How a Debut Home Redefined Luxury and Sold in Record Time

Lucía Torres · 2026-09-25

When a brand-new kind of home hit the market on Bainbridge Island, no one was quite sure what to expect. The result? A record-setting sale that proved a new approach to luxury living isn't just wanted—it's in high demand. The first Camphomes property, a custom residence on Roberts Road, sold in just five days. It went for over its $3 million asking price amid multiple competing offers, making it the highest price-per-square-foot new-construction sale on acreage in the island's history. For a debut project, the demand was nothing short of extraordinary. Mark Middleton, the listing agent and Managing Partner of The Agency Bainbridge Island, has sold real estate there for over two decades. He called the interest unprecedented. “I have never seen such a response,” Mark said. “The two open houses I held were the most highly attended I have ever conducted in my entire career at any price point!” The buyers themselves were a testament to the home's appeal. They had been planning a major renovation of their Lake Washington waterfront home with the renowned Olson Kundig Architects. But when they saw the craftsmanship and design of the Roberts Road property, they abandoned their renovation plans entirely. This Camphome would become their new full-time residence. ### A Radically Different Approach to Building So, what makes a Camphome so different? It starts with a “campus” design philosophy and a level of craftsmanship that's become rare in new construction. This first home was a showcase of intentional materials and design. - It was engineered almost entirely from FSC-certified, plantation-grown teak. - It featured exposed post-and-beam construction and hand-crafted millwork. - Walls of glass and marble surfaces created a seamless flow between inside and out. Completed in 2025, the home offers 4,192 square feet of living space plus 932 square feet of covered outdoor living. With a fully appointed bonus suite above the garage, it totals over 6,000 square feet of covered space on a private, forested 0.75-acre lot. ### Built from First Principles, Not Trends Camphomes co-founder Chris Marlett, who developed the concept with architect Matthew Falkiner, explained the team's simple, powerful idea. “Matthew and I set out to build homes families would cherish because they create a living experience that is superior to conventional homes,” Marlett said. “We reasoned from first principles: every element of a Camp Home has to make sense—structurally, environmentally, and in how it makes a family feel.” He admitted the team was terrified before the launch. “Roberts Road had no comparable in the market,” he noted. “The speed and the price of this sale were the market telling us that a home built this way is worth more than one built the old way.” ### What This Means for the Future of Camphomes The success of this debut isn't an isolated event. It's a launchpad. Camphomes is already expanding beyond the Pacific Northwest, with new markets in the works from Costa Rica to Idaho to North Carolina. Closer to home, the brand is taking presales for two additional Bainbridge Island properties, including a rare waterfront site. The vision, according to Marlett, is about scaling their unique quality. “Roberts Road was our debut, and Bainbridge Island shaped it,” Marlett says. “What comes next is scale without compromise—more Camp Homes in the Puget Sound, and a manufacturing platform precise enough to deliver that same quality anywhere a family wants to live.” The message is clear. When you build a home with uncompromising focus on design, materials, and the human experience, the market doesn't just notice. It responds with incredible force.