July Connect with [us]

Our Proc[us]:

At Uptic Studios, we believe architecture shouldn’t be confusing or intimidating. It should be something everyone can understand and get excited about. That’s why we’ve broken our design process into four clear phases. This month, we’re highlighting Phase 1: Conceptualize.

Phase 1 is all about listening. We start by sitting down with you to hear your ideas, dreams, and goals. Whether you have a detailed vision or just a rough idea of what you want, this is the time to get it all out on the table. Think of it like brainstorming your dream space with a trusted friend. Nothing is off limits and every idea matters.

From there, we start sketching. Drawings and ideas go back and forth between you and our team. We’ll talk about what’s working and what could be even better. This is the part where you might hear something like, “Let’s move those windows to catch the sunset over the lake.” It’s a collaborative process, and we’ll keep refining things until it feels just right.

The goal of Phase 1 is to shape the vision together. By the end, you’ll have a clear, exciting direction and a design that truly reflects your needs and style.

Our People:

Meet Nathan Albrecht, one of the creative minds at Uptic Studios. He joined the team in February 2022, bringing with him a refreshingly unique background. With over 20 years working as a wildlife biologist, he started with Maurice Williamson Consulting Forestry in Colville and then transitioned to The Coeur d’Alene Tribe, where he sharpened his understanding of how environments function, shift, and thrive. Today, that experience directly informs his architectural approach.

When Nathan isn’t working on a project, he’s usually somewhere outside. He loves spending time with his family backpacking, fishing, riding motorcycles, golfing, hunting, and woodworking.

At Uptic, Nate is energized by the variety of work and the opportunity to shape meaningful spaces. Whether he’s refining floorplans or helping a client visualize their future home, he’s driven by the opportunity to bring someone’s vision to life.

Our Projects:

This month we’re highlighting Modern Shoreline, a stunning 2,500-square-foot residence nestled into the wooded slope above Rockford Bay. 

It only feels right to highlight this home in July because of the design to frame serene lake views while embracing the natural rhythms of its forested setting, the home balances modern architecture with warm, natural materials.

Two levels of living space are organized beneath sweeping rooflines, featuring an exterior palette of wood siding, steel-gray metal panels, and bronze standing seam roofing that blends beautifully with the surroundings.

Inside, the home is anchored by a dramatic double-height living space and kitchen, where tall windows and expansive glazing create a seamless connection between indoors and outdoors. Natural wood ceilings, polished concrete floors, and sculptural steel-and-wood stairs bring warmth and modernity together in perfect balance.

Outdoor terraces and balconies extend the living spaces into the landscape, providing places to gather, reflect, and unwind.

With five bedrooms and thoughtfully layered social spaces, Modern Shoreline offers a retreat that’s perfect for quiet mornings soaking in the views or lively summer weekends spent with friends. This project is a true example of how thoughtful design can create harmony between home and nature.

See more of the project here: Modern Shoreline

Our Events:

Uptic Studios is proud to support Project Beauty Share, a nonprofit dedicated to providing personal care products and services to those in need. Through their events, they raise awareness and funds to continue this vital mission. Interested in helping? Visit projectbeautyshare.org/events to learn more and get tickets.