Turning into a quiet alley in one West Seattle neighborhood on a warm July afternoon, the first thing you notice isn’t the house or even the gorgeous new deck. It’s the greenhouse.
Set directly into the edge of the property, its long sidewall forms part of the garden’s perimeter, with fencing meeting the greenhouse at each gable end. Rather than taking up valuable backyard space, the greenhouse was thoughtfully positioned to maximize both sunlight and the surrounding garden, a smart solution for a compact city lot.
Its graceful curved eaves immediately draw the eye, and roughly twenty years after it was built, the greenhouse still feels like it has always belonged there.
Stepping into the backyard, that first impression only grows stronger. While much of the space is a concrete patio, it feels anything but stark. Colorful raised beds overflow with flowers, while a trellised raspberry bush, a mature bonsai, and lush ground cover soften the garden edges. The greenhouse’s graceful curved eaves are echoed by the curved metal planters and the sweeping concrete retaining wall that wraps around the southwest corner of the yard. Thoughtfully incorporated into the landscape, the greenhouse serves as both a productive growing space and one of the defining features of the garden itself.
Spend an afternoon with homeowner Evan Wakefield, and it quickly becomes clear this isn’t simply the story of a well-built greenhouse that’s stood the test of time. It’s the story of how a thoughtfully crafted greenhouse found a second life, inspiring a new business, strengthening connections within the neighborhood, and proving that something built with care can continue serving new dreams long after its original owners have moved on.
A Greenhouse That Helped Sell a Home
When Evan and his husband began searching for their new home in Seattle, they had a very specific area in mind. This corner of West Seattle offered the neighborhood and sense of community they were looking for, but finding the right home in a fiercely competitive market proved challenging. They lost out on multiple offers, including one home that attracted thirteen competing bids despite waiving every contingency. After several disappointments, they began wondering when the right opportunity would finally come along.
Then one listing immediately stood out.
Not because of the kitchen.
Not because of the neighborhood.
Because of the greenhouse.
The listing photos showed a substantial greenhouse tucked behind the home, and before he ever walked through the front door, Evan already knew what he wanted to see first.
By the time they arrived for the showing, there were only a few minutes left before the realtor was ready to leave. Rather than lingering inside the house, they headed straight for the backyard.
“I wanted to see how big it was,” Evan recalled. “I’d never owned a greenhouse before, and it had always been my dream.”
Waiting there was a roughly 20-year-old 12′ x 16′ Cross Country Pacific Greenhouse from Charley’s.
Although the structure had been used primarily for storage in recent years, Evan immediately saw something different. He didn’t see cobwebs or clutter. He saw possibility.
After the showing, the realtor shared one more piece of information. The homeowners had offered to remove the greenhouse before closing and replace it with a privacy fence if the buyers preferred.
Evan’s answer came without hesitation.
“Don’t touch the greenhouse.”
To him, it wasn’t simply another feature of the property. It was one of the main reasons they wanted to buy the house.
Looking back today, it’s hard to imagine the property without it. The greenhouse had already fulfilled one family’s vision. Now it was ready to become the foundation for someone else’s.
Stepping Inside a Greenhouse Built to Last
Upon entering, the atmosphere changes immediately.
The July sun filters softly through the twinwall polycarbonate roof and walls, filling the greenhouse with bright, even light that seems perfectly suited to the lush collection of tropical plants now thriving inside. The atmosphere feels calm and inviting, a reminder that a greenhouse isn’t only a place to grow plants. It’s also a second space where people naturally want to linger.
Evan’s greenhouse is a 12′ x 16′ Cross Country Pacific, one of the Cross Country line’s most recognizable greenhouse designs. Its graceful curved eaves create generous headroom while giving the greenhouse a softer profile that complements the surrounding garden. Standing beneath the gently sloping 5:12 roof, it’s easy to appreciate how the Pacific’s design welcomes natural light while creating an open, comfortable space to spend time in.
Walking through the greenhouse today, it’s hard to imagine that when Evan first stepped inside, it looked very different.
The greenhouse had clearly been well loved by its original owners. But like any part of a home, its purpose changed with the people who lived there. By the time Evan discovered it, gardening had given way to storage. Cobwebs stretched across forgotten corners, making it clear the greenhouse had been waiting for someone to put it back to its original purpose.
Where others might have seen a project, Evan saw potential. The frame remained solid, the glazing was still doing its job, and beneath years of storage and neglect was the greenhouse he had imagined from the moment he first saw the listing.
Little by little, the greenhouse came back to life. The clutter disappeared, plants moved in, and the structure once again became what it had been built to be. Looking around today, it’s easy to understand why every Cross Country Greenhouse is backed by a Lifetime Frame Warranty. A lifetime isn’t simply about the heavy-duty extruded aluminum frame. It’s about creating something that can outlast its first owner, inspire new dreams, and continue serving generations of gardeners. This greenhouse is doing exactly that.
Keeping a Legacy Growing
Not long after settling into the greenhouse, Seattle’s first summer heatwave put one of its original components to the test.
The sidewall shutters and their electric motors, which had faithfully served the greenhouse for years, finally reached the end of their service life. Unfortunately, the original shutters had long since been discontinued, making compatible replacements difficult to identify. So Evan reached out to the team at Charley’s Greenhouse & Garden Supply for help.
Using the original greenhouse specifications, the Charley’s Greenhouse Supply Store team was able to confirm the correct dimensions and recommend heavy-duty replacement shutters and compatible vent motors that would fit the existing openings. The new components were shipped directly to Evan’s home, allowing the greenhouse to return to full operation during the hottest months of the year.
It’s a reminder that investing in a quality greenhouse isn’t only about choosing durable materials. It’s also about having knowledgeable people who understand the structure years down the road. As gardening styles evolve and components naturally wear over time, that continued support helps ensure a well-built greenhouse can keep growing for decades to come.
View this post on Instagram
Discovering the Story Behind the Greenhouse
As the greenhouse came back to life, Evan found himself wanting to know more about where it had come from.
The original paperwork revealed it was a Pacific model Cross Country Greenhouse from Charley’s. Curious to learn more, Evan began researching the company’s history and the people behind the greenhouse.
That search eventually led him to a video interview with Charley’s Founder, Charley Yaw, when he retired and BC Greenhouse Builders acquired the business. Hearing Charley reflect on the company’s history, its values, and the longtime relationship between the two businesses gave Evan a deeper appreciation for the greenhouse’s legacy.
He realized it wasn’t simply an older structure that had happened to survive. It represented two Pacific Northwest companies with shared roots, a commitment to craftsmanship, and a legacy that continues today.
The discovery became even more personal after a conversation with one of his neighbors. She shared that her husband had helped build the greenhouse when the home’s previous owner first installed it. Looking more closely, Evan also discovered the original BC Greenhouse Builders stamp still on the frame, a quiet reminder that the craftsmanship surrounding him had deep roots in the region.
What had started as curiosity about a greenhouse had become an appreciation for the people and values behind it. The more Evan learned, the more he felt he wasn’t simply restoring an old greenhouse; he was becoming part of its continuing story.
A Lifelong Love of Plants
Although the greenhouse was new to Evan, growing plants was not.
Long before moving to Seattle, Evan had been collecting and caring for plants through every chapter of life. They traveled with him across the country before finally finding a permanent home in Seattle. Some of the tropical plants now filling the greenhouse have been with him for more than fifteen years, making them companions through multiple moves, changing careers, and new beginnings.
Owning a greenhouse had been a longtime dream, but until finding this home, there had never been the right opportunity. Suddenly, plants that had spent years adapting to windowsills, patios, and spare corners of previous homes had a space designed specifically for them.
Today, the greenhouse is filled with tropical foliage, uncommon varieties, and plants collected over many years. It has become a living collection that continues to grow alongside its owner.
From Backyard Greenhouse to Stem & Sound
As the greenhouse filled with plants once again, it also began attracting people. Neighbors walking the alley would stop to admire what was growing inside. Friends would visit to see Evan’s ever-expanding collection. Conversations that began with a single plant often turned into longer discussions about gardening, propagation, and the simple joy of surrounding yourself with living things.
Before long, the greenhouse had become more than a place to care for plants. It had become a place to share them. Many of the plants growing here today have been propagated from Evan’s own collection, while others have been carefully rescued and brought back to health. That spirit of sharing eventually grew into Stem & Sound, a small business rooted in Evan’s love of plants and his new home in the Pacific Northwest. The name reflects two things that have become central to his life: the stems of the plants surrounding him and the waters of Puget Sound, a place he has quickly grown to love.
Rather than opening a traditional storefront, Evan has begun sharing his plants through local pop-up events and community markets, with nearly every plant tracing its roots back to the greenhouse behind his home. Yet selling plants has never been the real goal.
For Evan, the greenhouse has become a place to connect with people. Whether it’s a friend stopping by to admire a new plant, a neighbor asking a question, or someone discovering a new hobby for the first time, he finds just as much joy in sharing the experience as he does caring for the plants themselves.
One afternoon, a neighbor who had lived nearby for nearly twenty years stopped by the greenhouse. Although she had walked past it countless times, she had never been inside. Evan welcomed her through the door, and as she looked around, she became emotional.
That moment stayed with him. After spending years in a corporate career, he realized what brought him the greatest sense of fulfillment wasn’t simply growing beautiful plants. It was creating a space where people could slow down, reconnect with nature, and experience the same sense of wonder he felt every time he stepped into the greenhouse.
That realization continues to shape Stem & Sound. Whether someone leaves with a propagated cutting, a bouquet, or simply a new appreciation for plants, Evan hopes they leave feeling inspired to grow something of their own. In many ways, that’s exactly what this greenhouse was built to do: nurture not only plants, but the people who spend time inside it.
Gardening Is the Ultimate Analog Hobby
Gardening offers something that’s becoming increasingly rare. It encourages patience. It rewards observation. It invites people to slow down and spend time with something living.
That philosophy shapes the way Evan approaches both his greenhouse and Stem & Sound. He checks on his plants every day, talks to them often, and has learned to work with the rhythms of the greenhouse rather than against them. Rather than trying to force every plant to thrive, he enjoys discovering what naturally flourishes and sharing that knowledge with others.
Perhaps that’s why the greenhouse feels so welcoming. It’s not simply because of the tropical foliage filling every corner. It’s because of the conversations taking place inside it. Neighbors stop by to admire a new plant. Friends leave with a propagated cutting. Visitors discover that gardening doesn’t have to be intimidating, and that growing something can be as simple as taking home a single plant and watching it thrive.
In the end, that’s what Evan hopes people take away from a visit to his greenhouse. Not just a new plant, but the confidence to grow one of their own.
