yields the hay that we feed to the horses.

Q: What about your home brings you the greatest joy?

Jeff: A few birthdays ago, my wife surprised me with a new kitchen table as a present. She commissioned Whatcom County carpenter Arthur Johnson to craft one from distressed old-growth fir planks. Its size and weight fit the room perfectly. When this table is surrounded by friends and family, it is the best of times.

Patty: The riding arena is my "go-to" space. It's open to the elements, has a view of the Cascades and is constructed of wood. The footing is a mixture of sand and recycled Nike shoes. It's a delightful, airy environment.

Q: What's your next project or plan for your house?

A: We are passionate gardeners and landscapers. In the fall and spring we scour the nurseries for unusual perennials to enhance our seasonal flowering shrubs and trees. We will start planning next year's garden and continue adding compost to the soil.

Reach MARGARET BIKMAN at margaret.bikman@bellinghamherald.com or 715-2273.