MAKING ISLAND LIFE WORK WITH HOME OFFICE ARLO MINIS

Island life has many, well-publicized charms, but quick, easy access is not one of them.

Scott and Kirsten Harrison learned this lesson when they moved their family to Vashon Island, WA.

“We quickly found out here on the island that things were different,” Scott said. “It takes twice as long, and it's three times as expensive to get things done.” 

So, when they needed more space, they knew prefab was the answer – and DROP Structures stood out.

However, even for prefab, an island placement comes with a host of hurdles. Despite the troubles on the road to receiving their DROP Structure (which isn’t quite in place yet), the Harrisons have enjoyed the process — namely, their experience with the DROP Structures crew.

“We never felt like a number,” Scott said. “You know, like a typical consumer, where you just put in your order and then it's over with and you hope that it shows up someday. From day one, we really felt well-informed, a part of the process, and really valued. We got a glimpse of the company culture through that communication and it was really, really cool.”

A Vashon Island Retreat

Vashon Island wasn’t always home to the Harrisons.

Before the pandemic, Scott, Kirsten, and their three teenagers lived in Seattle. Their house worked well enough for their family, and their commute was reasonable.

But when the pandemic hit, Scott’s brother moved in, Scott and Kirsten started working from home and their teenagers started remote schooling. Like in many households in those early pandemic days, tension started to grow.

After about a year of living and working in close quarters, Scott and Kirsten decided they needed to get away from it all, so they booked a vacation for just the two of them on Vashon Island.

75% nature reserve with 52 miles of coastline and hiking trails crisscrossing through evergreen forests, Vashon Island was the retreat they were looking for, and the ultimate antidote to their stress.

So, the couple made a habit of returning whenever they needed some instant R&R.

“I would start to feel that change when I was on the ferry,” Scott said. “I could just feel it physically.”

After a few trips back and forth, they’d fallen so deeply in love with the area that they decided to purchase a small vacation home there.

Troubles in the city

Of course, as soon as they returned home to the city, the stress came flooding back.

In the midst of cramped living and working, a car nearly crashed into their home, which ended up in their front yard. Scott and their son Ryan, 20 at the time, were the first to the scene, trying to save the lives of the occupants.

This incident left Scott and Kirsten wondering why they chose to live in the city – after all, everything from school to work was now fully remote.

“What are we doing?” they wondered. “Why are we still here? We have this beautiful house on an island. Why would we stay in Seattle?”

So, they moved their family to the island home they loved so much.

When vacation becomes reality

But, their vacation home wasn’t bought to house six. It was meant as a short-term escape for two.

So, Scott’s office ended up in the garage with the home gym, while Kirsten wound up at the kitchen table – in the middle of the action.

“I was overwhelmed,” Kirsten said. “I didn't have a space of my own and frequent interruptions made it difficult to stay focused. Because I have ADHD, it was really challenging to function well in that environment. I was spending so much energy trying to make it work.”

Now that their vacation on Vashon Island had become real life, the couple realized they still needed somewhere to escape to.

As they mulled over what to do, Kirsten had been talking with a friend who was planning to build a tiny house.

“She had done a bunch of research and sent me a bunch of links, and DROP Structures caught my eye,” Kirsten said. “I loved the aesthetic and that it’s delivered ready to go – I could just plug it in and we could start working. So, I reached out with an email.”

After some discussion, the Harrisons bought two Arlo Mini(s) – one for Kirsten and one for Scott.

Navigating island life

Like all our builds, construction was the simple part. Once the Arlo Mini(s) left our facility to be delivered, the road got bumpy.

It started before the driver even arrived on Vashon Island. A snowstorm stranded the truck, pushing delivery back by a day. Then, when the Arlo Mini(s) showed up, the truck couldn’t make it up the long driveway because the structures were too tall, and wouldn’t clear the surrounding trees.

“Ryan’s proactive involvement in problem-solving paired with his genuine, caring, empathetic posture of “assume the best about people” was a true gift through it all,” Scott said. “We experienced some setbacks and unanticipated obstacles and his ability to positively influence a situation or “see the opportunity” was critical to moving the delivery forward and ensuring everyone involved (contractor included) felt communicated with and a part of the solution.”

After the Arlos finally made it to the house, they were supposed to be craned into the backyard, with panoramic views of forest, mountains and the Seattle skyline. But, being a small island, there was no crane available to move them there.

An ongoing problem-to-be-solved

Today, the Arlos are still in the front yard, waiting for a crane but so are we. We’re doing everything we can to help move the Arlos to their final spot. And, we will be there until the job is done.

But in the meantime, both Kirsten and Scott are making full use of their home offices.

“I am grateful every single day for this space,” Kirsten said. “I can spread out my books and write for hours. I can leave them there without bothering my family. I can turn my music up and sing to my heart's content. I can welcome my clients into a visually pleasing space. My body feels so much more relaxed here. Having this space has facilitated deeper creativity, rest, and delight.”