There are homes that sit near the water, and then there are homes like this one — where the water, the evergreens, and the open sky become the architecture itself. Tucked at the end of a quiet lane in West Sound, one of Orcas Island’s most coveted addresses, this timeless Northwest Colonial on White Beach Bay is the kind of property that reminds you why people fall in love with the Pacific Northwest in the first place. Set behind a gated drive on 1.35 acres across two tax parcels, 117 Martha Lane offers something increasingly rare on the islands: genuine seclusion paired with fully accessible waterfront — stairs leading directly to the shoreline in a market where that feature alone commands a premium
The home itself is a study in quiet confidence. Built in 1990, the 3,800-plus square foot residence wears its classic Northwest Colonial architecture without effort — expansive gathering spaces that flow naturally from room to room, a thoughtfully designed kitchen, and quality craftsmanship that rewards a closer look. Four bedrooms, three of them ensuite, and four and a half baths offer the kind of flexibility that makes the home equally suited to a serene primary residence or a generously appointed island retreat. There is a comfort here that goes beyond square footage — a sense that the home was designed not to showcase itself, but to disappear into the life being lived inside it.
What sets this property apart, beyond the waterfront access and the privacy, is the drama of its natural setting. A water-filled quarry forms a striking backdrop of rugged stone and old-growth evergreens that feels more like a private nature reserve than a residential backyard — a constantly evolving landscape that shifts with the seasons and the light in ways that no architect could fully plan for. It is the kind of feature that sounds like a detail until you are standing in front of it, and then it becomes the thing you never stop talking about.
Outdoor living here is less an amenity than a philosophy. Two spacious decks and a hot tub are positioned to make the most of the setting at every hour — morning coffee above the bay, evening drinks as the light fades over the water, the particular quiet of a Pacific Northwest afternoon that has no equivalent anywhere else. The surrounding grounds offer a true sense of seclusion that is increasingly difficult to find at any price point, while the water-filled quarry serves double duty as both a dramatic natural feature and a non-potable irrigation source for the landscape.
When the pull of the island calls, West Sound Marina, the Orcas Island Yacht Club, the West Sound Community Club, and waterfront dining are all just moments away — close enough to feel connected, far enough to feel like an escape. It is a balance that Orcas Island has always promised and rarely delivered quite so completely as it does here. The San Juan Islands attract a particular kind of buyer: people who have seen enough of the world to know exactly what they are looking for, and who recognize it immediately when they find it.
This is a property for those who understand that the finest island living isn’t about being seen — it’s about finding a place where you never want to leave. Fully accessible waterfront, extraordinary natural drama, timeless architecture, and a location that places the best of Orcas Island at your doorstep. Properties like this do not come along often, and when they do, they do not last.
Listed at $3,900,000 by Jaylin Peacock and Marie Baxter of The Agency Seattle.
